December 19, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0cqx5nN4DY] Hair sheds. It’s a normal, natural part of life that happens to everyone on a daily basis, and the reason why our bathrooms, hairbrushes, and black sweaters are so frequently covered in those pesky individual strands. But at what point does “regular shedding” turn into a hair loss problem worth being concerned about? In the latest episode of Dear Derm, board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, reveals that most women lose roughly 100 hairs each day as a part of their normal shedding cycle. While you may not be counting the exact number of strands swimming in your shower drain, it’s worth paying attention to if you notice a sudden change in the volume of what’s in there. “You know when you’re losing more hair than usual,” she says. “Always remember that you know your body best, so if you feel like there’s something on, go see a board-certified dermatologist or your primary care doctor.” As anyone who’s ever gotten a crap haircut or bad dye job knows, hair is an important part of our identities. That’s why when it starts to fall out, it can be particularly jarring, especially when you don’t know what’s going on. There are six different things that could be causing hair loss—some physiological, others environmental—which Dr. Gohara lays out in the episode. But the most important thing, she says, is not to worry—there are ways to deal with them all. “I don’t want you to panic—I
Year: 2019
The surprising Ayurvedic breathing technique that promises better digestion
December 19, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC It’s probably not news to you that scarfing down your food while multitasking (finishing emails, driving, walking home from the gym…) isn’t exactly the greatest for your digestive tract. Slowing down and being mindful during mealtime is a staple of Ayurveda, the five-thousand-year-old Indian medicinal practice. But this type of mindfulness goes beyond resisting the urge to multitask—your breath plays a role, too. “Breathing techniques are central to Ayurveda and Ayurvedic physicians will use specific types of breathing exercises to help resolve certain health problems,” says Lisa Joy Mitchell, an Ayurvedic expert and the author of Sacred & Delicious. When it comes to preventing bloating and indigestion, one breathing technique that is used is right nostril dominance breathing. Never heard of it? Here, Mitchell along with Nick Bitz, ND, a licensed, board-certified naturopathic doctor and the chief scientific officer for Youtheory, explain how it works and how it can be used as your guide for optimal digestion. Understanding your nose, sun channel, and moon channel If the only time when you’ve given your nostrils any thought was when they were all plugged up from a cold, you’re probably not alone. But even when your nostrils are both free and clear, Dr. Bitz says that your airflow is rarely even; one nostril typically has dominance over the other at any given time. This is called the “nasal cycle”—your nostrils switch off over which one is doing the majority of breathing throughout the day. So
Dr. Weil’s anti-inflammatory food pyramid isn’t a diet—and that’s why dietitians love it
December 19, 2019 at 07:30PM by CWC Sugar, chronic stress, and environmental toxins all contribute to inflammation—your immune system’s response to irritants in and outside of your body. Your internal systems use inflammation to protect you, but when the relationship gets thrown off balance, it can affect your overall health. That’s why registered dietitians Wendy Lopez, RD, and Jessica Jones, RD, hosts of the Food Heaven podcast, recommend one anti-inflammatory food list to their clients again and again. In a recent episode, Jones and Lopez, joined by guest Hadis Ghoghaie, RDN, referenced an anti-inflammatory food pyramid created by Andrew Weil, MD, founder and director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. “It’s great because it’s not a diet. It’s not saying you have to eat this or not that. It’s really just different foods to add to your diet for more variety. It has a really large number of vegetables [in it], and I tell people: ‘Listen, if you can even add two vegetables or three a day, that’s great,’” said Ghoghaie. The pyramid doesn’t restrict your diet; instead, it suggests foods to add for their anti-inflammatory effects. “It is becoming increasingly clear that chronic inflammation is the root cause of many serious illnesses—including heart disease, many cancers, and Alzheimer’s disease,” writes Dr. Weil on his website. He offers an in-depth breakdown of how to create an entire diet that keeps inflammation protecting your body rather than harming it. But Ghoghaie, Lopez, and Jones agree:
Is it possible you’re with the right person even if you have doubts?
