The calorie counting app MyFitnessPal received a facelift earlier this year. The makeover wasn’t major – if there had been a deep-plane, then it would only have been superficial – but it made it harder for me to use my app every day to track everything that I eat.
Not only me, but many other users were also annoyed by the new update. MyFitnessPal is entitled to redesign the app, but that didn’t stop me from feeling like the app was sneaking in to my bathroom to rearrange my medicine cabinet. The relationship between a user and their calorie counter can be very intimate.
I did realize that maybe this app or others should not have such an intense psychic connection. The update made me think of how many hours I spent on Earth tapping away at MyFitnessPal. It’s become an intricate record of my life, and I was ambivalent about the app.
In my adulthood, counting calories has never felt cool. But lately, it seems lamer than before.
The New York Times announced earlier this year that the reign of calories as the primary measurement of nutrition in the United States was over. “Counting them” is not a sustainable way to maintain a positive relationship with food. Town & Country followed up with an article a few months later asking if calorie counting is dying. The idea of restriction has gone out of style. T&C reported that the “new status symbols” of certain gym-going women were the 3,000 calories a day goal.
It feels embarrassing to me as a mommy who is not muscly in 2026, that I would still be counting calories. It’s possible that I am embarrassed. But still, I keep counting. Here I am still counting calories, even though the body-positivity craze has passed. Other people are now talking about Ozempics, macros, or both. Should I stop tracking my calories or accept that it may take me the rest of my life to tap-tap to-tap into MyFitnessPal?
MyFitnessPal is the original and most popular food tracking app. There may be better ones, but it’s likely that you tried one of these apps before. It was founded in 2005 by Mike and Albert Lee (it started as a simple website) and is now owned by the private equity firm Francisco Partners. Today, it boasts 280 millions users across 120 countries. Reuters reports that MyFitnessPal earns $150 million a year. This is a large amount of cash considering the awkwardness and laggardly nature of this app. What? You mean the app that I use to sort through user-generated listings of macaroni and cheese with typos could sell for $1 billion? MyFitnessPal subscribers can access a number of premium features for just $24.99 per month. I have always used the free app.
MyFitnessPal, as well as similar apps, work on the principle that once you have a good handle on how many calories you burn each day, you are able to track “calories-in, calories-out,” or CICO. You can then adjust your caloric intake according your weight loss, maintenance, or gain goals. Once you understand the math, it’s easy. To lose one pound you must create a 3,500 calorie deficit. A simple (if not practical) way to achieve this is to consume 500 calories less than normal every day.
What does it tell you about me when I have never been able to maintain a streak on an app that is more enjoyable, like Duolingo Crossword or New York Times Crossword but am currently enjoying a streak of 500 days in MyFitnessPal. No, I’m not interested. My history with MyFitnessPal is much more complex than 500 days. Elena Ferrante would be able to write an entire novel on my relationship with MyFitnessPal. I am sure I’m far from alone.
Mikala jamison is a writer of a popular body culture newsletter. She hypothesized, when I talked to her, that given the time MyFitnessPal launched, many women would probably link it with the punishing 2000s body-culture. Jamison stated that back then “nobody gave a second thought to everyone running around discussing their diets or their calorie intake all the time.” The logo, which features a woman jumping with her legs extended, is also a bit cringe-worthy. I have long considered it a feminine version of the Air Jordan Jumpman. In the beginning of MyFitnessPal’s existence, diet and body culture was undoubtedly crueler. They’re still confused, full of contradictions, and a lot of attempts to fix past mistakes that end up being overcorrections. It seems that we haven’t even decided if it is okay to wish to lose weight. Although it isn’t interesting or commendable to want to lose weight, I can totally relate.
What is my history with MyFitnessPal? While writing this article, I checked to see if I had a record for what I ate exactly 10 years earlier. I did. On Sept.1, 2016, I had Honey Nut Cheerios as breakfast, five different snacks and a sandwich for lunch and turkey meatballs at dinner. This totaled 2,055 calories which were several hundred over my daily goal. Even though it’s been years, my habits have not changed much. I still eat Honey Nut Cheerios as breakfast and no longer log the Diet Cokes I drink. MyFitnessPal has been more reliable than I realized. I have entries in all but two years of the past 10 years.
