Lisa Find Love

We usually associate sexual dysfunction with men and women as they age. Most studies of sexual dysfunctions examine older adults,^1,2 but studies rarely ask young people, “Does everything work as you think it should?”  “Does it feel good when you have sex?” or “Is sex as good as you expected it to be?” This is the first study to examine sexual problems among young people. The data answer a lot of questions, including whether and to what extent young people experience problems in functioning. That alone is important, but this information also helps untangle the questions about whether our sex lives start out good but get progressively worse for some as they age.  It also helps us to understand whether, for some, our sexual lives start out as problematic and just never get better.

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Pour one out for cheese.

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It’s called “thigh face makeup” and it’s strange AF.

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Windy City's must-visit spots for all fit-foodie adventurers.

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Where to eat and how to move in Motor City.

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How to move and where to eat in this historic Texas city.

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Are your legs suddenly super bloated? Don’t ignore it.

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Here’s what the stars say.

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Tale as old as time...

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"Same girl, same day, same time."

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You might be making these mistakes.

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The answer could help you lose more weight.

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'Do we really need to have small talk while you're poking an instrument inside me?'

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"And now we are here. Watching this terror."

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Whether you realize it or not, you probably find yourself ‘liking’ stunningly captured flat-lays every time you scroll through Instagram. If you aren’t familiar with this technical term, flat-lays are the gorgeous photos of a collection of items from an aerial perspective—trust us, you’ll recognize them when you see them. Flat-lays are extremely popular because they’re great at communicating a photographer’s mood, aesthetic, and personality all at once. To help you take the perfect flat-lay for your own Instagram account, we got blogger Jacey Duprie of Damsel in Dior to give us some pointers.

• Light it right. First, as is the case with every high-quality Instagram photo, your flat-lay will require good lighting. That means you might want to wait to take your picture in the afternoon, when your space has the brightest natural light. You could also turn on overhead (ceiling) lights, then edit the photo to make the light look whiter and less yellow. Pro tip: If you snap the photo by the light of a lamp, you’re likely to capture unflattering shadows (a serious Instagram faux pas), so make sure all light is well-distributed and preferably natural.
• Create balance. The next factor to consider is your composition, which refers to the items you’ll be capturing and how they’ll be arranged. As you choose your objects, consider the emotions you’re trying to express. Is the photo of makeup and hair products? Is it the clutter on your desk? Or perhaps your lunch and place setting? Carefully determine whether all the photographed items are in line with the message you’re trying to convey.
• Set the scene. Once you’ve chosen the items that create a full look, look for the right background. Think of this as a backdrop for a product photo shoot, as the background works to further set the mood and complement your selections. Marble, hardwood floors, black and white tiles, and plain white are a few of Duprie’s go-to backdrops.
• Play with placement. With your items selected on an appropriate surface, it’s time to arrange them. “Make sure all of the products are equal distance apart,” advises Duprie, who has 360,000 followers on her Instagram account (@damselindior). “I prefer to keep products spaced apart rather than layered on top of one another so they are clear and visible.” Try to balance out the products in the frame, and be aware that the eye tends to gravitate toward the upper right quarter of the photo, Duprie adds.
• Get high. To take a true flat-lay, you should have a direct birdseye view of the items, as if the photo was zoomed in from a camera on the ceiling. “Stand on something high that will position you directly above what you’re shooting,” says Duprie. You may need to stand on a chair or a ladder (sorry, but taking great pictures is hard work!) and hold your phone above your head.
• Check your work. After you’ve taken a handful (or 100) photos, review them to make sure you’re getting the right angles and that everything is perfectly arranged (the camera will highlight even slightly crooked lines).
• Add magic touches. Once you’ve found the photo that best captures everything you imagined your flat-lay would be, go ahead and edit it to perfection. “Don’t be afraid to edit and sharpen your image using easy apps such as Snapseed and VSCOcam,” Duprie encourages.

After all of this meticulous preparation, you can finally post the finished photo to your Instagram account and wait for the likes to roll in! We wish your avocado toast, M.A.C. makeup, and desk stationary the best of luck. Here are some more insider tips to snapping pro-grade pics on your smartphone.

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Does your typical night include reading a book on your tablet, watching a late night television show, or answering a few emails before falling asleep? If you answered yes to any of these, you could be harming your quality of sleep. Why? Two words: Blue light.

“Blue light has a very similar wavelength to sunlight,” says Anne Bartolucci, PhD at Atlanta Insomnia and Behavioral Health Services. “It’s very stimulating for the brain.” The wavelength of blue light falls between 420 and 480 nanometers. When we expose ourselves to blue light before we go to bed, it suppresses melatonin production, which can mess up our natural circadian rhythm and keep us from falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night. Read these tips from sleep doctors to get a better night’s sleep without drugs.

Common items that emit blue light are the backlight screens of smartphones, tablets, computers, and televisions. Other items, that people don’t tend to think about, are alarm clocks and night lights. While these give off a much smaller amount of blue light, it’s still something to consider removing from your room to improve your sleep.

Dr. Bartolucci recommends one hour of screen-free time before going to bed. But for those whose lifestyles require you to be on your phone or computer all the time, she recommends blue light sunglasses. Blue light sunglasses can be worn on their own or over your glasses. They look like sunglasses but with orange or yellow lenses. They work to filter out the blue light signal that your screen is giving off.

Blue light sunglasses can range anywhere from $10 to $80. Dr. Bartolucci says not to spend a lot of money on them since the less expensive ones work just as well. The pair she uses in her office for patients to test, for instance, was about $20.

Unfortunately, wearing regular sunglasses won’t have the same benefits as wearing blue light sunglasses. Dr. Bartolucci says that if your sunglass lenses have an amber or yellow tint they may help a little, but they won’t be as effective as blue light sunglasses. Similarly, turning down the brightness on your phone or turning on night mode doesn’t work as well as blue light sunglasses. This dims the amplitude of the light but doesn’t change the wavelength.

Sure, blue light sunglasses aren’t the most attractive accessories, but if your busy lifestyle doesn’t allow you to put down your devices before bed, the shades are your best bet for sweet slumber.  For extra pointers, try these other tips to get the best sleep ever.

