July 31, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC When I was 9, a family friend gifted me the American Girl guide to puberty, The Care and Keeping of You, a book famous for a generation of women who leafed through the pages laden with watercolored illustrations of pubescent traumas like acne. But I’d put money on the assertion that the part of this book that readers remember most vividly is the nakedly accurate tutorial on how to insert a tampon. I remember staring at the display, which we can all applaud for helping normalize and publicize tampon use, and thinking to myself, No thanks. In the face-off of tampons vs. pads, I’ve always gravitated toward the latter. My stance isn’t something I’m, um, ashamed of so much as something I’ve resolved to keep to myself when possible, which is actually pretty easy to do. I mean, when’s the last time someone ever asked you if they could borrow a pad? It’s been a hot minute (or, like, multiple decades), right? That’s because pads, in the court of public popular opinion from the scope of my personal point of view, are antiquated and outdated. Look no further than Amy Schumer’s joke in the Netflix special Growing for details. “And millennials, if you don’t know what a pad is, congratulation…. A pad is a foot-long diaper that you coil betwixt your legs and just kind of waddle around all day wearing it,” Schumer says, while wobbling about. ad_intervals[‘409745_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if
Tag: Media
6 of the most common questions about periods, answered by OB/GYNS
July 29, 2019 at 08:47AM by CWC No matter how many times you may have read The Care and Keeping of You in middle school, periods (and how they work) are still pretty confusing. Maybe it’s because the awkward “maturation” video you had to watch in fifth grade didn’t explain anything beyond featuring a girl screaming about getting her “menses” in the library. Maybe it’s because sex education is woefully inadequate in the US; maybe it’s because society is collectively still a bit gun-shy when it comes to talking openly about period facts and myths. No matter the cause, it means that a lot of us (myself included) are still pretty confused about some of the nitty-gritty details of the menstrual cycle. To help clear up a bit of the confusion, we asked nine health experts (OB/GYNs and nurses) to share the questions they get asked all. the. time. Chances are if they hear these questions on the regular, you’re probably wondering about them yourself, too. ad_intervals[‘410063_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410063_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); 1. “What is a ‘normal’ period?” Honestly? It depends. “It is important to know that every [person] can have differences in their cycles that are routine and normal for them,” says OB/GYN Jyoti Desai, MD, FACOG, and an assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine. What’s standard operating procedure for one person (some clotting, for example, or a period that lasts for just two days) isn’t necessarily
You don’t even need a partner to achieve a tantric full-body orgasm
July 28, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC Is it just me, or does it seem like everywhere you turn these days, there’s a new type of orgasm everyone is buzzing (literally and figuratively)? TBH, I’m starting to feel a little like an old lady, shaking my head as I say, “In my day, we only had one or two types of orgasms, tops—if we were lucky!” Now, brain orgasms are apparently a thing, as evidenced by a Well+Good writer who actually had one. Breast orgasms are the real deal, too. And while it hasn’t yet been studied, I’m pretty sure there’s such a thing as a Netflix orgasm, usually occurring on Friday and Sunday nights and often induced by the arrival of Thai takeout. Why bother with any of these, however, if such a thing as a full-body orgasm exists and it doesn’t require bikini waxes or birth control? According to sexperts, this too-good-to-be-true-sounding phenomenon is not something invented by men whose sexual partners deserve Academy Awards for their climax performances, either. Instead, it’s a tantric practice that can actually be done solo. (Sex coach Helena Nista had one alone in her car, an anecdote that, as an Angeleno who considers the freeway to be the seventh circle of hell, has me saying, “I’ll have what she’s having.”) ad_intervals[‘406807_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406807_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); What, exactly, is a tantric practice, though? As with most things in life, my only exposure to the idea was
Checks+Balanced: A 23-year-old making $55,000 prioritizes healthy living for herself—and her dog
