Lauren Vinopal

Lauren Vinopal is a contributing writer to InsideHook. She loves writing about mental health, nutrition and relationships, usually through a humorous lens. Her work has been featured in MTV News, Vice, GQ, Fatherly, MEL Magazine and more. She lives in Chicago.

All Articles From Lauren Vinopal
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

Billy Blanks filming a Tae Bo workout class in the early 2000s. How does the exercise program hold up in the 2020s?

Revisiting the Tae Bo Workouts of My Youth

The punchy aerobics class didn't make it out of the aughts. Why'd we give up on it?

A bunch of Oreos against a blue background. We tested these snack cookies and other junk foods to see which ones are best as pre-workout fuel.

Is Junk Food an Underrated Pre-Workout?

We tested six different snacks, from Oreos to gummy bears, to see if the claims about "junk fuel" are true

A muscular man lifting a barbell over his head. Here's how strength training can actually give you youthful skin.

Want Youthful Skin? Start Strength Training.

New research out of Japan suggests going to the gym thickens both muscles and skin

A hot yoga studio with empty mats. We look at what the science says about hot yoga's benefits, especially when it comes to depression.

The Surprising Link Between Hot Yoga and Depression Treatment

So far, the science points to these classes being more of a health hack than a hot mess

Jordan Ferrone sitting in a freezing ice bath. He's done a cold plunge every day for over 365 days.

The Goal: 100 Ice Baths Over 100 Days. A Year Later, He’s Still Going.

A conversation with cold plunge king Jordan Ferrone, who started the ritual to improve his mental health

A woman doing a headstand in a park.

Are Headstands Good for You? It Depends.

We break down the potential benefits (and risks) of the challenging move

A graphic of beer and sandwiches on a red table.

The Science of Beer Bellies

It's the one bulge no man wants. Here's everything you need to know.

Psychotherapist Esther Perel speaking at SXSW. We interviewed her ahead of her course on fighting in relationships: "Turning Conflict Into Connection"

How Men Can Argue Better in Relationships, According to Esther Perel

Do you have the same fight with your partner over and over? The renowned psychotherapist can help — she's seen it all before.

A photo of Carlos Alcaraz running for the tennis ball, with his mouth open.

Can Grunting Give You a Better Workout?

We explore whether tennis-esque squawks make HIIT any easier

Rows of chocolate milk in cardboard cartons. Is this really the best sports drink you can buy?

Is Chocolate Milk Secretly the Best Sports Drink?

There's scientific evidence that it's great post-workout fuel, but it's not for everyone

A view of a man's calves as he climbs the StairMaster.

Why the StairMaster Is Still Such an Effective Workout

Sometimes great exercise comes in extra-large, extra-vintage packages

An illustration of many pickles against a blue background.

This Is the Most Underrated Post-Workout Fuel

The briny buggers are chock-full of sodium, potassium and magnesium

A group of elite runners on a track, in a speedy blur.

Is This the Best Recovery Device for Runners Yet?

Firefly's neuromuscular electrical stimulation device has all the hype. We tested it for a month

A stack of edible cannabis gummies in rainbow light

Why Weed Is the Missing Ingredient in Your Workout Routine

It's time to try exercising high. We'll explain.