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In 2022, mbg’s resident astrologers the AstroTwins predict that all eyes will be on the Water Bearer. This meetup is significant because it speaks to how we enact change as a society. How do we grow and create new systems in an organized, methodical way? That is Jupiter-Saturn’s domain. “Philosophical Jupiter opens our minds, and Saturn creates a structure for our thoughts to become tangible actions. And carried on the wings of liberated Aquarius, the winds of revolution are taking flight,” the AstroTwins write of this rare transit....

As the primary detox organ, the liver has the critical job of filtering these unwanted compounds and preparing them for elimination. So making sure the liver is functioning optimally is key to holistically supporting the body’s natural detox pathways. According to a 2015 Antioxidants scientific review, milk thistle’s potent phytochemical silymarin also bolsters glutathione synthesis11.* Known as the “master antioxidant” in our body, glutathione is a vitally important antioxidant that has a profound impact on detoxification efforts....

Herbal remedies like adaptogens, which help neutralize your body’s reaction to stressors over time, can also deserve a spot in your calming routine. The only issue with adaptogens is their gradual effects take a while to kick in, and you need to take them for a while consistently before you feel a difference. “It’s soothing and especially helpful for those who are feeling ‘wired and tired’ and stressed,”* integrative physician Cindy Tsai, M....

Often, people who believe meditation is not for them are put off by the idea of sitting still or believe themselves to be incapable of quieting their thoughts. In actual fact, neither of those things is necessary to your meditation practice—movement is allowed, and judgment-free thought observation is encouraged. And it’s science-backed. In a study1 on mindful walking, patients with psychological distress that participated in a mindful walking program experienced a reduction in stress and improved quality of life compared to those who did not participate....

Clinical studies have found that, when administered correctly, hemp-derived CBD can help ease stress and promote life pleasure1.* Hemp-derived CBD delivers this sense of calm with a negligible amount of THC—the psychoactive compound in some cannabis strains.* These trace levels of THC in hemp (< 0.3% by U.S. law) mean that it should not make you feel high. But unless you’ve tried hemp CBD yourself, it might be hard to imagine what it does feel like....

However, conscious sleep is possible in non-REM sleep as well. In fact, in Eastern meditation traditions, conscious sleep is taught as a way to maintain self-awareness, but without being aware of the body or environment, during deep non-dream sleep, Teitelbaum explains over email. According to a review1 published in the journal Progress in Brain Research, the concept of conscious sleep was highlighted by Elmer and Alyce Green of the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas....

GABA is essentially your body’s “calm down” signal, pumping the brakes on overexcited neurons, contributing to an overall relaxing effect. Here, we unpack how GABA affects the brain and body, the benefits of maintaining healthy GABA levels, and how to optimize GABA levels as you age. That means it blocks certain signals in the central nervous system to counter the excessive neural “excitement” that can impact mental and physical well-being....

In theory, maternal instinct sounds like a great concept since it makes it seem like motherhood is the most natural thing in the world. And while there’s plenty to love about being a mom, most parents would agree that the transition into parenthood is anything other than easy and seamless. Either way you look at the concept, it almost exclusively focuses on women and children. This reinforces an idea about women not only wanting children but also being innately equipped to care for them....

As an integrative pediatric neurologist, I’m often the first doctor to have even asked about their child’s stool, so parents are genuinely shocked by the suggestion that it might hold secrets to the problems in their bodies and brains. If your child has a healthy gut and digestion, here’s generally what you should notice: Your child poops at least once a day, and it should take under 5 to 10 minutes between entering to exiting the bathroom (of course, bringing a book or a device might artificially increase toilet time)....

We chatted with experts in both nutrition and fitness about exactly what you should eat after a workout to gain muscle, depending on the type of exercise. MPS promotes muscle growth by helping put your body in an anabolic state in which the rate of MPS exceeds the rate of muscle protein breakdown2. Exercise stimulates both the growth and breakdown of muscle tissue3. Eating after a workout helps fuel your body to build muscle (anabolism) while preventing muscle breakdown (catabolism)....

To give us some tips on how to repot a plant, we chatted with plant experts and enthusiasts Maria Failla, founder of Bloom and Grow Radio, and Nora Schaefer, former greenhouse worker at Strange’s Florist and current plant mom to 63 houseplants. While each plant will have different needs, here are some general signs that your little buddy is outgrowing its pot: When you pull it out (gently!), a plant that’s ready to be repotted, it will have a web of roots that have grown to densely cover the sides....

The reason “fat” has developed such a negative reputation is because it also pertains to that excess buildup around your love handles and under your chin. And therein lies the issue—most people confuse dietary fat with cosmetic fat. While I do subscribe to the notion that “you are what you eat,” in this case we can’t take it quite that literally. The fat you eat and the fat on your body are two completely different things....

I drank the vegan Kool-Aid, so to speak, and revamped my entire diet. I got myself a fantastic juicer, made smoothies as meal replacements, found filling protein from avocados, and replaced my grilled chicken and veggie dinners with lentils and kale. Often when people gain weight from a vegetarian diet, it’s because they’ve replaced meat with refined starches, processed foods, and sweets. But I’d been careful to not do that....

Sure I’d love to buy 100 percent organic and practice yoga three times a week. But most days, I’m thinking about how I’m going to make my car payment or buy groceries or afford after-school activities for my kids. The wellness community often operates on the assumption that simple mind-shifts and affirmations alone will result in a better life, and that’s true—as long as your basic needs are met. After a year here, I found a full-time job....

Anger, anxiety, depression, and the lot are not polite or politically correct to talk about in many social settings. They feel uncomfortable, and it’s easy to judge ourselves as being “weak” for having them, even if we don’t subscribe to Pollyanna-esque naiveté. So we learn to manage our negative feelings. One common way we do this is by performing what I call “cognitive Photoshop”—rationalizing our feelings away and becoming needlessly stern with ourselves for having human emotions....

But it’s important not to count our eggs before they hatch. Case in point: A newly released study found many men today still feel like they can’t open up about their feelings without being judged. What they found is most men know expressing their emotions is important—but they still feel like they’re punished for doing it. A whole 77% of men say they see talking as an effective way to deal with their problems, and 76% know it’s good for their mental health....

Slowing things down to train in zone 2 will benefit your cardiovascular system, mitochondrial health, mood, and more. Here’s a primer on why zone 2 is so beneficial and how to incorporate it into your training—whether you’re an elite athlete or an occasional fitness class junkie. Typically, Niren explains, your heart rate can be divided into the following five zones. These are also the zones that most fitness companies like Polar, MyZone, and Garmin use to program their devices: So to determine whether you’re in zone 2, you can go off perceived exertion or calculate your maximum heart rate and work backward from there....

This expression can be used with almost anyone as long as you have the time to listen. Be advised that if you offer your listening ear, it’s important to follow through; don’t make promises that you can’t keep. Ultimately, sincerity goes a long way even if your delivery isn’t perfect, so speak from your heart and be armed with compassion. Cullins speaks to local, national, and international audiences about relationships, money matters, parenting, and the role of spirituality in achieving your personal goals, and she serves as a moderator/facilitator for community-based panel discussions sponsored by local nonprofit organizations....

So you continue to verbally kick, scream, and cry out to be heard. And still, it feels like you’re talking to a brick wall. What gives? Speak concisely, then pause. Less is more when trying to be heard. Don’t go on and on, trying to beat your point into the ground. Say what you need to say and then pause. Let your words become absorbed by your partner before expecting a response....

Vanderveldt is a former food editor at mindbodygreen and has previously worked for Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Australian Home Beautiful.