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How we start our day matters. We all have important projects and responsibilities to cross off the list, and we need fuel to make that happen. Seems like common sense, except breakfast is often skipped, rushed, or half-efforted. Don’t sleep (in) on it! This meal is full of delicious potential, especially when it involves Van’s Protein Original Pancakes and Waffles. Epic days start with ultimate breakfasts — and this is your guide to making your own....

Rapeseed oil probably is in your grocery store—it’s just labeled “canola oil.” There are two main types of rapeseed oil: Industrial rapeseed oil is used in the machine and chemical industries to make things like engine lubricant and biodiesel while culinary rapeseed oil is used in all sorts of cooking. But—and this is an important distinction—these two varieties of rapeseed oil come from different varieties of the rape plant. The rapeseeds that are used to produce oil for industrial uses tend to be high in erucic acid (between 30 and 60 percent)....

Work and school are non-negotiable, and if you’re a parent, you have even less time for rest. The concept of slowing down can become foreign or at least hard to obtain. With babies to feed, bills to pay, a new job to perform in, how are we expected to rest? Thankfully, there are practical ways to incorporate some downtime into even the craziest of schedules. Lack of sleep can also manifest physically....

Let’s break down some of the powerful physical signs that indicate someone reciprocates your attraction to them, plus how to build sexual tension with your partner and when to leave things be. Whether you prefer to call it energy or tension, Balestrieri says, “The sexual vibe is alive in the ether.” Plus, get this: This sexual attraction is alive to more than just you and the person reciprocating your desire—it’s palpable to the people around you, too....

“No one I know has the perfect microbiome, and I personally check a lot of patients,” says integrative physician Bindiya Gandhi, M.D. “No one eats perfectly all the time: eating fermented foods, fiber, prebiotic foods, vegetables, and fruits. That’s why I highly recommend everyone of all ages take a daily probiotic for generalized overall health.”* What’s more, if you’re dealing with any specific digestive needs (think bloating, gas, regularity), a targeted probiotic supplement may be for you....

Shungite is typically black but can range to a deep bronze color. It’s opaque, but can have a shiny quality, making it look lustrous and metallic. The highest quality, or “elite shungite,” is made up of at least 90% carbon, shiny in appearance, and recovered manually as opposed to through industrial mining. “Regular shungite” in industrially mined, matte black, and 30 to 50% carbon. And according to Ashley Leavy, founder and educational director of the Love and Light School of Crystal Therapy, shungite can help you better integrate cosmic wisdom and karmic lessons, as “its high vibration helps to bring your spiritual body down into the physical plane....

“It protects us from mechanical injury, low humidity, cold, heat, sun, wind, chemical exposure, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens,” explains board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., stating that, “a healthy barrier is critical to normal skin function.” Supporting your skin barrier isn’t just superficial either: It has repercussions for overall health, too. Board-certified dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., points to the results of a 2019 study delineating the link between skin dysfunction and various health conditions caused by chronic inflammation....

In my 20s, I tried an exhausting variety of sleep aids, both over the counter and prescribed ones from my doctor. I was never really comfortable with any of these options. Taking a medication on a regular basis for sleep didn’t align with my values, nor did it address the deeper issues of why I was having trouble sleeping in the first place. These things helped, but they didn’t quite deliver the deep, restorative sleep I’d been hoping for....

Here’s one that people often misunderstand: subclinical acne. Let’s unpack what this subgroup really means, what it looks like, and how to treat the pesky bumps. “They are nonpainful and usually do not lead to scarring or skin discoloration,” says Ife Rodney, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Eternal Dermatology. “[In dermatology], you’ll hear the term comedonal acne rather than subclinical acne.” The flesh-colored bumps never seem to come to a “head,” but they can progress into pimples or pustules if they become inflamed—which can happen if they’re left untreated....

