Mental Floss

HEALTH

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Whether you bow down to the ritual of a mid-afternoon siesta or never stop to snooze, you may think twice about the power of napping after reading about its many benefits.

Jordan Rosenfeld
Intellinetix / Kanjo / Amazon

When Tylenol and Advil don't cut it for your aches, you might need a technological intervention. Here are some drug-free devices you can buy to ease the pain—while using up your annual FSA funds in the process.

Scott Beggs






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Your kidneys filter almost 50 gallons of blood a day to keep your whole body healthy. Read on for more facts about this crucial organ—including what causes kidney stones.

Emily Petsko


iStock.com/Emir Memedovski

Opticians rarely get as much credit as their optometrist counterparts, but they're a vital part of the eyewear world. Here is what they actually do.

Shaunacy Ferro


Rachel Murray, Getty Images for Hulu

Sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer—who passed away on July 12 at the age of 96—used television, radio, the written word, and the internet to speak frankly on topics relating to human sexuality.

Jake Rossen


iStock.com/Wojciech Kozielczyk

Asthma symptoms affect more than 25 million Americans, including 7 million children. But kids who grow up around animals are less likely to have an asthma diagnosis.

Michele Debczak


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Saliva is more important than you think: You need spit to taste, chew, swallow, and digest everything you eat. Your spit even fights tooth decay and cavities.

Shaunacy Ferro