Beth Skwarecki

Pittsburgh

Senior Health Editor at Lifehacker

@bethskw.bsky.social /@lifehacker. Books: Outbreak! 50 Tales of Epidemics; Genetics 101. You want me on your trivia team. 510 lb Dinnie lift. She/her

Articles

These 10 ‘Gut Health’ Trends Will Do Nothing for Your Gut Health

2 days ago | au.lifehacker.com | Beth Skwarecki

“Skinny” is such an outdated concept; too diet culture for 2025. “Flat belly” sounds better, but we’re tired of that, too. What is the trend-dependent online influencer culture to do? Enter “gut health,” the current euphemism for having a thin waist—this time with extra wellness baggage. It sounds like it’s all about a science-based journey toward better nutrition, but really it’s more bullshit. So let’s explore the most questionable gut health hacks out there.
Why You Shouldn't Worry About Your 'Gut Health'

5 days ago | lifehacker.com | Beth Skwarecki

Your digestive system is a hugely important part of your body, and keeping it healthly is hugely important. Without good gut health, you might be in pain, or suffer embarrassing symptoms, or worse. But it does not follow that you need to load up on foods or products that promise to improve your gut health. Gut health, it turns out, is not a well-defined concept. That means it’s not always possible to tell whether it’s improving or whether you even have a problem with it in the first place.
What Is a Healthy Resting Heart Rate?

5 days ago | au.lifehacker.com | Beth Skwarecki

Our hearts beat faster when we exercise, which is why heart rate training can be so useful. But when we aren’t doing anything, our heart rate can still be useful to know. If you have a wearable that measures your resting heart rate (RHR), here’s how to understand what it’s telling you. What is a normal resting heart rate? Medical professionals usually consider anything between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm) to be a “normal” resting heart rate.
Why Now Is the Best Time to Find Running Shoes on Sale

6 days ago | lifehacker.com | Meredith Dietz |Beth Skwarecki

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Credit: PriceM / Lifehacker Running seems like a cheap sport—you just need shoes!—until you actually go shoe shopping. The right footwear can make or break your experience. They can also break your budget; even the most basic models are well over $100 new.
Review: Garmin's Vivoactive 6 Is the New Version of Their Most Underrated Fitness Watch

6 days ago | lifehacker.com | Beth Skwarecki

Changes from the Vivoactive 5The internals and main features of the Vivoactive 6 are similar to the 5, so most of the things I’ll be describing here are subtle differences. Honestly, if you want a great fitness watch on a budget, the Vivoactive 5 will still do most of what you want. But here are the main differences I noticed moving to the 6:More coaching options for running and strength—you can now get adaptive coaching instead of just the expert plans.
Whoop Launches Its 5.0 and MG Hardware (and Adds Pricing Tiers)

6 days ago | au.lifehacker.com | Beth Skwarecki

After more than a week of teasing it on social media, Whoop has finally announced the release of its 5.0 device, along with a version called the “MG” (medical grade) that can do ECG readings and estimate blood pressure. Members can upgrade for a $49 fee or by extending their membership in one of the three new membership tiers: One ($199/year), Peak ($239/year, similar to current offerings) or Life ($359/year).
14 Games You Should Play If You Like Wordle

1 week ago | lifehacker.com | Beth Skwarecki

Skip to Main Content Hurdle, Absurdle, Quordle, Squardle, and even some puzzle games that don't rhyme. Credit: Redactle Wordle became an instant classic almost as soon as it launched, but its simplicity is also the source of a new problem: what to play when you've already guessed the day's word?
14 Games You Should Play If You Like Wordle

1 week ago | au.lifehacker.com | Beth Skwarecki

Wordle became an instant classic almost as soon as it launched, but its simplicity is also the source of a new problem: what to play when you've already guessed the day's word? Fortunately, the years since Wordle's appearance have blessed us with dozens of other guessing games that borrowed one or more of Wordle’s features—five-letter solutions, or yellow and green squares, or sometimes just the concept of guessing and getting hints to narrow down the possibilities. Here are 14 of the best.
Oura's Meals Feature Is Not Like Any Other Food Tracking App I've Used

1 week ago | au.lifehacker.com | Beth Skwarecki

Hot on the heels of Oura’s AI Advisor, another app feature from the smart ring company is leaving beta and becoming available to all users: meal logging. But this isn’t just another calorie tracking app—Oura’s Meals feature provides feedback on what you’re eating and when, without judging you for how much. Glucose tracking is also coming to the app, and Oura has announced a partnership with Dexcom to sell the Stelo continuous glucose monitor, which can be purchased without a prescription.
Review: The Fitbit Charge 6 Is Good, but Could Be Better

1 week ago | lifehacker.com | Beth Skwarecki

Comfort and appearanceThe Charge 6 comes in a “band” form factor, rather than trying to look like a watch. The device and its silicone strap are both 23 millimeters wide, with the screen shaped like a tall rectangle within the band. When it’s showing the time, the hour and minute numbers stack vertically on top of each other. The fit is a bit strange, with a gap at the side of my wrist, even though the sensor at the back of the device makes good contact with my skin.