Category: 2019 Health

July 28, 2019 at 01:02PM by CWC With the sun, moon, Venus, and Mars moving into Leo this week for Wednesday’s new moon—and Mercury retrograde ending at the same time—the cosmos is producing some seriously lionhearted vibes, says astrologer Jennifer Racioppi. Here’s how to take advantage of this forward (cosmic) motion.  This week brings a significant turning point to the summer. We have a fertile new moon happening on July 31. Then on August 1, we celebrate Lammas. Lammas, a cross-quarter day, marks the halfway point between the summer solstice and fall equinox, heralding the peak season of harvest. To sweeten the pot of this peak summer moment, even more, Mercury (the planet of communication) stations direct, too. All of this combined means one thing: The week ahead offers forward momentum. To sweeten the pot of this peak summer moment, even more, Mercury (the planet of communication) stations direct, too. The new moon, happening at 8 degrees of the sign of the lion at 11:11 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, offers the opportunity to cultivate significant progress on your goals. As the second new moon of the month, it’s positive, upbeat, and gives you the freedom to plant the seeds of your desires. ad_intervals[‘411350_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘411350_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Not only are the sun and moon in Leo but so are both Venus and Mars too. With Venus traveling at a particularly close degree to the sun and moon, we start to feel the

Read More

July 28, 2019 at 11:00AM by CWC I periodically re-watch Jaws, and that animatronic fish gets me every. single. time. When the great white shark takes down that kid and there’s all that blood in that water, all I can think is how nothing would be scarier than starting my period mid-swim. It’s a thought that bleeds (hah) directly into one of the wackiest sea myths out there: whether or not you should you be extra worried about the threat of…sharks (and, okay, other potential dangers—like ruining your bikini, or sinking like a rock because your cramps are a mess) when it comes to swimming while on your period. The confusion conjures that cult-beloved Anchorman line about bears being able to smell menstruation, and expert intel leads me to believe the conceit of this shark question—about period blood attracting sharks—should be regarded with humor in equal measure. Read: Even if the sharks could smell the menstruation, they’re not extra interested in you because of it. ad_intervals[‘410767_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410767_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); “There is no medical reason a woman should avoid water or swimming while having a period,” says sexual medicine naturopath Serena McKenzie, ND, a medical advisor for women’s health telemedicine platform Rory. Another related period factoid to keep in mind? Women simply do not produce enough blood while menstruating to attract sharks. I know that sounds crazy on days when your vagina feels like the elevator from The Shining, but it’s true. Research

Read More

July 28, 2019 at 10:02AM by CWC Last year, after a conversation with a freediver at an event for work (I know, weird flex), I made the decision that I seriously needed to do something about cutting back on my plastic consumption. We were talking about ocean plastics, and she told me a story about how dolphins like to play underwater by passing things like shells and pufferfish to each other… but now, she sometimes sees them playing with pieces of plastic. It’s been estimated that there is going to be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. And while it may be too overwhelming for most of us to go cold turkey and completely detox our homes from plastic, like this writer did, small plastic-free changes definitely make an impact. The beauty industry is a big contributor to plastic consumption—like, I hate to say it, your shampoo bottles. That’s where shampoo bars come in. These little guys have been gaining popularity because they have way less plastic packaging than your fave liquid shampoo because, you know, they’re bars. Bonus, they’re also TSA friendly. (That also means you won’t have to use those tiny shampoo bottles they put in your hotel room.) ad_intervals[‘410673_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410673_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); A word of caution to this tale: If you’re switching from a shampoo that gets super sudsy—i.e. probably contains SLS—bar shampoos may take some getting used to, because they don’t lather as much.

Read More

July 28, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC Let’s get something straight right now: Despite getting a bad rap as a necessary evil, coffee—in all its caffeinated glory—is actually healthy. It’s been linked to better cognitive function, lowering one’s cancer risk, and living a longer life, which one could argue is the greatest health benefit of all. But alas, there are reasons to switch from regular to decaf. Coffee snobs tend to look down on decaf drinkers. But if you’re having trouble sleeping, find yourself relying on cup after cup of joe just to make it through the day, or it just isn’t making you feel great, cutting down on caffeine intake can be a good idea. If you’re making the change—or at least considering it—but don’t want to totally deprive yourself of coffee, decaf coffee can be a good compromise. Despite its name, decaf coffee isn’t 100-percent caffeine free (sorry!); one study showed that most decaffeinated coffees have between eight and 14 milligrams of caffeine. That’s because with decaf coffee, most (but not all) of the caffeine is removed from the coffee beans by being washed in a liquid solution typically comprised of water and carbon dioxide, methylene chloride, activated charcoal, or ethyl acetate. Then the beans can be roasted and brewed the same way coffee beans in their natural form are. To compare, a regular cup of coffee tends to have 95 milligrams of caffeine, matcha has between 30 and 70 milligrams of caffeine, and a cup of black

Read More

July 28, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Growing up, my absolute favorite cereal was Fruity Pebbles. My adult version of that? An affinity for fruity skin-care products. Luckily for my fellow fruit lovers, it’s prime time for that feeling, because beauty shelves are increasingly filling up with fruit-spiked serums and moisturizers and face masks (oh my), a veritable fruit basket for your face. The latest all-star smoothie ingredient that’s become coveted for your skin? Kiwi. People tend to either love or hate the fuzzy fruit (I love the stuff), but it actually makes for a nourishing booster to your skin-care routine. “Kiwi is rich in several important nutrients, including vitamins C, E, and K, and potassium and folate,” says Brianne West, founder and formulator of Ethique Beauty. “These vitamins help soften the skin. Kiwi’s also a good chemical exfoliant since it’s high in enzymes, and it works for oily and congested skin types.” ad_intervals[‘410442_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410442_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); On a scientific level, an oil extract should be a good balance of essential fatty acids of the Omega-6 type (linoleic acid) and Omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid), says Marie Veronique, chemist and founder of her eponymous skin-care brand. Kiwi comes in because it’s an all-star Omega 3. “Kiwi seed oil’s 60 percent content of alpha-linolenic acid makes it the standout of Omega-3 oils as it doesn’t contain competing amounts of Omega-6s as do flax or hemp seed oils,” she explains. “This high ALA profile makes kiwi

Read More

July 27, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC If you don’t have Kim Kardashian West’s personal trainer on speed dial (causal), you can still use your phone—or Apple Watch—to ring in a killer workout. Whether you want to lift weights, master bodyweight movements, learn new exercises, or become a marathon runner, there’s a personal training app for that—and we’ve rounded up our favorites, below. 1. C25K What it does: This running app coaches users from couch to 5K (C25K, get it?) with an eight-week training program. What it costs: Free for download; $4.99 for the pro edition ad_intervals[‘406351_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406351_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); What sets it apart: It pairs with your Apple playlist or gives you the option to download the Zen Power Playlist, which further inspires an all-out push through your run. What’s more, once you wrap up the C25K program, you have the option to download the 10K, 13.1, or 26.2 trainer apps. 2. Streaks Workouts What it does: This accountability tracker has 30 equipment-free exercises to choose from, which you can then incorporate into a 6-, 12-, 18-, or 30-minute workout alongside other exercises. What it costs: $3.99 What sets it apart: Where many PT apps provide you with the movements, this one takes the time to track daily workouts in a visually appealing way that keeps tabs on your progress. And, since you won’t want to break a streak, you’ll be more likely to stick with your workouts. View this post

Read More