It’s not right that anyone has this much information on what they ate 10 years ago. What should I do? We all generate mountains of data that could be embarrassing all the time. The data in question is both embarrassing for its specifics as well as the overall story that it tells.
Lacey Baier, a health and wellbeing content creator who specializes in wellness topics, was also a MyFitnessPal long-time user. She experienced a negative reaction when the redesign of the app took place earlier this year. Her frustration led her, unlike me, to stop using the app, which she announced in her July newsletter. She told me that she was on the fence as to whether to continue using it, because she felt like tracking macros would be a burden for the rest her life. Tracking made me feel like I couldn’t keep up with everything on my own. I needed to externalize it and depend on another to do so. I also wanted more freedom in life and less meticulousness.
Baier has been tracking her weight, macros, calories, etc. for years. As a nutritionist and personal trainer, she continues to believe in this method. She wrote, in her newsletter: “I’m clear. Tracking works. It helped me to lose weight and understand nutrition. I also developed habits that I continue to carry and will likely for the rest of my life. It’s a great tool. “But for me, I had to give it up after 20 years. It was a crutch and I hadn’t realized the cost until then.”
Baier’s statement that tracking is effective was very helpful, as there are many messages in the new post-calories age that suggest otherwise. The BBC published this headline in March, “Calories don’t work.” “Try Eating Smarter instead.” I understand what they are saying: most people who know better consider calorie counting unworkable and the nutritional composition of food is more important than the number. As Jamison pointed out, talking about proteins can be used as a way to talk about weight loss. It is true that calorie counting has flaws, but it also works for a lot of people. I am one of them. My usual pattern is to consistently use MyFitnessPal for about a year, then lose weight. Then I stop, and stay away from it for some time, which coincidentally results in a weight gain. This yoyo effect might be interpreted by some as proof that calorie counting is not working. It works when it’s done, but it stops when it isn’t. Does that mean you have to keep on doing this forever?
Jamison said that while she does not track her intake of food on a regular basis, she is doing it right now to work towards achieving a goal. She has also discussed this in her newsletter. She said that when she feels like she is at a point in her life where she wants to focus on a specific goal, certain actions feel natural. She can understand why people are hesitant about certain things like setting a calorie target and tracking her diet and exercise. For some, this doesn’t feel right. This feels disordered or too similar to unhealthy or uncomfortable diet-culture related stuff. This is, after all, a diet. This is not a diet. This is what it’s all about. It depends on what I am doing at the same time and how I feel about it. This might not apply to everyone. Just depends on who you are. At one time, it might feel good to do so. At another time, this might be a bad idea.
Jamison continued, “I believe people, in their quest for understanding more about nutrition, and our own bodies, want to know really definitive answers. Does calorie counting make you healthier or less healthy? Does it make sense or not to count calories? It’s bad. What is it? What is it? “I think I’ve got a rather unsatisfying answer, namely, that it depends.”
It resonated because my latest MyFitnessPal experience has been different from the rest, even though it may seem like I am just getting back on track for the umpteenth. After looking through my food journals from ten years ago, it’s clear that I set my calorie targets way too low. I became frustrated when I didn’t reach them.
The goals are higher because I’m trying to stay realistic, and avoid being discouraged to the point where I quit. In the past ten years, I would often have days when I was too embarrassed to record my food intake. Although I do it still, I have gotten much better about moving past those bad days. I now know that one poor day does not mean I can’t continue a healthy habit. In a Substack article, another MyFitnessPal alumna expressed a similar sentiment about returning to the app with a new mindset. “I’m on MyFitnessPal again for the first in many years. I am on a fitness quest and yes, hoping to continue losing a few kilos.” It’s true that I am motivated by health this time. It’s possible to count calories in a (relatively!) normal way.

Americans who travel abroad in search of psychedelic healing can sometimes find something much more dangerous. The New York Times explains how loosely-regulated clinics across Latin America have coincided with deaths, abuses, and allegations of ibogaine and other potent substances. Some patients have died from heart problems and organ failure. Others report being told to stop taking psychiatric medications, mix dangerous drugs or take prescription pills before they are properly screened. In a JAMA study of 50 clinics, fewer than 50% had trained medical personnel on their staff. Only 10% were equipped with emergency training. The Times highlights claims of sexual abuse and exploitative marketing, such as a Florida woman alleging she was raped in Mexico by a medical professional.