December 19, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC The saying “when you know, you know” is used to describe the theoretical realization one might have after finding the right person or “the one.” But in practice, that a ha moment may not come, and as a result, it’s hard to know—for sure—whether you’re in a happy, healthy, committed partnership. Because while you may well really like a person, and perhaps even love them, you may not feel certain that you’ll be able to get everything you need from them and your relationship in order to be happy. This situation begs the question: Is not being totally sure about your partner a red flag about your hypothetical future together? To get to the bottom of the conundrum (so you can stop mentally spinning), relationship experts weigh in on how to handle the notion of being currently happy and satisfied in your partnership, but not overcome with future-tense confidence. First, know that worrying about finding the right person is common “Think about the other decisions you’ve made in your life; did you feel 100 percent certain at all times that you were making the right decision?” says sex therapist Carly Haeck, LMFT. “Most likely, you probably questioned what you were doing; it’s human to question.” “Think about the other decisions you’ve made in your life; did you feel 100 percent certain at all times that you were making the right decision?” —Carly Haeck, LMFT The difference with relationships versus other decisions you may
‘No added sugar’ is the most misleading nutrition claim of all
December 19, 2019 at 05:52PM by CWC The long-awaited nutrition label change the Food and Drug Administration has been pushing for finally goes into effect at the start of the new year. One of the most notable updates is that for the first time all food and drink brands will be required to call out the added sugar in their products in addition to the total content. Sounds helpful, right? While being armed with as much knowledge as possible about what you’re putting in your body is a benefit, registered dietitian Brigitte Zeitlin, RD, feels strongly that it’s still way more important to pay attention to the total sugar than the added sugar. “Whether it’s eating healthier, reducing inflammation, alleviating digestive issues, clearing up your skin, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing inflammation, or lowering your risk of chronic illnesses, keeping an eye on total grams is what is going to get you to your goals,” she says. “No added sugar” is a confusing marketing term more than anything else, says Zeitlin. “Foods made from fruits, whole grains, and dairy can say they have no added sugar because they don’t. For example, a large bottle of orange juice—made from whole fruit—will still contain more sugar than you should consume in a day,” she says. “But because they write no added sugar on it, people are unknowingly sabotaging their goals but drinking the entire bottle.Your body can’t differentiate between sources of sugar. That’s why the total content matters so much. You should
The only thing my dry, rosacea-prone skin needs is a tub of this hydrating AF moisturizer
December 19, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC My mom and I have a pretty consistent Christmas tradition. She always calls me a few days after Thanksgiving, requesting that I send along my Christmas list so that “Mrs. Claus” knows what I want. I then reply that I don’t really want anything. She scoffs on the other end of the phone, then follows up with text messages ridden with Santa emojis and crying cat faces, begging for my list. Inevitably, I always cave and send her over a short list that always, always includes the Clinique Moisture Surge moisturizer ($40). The truth is, this humble jar of pink Clinique moisturizer truly is the only thing I ever want for Christmas, every single year. I first bought it at a Sephora a few years ago during a particularly brutal winter, when my oily, rosacea-afflicted skin was drier than the jokes on Fleabag. After slathering a few tester moisturizers on the back of my hand, this one was the winner in terms of texture—it’s a gel that is super lightweight and blends into skin almost immediately without leaving behind a greasy residue. But don’t let the thin, light texture fool you: This baby is potent. (The name “moisture surge” isn’t for nothing.) It’s got the moisturizing trifecta of glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and aloe, so it’s deeply hydrating yet gentle… which is good for my sensitive AF skin. And it’s spiked with green tea and birch extracts, both of which are anti-inflammatory, which takes
“Rocker sneakers” are built to help you move faster and go farther than ever
December 19, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC For years, it’s seemed like running shoes were getting smaller. It was all about minimalism—the fewer bells and whistles (and weight) on the shoe, the better. But the running sneakers you’ll be seeing everywhere are going in a totally different direction, adding foam to the mid-sole to create a U-shaped curve (versus a flat one) that aims to help your stride get faster and make miles feel easier than ever. Meet: The rocker shoe. HOKA, which was one of the first to bring the technology to market, uses a cambered midsole in their shoes “to help propel a runner or walker forward by enabling them to roll easily from impact to toe-off,” says Gretchen Weimer, global VP of product at Hoka One One. “It’s designed to create a smooth ride and provide the feeling that the shoe is working with, rather than against, one’s natural gait cycle.” ASICS released their Glide Ride shoe in late 2019, which features an ergonomic curved sole. Testing conducted by the brand found that the shoes reduce total energy loss at the ankle joint, which is where runners expend the most energy, and reduce weight in the foot while maintaining stability. The increased cushioning at the sole provides more comfort during long runs, and the shoe offers a shock-absorbant landing zone to lessen the fatigue in your leg muscles. Nike has also introduced similar technology into their latest line of runners. The Vapor Fly 4% Flyknit and soon-to-be-released
