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Too much masculine, and we get aggression and domination. Too much feminine, and we get disempowerment and stagnation. “Everyone has both the feminine and the masculine qualities—it’s not about what sex you are,” explains intuitive counselor and sacred space designer Elana Kilkenny. She adds that the place where these two sit in balance is a sweet spot that we should strive for in our day-to-day life. “The energy of the feminine embodies the nurturer, the healer, the compassionate peacemaker, while the masculine energy is focused on doing and achieving,” says spiritual author of The Self-Love Experiment Shannon Kaiser....

While they tend to be quieter and may even seem shy, the covert narcissist can be just as dangerous and manipulative, so it’s important to be able to identify them. “Covert narcissists feel special because they believe their pain is more important than others’,” clinical psychologist and Harvard lecturer Craig Malkin, Ph.D., explains. “They may feel like the most misunderstood genius, the person who’s suffering the most, or even the ugliest person in the room....

That said, think of these prevention methods as ways to keep your hair healthier long term. Eventually, your hair will lose its pigment, but this routine can help you maintain vibrant locks until it’s truly your time to go gray. When you introduce those free-radical fighters into your routine—vitamin C, vitamin E, and the like—you strengthen the hair and scalp, and you brighten the strands. So look for hair care products loaded with antioxidant-rich botanicals, and opt for hair-enhancing vitamins (because oral antioxidants count, too)....

I want you to experience this same transformation. Whatever your situation might be, optimal brain health creates more opportunities and makes life better. Unfortunately, I’ve found many patients don’t connect how they feel with how they eat, how much they rest and sleep, how much they exercise, how much time they make for friends and community, and the media and news they expose themselves to. Once you make those connections, you can change these and other daily decisions....

“Sixty to 80% of our immune system is in our gut and is known as the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT),” registered dietitian Ella Davar, R.D., CDN, previously told mbg. That means that more than half of your immune system relies on a healthy gut, so keeping your gut microbiome balanced with probiotic foods and drinks, like ACV, is especially important for fighting off colds. While there haven’t been any studies that directly connect apple cider vinegar with immunity specifically, research published in Synthetic and Systems Microbiology in 2018 stated that probiotics, in general, are effective for fighting off colds3 and flu-like respiratory infections because they nourish the immune system....

As the most abundant protein in the human body, collagen is undeniably important—and consuming supplements could help up your body’s levels. But if you’re new to the collagen train, you might be wondering when you should hop on. In terms of collagen degradation, sun exposure is one of the worst offenders. (It’s also one of the easiest to change, by the way.) “UV light exposure causes generation of free radicals, [which] trigger reactions that damage healthy cells,” explains Blair Murphy, M....

Unlike the squeaky-clean feeling you might get from a bar soap, body washes can replenish your skin’s protective barrier, says Gabriel, leaving it soft and hydrated. Just be sure the body wash you’re using is free of sulfates as well: “If you have sensitive skin, eczema, or a history of any skin disease, please be sure that any body wash you use is sulfate- and artificial-fragrance-free,” board-certified dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, M....

While those two terms may sound interchangeable, they’re not exactly the same. If a bag is biodegradable, it means that when left in a totally natural environment, over time it will eventually start to degrade with the help of biological helpers like bacteria or fungi. While certainly a nice idea on paper, the term doesn’t say anything about how long this process takes to happen, so it’s a bit vague and leaves room to be abused or misused as greenwashing....

As Ashley Leavy, founder and educational director of the Love and Light School of Crystal Therapy, tells mindbodygreen, bloodstone has an incredibly rich history, believed to be a stone of healing, protection, divination, and more, by ancient cultures. According to her, an early Roman philosopher named Pliny the Elder (one of the oldest known stone writers) even claimed bloodstone was a stone of invisibility. “Some other ancient sources believed it could control weather and eclipses, and it was also called ‘The Stone of Babylon’ because the ancient Babylonians believed it was so powerful and magical that they used it to make really important artifacts, like seals and amulets,” Leavy notes....

According to Ali Miller, R.D., L.D., CDE, “At this point, it is just syntax,” she told mindbodygreen. That being said, there are some things to know about the, admittedly nuanced, difference between the two terms. The benefits of bone broth are largely due to its collagen content. Two of the individual amino acids that make up collagen, glycine and glutamine, are what give it that extra kick to improve gut health, as they play a role in supporting the lining of the digestive tract....