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First base panic

“We went under the bleachers at a popular park in Florida. I was in the seventh grade, circa 1987. I had no idea how to compose myself. I didn’t know I was supposed to close my eyes and I was insecure that my nose, pre-rhinoplasty, would get in the way (think Steve Martin’s character in Roxanne). I just opened my mouth, kept my eyes wide open and twirled my tongue around twice. I still remember the guy’s first and last name.” —Much Better Kisser Now, Coral Springs, Florida

Holy hotness

“I met this cute boy in Hebrew school, and we went to see Bette Midler in Beaches. He did the arm-over-the-shoulder trick with a dramatic yawn and stretch. He leaned in for a very awkward, uncomfortable tongue touch. I sat in shock and guilt for the rest of the film. When my mom picked me up, I asked if we could stop at temple to throw away my sins.” —Kiss and Pray, Branchburg, New Jersey (No need to feel guilty, Kiss and Pray! Kissing actually makes you stronger!)

Double trouble

“I was a late bloomer—age 14, to be exact. When I excitedly went to share the news of my first kiss with my twin sister the next day, I found out he was her first kiss, too.” —Still Mad at My Sister, Baldwin, NY

Breath test

“My sixth-grade boyfriend and I had a date at the local pizza place. We shared our first real peck in the back of the restaurant. I remember that I did not like his breath.” —Never Ordered Pepperoni Again, Potomac, Maryland

Miss inexperienced

“I was 8 years old, and I fell in love with a fifth grader on my camp bus. I remember his tan legs looking so cute in his short shorts. We kissed on a dare. My excitement turned into nausea. When the bus dropped me off I ran home to my mom crying, I thought I was pregnant.” —In Therapy, Marlboro, New Jersey

Forgotten love

“I can’t remember which one came first. It might have been at sleep away camp behind the arts and crafts building. Or it was during a game of Truth or Dare in my parent’s hot tub, or maybe it was in the backyard at my best friend’s house.” —Still thinking, Boca Raton, FL

Lip bump

“We both had braces. Not sure what hit first, the metal brackets or the tip of our tongues.” —Happily Married, Manalapan, New Jersey (Read more about the benefits of kissing, besides leading to happy-ever-afters.)

Dressed to impress

“My mom was a friend of the owner of a dress store. She would always give me a crinoline to put under my skirt. It must have made me look nice because at age 13, I kissed the dress owner’s son. I’ll never forget: It was outside, on the corner of a busy street, underneath the train tracks.” —Still Have My Memory, Jackson, New Jersey

Sweet and tender

“It was 50 years ago. He would always pick me up in his car with Lifesavers on the dashboard and lip balm in hand. He made sure to keep his lips soft and his breath fresh. My friends didn’t know if I could trust him because they said he was too nice. Now, we are married and he still walks around with chapstick and breath mints in his dungaree jacket.” —Married To Mr. Right, Brooklyn, New York

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Loofahs, those spongy, handheld scrubbers, are known to help exfoliate our skin in the shower. Yours could be hanging in the shower right now, and unbeknownst to you, other family members may be using it to scrub up. No big deal, right? You’re family!

Sadly, it’s doesn’t matter how close you are, sharing a loofah is more unsanitary than you’d imagine. “A loofah can cause bacteria to spread,” says Debra Brooks, MD, from Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care. Not only can loofahs store bacteria—including pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that can cause disease in animals, according to the CDC—but every time you use it to slough off dead skin, you’re also more than likely rubbing yesterday’s dead skin back onto your body. Yuck!

The nature of a loofah makes it a virtual petri dish for germs. “It stays in the shower, a warm, wet environment which can be a breeding ground for bacteria like mold and mildew,” says Brooks. Even if you wash it, there’s still a good chance that germs are hiding in those little indentations and holes. Anyone who has or is a carrier for MRSA, a super bug responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections, could easily spread that through their loofah. And people who are diabetic or immunocompromised in any way could be at higher risk of developing a general infection, especially because a loofah causes microscopic abrasions as it removes dead skin, essentially opening doors for germs to enter, says Brooks.

If you’re keen on exfoliating your skin, consider using a body scrub, like Svelta Luxe Coffee & Raw Sugar Body Scrub or H20 Beauty Eucalyptus & Aloe Body Scrub. Or make a homemade exfoliant using ingredients already in your kitchen.

If you’re still stubbornly feeling the loofah love, try following these tips from Penn State University to keep it as sanitary as possible:

• Make sure that your loofah is made from all natural substances rather than synthetic material
• Don’t ever leave it in your shower, where it invites mold and takes longer to dry
• Always store in a dry place, and make sure to dry it completely after every use to stop bacteria from proliferating
• Periodically soak it in a 5 percent bleach solution to kill off bacteria and germs
• Replace your loofah at least once every three to four weeks, or sooner if it starts to smell.

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We’ve all been brought up to believe that in order to remove icky stuff from our hands and pretty much our entire bodies we should wash and clean ourselves with soap. But bar soap in essence just removes grime and germs from your skin—it doesn’t kill bacteria; it just moves it from one location to the next. So could that gross stuff that you thought that you were ridding yourself of might actually be hanging out on your favorite bar of soap? Try not to think about that the next time you lather up. “Bar soap can and likely does have germs living on it, says Debra Brooks, MD, at Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care. But don’t panic just yet because they are not likely to make you sick, she says.

In a study that was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Infection it was found that even when participants used soap that had been contaminated, their risk of the bacteria transfering to them was unlikely. Dr. Brooks concurs. “If you are in good health, you should have no problem naturally defending against the germs on bars of soap,” says Brooks. “Plus it is easy to disinfect your soap because the top layer usually dissolves in water,” she says.

If you are still concerned and want to take extra precaution you should cover and store your soap in a dry place, as this will also help it to last longer. Also, rinse it off before and after using. Finally, if it still freaks you out and you are worried just stick to liquid soaps or shower gels instead.

MORE: Find out the ways you’re probably showering wrong.

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If you have a regular exercise routine, you might feel guilty skipping your workout when you’re sick. But even if you felt well enough to go to work, taking a rest day could be the best thing for your health.

Listen to your body when you’re deciding if a workout is worth it, says Albert Ahn, MD, clinical instructor of Internal Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. If you’ve got a minor cold and your symptoms are all from the “neck up,” you can probably handle light exercise. Some people even find they feel better with physical activity. Though the reason isn’t clear, it could have to do with the endorphin rush or sticking with a routine, he says.

But skip the workout if a cough or stuffy nose makes it hard to breathe, says Felicia D. Stoler, DCN, fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. “We need oxygen to exercise properly,” she says. “If oxygen is a little challenging because the lungs are filled up with fluid, maybe you shouldn’t work out.” (Find out why you’re always congested.)