There’s a lot of personalized vitamin companies out there—here’s how they compare
December 19, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC As a kid, the only vitamin dilemma you had to worry about was whether you were in the mood for an orange-flavored Wilma or a cherry-flavored Fred. As an adult, supplement queries are a lot more complicated. The logic of everyone—regardless of their eating habits and lifestyles—taking the same multivitamin every day is about as outdated as the Flintstones themselves. In the past few years, in-the-know wellness insiders have increasingly turned to personalized vitamin companies (which will send you packets of supplements based on your individual lifestyle, diet, and goals) as an insurance policy for their nutrient needs. But there’s not only the question what to take, but also who to trust: Unlike food, the supplement industry is widely unregulated—and that includes these “trendy” new companies. And with many of them charging per pill, it pays (literally) to do your homework before signing up for a subscription. Included here are the general guidelines to consider before you start shopping around and how some of the most popular vitamin subscription companies compare to each other based on price, what they offer, and commitment requirements. Keep reading for everything you need to know. General guidelines to consider Since vitamins are something you’re likely going to be putting into your body every day, The Vitamin Solution author Arielle Levitan, MD (who, full disclosure, is the founder of Vous Vitamins), says it’s really important to look into where the company sources its ingredients—and to make sure it
Your vagina has 5 pleasure zones, and the G-spot is just 1 of them
December 19, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC I’ve always known about the G-spot, and I learned about the A-spot (or the anterior fornix) a while back, but when I recently learned that there are three more erogenous hot spots centralized to the vagina, totaling at five pleasure zones, my mind was fully and officially blown. Where are they located? How do we stimulate them? Where did they come from? And why am I just now learning about them? Well, the five pleasure zones aren’t new, but the nomenclature and mapping are. Scientists have dedicated years to studying and growing to understand arousal and the female genitalia, including the “spots” they “discovered.” This is inclusive of the work of sexologist and sex and relationship coach Cari Oneal, PhD, who used her data-mapping skills from a past career as a mechanical engineer to chart pleasure zones of the vaginal canal so her clients and students could use it as a tool. “Physical arousal, sex, and associated pleasures can be very technical. If you want to understand them, you must be able to break them down.” —sexologist Cari Oneal, PhD “The idea is if you know where each ‘hot spot’ is and can achieve an orgasm [or pleasure] by stimulation of that spot alone, then any combination or permutation of arousal spots become available to you,” she says. “Physical arousal, sex, and associated pleasures can be very technical. If you want to understand them, you must be able to break them down.” To
Engagement season is upon us—here’s what you should know about sustainable diamonds
December 19, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Ahh, cuffing season: While for some it might mean finding the nearest person to act as a human space heater, for others it means getting engaged to their long-term partners and celebrating their commitment (congrats!). Insert the scroll of hand-in-the-foreground-pose photos to show of all that bling here. And by bling, we mean diamonds. But have you ever stopped mid-scroll to think about where all those diamonds are coming from—or the impact their retrieval might be having on the planet? “It is increasingly important every day to understand the impact of every purchase on the planet and humanity,” says Alexander Weindling, co-founder and CEO of Great Heights, a diamond-industry disruptor that’s changing the game with lab-grown diamonds. “Diamonds dug from the earth in underdeveloped nations or sucked from the seabed floor by giant vacuums deliver unwarranted and unnecessary disruptions, disturbance, and pain to our planet. We have found a better way.” Yep, we’re talking sustainable diamonds, which are paving the way with innovative practices to help you make one of your most lasting purchase decisions a more ethical one. So if you’re thinking of tying the knot or showing yourself some love (we’re here for it), it’s time to get real about your rock. Keep reading for why lab-grown diamonds are about to be a *big* deal—for you and the planet. So, what’s the difference? At the simplest level, mined diamonds are found underground and lab-created diamonds are grown, well, above ground in a