Better Life Span
Mary Burson

Mary Burson

Health & Wellness Writer · 10+ years writing about health and wellness

Mary has spent the past decade in and around the healthcare industry, translating research into practical advice people can actually use. She focuses on supplements, recovery, and the everyday habits that help readers live longer, healthier lives. Every recommendation is researched independently and tested against the published evidence.

  • ACE · American Council on Exercise

Articles by Mary Burson

A scoop of collagen peptide powder beside a glass of water and fresh fruit on a bright surface
Supplements & Vitamins

Best Collagen Supplements for Skin & Joints

The best collagen supplements for aging skin and joints in 2026: what the research shows, how to choose collagen peptides, and our researched top picks.

Mary Burson5 min
Golden CoQ10 softgels beside a supplement bottle on a softly lit surface
Supplements & Vitamins

Best CoQ10 Supplements for Energy & Heart Health

The best CoQ10 supplements in 2026: ubiquinol vs ubiquinone, who actually benefits (statin users, heart health), how to dose it, and our researched top picks.

Mary Burson5 min
Foam rollers of different densities arranged on a bright exercise mat
Recovery & Mobility

Best Foam Rollers for Recovery & Mobility

The best foam rollers in 2026: what the research says they actually do, how to pick the right density, and our top picks from gentle to deep-tissue.

Mary Burson5 min
A cozy heating pad draped over a chair in warm light
Recovery & Mobility

Best Heating Pads for Muscle & Joint Pain

The best heating pads for muscle and joint pain in 2026: when to use heat (vs cold), what to look for, and our top picks from classic to cordless.

Mary Burson5 min
A set of massage and lacrosse balls on a bright exercise mat
Recovery & Mobility

Best Massage Balls & Trigger-Point Tools

The best massage balls and trigger-point tools in 2026: how to use them for knots and tight spots, what to look for, and our top affordable picks.

Mary Burson5 min
A foam roller, massage gun, massage balls, and resistance bands arranged on a bright exercise mat
Recovery & Mobility

Best Muscle Recovery & Mobility Tools: The Complete Guide

The best muscle recovery and mobility tools, backed by evidence: what massage guns, foam rollers, compression and more actually do, and how to build a routine that keeps you moving.

Mary Burson10 min
White supplement capsules and a bottle on a clean, softly lit surface
Longevity & Aging

Best NMN & NAD+ Supplements: An Honest Buyer's Guide

The best NMN and NAD+ supplements in 2026 — and an honest look at the evidence. What NAD+ boosters can and can't do, how to vet an unregulated category, and our picks.

Mary Burson5 min
A set of fabric and looped resistance bands on a bright exercise mat
Recovery & Mobility

Best Resistance Bands for Mobility & Stretching

The best resistance bands for mobility, stretching, and gentle strength in 2026: why they're ideal as you age, how to choose, and our top picks.

Mary Burson5 min
Skincare supplements, a collagen scoop, and fresh citrus on a clean, bright surface
Supplements & Vitamins

Best Supplements for Aging Skin

The best supplements for aging skin in 2026: which ingredients (collagen, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C) have real evidence, what to skip, and our researched top picks.

Mary Burson5 min
Omega-3 softgels and capsules beside walnuts and blueberries on a bright surface
Supplements & Vitamins

Best Supplements for Brain Health & Memory

The best supplements for brain health and memory as you age: what the evidence really supports, what to skip, and our researched top picks for a sharper mind.

Mary Burson5 min
A flat-lay of longevity supplement bottles, capsules, and fresh produce on a sunlit surface
Longevity & Aging

Best Supplements for Longevity: Top Picks Compared

The best supplements for longevity in 2026, ranked by evidence: which longevity supplements have real human support, which are hype, and our researched top picks.

Mary Burson7 min
A person's mat with resistance bands set up for a gentle mobility routine in warm morning light
Recovery & Mobility

A Daily Mobility Routine for Staying Limber After 50

A simple daily mobility routine for staying limber after 50: gentle, joint-by-joint exercises you can do at home in 10 minutes to protect range of motion and independence.

Mary Burson6 min
A question mark formed beside supplement capsules on a clean, bright surface
Longevity & Aging

Do Longevity Supplements Really Work?