Take it easy too if you’ve had stomach issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, even you think you’re done running to the toilet. “They’re already dehydrating to begin with, and the last thing you want to do is make that worse,” says Dr. Ahn. In addition to water, you also lose electrolytes—which are important for performance too—so replenish them with sports drinks or coconut water. Check out these other sneaky causes of dehydration. Plus, if being sick made you lose your appetite, you won’t have enough calories to fuel your workout, he says.

Exercising with a fever is another big no-no. “You don’t want to raise your body temperature any more,” says Dr. Ahn.

Then, of course, are the germs. For one thing, you should avoid making other gym-goers sick. But staying home could protect you too. “You don’t want to be around other people’s germs when immunocompromised,” says Dr. Stoeler. If you do brave the gym, she recommends washing your hands when you arrive and when you leave. Avoid putting your hands in your eyes and nose until you’ve washed the germs away.

Don’t rely on getting an immune system boost from your workout either. Studies have linked physical activity to stronger immune systems, but that won’t make a difference once you’re sick. After all, your regular exercise routine has likely already given you those benefits, says Dr. Ahn. Now it’s time to let your body fight the infection and avoid these habits that ruin your immune system.

Fitness fanatics who do decide to work out should dial it down a notch. Reduce the speed and number of miles on the treadmill, and do fewer sets and reps during weight training, says Dr. Ahn. Or rethink your idea of physical activity and do tai chi, yoga, or light cardio, suggests Dr. Stoeler. “It’s moving vs. sitting on a sofa,” she says. “We can always walk.”

Don’t feel guilty about the time away from the gym. A few days off won’t kill your progress, and working out too soon will probably just hold you back more in the long run. “It’s not going to help your cold go away any faster,” says Dr. Ahn. So sit back and enjoy the excuse to stay in your PJs.

MORE: 12 Times You Should Absolutely Skip Your Workout

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Download free books

Amazon offers over 8,000 titles that are free to download. Pick from a variety of classic novels, romance reads, and thrillers. Even if you don’t own a Kindle, you can download the free Kindle app on your smartphone and get these reads for on-the-go convenience. Another great source for free downloads is Open Library. It allows you to borrow and read a wide variety of titles. Check with you local library as well, many offer similar programs to Open Library.

 

Transfer articles from the web

Download Instapaper to transfer web articles to your Kindle. Create an account and then under Settings choose Kindle as your delivery option. Now, when you save an article to Instapaper it will get pushed to your Kindle account.

 

Send a document

You can email personal documents, as attachments, to your Kindle. All you need to do is send the document to your Kindle email address. How do you find that? Go to Manage Your Content and Devices > Settings > Personal Document Settings. The email will be yourname@kindle.com. Then you have to add your email to the Approved Document Email List. Something to note is that you could be charged for this. Avoid the charge by adding free to your kindle address. Therefore, it would read yourname@free.kindle.com.

 

Reset a frozen screen

Simply press or slide and hold the power button for 40 seconds. When you release, the device should display the start-up screen.

 

Take a screenshot

If you find a quote that you really like, or need to save a page to use for a class project, you can take a screenshot on your Kindle. If you have an original Kindle, hold down alt + shift + G. For the Kindle Touch, hold down the home button and tap the screen. And for the Voyage and Paperweight, press the opposite corners of the screen at the same time. Plug your Kindle into your computer to download the screenshot as a .png file.

 

Clear up space on your home screen

If you’re tired of the Amazon book suggestions adding clutter to your home screen, there’s a way you can clear them. Go to the menu bar in the upper right hand corner, then to Settings > Parental Controls > Restrictions > slide Kindle store to off and hit OK.

 

Lend a book to a friend

Certain books are eligible to be sent to a friend for 14 days. Log in to your Amazon account and go here. Select Manage Your Content and Devices from the tabs on the screen. Then, click the ellipses action button next to the book you want to send and selectLoan This Title. Remember, not all titles are available to loan.

 

You can publish your own book for Kindle users

For all you authors out there, Amazon offers an easy way to publish your book on their e-store. Simply follow these instructions to make your book available to Kindle users worldwide.

 

Sources: womansday.com, buzzfeed.com

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“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” – Mark Twain

“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” – Abraham Lincoln

Is lying a case of “fiction addiction”?  Since the idea of alternative facts and living in a post-truth world have been in the headlines of late, it seemed a good time to explore this topic.

The Origin of Lying

Think about the first lie documented in spiritual texts. In the Old Testament, Adam and Eve were told by God that if they ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would die. They ate, they lived. When asked if they had munched on the apple which had them hiding their nakedness (which may be a metaphor for being revealed and vulnerable psychologically as well), Adam passed the buck to Eve who he said tempted him to eat the fruit. Eve then blamed the serpent for tricking her.  The truth is each of the players made choices and the chain of events proceeded.  Wondering if the tree was planted in plain sight so that Adam and Eve could be tested or beckoned. Consider that many people succumb to the temptation that is deliberately placed before them and expected to refrain from indulging.  This is not meant to be offensive to anyone’s spiritual beliefs, but rather an assessment of a written tale.

Why we lie can vary from person to person.

• Fear of repercussion
• Desire to look more impressive
• Wanting to fit into a specific social norm or group
• Belief that it will get us what we want
• Habit
• Covering over inappropriate behaviors
• Creating a persona
• Poor self-worth
• Seeing what can be gotten away with
• Wanting reality to be different than it is
• Testing relationship boundaries
• One-up-manship (can you top this?)
• Rebellion against authority
• Biding time until a justification or defense can be created
• A passive-aggressive way of speaking up
• Denying responsibility for choices
• Poor self-esteem
• Compulsion to hold power over another

Knowledge is power. When we are the keeper of information, we seem to hold power over another. Consider a partner who is unfaithful. He or she is aware of breaking the agreement of monogamy and may experience a sense of guilt and remorse. When asked if infidelity has taken place, an instinctive reaction may be to lie to cover those emotional states, protect what they fear to lose in the initial relationship or the new one. By withholding the truth, that imbalance of power can be maintained.

Set a good example. If you expect honest interaction with those in your life, it is important to be in integrity. The first of The Four Agreements, written by don Miguel Ruiz highlights the value of speaking truth.

“Be Impeccable with your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word in the direction of truth and love.”

