Health is wealth

“The first wealth is health” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Potential AI bans worldwide, OCT birth control for everyone, and yummy vegan recipes are some of the things you can't skip in this issue.

Health: Over-the-counter birth control pills have finally been approved! The Food and Drug Administration’s decision on July 13 to approve a birth control pill for over-the-counter (OTC) use is an important advance to making sure everyone has easy access to birth control.

I mean, let's face it, birth control can be pretty expensive. And that's not even taking into account the time and effort it takes to go to a doctor's appointment and get a prescription. Making sure that everyone has access to birth control is a first great step and now the focus will be to make sure that it's affordable.

But how do we do that? Insurance companies need to sort it out quickly and start covering over-the-counter birth control pills. Pharmacies and grocery stores will need to keep a good supply so that birth control pills can be available at all times and can easily be picked up while we are out running errands.

And let's not forget about education. Women need to be informed about the different types of birth control and how to use them effectively. Because at the end of the day, birth control is not just about preventing unwanted pregnancies, it's also about empowering women to make informed decisions about their own bodies.

So, let's celebrate this victory, but let's also make sure that we're doing everything we can to make birth control accessible and affordable for everyone.

Home: PCMag has curated a list of the best smart home devices available in the market this year.

The devices help automate and control various aspects of a smart home.

The top-rated devices include the Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) for voice control, the Nest Learning Thermostat for temperature control, the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance for lighting, the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect for security, and the Ecobee Smart Thermostat with Voice Control for energy efficiency.

You can schedule many of these devices to do a specific action at a determined time. PCMag's Editor-in-Chief Wendy Sheehan schedules her smart garage door to automatically shut every evening at the same time.

Other notable devices include the Ring Video Doorbell Pro for home security, the iRobot Roomba i7+ for automated cleaning, and the Sonos One (Gen 2) for high-quality audio.

Have you been thinking about upgrading the tech in your home? Would you try any of these?

You can check out these smart devices here.

Tech: The European Parliament is moving closer to a political agreement on how to regulate AI, with a likely ban on some uses of AI, such as predictive policing, and extra transparency requirements for AI judged to be high-risk.

Once MEPs vote on the agreement later this month, it will need to be negotiated with EU member states. The discussions highlight the balance between protecting society from AI’s risks while reaping its rewards.

The EU’s new AI law could set a global standard for regulating AI, and its privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation, set a precedent. Other countries, including Canada and China, are exploring their own approaches to regulating AI, while US Senator Ron Wyden will begin a third attempt to pass a bill called the Algorithmic Accountability Act.

The health and wellness industry is massive and currently being valued in the trillions. Brands in health and wellness need to use branding strategies to stay in the game.

Companies that want to stand out need to implement storytelling in their marketing because customers want to hear and feel a ‘real’ voice behind their favorite brands.

Cohesive visual branding elements such as logos, color schemes, typography, and imagery across all touchpoints, including their website, social media, packaging, and customer service build a memorable brand identity.

Brands can tap into all things video as content in this format was already predicted to rise and take 82% of all IP traffic by 2022 in the Cisco Visual Networking Index.

Not to mention all the additional engagement brands get from using niche micro-influencers. You can read more about this and other strategies here.

Investments Worth Watching

Ahara is a brand that facilitates personalized nutrition plans that incorporate healthy and sustainable food options that has raised 10 million in seed funding.

Dr. Melina Jampolis, a well-known physician nutritionist, has created Ahara in order to make better health accessible to the masses.

Using genetic, epigenetic, and biomarker testing Ahara creates personalized nutrition plans that improve overall health and well-being.

TDLR;

💪What they do: Personalized nutrition for optimal health
📍Location: Los Angeles, CA

📅 Founded: 2022
🤑 Funding: $10 Million in (seed founding 06/07/23)

Get Rec'd

Let's get down to business with THE ENTREPRENEURIAL BIBLE TO VENTURE CAPITAL: Inside Secrets from the Leaders in the Startup Game by Andrew Romans.

This book is like a holy grail for startup founders. It's filled with insider secrets and tips from the big players in the venture capital world. You'll feel like you're in on all the juicy gossip and strategies that successful entrepreneurs use to secure funding.

But let's be real, this book is not a one-time read. It's like drinking from a firehose of information. You'll need to take notes, highlight, and read it a few times to absorb everything.

This book is a must-read for go-getters and anyone serious about starting a business and securing funding. Just be prepared to have your mind blown and your work cut out!

MMM, Yummy!

You don’t have to be vegan to love these delicious recipes.

Whether you're a seasoned vegan or just dipping your toes into the plant-based world, these hearty vegan recipes will have you coming back for seconds.

Who knows, they may even inspire you to ditch the meat and dairy for good!

• Curried Quinoa and Chickpeas

• Viva Panzanella

• Lemon Mushroom Orzo