According to reports, patients have been videotaped or sold services when they are still intoxicated. Amy McGuire is the head of Baylor’s Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy and the co-author on the JAMA Report. She says, “We are seeing these for-profit companies pop up in the quasi-medical sector without any safeguards.” The real danger is in that area. As US demand and interest grow, experts warn that a boom in an unregulated, overseas industry can cause serious harm and lead to repercussions. This is what psychedelics supporters fear. Jesus Alonso Olamendi, the head of the Legal Defense Program at the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service, says that the substance itself isn’t the issue. It’s not the substance that is the problem, but the abuse of substances or the unethical treatment of patients who are impaired. You can read the full article here.
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Health officials are continuing to track an outbreak of Cyclospora infection in Florida, which is linked to the recalled iceberg lettuce.
Florida, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is one of several states that have reported cases.
All recalled icebergs lettuce that was connected with the outbreak have been taken off the market by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
According to new CDC statistics, women are responsible for 56% (or all) of the Cyclospora cases reported in the United States.
The parasite Cyclospora can lead to intestinal disease. The symptoms can be diarrhea, cramps in the stomach, fatigue, and nausea.
Experts in health say that Cyclospora is more prevalent during the warmer months. The season typically ends around fall.
Officials continue to urge consumers to check for recalled food products and follow the safety guidelines.

Your biceps may be doing more than helping you lift groceries—they could be helping you dodge infections, too. A study of more than 458,000 adults in the UK suggests that people with lower muscle mass face a greater chance of contracting infections, especially respiratory illnesses and sepsis, a dangerous overreaction to infection, the Washington Post reports. “Our results support the concept that skeletal muscle health is closely linked to immune resilience and infection susceptibility,” said co-author Jinbo Chen of Central South University in Changsha, China.
Researchers sorted participants into three groups for the study, which was published in MedScience: normal muscle, low muscle (pre-sarcopenia), and low muscle plus weakness (sarcopenia). Both low-muscle groups saw more infections than those with healthier muscles, even after accounting for age, income, and other health issues. Younger adults with sarcopenia were hit hardest, hinting that early muscle loss may signal deeper health problems. Scientists say chronic inflammation, poor nutrition, and weakened immune responses that often accompany sarcopenia may help explain the pattern.
One expert listed warning signs for loss of muscle mass for Newsweek: taking longer to climb stairs, struggling to open jars or carry luggage, walking more slowly, finding it tougher to get out of a chair without using your arms. The study can’t prove that losing muscle causes infections, but experts say it adds to evidence that muscle is central to “immune resilience.” For now, the advice is that regular strength training—about two full-body sessions a week—along with vaccinations, good hygiene, and managing chronic conditions may help keep both muscles and infections in check, even well into older age.
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The lack of this vitamin can cause fatigue, headaches and memory problems — drinking increases your risk
Alcohol is a major factor in the development of alcoholism, according to neurologists and dietitians.
Some people are so used to feeling tired or having headaches that they just accept it. This is not something anyone should tolerate.
The body uses fatigue and headaches to communicate that there is something wrong, like a lack of nutrition or rest. You may not be getting enough sleep, water or nutrition.
Folate is a nutrient that can be easily overlooked. If not treated, it may cause headaches, fatigue and memory issues. What doctors don’t want you to forget.
Anemia can be caused by a folate deficiency, which can result in a variety of problems.
It’s not always easy to pinpoint the cause of fatigue. You may immediately think about certain factors, like not eating enough iron or protein. You may not be getting enough folate. Fatigue is the main symptom, according to Dr. Nada Hindiyeh. She’s a neurologist at Haven Headache & Migraine Center and chief medical officer.
The production of healthy red blood cell is dependent on folate. Anemia can occur if you don’t get enough folate. This is because your body doesn’t deliver oxygen to the cells as effectively as it should. Hindiyeh, a HuffPost contributor, said that this is why many people feel weak and tired.
Hindiyeh explained the effects of not getting enough folate over time, which can include headaches and cognitive issues. Hindiyeh said that folate is not a cause of migraines or headaches. However, it can result in folate-deficiency, otherwise known as megaloblasticanemia.
