July Fourth, measles vaccines and healthy travel: The week in Well+Being

Washington Post

03-07-2025

Looking forward to a holiday weekend? So are we. We're thinking about grilling recipes, sun safety (check out the pros and cons of chemical and mineral sunscreens in this guide), how much we should be concerned about measles while traveling (given we're having the biggest outbreak in years) and the latest must-have gadget for healthy travel. But before that …
You've packed a toothbrush, your sunscreen and a swimsuit for your summer travel. Now, what about a carbon monoxide detector? 'The chances of being poisoned are really low, but they're not zero,' Lindell Weaver, the medical director of hyperbaric medicine at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, told our reporter Teddy Amenabar.
Kathryn Gillett, 44, from Wichita, said she bought a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector two years ago for a stay at an apartment in Buenos Aires. Now, she tosses it in her bag every time she travels, she said.
'Why wouldn't you travel with one?' asked Gillett, who said the device is about the size of two smartphones stacked together, weighs 10 ounces and cost her $20.
To find out more about why you might consider adding a carbon monoxide detector to your short list of must-have travel items, read our article here.
For many people who struggle to eat a healthy diet, the biggest barrier is often cost: Nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood tend to be a lot more expensive than ultra-processed foods.
But that's not always the case. Some of the most nutritious foods are also among the most affordable: beans, peas and lentils, collectively known as pulses.
Pulses are high in protein and fiber. They promote gut health, help with weight loss, and improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Studies have also found that beans, peas and lentils have a low carbon footprint.
To find out more about how beans can make you healthier — and some of the best ways to make them on a budget — read this article from nutrition reporter Anahad O'Connor.
Our guest columnist this week is Christopher W.T. Miller, MD, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst practicing at the University of Maryland Medical Center and an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
I had a falling out with a decades-old friend, whom I considered family, and now she won't talk to me. I don't know what life is without her in it. What do I do now?
I have been asked variations on this question by numerous people, as they struggled to figure out how to carry on after the end of a relationship. Whether it's a romantic partner, friend or family member, when important people are no longer part of our lives, it can feel as though our center of gravity has been shifted, leaving us aimless and adrift.
When the other is choosing to exclude us from their lives, the grief we experience can be profound, as this carries the painful message that their life is better without us. When a relationship ends, we lose the other person, and how we think of ourselves can be affected, especially if we have come to define ourselves within the context of the relationship.
To find out more about what to do if a friend cuts you off, read the full response here. And if you have a question for a therapist about mental health, relationships, sleep, dating or any other topic, email it to [e-mail], and we may feature it in a future column.
Here are a few things that brought us joy this week.
Let's keep the conversation going. We want to hear from you! Email us at [e-mail].
Want to know more about 'joy' snacks? Reporter and former neuroscientist Richard Sima explains what they are and how they can make you feel happier. You can also read his advice as a comic.