Make your relationships a safe place for honesty. If someone tells you the truth, how do you respond? Do you accept their feelings or dismiss them? Is there room for a difference in perspective or do people need to agree with you to keep the peace?

A few examples:

Susan was married to Chris. She had grown up in a family in which truth-telling was valued and trust was a core value. When she did something that she thought, her parents wouldn’t approve of, at times she found ways to justify her actions but didn’t think of them as lies. When they found out, they expressed concern but not overt disapproval. They wanted her to make her own choices and mistakes if need be but reinforced the importance of honest reporting of her actions.  Still, she valued their approval and there were things she didn’t tell them, wanting to maintain her stellar position in their eyes. She had not yet learned the difference between secrecy and privacy.; the former is an indication of a shame-based, if-you-knew-this-about-me-you-would-disapprove-or-abandon-me paradigm and the latter reflects each person’s right to sovereignty.

Chris was raised in a family in which his safety depended on lies and power plays. His father was an actively drinking alcoholic who was unfaithful to his mother and controlling and violent with Chris. He learned that he needed to create a confident (and at times arrogant) persona to survive. When the two of them got together, Susan was determined to stay in Chris’ good graces since his anger at times took a threatening turn, so she would withhold information particularly in interactions in the business they owned together. When he discovered her fabrications, his reactions were sometimes in excess of the ‘offense’. She justified her prevarications in her own mind since she felt she didn’t have the business acumen to successfully interact with costumers in a way that elicited a win-win. He had years of experience in various businesses and expected that she would model her own actions after his since it was not her forte’. She did not possess the ability at the time to admit those shortcomings and adapt her style to suit the needs. She found herself spiraling downward as he was escalating.

Melinda was a precocious pre-teen whose concerned parents brought her in for treatment after she engaged in behavior that alarmed them and the school. Appearing far older than her stated age, she told her parents and therapist that she should be able to make her own decisions without what she perceived was her mother’s and father’s unnecessary oversight. They volleyed back that although she perceived herself as being more mature than her age would indicate, she did require their guidance since she was making poor choices and lied to them and her teacher. One such example was that she justified being lethargic in class because she drank too much caffeinated soda the night before and couldn’t get enough sleep. When called on it in the session, she admitted that she didn’t want to tell the teacher that she stayed up playing computer games.

When Lying Becomes Addictive

The American Society of Addiction Medicine, defines addiction as: “a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors.”

Is lying an addiction? Pathological lying is defined as: “s a chronic behavior characterized by the habitual or compulsive telling of lies.” One who engages in this behavior has come to believe the stories they tell and often can’t differentiate between truth and fabrication.  The desire to maintain appearances and power can instill that chemical high that occurs in any addictive process; whether it is experienced as the thrill of getting away with something or protecting one’s own position.

How Do We Treat the Addiction?

The first step, as is so in any case, is to admit the problem and the impact it has on the person’s life, asking “Does it make my life unmanageable?” From that point, a cost-benefit analysis is in order. How does it serve vs. harm? Each time the temptation to lie arises, take a moment to consider a line in front of you. On one side is truth and on the other un-truth. At each instant, there is a choice about which side of the line to stand. If you find yourself crossing the line, there is always an opportunity to pull back to safety. Have an accountability partner with whom you check in. The rewards are multi-fold in terms of elevating self-esteem and enhancing relationships.

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When it comes to managing your period, there’s an insane number of products on drugstore shelves. And as if the endless options for tampons (including organic tampons), pads, and menstrual cups weren’t overwhelming enough, period panties have arrived on the scene. But what the heck are period panties and should you go out and buy a pair? I tested out this latest fashion-meets-function trend, though not all that enthusiastically at first, to be honest.

Full disclosure, I get queasy at the sight of blood and my period is no exception, so the thought of wearing soggy, bloody underwear didn’t sound all too appealing. And I didn’t exactly love the idea of wearing what I thought would be a glorified diaper. I certainly didn’t care to spend $24 to $39 on said glorified diaper. But I put my fears aside and spent three days wearing period panties. Here’s what happened.

When I Googled “period panties,” it didn’t rack up a ton of hits, but I found some major brands like Lunapads, Anigan, Dear Kate, and Thinx, which all offer different versions of the same product. I decided to go with a beige thong from Thinx because they had the most variety—plus, each purchase helps fund period products for some of the 100 million girls in developing countries who might otherwise miss school just because it’s that time of the month. Thinx offers six different types of styles, including the hiphugger, boyshort, and cheeky, all with different levels of absorbency. For example, the thong holds half a tampon’s worth of blood compared to the hiphugger, which can hold two tampons’ worth. While I appreciate the variety of styles and cuts, I found it hard to measure what exactly a half tampon’s worth of blood equates to, and I wasn’t sure how long I could wear the underwear without blood leaking all over my clothes.

Considering that the panties can be worn without a tampon or pad, I was expecting them to be super thick and uncomfortable, but they were actually really similar to an average pair of undies. In fact, they looked and felt exactly like my favorite pair of lace Hanky Pankys—super comfy! That said, I wore a tampon with the thong the first day because I didn’t want to take the risk of leakage at work. All went well and I even forgot I was wearing “special” underwear. Sadly, I woke up to a bloody mess all over my PJs and white sheets when I wore just the panties to bed the following night. Hint: If you ever have the unfortunate circumstances of dealing with a similar situation, use these common household items to remove blood stains. (They actually work!). On the third day, I decided to be brave and went to work with panties, sans tampon for six hours, and had no issues.

On the pro side, besides running to the bathroom more than usual to make sure my pants were spot-free, I liked not having to wear a tampon. On the con side, I had to rinse the panties under cold water before throwing them in the washer, per the washing directions. As someone who finds blood repulsive and hates doing laundry as it is, this was definitely a detractor.

So while I might not be quite ready to permanently trade in tampons, I would certainly recommend giving period panties a try, especially on days when you have a light flow. (Here’s what your period could be saying about your health.) In general, I really like the idea of reusable, environmentally friendly period products, and I’m happy to support a company that gives back to girls around the world.

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Let your food digest

Dinner and romance may sound like a sweet combination, but Michael Miller, MD, cardiologist and the author of Heal Your Heart, has some words of warning. “Patients resuming sexual activity after a heart attack, stent placement, or open-heart surgery should wait at least several hours after a big meal such as dinner,” he says. Holding off allows your body to properly digest foods, which in turn can help reduce possible stress on your heart. A wait time of one to three hours is optimal, according to WebMD. But don’t skip dinner just to get busy. Here’s what can happen when you go to bed hungry.

