Going Viral

Do you have a hard lesson you would like to share? Karen E. Todd, MBA, RD VP of Global Brand Marketing, Kyowa Hakko USA, posed that Q on LinkedIn, and shared the hardest lesson she has learned in her career as VP of Global Brand Marketing: The best science doesn’t always win.

“You can have a clinically backed, gold-standard ingredient supported by peer-reviewed research and real human outcomes, but if you don’t tell the story the right way, it gets lost,” Todd wrote. “That’s a tough pill to swallow when you come from a scientific background like I do.

“You believe that facts speak for themselves. But in the real world, especially in the crowded health and wellness space, people don’t buy data.” What they do buy, Todd said:

• They buy belief.
• They buy benefits.
• They buy stories that connect to their lives.

That, Todd shared, taught her the power and responsibility of marketing:

• To elevate truth over trend.
• To translate complex science into compelling reasons to care.
• To respect consumers by giving them both education and inspiration.

“And ultimately,” Todd shared, “it taught me that the role of marketing isn’t just to sell. It’s to serve. This is why I fight for honest, science-backed, and emotionally intelligent storytelling every day.”

Fact Check! 

Have questions or concerns about energy drinks?  Douglas Kalman, Ph.D. RD, took to LinkedIn to spread the word about Common Questions and Misconceptions About Energy Drinks: What Does the Scientific Evidence Really Show? In this Q&A report, Kalman and other experts tackle myths and outline truths on energy drinks and their possible performance-enhancing effect. Questions include:

• Do energy drinks assist in weight management?
• Do energy drinks enhance aerobic performance?
• Do energy drinks enhance athletic speed?
• Can energy drinks improve cognitive performance?
• Is there any evidence to suggest that energy drinks are more effective than an identical serving of caffeine alone?
• Are there sex differences in the response to energy drink consumption? 
• What are other safety considerations regarding energy drinks?

Kalman and colleagues performed an evidence-based scientific evaluation of the literature on energy drink supplementation to help set the record straight.

Wise Words

Struggling with decisions or to-dos? Kien Vuu, M.D., shared a helpful suggestion on LinkedIn:

“Mental burnout, emotional loops, creative blocks—it’s not always a mindset issue,” Dr. Vuu said. “Often, it’s a movement issue. The nervous system can’t reset through thinking alone. It needs action. When I feel stuck, I shift my physical state.

• Breathwork
• Movement
• Shaking off the static

This clears space for clarity, focus, and energy to return. Before your next big decision… move first.”

Peaceful Pause

Spreading the feel-good vibes, Dr. Jeffrey Burke, Director of Education for Kokora, posted on LinkedIn:

"We all have dreams, goals, wants and needs, but most of us tend to forget the blessings we already have in front of us. Some of these blessings are big, some are small, and some we have to stand back to look at to see how incredible they really are. When it comes to our blessings, these are just a sample of blessings that are commonly overlooked....Having your health, getting texts from people who want nothing other than to check in, having people around you that you can call at any time for support and they would be there, enjoying frequent unconditional love from your critters, having a job, being able to pay your bills, having a roof over your head, food on your table, a bed to sleep in, and a place to call home, and of course, the freedom to live your life as you choose. Be Grateful, Be Happy, and always Be Appreciative.”