No gatekeeping here: Tatcha’s Dewy Skin Cream is my secret weapon to getting a bright, dewy complexion in just one step. And I love the effect so much, I’ll even stick with a lightweight skin tint just to ensure the glow can shine through. And while we’re on the topic of oversharing, it’s important to note the cream is currently 25% off in Tatcha’s Black Friday sale. Here’s why I just re-upped my supply—and you should, too....

But of all products available on the market, full-spectrum hemp CBD is considered to be one of the best options. Hemp CBD oils combine hemp extract with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, which is also thought to increase the bioavailability1 of the fat-soluble chemical. Beyond this, full-spectrum hemp uses all components of the hemp plant extract, so it has all the beneficial compounds including cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, and flavonoids....

And in that regard, they’re most often associated with pregnancy. For moms everywhere, stretch marks are often lauded as a proud representation that your body was able to grow a whole human. That’s no small feat! And if you’re proud of your tiger stripes—wear them with pride. But if we’re being honest, not everyone wants to rock them. Or some people are simply looking for creams to help support their skin elasticity during pregnancy, thereby minimizing their formation from the start....

Below, find our picks for the best fitness trackers of 2022. Plus, experts tell us how these wearable devices can improve your health and well-being, with tips on what to look for when selecting one for yourself. For example, step count is one of the most common metrics included on fitness trackers, and it’s also the favorite of ACE-certified personal trainer Sonia Hare. “Most of us are way too sedentary, and our bodies are made to walk,” explains Hare, who founded The Sonia Series....

But of all the choices out there, from fiber-rich apples to antioxidant-packed blueberries and everything in between, which fruits pack the most powerful punch for overall health and weight loss? “I tend to encourage high-fiber, lower-sugar fruits and to watch portion sizes. Ideally, you also should consume fruit in the context of a balanced meal or snack that also provides protein and/or fat,” says Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., CDN, registered dietitian and health coach....

While there isn’t a significant amount of research to show a direct association between essential oils and thyroid health, there are some studies that indicate essential oils may help, plus anecdotal evidence from integrative medical practitioners. Both lavender and bergamot essential oils may help your body to naturally lower its cortisol levels while helping to calm the mind and body. Studies show powerful evidence for lowered cortisol levels2 in only 10 minutes of simply inhaling the scent of calming oils, such as lavender....

The good news is that establishing a firm foundation of nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management as well as managing your toxic load by using natural products will help to keep your hormones balanced. That said, this hormonal balance doesn’t happen overnight; we need something during those moments to help us wade through the swamp, which is precisely where self-care supported by essential oils can be our rope to pull us out....

“When people say ‘making love,’ they tend to mean emotionally connected sex, or sex with someone with whom they are in love,” she explains. “It’s linked to spiritual seekers, hippies, Tantra practitioners, or anyone else who seeks transcendence through sex.” The term likely arose in relation to the idea of traditional courtship, Battle notes, but it has since evolved from its original meaning to have the meaning it has now....

And while we’re all chasing those sacred moments of zen like never before, sometimes the stress of winding down is what keeps us from… being able to wind down (ugh). The key to a good wind down routine is to make it second nature. Taking a warm shower, dimming the lights, and listening to a guided meditation are all ironclad practices in Dr. Erin’s routine. “I even look at supplements as part of this routine,” she says....

Notably, outercourse has a broad definition and can mean different things depending on who you ask. For some people, outercourse is any sexual activity that isn’t penis-in-vagina sex, while others define it more strictly as only sexual acts that don’t involve any penetration whatsoever. Often, someone’s definition of what counts as outercourse is influenced by their reasons for wanting to practice it. A person who believes in waiting for marriage to have sex, for example, might see getting fingered vaginally as belonging to the realm of outercourse, whereas another person might not necessarily agree....

But what does calming your nervous system really mean? Many people would describe it as slowing the heart rate, deepening the breath, and relaxing different muscles—but what actually connects these sensations to the brain? Well, allow us to introduce you to the vagus nerve, the part of the body that seems to explain how our minds control our bodies, how our bodies influence our minds and might give us the tools we need to calm them both....