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NoseFrida, the snotsucker

When dealing with colds in babies, there are some pretty unconventional methods out there. This one might raise your eyebrows, but it works. The NoseFrida is a device that, unlike a bulb syringe aspirator, puts the power of the suction in the parents’ mouth (yes, you read that correctly). The NoseFrida made in Sweden, is designed so that one end of the device goes into the parent’s mouth, while a “mucus collector” is placed inside the edge of your baby’s nostril. Mom or dad then sucks the tube like a straw, and baby’s congestion is relieved, at least for a little while. (Watch this demo.) Rest assured, there is no exchange of bodily fluid between baby’s nose and the parent’s mouth—a divider that blocks the transmission of fluid is placed inside the tubing.

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You get easily fatigued doing any physical activity

If you usually run a mile every day with ease but suddenly aren’t able to (you may feel overcome by a severe flu-like fatigue), that may be a sign your heart is not pumping enough blood throughout your body. “Activities that used to be easy and now are suddenly met with new difficulty can be a red flag that something is wrong,” says Erin Michos, MD, associate professor of medicine and epidemiology and associate director of preventive cardiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Maryland.  If a good night’s sleep doesn’t fix your overwhelming exhaustion, make an appointment with your doctor right away. If it’s not your heart, and you’re just tired, try these energizing tricks to feel refreshed!

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Detoxifying shampoo

Did you ever consider that your hair could use a detox just as much as your New Year’s diet? We won’t ask whether your diet is still on track, but the fact is, shampoo can’t always remove the thick, unwanted buildup of products and chemicals that accumulate over time. To give your hair a deep clean and tangible refresh, invest in a detoxifying shampoo like the cult favorite, KEVIN.MURPHY MAXI.WASH. Detox shampoo has anti-pollutant ingredients that break down fatty acids, purify oils, and hydrate your scalp.

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Girly girl

A small, unfinished IKEA dresser transforms into a chic, girly nightstand you’ll be proud to stash your bedtime reading in. Brass details elevate the sweet ballet slipper pink, proving you don’t need to keep pastels to kids’ rooms. Head over to Vintage Revivals for step-by-step directions.

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Why we need protein

Protein is a critical part of our diet—we need it to feel full, have energy, build and repair muscle, process nutrients, and boost immunity, among other vital roles.”Protein is made up of amino acids that are the building blocks of body tissues, including muscles, blood vessels, hair, skin, and nails. It’s also involved in the production of enzymes and hormones that help the body to function normally,” says Kaleigh McMordie, a registered dietitian nutritionist. Why are these amino acids so important? McMordie gives a quick anatomy lesson (in case you spaced out in 10th grade): There are some amino acids that the body can synthesize, but others, called essential amino acids, we must get through our diet. Animal protein sources, such as meat, fish, milk, and eggs, contain all nine essential amino acids while most plant-based protein sources don’t have the full complement of amino acids in the exact right amounts (there are some exceptions, like soybeans). “That’s why it is important to include a variety of protein sources in order to get all of the essential amino acids, especially for vegetarians,” McMordie says. And if you’re a regular exerciser, protein is especially important, according to diet and lifestyle dietitian and registered nutritionist, Keith Akoob, EdD. “Protein not only builds muscle, but it also repairs and maintains muscle,” he says. “Muscle cells, like all living tissue, have a life. They eventually need to be replaced, so repair and maintenance are critical roles for dietary protein.”

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Secrets of success

We all know people who seem to be accomplished in their every pursuit. So it’s especially interesting to read a new British study that drills into the 10 attributes that make people extra good at what they do. And they all have a few things in common. For starters, they identify and understand their strengths when pursuing a goal, says Amanda Potter, the lead researcher, founder, and managing director at Zircon Management Consulting, a business psychology company in England. High achievers also tend to be motivated by a negative or positive life event, and they credit their success to having someone in their life who believed in them. After conducting interviews with 42 high-achievers, including a range of CEOs, entrepreneurs, sports stars, and media personalities, Potter concluded that we all have a different combination of winning attributes—in other words, no two winners are exactly the same—however, all successful people have some or all of 10 specific attributes. “For example, it may be your single-minded focus and determination or it might be your curiosity and willingness to disrupt the current situation that makes you successful,” she says. Read on as our two experts explain why the qualities that engender success and why they’re so key.

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Buy in bulk

Especially if you have a big family or lots of freezer space, one of the best ways to save money at the supermarket is to bypass it entirely and shop instead at large wholesale stores like Costco or B.J.’s. The prices are typically cheaper (especially for things like nuts), but some aren’t (like these), so make sure to know about how much you’d pay at the supermarket. If your family can’t plow through 24 eggs in one week, plan to split the cartons—and the cost, with a friend or neighbor.

 

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There is a literal pain that comes with the loss of a relationship: a sharp, palpable pain that most people feel at the point that their lower ribs connect. It’s a pulsing, weepy pain that digs into your diaphragm, and takes your breath away. It’s a pain that defies distraction, repels food, and throbs even through sleep.

For many broken-hearted people, this physical pain is one of the worst parts of going through a bad break up or divorce. For one thing, it scares them. They can’t make it go away, so they wonder when it will ever stop, or whether they will ever feel better.

Furthermore, maddeningly, it feels like contact with their ex is like the only thing that will stop the hurting. This is true even if they know intellectually that the relationship with their ex is toxic, and any contact will only bring more pain in the end. They still crave the temporary relief it might bring.

If you are in this aching, confusing place here are some tips to help you get through it:

1. Stop beating yourself up.

Most people who are going through this experience believe that there is something wrong with them for feeling the way they do. This is because there is a powerful, and false, myth circulating in our culture that you should just be able to “get over” a relationship without such massive pain and devastation.

Not true. Everyone who has lost a deeply cherished relationship goes through what you are going through. The people for whom breakups were easy simply weren’t bonded to that particular person as deeply as you were to your ex. You hurt so badly because you loved so deeply.

But ironically, the people who experience this sort of devastation often feel ashamed and like there is something wrong with them. So they hide / numb / suppress the pain, and try to get through it alone. You are not alone. And there is nothing wrong with you. On the contrary — you are good at bonding and attaching to others. That is a wonderful thing, in the context of a healthy relationship.