Do longevity supplements really work? An honest, evidence-based look at what supplements can and can't do for aging — and where your money is better spent.

Mary Burson5 min
An assortment of recovery tools arranged on a bright surface with a question-mark motif
Recovery & Mobility

Do Muscle Recovery Tools Actually Work?

Do muscle recovery tools actually work? An honest, evidence-based look at massage guns, foam rollers, compression boots and more — what helps, what's hype.

Mary Burson5 min
A glass of water, healthy food, and recovery tools arranged on a bright surface
Recovery & Mobility

How to Speed Up Muscle Recovery

How to speed up muscle recovery, backed by evidence: the habits that actually matter (sleep, protein, movement), and where recovery tools genuinely help.

Mary Burson6 min
A foam roller on an exercise mat ready for use in a bright room
Recovery & Mobility

How to Use a Foam Roller (Beginner's Guide)

How to use a foam roller, step by step: correct technique, the best areas to roll, what to avoid, and beginner-friendly routines for recovery and mobility.

Mary Burson5 min
An abstract illustration of glowing cells and molecules on a dark, science-themed background
Longevity & Aging

NAD+ and Aging: The Complete Guide

NAD+ and aging explained: what NAD+ is, why it declines with age, what NMN and NR supplements really do, and evidence-based ways to support your NAD+ levels.

Mary Burson6 min
Colorful fruits, vegetables, and vitamin capsules arranged on a bright kitchen surface
Supplements & Vitamins

What Vitamins Help Fight Aging?

What vitamins help fight aging? A clear, evidence-based rundown of the vitamins that matter most as you age — vitamin D, B12, C, K2 and more — and how to get them.

Mary Burson6 min
Magnesium supplement capsules and a glass of water on a nightstand by lamplight
Sleep

Best Magnesium for Sleep: Top Picks Compared

The best magnesium for sleep in 2026: which forms (glycinate, citrate, more) actually help, how to choose and dose it safely, and our researched top picks.

Mary Burson11 min
A neat arrangement of supplement bottles and capsules beside fresh fruit and a glass of water on a bright kitchen counter
Longevity & Aging

Best Supplements for Healthy Aging: The Complete Guide

The best supplements for healthy aging, backed by evidence: which vitamins and longevity supplements actually help after 50, what the science says, and how to choose safely.

Mary Burson18 min
A soft chunky weighted blanket draped over a neatly made bed in warm light
Sleep

The Best Weighted Blankets for Deeper Sleep

The best weighted blankets for deeper sleep in 2026: how to pick the right weight, cooling vs cozy options, safety notes, and our top picks compared.

Mary Burson12 min
A modern white noise sound machine on a nightstand in a dim, calm bedroom
Sleep

Best White Noise Machines for Sleep

The best white noise machines for sleep in 2026: white vs pink vs brown noise, mechanical vs electronic, how to choose, and our top picks compared.

Mary Burson11 min
A calm, dark bedroom optimized for sleep with blackout curtains and an eye mask
Sleep

How to Build the Perfect Sleep Environment

How to build the perfect sleep environment: optimize light, temperature, sound, and your bed for deeper rest, with practical step-by-step changes.

Mary Burson10 min
A peaceful bedtime wind-down with herbal tea, a book, and a warm lamp on a nightstand
Sleep

Sleep Hygiene: Habits for Deeper, Longer Sleep

Sleep hygiene that actually works: consistent schedules, light, caffeine timing, wind-down routines, and the habits that lead to deeper, longer sleep.

Mary Burson11 min
An assortment of multivitamin supplements and a glass of water on a clean surface
Supplements & Vitamins

The Best Multivitamins for Men in 2026

The best multivitamins for men in 2026. Which nutrients men actually need, what to skip, how to read a label, and our researched top picks.

Mary Burson9 min
A fingertip pulse oximeter displaying an SpO2 reading on a person’s finger
Health Monitoring

The Best Affordable Pulse Oximeters in 2026

The best affordable pulse oximeters in 2026. What SpO2 readings mean, accuracy limits to know, how to choose one, and our budget-friendly picks.

Mary Burson9 min