This week, we look at ways to help cope with election-related stress, the heart-healthy benefits of adopting a Pesco-Mediterranean diet with your fast, and the surprising mindfulness boost of an extra half hour of sleep.

Our kidneys are crucial for keeping us alive and healthy. Scientists have struggled to come up with viable treatments for kidney disease and renal failure, and their complexity means kidneys are incredibly hard to synthetically recreate; each kidney contains around one million intricately-structured nephrons. But new progress from chemical engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas has brought functioning artificial kidneys one step closer.

Every week, we’re bringing you a round-up of the latest fasting, health, and wellness news to hit the wire. There are many ways that fasting converges with lifestyle to improve change day to day life as we know it. This week, we look at intermittent fasting’s potential to boost immunity against COVID-19 infection, how sleep experts wind down in this age of anxiety, and whether or not a smoothie is the best choice to break your fast.