2. Reframe this as withdrawal.

Human beings are built to bond, and form extremely powerful attachments. There are physical systems in your brain and in your body that emotionally weld you to other people. These systems have a great deal in common with the physical systems of addiction. When your attachment bonds are broken, you go into withdrawal.

Heroin addicts, deprived of their fix, writhe sweating on their beds in physical pain, craving the only thing that will make it stop — even though they know, intellectually, it could kill them. They often literally trade their lives for the hope of a few more hours of peace in the arms of Morpheus.

Similarly, heartbroken people lay curled on their beds like shrimp, in the grips of pain that feels like being slowly impaled through their solar plexus. In their agony, they crave the temporary peace of contact with their ex, even though they know it will almost certainly only lead to more disappointment, rejection, and shame.

The difference is that heroin addicts know that they’re in withdrawal. And they know that if they can make it through a few days, it will get better. People suffering through the pain of a breakup have no such assurances, and just feel scared and helpless.

Reminding yourself that you are in physical withdrawal will help you make sense of what is happening. It will also help you remember that this is temporary, and a sign that your recovery has begun.

3. Give yourself time.

Would you expect someone going through the agony of withdrawal to function like nothing was wrong? Of course not, but somehow we don’t allow broken hearted people the time and space they need to put themselves back together again before we brightly encourage them to get out there and date, make some new friends, or enthusiastically take up a new hobby.

Recovery does not work that way. You are going through something big, and you are allowed to not be okay for a while. Embrace your sadness. Feel your pain. Acknowledge the losses. The paradox of grief is that the more bravely we allow it, and allow ourselves to not be okay for a while, the faster we heal.

This is a fragile, vulnerable time and giving yourself time and space to heal from this emotional injury, just like you would a physical injury, will help strengthen you so that when the time is right you can start moving forward again.

4. Go cold-turkey.

Decide to be done. If it’s too hard to think about never seeing your ex again, commit to not connecting with them today. And that means not interacting with them literally, virtually, or in your mind.

This last part, “mind cleansing,” is the hardest, but the most essential to your recovery. It’s one thing to stop having contact with your ex, cut the digital cords of social media, and avoid likely run-ins. But just because you’re not with your ex physically doesn’t change their constant presence in your mind. And herein lies the issue: Every time you think about your ex, it reinforces your emotional and physical bond.

It can be enormously difficult to redirect your thoughts and come mindfully back into the present moment over and over again. But developing this kind of mind control, and stopping yourself from going down the angsty rabbit-hole of daydreams, rumination, and rehashing will set you free quicker than anything else

5. Don’t panic.

People can get really worried about themselves when they are wracked with pain, and feeling like they are falling apart in the aftermath of a breakup. When you can’t stop thinking about your ex even though you know you should, and you can’t “get over it” as speedily as everyone wants you to, it’s easy to get tricked into believing that there is something wrong.

There isn’t. You’re in withdrawal, and your body feels it. You’re craving something that you can no longer have. Embrace the process of recovery, give yourself time to heal, and have faith in the process. You’ll be on the other side soon.

 

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby, LMFT, BCC is the founder of Growing Self Counseling and Coaching in Denver, Colorado, author of “Exaholics: Breaking Your Addiction to Your Ex Love,” and the host of The Love, Happiness and Success Podcast.

 

The post 5 Ways to Get Over the Pain of a Breakup appeared first on eHarmony Advice.

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If you’re looking for a simple way to spruce up a Super Bowl spread, look no further than these football-themed Mason jars.

Linda Braden, the blogger behind Mason Jar Crafts, shows you how to make not one, not two, but four adorable containers. Since the Super Bowl simply isn’t the same without snacks, count on these jars to be the touchdown of your snack table. They’re a handy spot for straws, utensils, candies—you name it.

Loving the referee and football jars the best? Painter’s tape makes it easy to get those straight stripes. And by distressing the paint a bit, it doesn’t even matter if each coat gets a bit sloppy. In no time, you’ll transform plain Mason jars into a focal point for your Super Bowl party.

Visit Mason Jar Crafts for step-by-step directions for each jar. No worries if you aren’t feeling crafty—Braden also sells the finished jars on her Etsy shop.

MORE: The 16 Craziest Things You Never Knew About the Super Bowl

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Some stress symptoms we know all to well: headaches, difficulty concentrating, acne breakouts. But did you know dehydration also has a close relationship to stress?

It all has to do with your adrenal glands. These small glands (found on the top of both kidneys) produce hormones that regulate your immune system, metabolism, and other important functions. One of those hormones is cortisol, which gives you the energy to handle stress or fear, as part of our flight-or-flight instinct.

But what if the pressure from your stress doesn’t let up? Prolonged stress can lead to adrenal fatigue, and your worn-out glands function less than normal, Robert Kominiarek, DO, a board certified family physician in Ohio told health.com. That means they produce fewer hormones, including aldosterone, which regulates fluid and electrolyte levels in the body. When there’s less aldosterone, electrolyte levels drop, and you get dehydrated. Plus, being dehydrated can increase cortisol levels. While increased cortisol levels isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it becomes a problem when your body doesn’t physically respond to its fight-or-flight mechanism. In other words, if cortisol levels increase, and stressed-out you does nothing about it, it will build up and lead to a host of problems, including depression and mental illness. Basically, you’re stuck in a cycle of stress and thirst. (Find out other signs you may be dehydrated.)

So the next time you start feeling overwhelmed, take a breath and take a drink of water. Increasing your fluids can help reduce immediate stress, but if this is a recurring issue, try incorporating these stress-relieving rituals into your life or consider getting professional help.

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No one wants big gobs of earwax in their ears, but think twice before digging around with a cotton swab.

Sticking a Q-Tip—or any small object—into your ear can push the earwax back into your ear canal. (Try these clever uses for cotton swabs instead.) As the canal fills up, you could experience some hearing loss, or itching, ringing, and discomfort in your ears, says neurotologist Seth R. Schwartz, MD, MPH, medical director for the Listen for Life Center at Virginia Mason Medical Center. And that wax could be building up more than you realize. “Even half the ear can be plugged with wax before people start to notice at all,” he says.

Your body needs earwax, so don’t poke too far for any that hasn’t made its way outside your ear, says Erich Voigt, MD, clinical associate professor with the otolaryngology department at NYU Langone Medical Center. “The ear canal is a sort of dark, warm, and moist cavity,” he says. “And any areas that are dark, warm, and moist can become an incubator for germs.” The wax prevents water from building up in your ear, keeping germs, mold, and fungus out, he says.

