October 26, 2018 at 04:34AM Humans have been scaring up stories for centuries in order to pass on vital information for survival. And, sure, while the 47th Saw movie may not be your go-to guide to life, fear (and the response it elicits) still plays a vital role in our modern-day lives. “We have four basic emotions: happiness, sadness, anger, and fear,” explains Mary Poffenroth, a San Jose State University biology lecturer and fear scientist. “Fear is there to keep us alive, and it’s something that is so inherently part of just being human, but we have this really kind of dysfunctional relationship with fear. In our society, what is the big messaging? ‘Be fearless!’” If fear is such an important emotion, how do we go about exploring the things that frighten us without feeling embarrassed or ashamed? That, says Poffenroth, is where scary movies come in. “The horror genre gives us a safe space to express our fears, to talk about our fears, to say that ‘I was scared!’ without having the kind of personal obligation to say that you are a fearful person,” she says. And this exploration can have a myriad of mental and emotional benefits beyond the those obvious evolutionary ones. Yep, that’s right—a date with Michael Myers could actually help relieve anxiety and boost your mood, among other things. Check out three ways scary movies can benefit your health. Photo: Getty Images/vladens 1. Believe it or not, they’re confidence boosters An awareness of how your
Category: 2019 Health
Yerbe mate tea is the underrated caffeine source you need to know about
October 26, 2018 at 04:31AM There’s no shortage of hot beverages with healing properties: hot water with lemon, golden milk lattes, moringa tea… One more—with its own unique health benefits—to add to the list? Yerba mate tea. Yerba mate tea is a traditional South American drink that’s said to taste like tea, have the energizing hit of coffee, and the joy-inducing benefits of chocolate. Sound too good to be true? Keep reading for the complete low-down of its benefits, potential side effects, and a recipe to try it at home. Here’s everything you need to know about yerba mate tea. What is yerba mate tea? Made from the dried twigs and leaves of the “ilex paraguariensis plant” (say that five times fast), yerba mate tea is typically steeped in hot water and then sipped with a metal straw from a container called a “gourd”—which can be as simple as a hollowed-out gourd or as intricate as a homemade ceramic. The eco-friendly, re-usable straw, called a “bombilla,” has filters out the tea leaves. (So don’t worry about any getting stuck between your teeth.) In countries where yerba mate is popular, drinking it is often a social event. Think of it kind of like a post-yoga matcha date with your friends. The biggest difference is that at these social meetups—which typically take place outdoors, like in a park—individuals sit in a circle, passing around the gourd, as each person takes a single sip from the same cup, before passing it on. Of course, this
I left NYC and lived out of a suitcase for a year—and getting “lost” was the best thing I’ve ever done
October 26, 2018 at 04:27AM A couple of years ago, the voice that every New Yorker has inside them—the one that says, “If I don’t get out of the city soon, I’m going to flip out”—started to get really loud. I had an almost seven-year-old successful healing practice focusing on breathwork—and workshops that sold out every month. I loved my work and my community and couldn’t imagine leaving something that I had put so much of my heart into building. So I ignored that inner voice, funneling my anxiety into the daydream about one day owning an apartment in the city and getting my own place upstate. But it seemed impossible to imagine how I could make New York money and potentially live off the grid somewhere. And yet, I was restless and couldn’t stop dreaming of being able to walk out of my front door and be able to put my feet in the dirt. I felt that my nervous system was getting increasingly battered from the constant flow of adrenaline from screeching subway trains, sidewalk traffic, bar noise, crowds, and just the sheer amount of electromagnet frequencies (EMFs) that are concentrated in cities. In October 2017, I gave up my apartment and left my healing space, my people, and all the structures I had created to sustain my life. I was working too hard to stay sane and level in an environment that didn’t support me. The push on my soul got louder and louder until one day,
Jonathan Van Ness’ stress-busting yoga flow will make you say “yaaas” to rolling out your mat