July 11, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Even in a world where questions about menstrual cups and the ins and outs of sex are completely (and blessedly) normal, somehow the ever-ubiquitous use of money remains a touchy subject for many. People want to live their healthiest life ever, but—#realtalk—it can add up. Have you ever wondered how your colleague who makes less than you do (or so you think) can afford to buy a $5 matcha and a $12 chopped salad every day? Or how your friend’s budget allows her to hit up $34 fitness classes three times a week? It’s enough to make anyone want to ask, “Ummm, excuse me. How do you afford that?!?” That’s where Well+Good’s monthly series Checks+Balanced comes in. By lifting the thick, tightly drawn curtain to expose how much women of varying income brackets spend on wellness, we’re spreading transparency and hopefully providing some inspo that’s possible to copy. Because no matter how much you make, it’s possible to cultivate healthy habits that work within your budget. ad_intervals[‘395179_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘395179_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); This month, meet Kristen, a 23-year-old content coordinator living in Oregon who prioritizes wellness—for herself and her dog—while working to maintain a tight budget, split bills down the middle with her husband, and enjoy a few weekly kombuchas. Here, a 23-year-old content coordinator shares how much she spends on wellness. Graphic: Well+Good Creative Kristen, 23, content coordinator, Eugene, Oregon Income: $55,000 per year. My job description is very broad. I do everything from
A blind endurance athlete and her guide prove crushing races is better together
July 10, 2019 at 08:47AM by CWC It was the final stretch of the 2018 Race Across America—a 3,000 mile bike relay from California to Maryland—and Tina Ament was pulling double duty. As part of a team made up of both blind and sighted cyclists, Ament, who was born without sight, was taking on a few extra legs of the race to let her teammates rest. “We wanted to make sure there was a visually impaired person riding at all times, and we really needed Tina to step it up because some people were tired,” recalls her sighted teammate, Caroline Gaynor. “Basically, she stayed on the back of the bike and [our other teammate] Pamela and I switched off on the front in this really hilly section. It was, like, 2:00 in the morning in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. That was pretty nuts.” Ament’s effort paid off—Team Sea to See ended up becoming the first team with all blind stokers to complete the grueling race, finishing in an impressive 7 days, 15 hours, and 3 minutes. And while for many athletes, this would be a singularly impressive lifetime achievement, it was just one in a long line of victories for Gaynor and Ament. The pair has been competing in endurance races together since 2010, with Gaynor acting as Ament’s guide for around 20 events total, including four Ironman triathlons. (You know, the race that involves a 2.4 mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and full 26.2-mile marathon. No biggie.) ad_intervals[‘402388_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function ()
By scheduling time to do nothing every day for a week, I learned the secret to creativity
July 04, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC I recently fell down an internet rabbit hole that taught me the scintillating history of—I kid you not—boredom. I closed my laptop with a newfound appreciation for the family road trips of my childhood that, at the time, made me want to cry for the sheer purpose of having something to do. That’s because what I didn’t know then is that research suggests that those rare moments when we’re not preoccupied with our screens, caught in the riptide of our inner-monologues, or out to dinner with friends are undiscovered gold mines for creativity. Tedium has existed throughout the course of human history, but not quite in the same way it does now: John Eastwood, PhD, of Toronto’s York University tells Smithsonian Magazine that the type of boredom the Kardashians must feel as directors shoot reel after reel of them lazing around on the couch, hashing out the minutiae of their lives (Kanye! Sushi! Pickles!) is relatively new. Over the last 100 years, humankind has gotten a taste of a new flavor of unbridled entertainment thanks to the likes of Netflix, Candy Crush Saga, and Pokémon Go. Now, any idle moment stands out in stark contrast. “We are very used to be passingly entertained,” Dr. Eastwood says. “We have changed our understanding of the human condition as one of a vessel that needs to be filled.” Essentially, we don’t know how to do nothing. ad_intervals[‘399462_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399462_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);});
Are protein-rich popped lotus seeds the new popcorn?
