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  • Touch Grass to Unlock Your Apps, Pepsi Acquires Prebiotic Soda Brand, VR Breaks, AI, and Biohacking in Honduras

Touch Grass to Unlock Your Apps, Pepsi Acquires Prebiotic Soda Brand, VR Breaks, AI, and Biohacking in Honduras

March 26, 2025

👋 Welcome to this week’s Wellness Wednesdays, we're diving into how technology, nature, and new health trends are reshaping the way we work, relax, and take care of our bodies.

AI is Changing the Way We Stay Healthy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making it easier to live healthier. Apps and devices now use AI to create fitness plans just for you, based on your body and habits. AI can also suggest what to eat, track sleep, and even spot early signs of health problems. Some mental health apps use AI to give support anytime, day or night. Smartwatches and other wearables collect data that AI can study to give advice in real time. However, some experts are worried about privacy—like who owns your data and how it's used. People are also unsure how much they can trust AI for health advice. Still, many say AI is a game-changer in personal wellness.

VR Breaks for Better Workdays

At the University of Waterloo, a new program is using Virtual Reality (VR) to help staff feel better at work. Staff can take short wellness breaks using VR headsets, where they enter relaxing worlds like beaches and forests with the Nature Treks app. This helps them feel calm and refreshed. Another app called Ovation helps people practice public speaking by simulating an audience. This reduces anxiety and builds confidence. Staff say it's fun and helps with stress. The program is part of a bigger effort to make workplaces healthier, both mentally and emotionally.

Touch Grass, Unlock Apps

A new app called Touch Grass is helping people spend less time on screens. If someone wants to open a distracting app, like social media, they first have to go outside and take a photo of real grass. The app uses AI to check if the grass is real before unlocking the other apps. This funny idea has a serious purpose—getting people to take breaks from their phones and spend more time in nature. Users say it's helped them feel less stressed and more present. It's part of a growing trend to fight "doomscrolling" and digital burnout.

Stem Cells & Sunsets in Honduras

People from the U.S. are going to Honduras for stem cell therapy, which some hope can heal injuries and avoid surgery. In places like Roatán, patients get treatments while enjoying a beach vacation. Clinics like GARM (Global Alliance for Regenerative Medicine) offer therapies for back pain, joint issues, and more. Some patients feel better after treatment, but doctors warn that stem cell therapy is not fully proven and can carry risks. There’s also little oversight in some countries, so it's important to research clinics carefully. Still, the mix of healing and paradise is attracting wellness travelers.

PepsiCo Buys Prebiotic Soda Poppi for $1.95 Billion

PepsiCo is buying Poppi, a prebiotic soda brand, for almost $2 billion. Poppi’s drinks mix fruit juice, apple cider vinegar, and gut-friendly prebiotics, and are marketed as healthy alternatives to regular soda. The brand became popular after appearing on Shark Tank and quickly grew in stores like Target and Amazon. Younger consumers, especially Gen Z, love Poppi for its taste and wellness benefits. With this deal, PepsiCo hopes to expand its healthy drink options and stay on top of the growing wellness trend in beverages.

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5 Fast FAQs

  • How is AI helping people stay healthy?
    AI creates custom fitness and food plans, watches your sleep and stress, and gives instant health tips using your data.

  • What is VR being used for at work?

    VR is helping workers relax with virtual nature scenes and improve public speaking by practicing with fake audiences.

  • How does the Touch Grass app limit screen time?
    It locks apps until you step outside and take a photo of real grass, helping people enjoy more time offline.

  • Why are people getting stem cell therapy abroad?
    Some go to places like Honduras for faster, less regulated treatments, but it's important to be careful and research well.

  • What makes Poppi different from regular soda?
    Poppi uses fruit, vinegar, and prebiotics to make a bubbly drink that supports gut health and has less sugar.

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