Happy Wednesday! Today we’re chatting about:

• 🏕️ The history of this classic American food

• 🪥 How to whiten your teeth as you brush

• 🥖 Fast-food chains that make their food from scratch

A Cat on a Walk Solved a Cold Case

Nature and Animals

Pili and Nick take their cat, Coco, on a walk around their Dublin neighborhood most evenings. The routine is usually calm, with Coco sniffing around bushes while her parents chat nearby. One night, though, Coco started letting out urgent, frantic meows they'd never heard from her before.

The couple followed the sound to a tree, where a tabby cat sat perched on a branch. Coco, who normally puffs up around strange cats, was completely gentle with this one, leaning in to sniff noses and chirping softly like she was checking on him. That was the moment Pili and Nick realized something wasn't right.

They'd brought Coco's carrier along, so they tried to coax the tabby down. He beat them to it. Before they'd even figured out a plan, he hopped from the tree, trotted over, and walked straight into the open carrier on his own. They drove him to the emergency vet, where a microchip scan turned up a chip that unfortunately wasn't registered.

Determined to find his family, Pili eventually spotted a lost cat post on a community app and got in touch. The tabby was reunited the very next morning. As it turned out, he was a well loved escape artist who'd simply never had his missing notice taken down, and he liked wandering the neighborhood making friends. Coco, it seems, was simply his newest one.

How S'mores Became an American Classic

Food

S'mores feel like they've always existed, but the treat actually traces back to a single 1927 recipe. It first appeared in a Girl Scout handbook under the name "Some More," created by Loretta Scott Crew for campers roasting marshmallows by the fire. The instructions barely differ from what's used today, right down to the joke that "one is really enough." (Spoiler: it never is.)

The real boom came decades later. After World War II, road trips, national parks, and summer camps sent millions of Americans outdoors, and packaged marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bars made the treat easy to recreate anywhere. Today, more than 2.5 million Americans enjoy s'mores every year, a number that's spawned everything from cereal to ice cream in the same flavor.

Each ingredient carries its own surprising backstory too. Graham crackers started as a health food in the 1830s. Marshmallows trace back over 2,000 years to ancient Egypt. Chocolate's path to a creamy milk bar didn't happen until the 1870s. Together, they became something greater than any one piece.

Modern twists keep showing up, peanut butter cups, gourmet marshmallow flavors, cookies swapped in for crackers, but the original combination has held strong for nearly a century. Some things really are better left exactly as they are.

Is Whitening Harming Your Teeth?

Sponsored by Purely White Deluxe

Teeth whitening is one of those things that sounds easy until your teeth start feeling sensitive. Many strips and gels rely on peroxide or harsh ingredients that can irritate teeth, trigger discomfort, and be tough on enamel over time, especially with repeated use.

Purely White Deluxe was created as a gentler alternative. Its peroxide-free and fluoride-free formula helps whiten teeth without the harsh ingredients that often cause sensitivity. And instead of adding trays, strips, timers, or extra steps to your routine, it fits into something you already do every day: brushing your teeth.

The process is simple. Add the powder to your toothpaste, brush like normal, and you’re good to go.

Why people are switching:

• No peroxide to help avoid the sensitivity that comes with many whiteners

• Gentler on enamel than harsh whitening strips or gels

• Naturally prevents and repairs cavities

• Easy to use because it works with your normal brushing routine

• Freshens breath while helping brighten your smile

• Visible results starting on the first day, with better results over time

• Trusted by over 1 million users

For anyone who wants whiter teeth without making their routine more complicated, Purely White Deluxe offers a simple daily upgrade that’s easy to stick with.

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Get whiter teeth today.

What Red Light Workouts Are Really Like

Self-Care

Red light therapy has been around for years, but it's now showing up in gyms and studios, not just masks and skincare devices. It's worth asking whether the trend actually holds up.

The potential perks are real, at least according to research so far. Red and near-infrared light may support muscle recovery, reduce soreness, and even boost mood, benefits that seem to complement lower-impact workouts like yoga or Pilates rather than replace them. Some studios pair the lights with infrared heat too, making for a sweatier, more intense session.

Trying both a red light yoga class and an infrared reformer workout reveals the difference in a few unexpected ways: deeper stretches, less lingering soreness, and noticeably brighter skin the next morning.

The catch is that consistency matters more than any single class. Like most red light therapy, benefits tend to build over weeks rather than show up overnight, so it's best thought of as one steady piece of a wellness routine rather than a quick fix.

Dog of the Day: Coconut

Reader Spotlight

Meet Coconut, today's Dog of the Day sent in by Daily Dig reader Connie. Those ears, that face, those bright little eyes. Coconut is a smart, fun, and loving Westie who lights up every room he walks into, and apparently every city he visits, too.

Connie describes Coconut as an avid traveler who never leaves his human mom's side. Whether it's a day trip to San Francisco or an overnight in Lake Tahoe, this lively little guy is always packed and ready to go. He knows how to live life, and we love that for him.

Thank you to Daily Dig reader Connie for sharing Coconut with us. Want to see your dog featured next? Reply to this email with their photo and a little about them for a chance to be our next Dog of the Day!

Something of the Moment

Culture

• ✈️ 12 easy hobbies that fit right in your carry-on

• 🍂 10 ways to sneak fall into your home

• 🪥 This powder whitens your teeth as you brush

• 💡 Simple ways to lower your energy bill this month

   A celebrity couple's newest family member has the internet smiling

Something Delicious

Food

• 🥑 The best way to ripen an avocado fast isn't what you'd expect

• 🍔 These fast-food chains actually make their food from scratch

• 🍦 18 Disney World foods you shouldn't skip on your next trip

• ☕ Starbucks just revealed its whole fall menu, and it's a big one

"Adventure is out there."

— Disney’s Up