October 26, 2018 at 04:00AM Every once in a while, Queer Eye‘s Jonathan Van Ness blesses his Instagram followers with yoga flows that give the viewer an ASMR-like, soothing effect. But actually having the Fab Five’s grooming guru act as your instructor? That sounds like straight-up bliss, which is why we asked the yogi—who has been practicing asanas since he was 19-years old—to share a stress-busting flow that you can do anytime life feels hard. “Yoga is so much about breathing. It’s linking movement with breath, and [it] doesn’t have to be fancy moves set to an Ariana Grande song.” —Jonathan Van Ness “Yoga started as something I did to take care of my outside and stay in shape, but I realized it helped my insides too—more. It keeps me calm,” Van Ness tells me. “Yoga is so much about breathing. It’s linking movement with breath, and [it] doesn’t have to be fancy moves set to an Ariana Grande song.” To start feeling those inner benefits, you’ll first need to set the scene. “Make a gorgeous pot of tea to get into the mind-set,” JVN, who just partnered up with Lipton, says. Once your steaming mug is within reaching distance of your mat, you’re ready to flow. Try this stress-busting yoga flow from Jonathan Van Ness View this post on Instagram A Goddess Pose for yo ass & a new Getting Curious link in bio A post shared by Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) on Oct 19, 2018 at 10:25am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js 1. Start
The 3-part strategy to conquer any distance, according to a run coach
October 26, 2018 at 03:02AM New York City-based trainer Meg Takacs’ race day formula is one you’ve probably never heard before. Yes, the Aaptiv running coach advocates for negative splits, impeccable form, and the proper pre-race fuel, but she also has a three-part ethos on how to transform a 5K, marathon, or [insert distance here] into a revelatory experience that’s about so much more than crossing the finish line. “I look at it like this: The first part of the race, you run with your legs. You’re getting used to how your body’s feeling. The second part I always say you’re running with your personality; you’re figuring out what your why is,” she tells me. “Then the third part is all heart.” If you’re gearing up for a 26.2 then, according to Takacs’ logic, the last 18 miles shouldn’t just be a countdown to the post-marathon feast. She’s calling for nothing less than a full-on metamorphosis. How? By using your time on the course to spark the conversations you’ve long put off having with yourself. “There’s something about moving forward specifically that kind of reveals a lot about yourself.” – Meghan Takacs, Master Aaptiv and CrossFit trainer “There’s something about moving forward specifically that kind of reveals a lot about yourself,” says Takacs. Within this fluidity of motion, says the trainer, is the opportunity to problem-solve in ways the bustle of your day-to-day life just doesn’t leave time for. Fighting with your S.O. about your monthly budget? Challenge you to come up with
See ya, bloat: 10 natural ways to get rid of water retention
October 25, 2018 at 01:13PM Holding on to extra water weight can be super annoying. Besides making your stomach feel like a weighted balloon, it can cause your hands, feet, and face to swell. Fun times, right? So why exactly does this happen? Well, there are a few different reasons. “It can be due to an imbalance of minerals, be PMS-related, or a side-effect of the contraception you’re using,” says Jessica Sepel, CNS, clinical nutritionist and founder of JSHealth, all of which, she adds, are worth talking to your doctor about. If you’re experiencing the symptoms on a regular, long-term basis, Sepel recommends paying your doctor a visit because it can be a symptom of something more serious like high blood pressure. But, on it’s own, fluid retention is nothing to freak out over. There are a few nutritional and lifestyle things you can do to correct the issue. Below, Sepel and functional medicine dietitian, Miriam Jacobson, MS, RD, CNS, of Every Body Bliss share ten things you can do to banish the water bloat once and for all. Keep reading for 10 expert tips on how to get rid of water retention, the natural way. 1. Lower your salt intake “When you have too much sodium in your body, that’s when you hold on to fluid retention,” Sepel says. So the first point of action is to reduce your salt intake. Instead of adding table salt to your food, she recommends using different herbs and spices to add flavor instead. Cutting back
This $9 shower solution will make shaving at least 900-percent easier
October 25, 2018 at 12:44PM Should you opt to shave your legs, you’re all too familiar with the body contortions involved in reaching the satisfyingly smooth finish line. So, if you’re beyond over a hair removal routine that feels more like a sudsy stretch class, this $9 shower solution might soon be the MVP of your cleansing routine. Meet the Changing Lifestyles Safe-er-Grip Foot Rest, the shower accessory that (true to its name) changes lives by offering a convenient ledge upon which to perch your foot so that you can shave without forward folding. Does it sound straight out of an early morning infomercial? Absolutely. Do I care? Not at all—unless it’s a two for one deal! According to the product description, you can mount this device on any tiled surface, and it’s even angled to swaddle the arch of your foot so that you can easily keep your balance. A few Amazon reviewers have complained that the foot rest can be slippery, so make sure your shower is 100 percent dry before adhering the product. If you’re trying to cut down on your plastic consumption, other smart shower inventions will serve the same noble purpose. This classy option ($63) is made out of brass, and this bamboo folding stool ($26) doubles as a leg up when you can’t quite reach the coconut flour hiding on the top shelf of the pantry. Really, no matter which option you choose, ridding your lower half of all prickliness will be easier than ever. After you’re done with
