The Checkup: 11 Science-Backed Health Reasons to Get a Dog This Weekend

And more healthy reads for your day.

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Shutterstock

• Not only do dogs make for the perfect cuddle buddies and Netflix-marathon partners, they’re also really good for our health: Having a dog around can lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of getting cardiovascular disease — they can even be trained to sniff out cancer! (You can start looking for your new furry friend by perusing our weekly adoptable running dogs.) [Greatist]

• If you plan on having a beer tonight (It is Friday, after all), you might want to opt for a Guinness. Apparently, unlike other beers, Guinness contains immune-boosting antioxidants. Who knew? [POPSUGAR Fitness]

• Welp, this is terrifying: Basically, everyone in the world is becoming nearsighted because we spend way too much time indoors. So get outside today, please! [Refinery29]

• If you refill your BPA-free plastic water bottle a bazillion times a day, you might want to consider switching to glass: A new study shows that the chemicals they use to make BPA-free plastic products may be just at dangerous as BPA. [TIME]

• Here’s an easy mood-boosting trick: Add sprints to your regular workouts. [Men’s Health]

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