Lauren Vinopal

Lauren Vinopal is a writer based in Chicago. She specializes in reporting expert-driven fitness, nutrition and mental health content, as well as the intersection between wellness and culture.  She is interested in new workouts and products, the proliferation of cannabis in the wellness industry and any emerging optimization trends. As a former staff writer at Fatherly and Mel Magazine, Vinopal’s work has also been featured in Slate, Vice, Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, GQ, Psychology Today, and more. Her writing about therapy accessibility has been highlighted on NPR’s Marketplace, and she was also on a panel for an episode of Open Debate featuring renowned psychotherapist Esther Perel. She excels at blending data and expertise with personal experience and humor, which has made her a reliable health journalist and consistent contributor in the men’s media space.

All Articles From Lauren Vinopal
A triptych depicting various forms of grip strength.

You Really Want to Live Longer? Get a Grip.

The metric is a better predictor of premature death than your blood pressure

The Perfect Workout Most of Us Will Never Even Try

The Perfect Workout Most of Us Will Never Even Try

Fencing supercharges your forearms and footwork. Here's how to give it a go.

A man walks on a beach in winter, watching the waves.

One of the Best Things You Can Do After a Fight

Pissed off? Getting out of the house could get you out of fight or flight.

A knife on a cutting board next to different types of greens. We look at ways to get more fiber into your diet.

How to Eat More Fiber — Without Spending More Money

Only 5% of American men meet daily fiber recommendations. Here's how to join them.

James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano and Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano seek counseling.

Are Men Allowed to Yell at Their Therapists?

Anger isn’t always a meltdown. Sometimes it’s a breakthrough.

PETROLIA, CALIFORNIA - August 3, 2022: Cannabis farmer Drew Barber begins early morning work among the cannabis rows accompanied by his dog, Loka, in Petrolia, California August 3, 2022. Barber practices regenerative farming and is sun and earth certified. He has 10,000 square foot full-season outdoor varieties of cannabis in Humboldt County. Humboldt is a part of the Emerald Triangle, a region made up of Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity counties. The Emerald Triangle is one the historically largest cannabis-producing regions in the United States. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Should Weed Be Part of Your Wellness Routine?

Cannabis has the potential to help with weight loss, gut health, sleep and much more

Man sleeping on sofa in his living room. We asked sleep experts about people who have sleep anxiety in a bed, but can sleep fine on a couch.

Why Can I Fall Asleep on the Couch and Not in My Bed?

Sleep experts explain why your brain resists rest when it matters most

A hand reaching through darkness to a large iPhone depicting an AI logo on a backlit screen.

Is AI Therapy Really a Good Idea?

It’s here, so let’s examine the pros, cons and unknowns of outsourcing your counsel to an LLM

MRI scan showing brain activity. We take a look at the benefits creatine has on brain health.

This Is Your Brain on Creatine

Most commonly linked to muscle building, the supplement can actually encourage short-term memory and clear thinking, too

Close-up of a woman sleeping with a smartwatch tracking her sleep data. Here's what the science says about sleep and aging.

What Does Sleep Have to Do With Aging? Everything.

Sleep quality starts declining far earlier than most people realize — and understanding why could help you preserve it

A balanced flexitarian meal featuring grilled chicken, steamed rice, fresh vegetables, and dipping sauces, captured in warm sunlight.

The Dietary Change That Brought My Energy Back

Going "flexitarian" turned food into fuel again — and helped me fight fatigue

A vibrant field of cannabis plants with bright green leaves reaching toward a clear blue sky. We take a look at what the science says about weed addiction.

Is Weed More Addictive Than We’ve Been Led to Believe?

Turns out cannabis dependence is real — and recovery doesn’t follow the usual script

An illustration of a cashew.

Nuts Are Nutrient Powerhouses, But How You Eat Them Matters

There’s a more elegant way to add them to your diet this year, sans stomachaches

Two men running barefoot on turf. Here's why the natural ground is the best "exercise equipment."

Your Most Underrated Exercise Equipment? The Ground.

Let's hear it for the earth, the workout tool hiding in plain sight

A man pulling carrots from the ground. These days, our politics extend to whether you prefer vegetables or meat.

Eat Your Veggies? We (Probably) Know How You Voted.

America is more polarized than ever — down to how we stock our fridges

A farmer unloads plums off a truck.

The Emerging “Planetary Health Diet,” Explained

According to Harvard experts, eating well bodes well for the environment