Here’s exactly what to eat when you’re getting over food poisoning
October 25, 2018 at 11:29AM One second you’re enjoying some food from your favorite takeout spot, and the next you’re logging your best running time yet while frantically searching for the nearest toilet. Anyone who’s ever experienced food poisoning—which is caused by food that’s been contaminated with bacteria or other infectious organisms—knows it’s all sorts of miserable. And the recovery process is anything but easy-breezy. Rather, it’s a full-time job looking searching vetting the proper food for upset stomach. A couple hours after eating contaminated food, the wave of nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea hits like a brick. Then as you’re getting over it—which can take days—the sheer thought of food can be traumatic: something you ate just caused you a whole lot of pain, and no one wants to experience round two. Because of that, there are some rules to keep in mind in order to ensure your stomach stays happy. Once you start adding foods back into your diet, it’s best to go for bland options that are easy for your body to digest. First, skip out on eating things that can upset your stomach even more—including dairy products, caffeine, alcohol, and anything that’s high in fat or highly-seasoned, says the Mayo Clinic. The Oregon Clinic also recommends avoiding any raw veggies, citrus fruits, or hot or cold beverages, which can also make your symptoms worse. Once you start adding foods back into your diet, it’s best to go for bland options that are easy for your body to digest,
Women are losing it over this beaded leopard bag
October 25, 2018 at 11:27AM In the wild, the dappled pattern of leopard fur helps actual leopards blend in. But here in the concrete jungle, the buzzy animal print makes everything covered in it stand out. This was the case with the Susan Alexandra leopard bag, which I first spotted (had to) while working out this summer. (The locker rooms of boutique fitness studios rival any runway in terms of forecasting fashion trends.) Its intricate beadwork was hard to miss as it sparkled in the sunlight. And I found myself staring at it—instead of my weighted ankles—between leg lifts. After class, I tracked down its owner who turned out to be Alexandra herself, a bubbly brunette (you know what they say about endorphins and exercise) and self-taught accessories maker. She told me that the leopard bag wasn’t yet for sale but that I could sign up for its waitlist. Which I did because, despite popular belief, editors don’t always get everything for free. And since then, I’ve followed along as a growing number of women stalk this statement piece. I swear, it’s like being part of some online shopping safari. So far, Alexandra’s sold 600 of her animal print accessory and has another 450 people waiting their turn to add one to their collections. “It’s very democratic,” says the designer. “I don’t do it by when the person signs up. They all get notified at the same time and whoever buys it first, gets it. It’s a password protected piece, so
After hating my arm hair my whole life, I now love it
October 25, 2018 at 11:10AM My arm hair used to cause me serious distress: The dark strands against my Snow White-pale arms felt dramatic. In middle school, I felt like the beast in Beauty and the Beast. I would look down at my arms in class and think that people were staring at them, judging at how hairy they were. To deal, I’d tug at my shirt sleeves to make sure I was covered up. The whole thing may sound petty now, but at the time, it really affected me. It’s not uncommon, though, to feel so insecure about a body part when you’re a teen. Middle school is a strange, strange time when insecurities run rampant, hormones are in flux, and you’re growing into your body. While things seem to level out soon thereafter (at least, kind of), the self-consciousness that comes along with a growing body during a particularly insecure point in your life can be pretty tough to navigate—not to mention taxing on your mental health. “It is extremely common for teenagers to be incredibly insecure about specific parts of their body, including their appearance and how others perceive them,” says Danielle Forshee, PsyD, a clinical psychologist. “During the teenage years, there are quite a bit of social and emotional developmental changes going on. The most important developmental task for teenagers is to search for their identity, which comes along with the struggle for independence.” “It is extremely common for teenagers to be incredibly insecure about specific parts of their body,