Happy Friday {{first name | my friend}},

Last year, 1.7M votes poured in from 100+ countries to decide which Alaskan brown bear got the fattest on salmon. Fat Bear Week is back, and you can watch the bears live and vote for your favorite before the champion is crowned Tuesday.

ECL TRIVIA: What is the compound largely responsible for the earthy smell of freshly turned soil (and sometimes beets)? (Answer below)

🐳 A MOTHER WHO WOULDN'T LEAVE: Off Australia's Gold Coast, a humpback mother stayed beside her stillborn calf for hours, possibly days, keeping eye contact with the calf. WATCH THE VIDEO of the first time this has been documented in humpbacks, and a glimpse into the emotional lives of whales.

🐧 FIRST NEW PENGUIN IN 100 YEARS: Gentoo penguins were thought to be one species. Researchers have now read the DNA of 64 birds and found four. The new species is on the remote Kerguelen Islands, 2k miles from the nearest town. Read MORE about why these island penguins could run out of places to live by 2050.

🌳 PROTECT WHAT'S STILL STANDING: Planting trees can get headlines, but a study across 7M acres of the Amazon found protecting existing forest does more good. Keeping out fire and logging did the most for birds and trees. And replanting works best when the old forest around it is protected anyway.

🍓 BERRIES THAT HELP REPAIR YOUR GUT: When you eat pomegranates, walnuts or berries, your gut bacteria make a compound called urolithin A. University of Louisville researchers found it switches on a repair system in your gut lining, rebuilding the barrier and boosting protective mucus. One more reason for a daily handful of your favorites.

😴 THE SLEEP STAGE LINKED TO 83 DISEASES: Researchers tracked the sleep of 95k people, then followed their health for about 9 years. Those who got more REM sleep, the dreaming stage, had a lower risk of 83 diseases, including dementia, heart failure and Parkinson's. The sweet spot for most was 6-8 hours a night.

🌾 YOUR DAILY WHOLE GRAIN SWEET SPOT: People have long heard whole grains are good for the heart, but how much is enough? A review of 87 trials with 6.5k people found the biggest benefits came at 4-6 servings a day. That's about a bowl of oatmeal, a whole-grain sandwich and a side of brown rice.

On a recent hike, the trail was doing a bit more uphill then I was ready for. I was sweating a good amount, and I could feel energy levels fading.

A stick of LMNT added into my spring water to sip, kept me going as I climbed. By the top, I started to notice a clearer head and felt like I had more stamina left in me, even after all the sweat.

And it makes sense because sweat isn't just water. You're also losing sodium and other electrolytes your muscles and nerves depend on. LMNT sticks have 1,000mg of sodium, 200mg of potassium, and 60mg of magnesium, with no sugar.

I always have some in my pack…for hikes, workouts, and long days outside in the sun or working in the yard.

As an ECL reader, you'll also get a complimentary Sample Pack with 8 flavors alongside any drink mix, so you can find your favorite before your next climb.

Try LMNT<<

What is the compound largely responsible for the earthy smell of freshly turned soil (and sometimes beets)?

Answer: Geosmin. It is produced by certain soil microbes and becomes especially noticeable after rain or disturbance.

To a healing future,

— Rob