When someone is anemic they can develop fatigue, weakness, and headaches. Hindiyeh explained that a headache is usually caused by anemia, rather than a vitamin deficiency.
A folate deficiency may also negatively affect brain health over the long-term, particularly when it comes memory. A 2022 European Journal for Clinical Nutrition study found that low folate is associated with accelerated cognitive decline and an important marker for dementia among older adults.
According to a study in The Journal of Nutrition, Health, & Aging published in 2020, Dr. Shivang Joshi, assistant professor of Neurology at the University of Massachusetts, and vice president of Association of Migraine Disorders, many people who have a folate deficit also suffer from low vitamin B12 levels. This is associated with cognitive decline and memory issues.
Folate plays a role in normal brain functions, and a severe lack of it has been linked to cognitive problems. Hindiyeh said, “Memory is complex.”
The folate deficiency was just one of many possible causes for memory loss, she explained. Hindiyeh said that a folate deficit is not the first thing she would look at if someone had memory issues, but it can certainly be an important factor.
What is the most common cause of folate deficiencies?
The good news is that both neurologists have told HuffPost it’s rare to suffer from a folate shortage.
Joshi stated that it is difficult for Americans to be folate-deficient because many of their foods have been fortified.
Foods rich in folate include vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, fish, dairy, meat and poultry, as well as nuts, seeds, and beans. Both doctors agreed that people who are deficient in folate may also be deficient other nutrients.
Some people may still be at risk of a deficiency in folate, even though folate is abundantly available. Sophia Guillot is a registered Dietitian with TeamNutrition. She told HuffPost people with alcohol abuse disorder have a higher chance of having a deficiency in folate because alcohol inhibits its absorption.
Joshi added that alcohol could also affect vitamin B12 absorption. This can lead to headaches, fatigue and memory issues. He stressed that it is not a result of drinking one or two glasses of alcohol regularly. It’s more a sign that you are chronically abusing alcohol.
Hindiyeh said, “Chronic alcohol abuse can affect folate in multiple ways.” Alcohol consumption reduces folate absorption and affects the way that body stores it. People who consume alcohol heavily also tend to be less nourished. These factors increase the likelihood of a deficiency when they are combined.
Guillot says that if you suffer from a health condition which can interfere with nutrient intake (e.g. celiac or inflammatory intestinal disease), your risk of folate deficiencies is also higher. Guillot said that pregnant women have an increased need for folate to help support cell division and DNA synthesis.
You can easily make sure that you get enough folate.
National Institutes of Health suggests that US non-pregnant adults consume 400 micrograms of equivalent dietary folate per day.
The term “dietary folate equivalents” is used because only certain percentages folate can be bioavailable if consumed as a form other than whole food, explained Kelsey Kunik. She’s a dietitian registered with Graciously Nourished.
If you take the folic supplement without food or with fortified products, only 50% of it will be absorbed.
Most Americans aren’t deficient in folate. If you experience fatigue, headaches, and memory issues regularly, and want to determine if your folate level is the cause, you can ask your doctor for a test. The simple blood test determines the amount of folate in your blood.
“Eating a varied diet helps ensure sufficient folate intake,” registered dietitian Amy Brownstein told HuffPost. Folate is found in many foods including dairy products, animal and plant-based foods. Black-eyed beans, boiled vegetables and breakfast cereals fortified with folate are the best sources. “Adding one serving of folate-rich foods to your diet can help you meet your folate requirements.”
Brownstein explained that women trying to conceive or who are currently pregnant can gain the most benefit by taking folate supplements. She said that folate was especially important in early pregnancy, when the spinal cord of the child is developing.
Brownstein stated that “incorporating foods rich in folate or taking multivitamins containing folate can help meet the needs.” It’s important to consult your doctor prior to taking any supplements, particularly if you suffer from any health issues. Health experts HuffPost spoke with said that it is unlikely to consume too much of folate through natural foods, but supplements containing folate should not be taken in excess.
It is uncommon, but a folate deficiency can occur. This can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms. Consult your doctor if you experience fatigue, headaches, or memory issues. You can then pinpoint the cause, which is the first step in feeling more energetic and focused.
The original version of this article appeared in HuffPost.