July 01, 2019 at 11:17AM by CWC Popcorn is a snack of all trades. It’s at once the ultimate movie companion and anytime noshing option. Microwave popcorn will always have a special place in my heart, but from now on, I might just be swapping kernels for protein-packed popped lotus seeds, also known as phool makhana or fox nuts. The white seeds harvested from from the lotus flower are often used in both sweet and savory Indian cooking. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the nuts pack 5 grams of protein per cup, as well as 67 grams of magnesium (a hefty chunk of your daily recommended amount), and 52 grams of calcium. For a simple snack, that’s pretty darn impressive. Honest Cooking blogger Ila Dubey Dhulipala recommends sautéing two cups of the seeds with a tablespoon of ghee and waiting for the phool makhnas to turn golden brown. “They can guzzle up several tablespoons of ghee if you choose to use that much! But even as less as half a teaspoon will do just as well, providing the essential aroma while roasting,” she writes. Then, you just add a pinch of salt and a shake of pepper and you’re ready to marathon watch a Stranger Things with reckless snack abandon. ad_intervals[‘405105_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘405105_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); When popped, the seeds have a chewier texture than popcorn, and you can use them in a variety of other dishes, too. Lotus seeds are
Women’s reproductive health isn’t up for debate—but we still need candidates to discuss it
June 28, 2019 at 11:45AM by CWC If you blinked during Thursday night’s Democratic presidential debate, you might have missed discussion on the topic of reproductive health entirely. (Wednesday’s debate likewise glossed over another major health issue: climate change.) Considering that nine states have now passed bills that seriously limit women’s access to abortion, and another four are considering similar actions, and 19 states have laws that could be used restrict legal abortions, the issue’s lack of airtime seemed like an egregious oversight. On stage at the debate, only New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders were given a chance to speak (for just less than a minute apiece) about their stances on abortion rights. But other frontrunners in the 2020 presidential race have their own game plans to protect women’s reproductive rights. Kamala Harris “Similar to the preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act, Harris will require, for the first time, that states and localities with a history of violating Roe v. Wade obtain approval from her Department of Justice before any abortion law or practice can take effect,” reads Senator Kamala Harris’ official campaign website. ad_intervals[‘404599_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404599_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); This will stand for any state or locality that has attempted to defy Roe v. Wade in the last 25 years. While the DOJ will act as a safeguard against any potential threats to the right to an abortion, citizens also have the opportunity to challenge the government body.
Copy this celebrity chef’s recipe for double-tap fresh skin
June 25, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC When you see someone with glowy skin and super healthy hair, you naturally start to wonder which beauty products they keep in rotation and where you can buy them ASAP, right? For celebrity chef and holistic nutritionist Shauna Faulisi, her beauty routine starts on her plate. As a trusted nutritionist, her food-first mentality makes sense to stars like Jane The Virgin’s Gina Rodriguez, and the benefits she’s harnessed from her diet are seriously legit. “My skin-care routine really starts with the foods I’m putting into my body,” Faulisi says. “I’ve healed my breakouts and chronic yeast infections, and keep my rosacea under control with the foods I eat.” “I’ve healed my breakouts and chronic yeast infections, and keep my rosacea under control with the foods I eat.” Her go-to meals for glistening skin? Her signature hormone-balancing Glow Smoothie for breakfast, a salad with avocado, sauerkraut, and extra-virgin olive oil for lunch, and a full plate of above-ground veggies and small amounts of organic protein for dinner. ad_intervals[‘400922_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘400922_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Since even the best diets are deficient in certain minerals, Faulisi turns to supplements for the nutrients that are hard to get through food alone. At the top of that list is silica, a mineral that supports skin elasticity that’s naturally occurring in bitter foods like horseradish, rye, and artichoke (not exactly foods you’re digging into over a Netflix binge sesh). “When we can
Traumedies like ‘Dead to Me’ are having a moment—and the trend makes total sense
June 25, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC I’d seen the previews for Dead to Me while mindlessly scrolling through Netflix, looking for something to watch. But it wasn’t until my sister recommended it that I turned it on. I was immediately hooked, and proceeded to binge the entire first season over a single weekend. Thanks for the rec, Maggie (my sister is a Gemini so I have to give her credit for this or I will never hear the end of it). Anyway, the show follows Judy and Jen, played by Linda Cardellini and Christina Applegate, respectively, who meet each other at a grief support group and become fast friends who bond over their stories. Knowing that from a few minutes in, I wasn’t surprised when the plot skewed dark, navigating heavy topics like grief and death. Perhaps more surprising, then, was that I often found myself laughing hysterically at scenes. “This show, we call it a traumedy, because there’s so much traumatic stuff that happens, and then there’s humor to alleviate that tension and stress,” Cardellini said in an interview with the New York Times. That term is similar in vein to a genre that’s long-existed in literature called tragicomedy, which refers to novels and plays that blend—you guessed it—elements of tragedy and comedy. Infusing comedies into tragedy and vice versa has been an effective storytelling device for a long time. While tragicomedies aren’t identical to traumedies (tragedy isn’t a required component for trauma, for one), given the state