Monday 26 October 2026 · 5 small stories to take into your day
Today in 30 seconds
About two drinks a day was linked to a 1 in 25 lifetime risk of dying from alcohol
In mice, a popular sleep supplement ingredient led to signs of withdrawal
Most people with psychosis are never violent, a writer who recovered explains
EatReview of studies
1No amount of alcohol showed an overall health benefit
The problem. Many people believe a drink or two a day is harmless, or even good for the heart. It is hard to know what the evidence really says.
What they found. A team in the US and Canada combined more than 7,200 papers with national health data. At 14 drinks a week (about two a day), the lifetime risk of dying from alcohol-related causes was 1 in 25. Up to seven drinks a week was linked to only small rises in risk. No level showed an overall health benefit.
“Even low levels of alcohol use come with health risks.”
Kevin Shield, lead study author, University of Toronto
Try this. Write down one health belief you grew up with, then look up who tested it and how.
How sure is this? A large review that used statistical models, not a trial. It describes risk across whole populations, not what will happen to one person.
2In mice, a sleep supplement ingredient led to withdrawal-like signs
The problem. Sleep supplements with CBN, a substance from cannabis, are sold as a gentle, natural way to rest. But it is hard for buyers to know how well they have been tested.
What they found. In a mouse study, University of Connecticut researchers gave CBN twice a day for three days. The mice reacted less to it, a sign of tolerance (getting used to it). When CBN stopped, they twitched in ways that looked like withdrawal. Mice trained to spot THC (the part of cannabis that makes people feel high) reacted similarly to CBN.
“The marketing of minor cannabinoids is pretty wild right now.”
Olivia Vanegas, lead author of the study
Try this. Pick one product in your home and look up what testing, if any, stands behind its claims.
How sure is this? A lab study in mice, and the number of mice is not given. It does not show that the same happens in people.
3Sunday dread is about the week ahead, not Sunday itself
The problem. Many people feel low or anxious on Sunday evenings as the work week gets close. The worry can take over a day meant for rest.
What they found. Resilience scholar Robyne Hanley-Dafoe argues the 'Sunday scaries' are stress about the week ahead. She cites a University of Exeter report where about 4 in 5 people said they had felt 'Sunday night blues'. Her tips include writing down three Monday tasks on Friday and planning one nice thing for Sunday.
“Sunday is a day of your life, not just a waiting room for Monday.”
Robyne Hanley-Dafoe, resilience scholar and author
Try this. Before you finish work or study this week, write down your top three tasks for the next day.
How sure is this? One expert's advice piece, not a new study. She says what works for one person may not work for another.
4Most people with psychosis are never violent, a survivor writes
The problem. News about one violent case can make people fear anyone with psychosis (losing touch with what is real). That fear adds to the unfair judgement they already face.
What they found. Writer Sarah Merritt Ryan was diagnosed with schizophrenia 15 years ago. She has had no symptoms for at least 13 years. She writes that 80 to 90% of people with a psychotic disorder are not violent at all. One study she cites found people with schizophrenia are 14 times more often victims of violence than arrested for it.
“Being psychotic does not automatically make a person violent.”
Sarah Merritt Ryan, schizophrenia survivor and writer
Try this. Next time a news story blames a whole group, notice it and ask how common the case really is.
How sure is this? An opinion piece by one writer, with no new research. Her figures come from several separate studies.
5Ian Rankin turns hard times into stories and shares his income
The problem. Losing a parent or caring for a child with a disability can be very hard on a family. It can be difficult to make sense of what happened.
What they found. Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin has sold more than 35 million books. He says writing helped him through his mother's death when he was 19, and his son's disability. Through a charity trust, he and his wife give away about 20 to 30% of his income after tax.
“Writing is a way of dealing with things.”
Ian Rankin, Scottish author
Try this. Write a few lines tonight about something on your mind, as if it belonged to someone else.
How sure is this? A personal interview, not research. It shares one writer's experience in his own words.
