The Longest Mile: April Edition

April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month.

According to the American Cancer Society, testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men ages 15 to 35. Incidence rates have been rising over the past several decades, particularly among younger men.

The American Association for Cancer Research also notes that while survival rates remain high, the continued increase in cases is an area of active research.

The exact cause is not fully understood. But researchers are increasingly looking at modern lifestyle and environmental exposures as possible contributors. Diet, chemical exposure, heat, radiation, and the materials we are in contact with every day.

That last one gets overlooked.

A recent report from the The Wall Street Journal highlighted growing interest in how synthetic fabrics interact with the body, especially in areas of prolonged contact, though long term health effects are still being studied.

We have seen this before. Things are considered safe until they are not.

It raises a simple question. Why take the risk if you do not have to.

At the same time, testosterone levels in men have been declining for decades.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that testosterone levels in American men have dropped by about one percent per year, even when controlling for age.

That does not happen randomly.

Look at the inputs. Processed diets. Sedentary lifestyles. Constant exposure to synthetic materials. Alcohol and endocrine disruptors everywhere.

It adds up.

The good news is that improving it is not complicated.

Eat real food. Prioritize whole foods and do not be afraid of red meat. Cut back on processed foods, soy heavy diets, and excess dairy. Limit alcohol. Lift heavy weights and push yourself. Get sunlight regularly. Sleep like it matters.

And pay attention to what you wear.

Most underwear today is made from polyester. That means plastic sitting against your skin all day.

Something that happened this week makes all of this very hard to ignore.

The state of Texas just opened a formal investigation into Lululemon, one of the most recognized names in athletic wear, over PFAS in their clothing. On April 13, 2026, the Texas Attorney General filed a Civil Investigative Demand alleging that Lululemon built its entire brand around wellness and healthy living while selling products treated with forever chemicals.

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (more commonly known as forever chemicals). They are a class of synthetic chemicals applied to athletic and outdoor clothing to create water-resistant and stain-resistant finishes. They are called forever chemicals for a reason. They do not break down in the environment. They do not break down in the human body. An estimated 98 percent of the American population has detectable PFAS levels in their blood right now.

Why does this matter in the context of everything we just covered? PFAS have been directly linked to increased risk of testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and kidney cancer. They are also associated with fertility issues, hormone disruption, and effects on testosterone levels. The same exact inputs we were just talking about. The chemicals in your workout gear are not sitting in a vacuum. They are sitting against your body for hours at a time.

What makes the Lululemon situation stand out is not just the chemicals. It is the gap between their image and the reality. This is a company that built a multi-billion dollar brand on the promise of wellness, intentional living, and doing right by your body. Their marketing literally says that. And yet Texas is now demanding they hand over their internal testing data, their restricted substances list, and their full supply chain documentation to prove whether those claims hold up.

Lululemon is not alone here. Nike faced similar litigation. REI, Fabletics, and Gymshark are all under attorney investigation for PFAS in their leggings. Seven states now have active restrictions on PFAS in apparel. New York and California both banned intentionally added PFAS in clothing starting January 1, 2025. This is a wave, not a moment.

The industry is catching up to something a lot of people have quietly understood for a while. The materials you wear every day are not neutral. They interact with your body. And when those materials are coated with chemicals engineered to never decompose, that interaction does not stop when you take them off.

Lululemon now claims it phased out PFAS by early 2024. Maybe it did. But the fact that it took a state-level investigation to surface that conversation tells you everything about where the industry has been. And it is a reminder of why choosing what you put on your body deserves the same attention you give to what you put into it.

We are not here to make extreme claims. The science is still evolving.

But we are here to help you reduce unnecessary exposure where you can.

Our organic cotton boxers are built without the synthetic materials found in most underwear. Our bamboo shirts are designed for comfort and performance without relying on plastic heavy fabrics.

It is not about being perfect.

It is about being intentional.

Because your health is not something you fix later. It is something you protect now. Especially when life is pushing you the hardest.

Thomas

Co-founder