We get it…it stinks. So, to help make sense of this potential, unexpected side effect, mbg dug into the research and chatted with functional medicine doctors. Here’s what they have to say. (Curious about other potential side effects of probiotics? Check out our guide.) According to integrative medicine doctor Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., “Everyone’s microbiome is always changing.” If you’re suddenly introducing a new bacteria to the environment—even if it’s a good bacteria—the microbiome will have to adjust....

Here, we’ll dive into the personality traits of Capricorn and explore how this sign approaches life, love, career, and more. Saturn, and therefore the sign of Capricorn, is all about authenticity, realness, and honesty. Saturn also rules the wisdom of old age. Therefore, Capricorn tends to be a sign that’s very aware of what’s timeless and what’s just passing through. Caps aren’t likely to fall for the latest fad or jump on a bandwagon just because everyone else is doing it....

That’s where co-washing comes in: If you are curious about making the switch, we spoke with top hair care experts and stylists for tips on how to help. Those with severely damaged hair—like damage, say, from heat, relaxing, or color processing—may also consider co-washing. “Those with weak hair, or anyone with chemically damaged hair may also consider co-washing,” says Danielle Malary, owner of Lumiere Vive Salon. If you have oily hair or scalp, skip co-washing and side with shampoos—co-washing won’t be strong enough to clean the hair, and the scalp may encounter buildup, irritation, and inflammation....

Start the container garden of your dreams with this beginner’s guide filled with tips, tricks, and expert advice. “Container gardening is a great way to bring earthly delights indoors all year long,” adds Rebecca Sears, gardening expert for Ferry-Morse. “Many people with large yards also enjoy container gardening simply for aesthetic purposes. They’re great for adding color and life to a front stoop or empty corner of a deck or patio,” adds Andrychowicz....

But if all you’ve seen of it has been the buzz on social media, you might be wondering what exactly does it involve, what does it feel like, who is it for, and what are the overall pros and cons? Well, here’s our breakdown. Not one square centimeter of real estate was spared. Using the crystal-tipped microdermabrasion wand, she started with the larger and less sensitive areas of my face—like the chin, cheeks, forehead, and neck....

I’ve always erred on the side of caution and kept my plants on the dry side because experts say that overwatering is the No. 1 cause of houseplant death. So why, then, is my Instagram feed filled with photos of plants stuffed into people’s bathtubs, leaves dancing in the downpour? Wouldn’t running the shower on your plants for an extended period of time drown them out? “If you forget to water for a while and your soil is really hard and cakey, putting it in the shower is a great way to rehydrate it,” she says....

To figure out how often you need to take probiotics to reap the benefits, mbg spoke with registered dietitians and functional medicine doctors.* Along with taking probiotic supplements, functional medicine doctor Wendie Trubow, M.D., says it’s important to eat a diverse diet rich in fiber and beneficial bacteria. As long as these nutrients are making their way into the gut, Trubow says missing a few days of a supplement won’t be as big of a deal....

A three-year study conducted by scientists at Switzerland’s University of Basel1 and published in the journal Current Biology investigated the connection between sleep and the lunar cycle. They found that people took on average five minutes longer to fall asleep as the full moon approached, spent 30 percent less time in deep sleep, had lower melatonin levels, and had on average 20 minutes less sleep on full-moon nights. While more research is needed to strengthen these findings and uncover why this phenomenon occurs, some research suggests that the link between our sleep and the lunar cycle has to do with our circadian clocks....

According to both professional dream analyst Lauri Loewenberg and spiritual guide, psychologist, and author of The Alchemy of Your Dreams Athena Laz, the emotions a dream brings up for you can often be one of your biggest clues. “No dream symbol can offer the same meaning to every person because the dream as a whole story (not singular symbols) is what relays the guidance and message to the dreamer,” Laz explains to mbg....

Materials: It’s all about sourcing items made from renewable fabrics—±think cotton, wool, and linen. These materials are low maintenance in the best way; they are grown using sustainable farming practices and without chemical inputs. Whether you’re upgrading the throw blanket on a new bed or need some place mats for outdoor dining this season, check the label to look out for: Life Cycle: Ultimately, you want furniture and decorative accents that are built to last....