Constantly scraping earwax from your inner ear means removing that protection. “You lose the protective coating,” says Dr. Voigt. “The skin might have tiny scratches, and the germs that like the dark, warm, and moist start multiplying.” You’ll be at higher risk of an outer ear infection—one of the most painful infections you can get, he says. If that happens, try one of these ear infection home remedies.

You already wipe away most of that outside earwax in the shower, says Dr. Voigt. But if earwax is bothering you, a steamy shower also happens to be an ideal place to attack the excess, says Dr. Schwartz. “The wax tends to liquefy because it absorbs water,” he says. “If you wipe your ear, it’s a whitish, soft consistency.” After your shower, wipe the earwax away with a dry washcloth or tissue, he suggests. Anything you can’t reach easily with your finger is still protecting your ear. You could also use eardrops to soften the wax.

See your doctor if wiping wax away at home doesn’t help, or if you think you pushed some back into your ear. A physician can help remove the earwax or identify any other conditions. “Some people think they have earwax but actually have underlying hearing loss,” says Dr. Schwartz.

MORE: 7 Things Your Earwax Could Reveal About Your Health

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When Ed Roberts tried to get financial help to go to college, the Department of Rehabilitation told him his disability made him unemployable. He went on to direct that same agency for 9 years.

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So you’ve got a small room in your house and you’re not sure what color to paint it. Past experience might tell you to go light and airy—it’ll open up the space and make it feel less closed in. But that’s not your only option, especially if what you’re looking to create is ambiance.

“When you paint a small room a dark color, it’s all about creating a mood,” says Karen Asprea, interior designer and director of Whitehall Interiors in New York City. “If you want to create an intimate and cozy reading nook, or someplace to unwind at the end of the day, it’s perfect.” (Painting your bedroom? Find the perfect color.)

The first colors that come to mind for a cozy room are rich taupes and chocolaty tones, says Asprea. Keep the mood with wall sconces as opposed to overhead lights, which could create a glare if everything else is dark. An antique mirror—one with a bronze or black metal frame—can add depth to the space. “It’s nice to have a reflective surface in a small room,” she says.

To pull the room together, experiment with furniture that features a fun pattern, like something floral or geometric, which picks up on the color of the wall. Or do all white furniture with throw pillows that pick up on the color.

So are there any dark colors Asprea suggests you avoid? Not really—but reds and greens can be tricky. “If you’re going to paint a wall red, you need to be very careful about which red you use. I’d recommend doing several tests on the wall,” she says. “Some reds can read a little orange, some can read yellow—and then you also want it to match the other pieces you’re putting in the room. If you’re going to do a red wall and you want a little pop on a red pillow, make sure that the wall is the same tone red as the pillow.”

As for green, it can sometimes cast unflattering tones on peoples’ skin. Asprea says deeps sage greens can look stunning, though.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead, be bold.

MORE: An Interior Designer Reveals Why You Should Stop Painting Your Ceiling White

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When mucus, an allergen, or an object like an insect gets into our nose, the body’s instinct is to get rid of it immediately, via a sneeze. The diaphragm and the muscles between our ribs contract to expel whatever’s in our nose. It’s an automatic (and largely uncontrollable) reflex, designed to keep our airway open.

A sneeze is also very powerful. Depending on the size of your nose and your lung capacity, the force is between 100 and 500 miles an hour! But holding the nose, or closing the mouth, means that all that air can’t escape, so it has to go somewhere else, which could cause unexpected damage.

“If you try to suppress the velocity of air coming up from the lungs, then you could cause damage to the middle ear, which is where the hearing bones are,” cautions Jeffery Gallups, MD, founder and director of The ENT Institute in Atlanta. The force of the air being pushed at speed into the Eustachian tubes can affect the ear drum and the small bones that vibrate when we hear sounds.

If you have an underlying condition, including osteoporosis or an existing brain aneurysm, complications are a possibility from an uninhibited sneeze. But Dr. Gallups believes reports of serious injuries from sneezing are likely to be speculation.

When a cold strikes, take action quickly to stop the cold in its tracks and manage your cold symptoms effectively. But there’s no surefire way to ward off a sneeze either, so if you simply must let rip, do consider those around you. Sneeze into a tissue or the crook of your elbow, dispose of the tissue immediately, and wash your hands to get rid of germs.

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Take a walk down the produce aisle and you may spot a light green, oval-shaped, nubby fruit. While every fruit is distinctive, this one in particular is hard to ignore. The jackfruit, which is native to Southeast Asia, parts of India, Jamaica, and South America, is fast becoming the latest popular meat substitute in vegan diets and vegetarian meals. From pulled “pork” sandwiches to desserts, jackfruit has proven to be a versatile plant that both meat eaters and non-meat eaters alike can appreciate. Here’s what you need to know about this trending tropical fruit.

Jackfruits pack in a lot of nutrition. They’re high in protein (with 2.8 grams per cup of sliced fruit, which is 5 percent of your daily value for protein), plus calcium, and thiamine, vitamin A, and carbohydrates. They’re also rich in energy and dietary fiber, and free from saturated fats or cholesterol. In some regions, jackfruits are even been used to treat conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, diarrhea, tuberculosis, fever, and liver cirrhosis.

And because the fruit is so easy to grow—a jackfruit tree can yield up to 200 jackfruits a year—there are efforts being made right now to plant them throughout the world as a way to combat food shortages in Third World countries.

At the market, you may see two seemingly different types of jackfruit, but it’s the same fruit—only one is mature and the other is young. The young jackfruit is sweet and crunchy, and the older version is usually softer and tastes less sweet. You may also find jackfruit in sold in cans. According to vegan chef and owner of Community Cafe in St. Petersburg Florida, Mandy Keyes, suggests opting for the younger version if you plan on cooking savory meals. “We researched and found that young jackfruit in a can is much easier to work with,” she says.

Unlike some fruits, jackfruits are entirely edible. The seeds can be boiled, roasted, or ground into flour, depending on the dish you’re making. The flesh, which looks like orange-yellow color bulbs, is what makes this fruit so versatile. It can be made into ice cream, chips, jam, soup, candy, and more. You can slice it into a fruit salad or use it in a jam, jelly, or chutney. Keyes cooked up a barbeque-style jackfruit dish at her restaurant last summer. “We sautéed the jackfruit, then slow-baked it in BBQ sauce and spices; then continued to let it simmer in a slow cooker for BBQ shredded jackfruit sandwiches. Keyes and her staff kept their original recipe and then spiced things up by turning them into tacos the following season. “It took just about 10 or 20 minutes to sauté, then about an hour to bake, and the longer you leave it in the crockpot, the better it tastes,” she explains.

