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“Though abhyanga is often performed by an ayurveda massage practitioner, it’s an easy and extremely self-loving practice to adopt in your own home,” says Carly Banks, an ayurveda lifestyle counselor at The Habit Ayurveda. “Abhyanga moves the body from a state of imbalance to equilibrium, from stress response to ease, from clogged ama (toxins) to freely circulating prana (vital energy),” said Salila Sukumaran, an ayurvedic educator who runs the wellness travel consultancy Ayurgamaya....

Though houseplants won’t clear the air nearly as much as, say, an air filter, they come with other bonuses too: They’re aesthetically pleasing and can make us feel more connected to nature, content, and calm at home.

For good health, ideal blood pH levels need to be slightly alkaline (between 7.365 and 7.45). Sounds simple right? But not quite. That’s because the pH scale is logarithmic, meaning the difference between each whole number is equal to ten not so. Therefore a pH of six is ten times more acidic than a pH of seven. So it takes ten times the amount of alkalinity to neutralize an acid....

The Goodness Glows Tinted Moisturizer from Burt’s Bees feels weightless as it blends seamlessly on skin for a natural finish. Added hydration and a healthy-looking complexion aside, the bonus benefit of this tinted moisturizer is that it’s made with green tea for its polyphenol content (which are potent antioxidants1) to protect skin against environmental aggressors. On models: Goodness Glows Tinted Moisturizer. The blend of nourishing butters in Burt’s Bees’ creamy and all-natural Matte Stick—a combination of jojoba, cupuacu, cocoa, and kokum—gives off that medium coverage and longevity we’re all after in a matte color....

“Melatonin is your main sleep hormone, and cortisol is your main daytime hormone,” Lipman notes. So, he adds, melatonin can be helpful if you’re experiencing issues with the rhythm of your sleep, such as jet lag from traveling. “If you want to get back into rhythm, melatonin is a good way to do so,” he adds. But if your circadian rhythm isn’t the issue, taking melatonin likely won’t be the most effective option....

How do you know if what you’re getting in a supplement is safe? One of the best ways is to look for seals and labels that show you a product has been vetted. iHerb’s iTested program evaluates brands using an independent, third-party laboratory that provides neutral and unbiased information using scientific testing methods. This ensures that you can rest easy knowing products have a stamp of approval before you purchase....

Here are six science-backed reasons taking your workout outside is so much better for you: Inspired to take your workout outdoors? Read up on how to start running again when all you’ve been doing is yoga.

Dosage: While the standard reference range for vitamin D levels falls between 50 to 60 ng/mL, in functional medicine we aim for an optimal range between 60 to 80 ng/mL. Depending on where your starting levels are, anywhere between 2,000 and 6,000 IU is an adequate amount per day. Make sure to test your vitamin D levels to find out your starting point, and retest to gauge how your vitamin D level optimization is going....

For some, these birds have the reputation of being loud, aggressive, and mean. However, certain cultures see them as lucky or a symbol of good things to come. And according to animal spiritualist Jordana Van, seeing a blue jay a lot within a short period of time could indicate it’s coming to you as a force of spiritual guidance. The throat is one of the body’s main channels for creativity, and birds in general are representatives of the air element, which is all about communication, she notes....

To help quell your mask-related fears, we broke down how masks may affect oxygen and carbon dioxide levels and rounded up expert-approved tips for supporting your lungs. Because masks cover the nose and mouth, they may make breathing difficult, says human performance coach and New York Times bestselling author Brian MacKenzie. In an Instagram post, he writes that masks may even trap carbon dioxide, which could be dangerous for people who are CO2 intolerant....

Historically, cinnamon has also been used as a traditional medicine for a variety of ailments, including bronchitis, and today, scientists are studying a wide range of medicinal uses for the spice, including the treatment of diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. In addition to cinnamon sticks and ground cinnamon, Cinnamomum trees are also a source of essential oils, which are made from their bark, leaves, and even twigs. The good news: Cinnamon happens to be packed with antioxidants3, which stabilize free radicals....

While those questions are pretty general, others come down to personal factors, such as age, sex, weight, activity level, and lifestyle habits—which brings us to the question at hand: What should men know about taking collagen supplements? So is such the case for collagen? Here’s what we know. Really the only difference you may find for collagen supplementation as it relates to men is protein dosage. Allow me to explain....

But a report in the 1American Journal of Clinical Nutrition1 explains1 how we’ve seen a rapid change in our world over a relatively short period of time. Our current food supply, soil depletion, and environmental toxins have all been new introductions to human existence. Put another way, around 99 percent of our genes were formed before the development of agriculture and the consumption of grains like wheat, around 10,000 years ago....

Virgin olive oil, which has a higher acid content, tends to last a little longer, with a shelf life of about 18 to 24 months from pressing. But as the least processed of all olive oils, extra virgin is your best bet. Not all olive oils are equal, and you’ll enjoy the most health benefits—i.e., monounsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory agents—with extra virgin. Once you’ve opened a bottle of oil, however, the oxidation process picks up....

According to Kathy Harmon-Luber, author of Suffering to Thriving: Your Toolkit for Navigating Your Healing Journey, “Some associate doves with motherhood, the divine feminine, and goddesses.” And if you’ve ever wondered why doves are often released at weddings and ceremonies, it’s because they represent love, too. “Doves mate for life and are considered a symbol of lasting love,” says Harmon-Luber. Seeing two doves together is usually a sign of good luck in the love and relationships department....

The key to dream interpretation, according to Naiman, is not to try to interpret the dream literally through symbols and visuals, but rather to feel into the emotions it evokes, asking, What is this bringing up for me emotionally? “We need to learn the dream language; we don’t always have to translate it into waking,” he notes. If you struggle to remember your dreams, consider the many factors that could be causing that, like stress and poor diet....

And why, you might be wondering? Well, synthetic fibers—which are used in many upholstered fabrics and other home textiles—are often petroleum-based and made with chemical flame retardants and stain treatments that give off the gas, even when they’re not in use. Since rugs are often placed in high-traffic areas of your home, it’s important to make sure that they stand up to the wear and tear without emitting harsh chemicals....

You can spend hours in a colorist’s chair getting the most beautiful, high-end highlights (and spend a fortune doing so), but if you go home and use a stripping shampoo, you’re washing that rich-girl color down the drain. You can apply a luxe night mask every evening, but if you’re not actually getting those eight hours of quality rest—then it really means nothing come morning. And as one of our favorite hairstylists Matt Newman shared recently on his TikTok, if you’re making this very common hair care mistake, then you’re wasting money....

But if you’re unable to get up the gumption to go full brow tattoo, you’re not alone. (Permanence can add pressure, and who knows what the new eyebrow trend will look like once a new decade rolls around?). Good news: Eyebrow tinting is a happy middle ground, perfect for those looking to enhance their arches for a time, no needles necessary. Here’s everything you need to know about the brow dye job....