If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you know that it can be a challenge to get adequate protein. Consider buying jackfruits—and other items on this list the best plant-based proteins—to meet your daily quota for good health.

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Let’s be honest: It’s no surprise that everyone secretly hates candy conversation hearts. Cute messages like “I love you,” “Be mine,” or “Text me” aside, those store-bought candies are hard, dry, and flavorless. But they’re still a fun, nostalgic Valentine’s Day staple, right? What’s a person to do? Make your own!

This easy, homemade recipe for the classic V-day treat by Lindsay Beck, pastry chef at Nosedive Gastropub in Greenville, South Carolina, will leave you drooling. Her secret? Kool-Aid! According to Beck, the powder adds a vibrant color and yummy taste to the candy that will have you scooping handfuls all day long.

But Kool-Aid mix isn’t the only fun ingredient you can use. “The dough is very forgiving, so be creative,” Beck says. “Extracts, zests, ground lavender, vanilla beans, and freeze-dried fruit all add great flavor.” (Not to mention they are more natural.) If you’re partial to sour candy, tossing in a bit of citric acid will give the hearts a pucker-worthy savor.

Unlike the boxed, store-bought conversation hearts, creativity and originality are the name of the game with this recipe, Beck says. “You can write whatever you want, flavor them however you want, and color them whatever you want.” She suggests customizing your message using edible ink markers, or changing up the shape of the candy with different cookie cutters.

Plus, kids can get in on the action. Turn a dreary winter day into a family-friendly affair by inviting the kiddos to help mix the ingredients, or even letting them mold their own shapes with the dough.

Eaten alone, these adorable treats taste amazing, but they can also be sprinkled onto cupcakes or cakes, or even used as V-day décor around the house. (Just keep them out of reach of pets and young children). Need more fun and easy ideas? Here are cute Valentine’s Day crafts to make.

That said, follow the recipe below to make your very own conversation hearts. After one bite, you’ll never want to buy the store version again.

Ingredients:

1 envelope (1⁄4 oz) unflavored gelatin

1⁄2 cup (4 oz) cold water

8 to 10 cups powdered sugar

Pinch salt

1⁄4 tsp citric acid (optional)

1 packet Kool-Aid or other assorted flavorings and colors

Instructions:

1. Pour the water into the bowl of a stand mixer and slowly sprinkle the gelatin over the water to bloom; let sit for 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile fill a small saucepan with about 3 inches of water and bring to a simmer.
3. After the 5 minutes has passed, place the mixing bowl over the pot of water and whisk gently until the gelatin has dissolved and the mixture is hot (not boiling).
4. Remove from the heat and mix on slow speed with the paddle attachment.
5. Add about 3 cups of the powdered sugar along with the salt and citric acid and mix until smooth.
6. Continue adding powdered sugar until a stiff dough forms, likely not needing all the powdered sugar.
7. Dump the contents onto a table and knead until the mixture is smooth, adding more powdered sugar as necessary to keep it from sticking.
8. Divide the dough and color/flavor as desired.
9. Roll each portion to 1⁄4″ thick and cut out small hearts or any other shape.
10. Arrange pieces on a baking sheet without them touching and allow to rest out for 24 hours.
11. After 24 hours, flip the pieces over, and dry another 24 hours before drawing on them with edible markers.

Makes about 5 cups of hearts, depending on the size of your cookie cutter.

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Think big when it comes to accessories

This doesn’t require a lot of money; it requires knowing how to properly accessorize. “Get rid of all those trinkets you have everywhere! It just looks like clutter,” says Celebrity Interior Designer Lori Halprin, owner of Envision Design Group. The biggest mistake people make is that they buy their accessories too small. “For instance, instead of putting three framed pictures over your sofa, use one big colorful framed painting,” says Halprin. “Large pieces give the illusion your place is really bigger than it actually is,” says Halprin. Check out these other decorating tips to make your home look expensive.

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"When you get crystal clear about where you are going on a project, in your career, or in your life, each decision you make will get you closer to or...

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You bring in only one size

Even if you’re convinced you’re one size, bring a size up and a size down with you to the dressing room. “Take the size you think you are, the size you wish you were, and the size you might be,” says Lauren Rothman, fashion stylist and author of Style Bible: What to Wear to Work. Different brands fit differently, so the best fit might surprise you. Don’t get discouraged if you do end up in that larger size. As long as you look good and feel good, the number on the tag doesn’t matter, says Rothman.

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Compliments do wonders for your brain

If you’re like most couples, you’ve probably experienced moments in your relationship when you feel almost invisible to each other because you allow other things like kids, money, or health to take priority over your relationship. If this is your story, consider the power of the compliment, says Michele Paiva, a psychotherapist in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. “Compliments show you don’t take your spouse for granted and help raise your spouse’s dopamine and oxytocin levels,” she says. “That, in turn, leads to a better emotional connection and more of an upbeat mood overall.” These tips will give your daily compliments extra impact.

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Clues to your best brow shape

Face shape is just one factor that goes into choosing the right brow shape, according to Sabah Feroz, a brow expert at Saks Fifth Avenue’s brow bar, blinkbrowbar. “Each person’s individual facial features and brow bone structure will help to define the perfect brow shape, rather than just face shape alone,” she says. However, natural brows can be accentuated to achieve your dream brows! Also: Do you know the best haircuts for your face shape?

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How much protein we need

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight—that’s about 46 grams per day for a woman and 56 grams per day for a man. However, that number could vary wildly depending on your daily caloric intake and physical activity. “If you’re strength training, your body requires more protein than the average person in order to repair muscle that’s broken down during training and build new muscle tissue,” says Lisa Davis, PhD, chief nutrition officer at Terra’s Kitchen. “The average weight lifter may need 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, whereas a professional body builder may need 1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight. These signs suggest you’re not getting enough protein.

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Put them to bed earlier

Some parents assume that keeping their child up late will exhaust them, helping them to fall asleep more easily and making toddler sleep training an easier task. Not so, says Elizabeth Pantley, author of No-Cry Sleep Solution. “An energetic child may appear to be running on full steam until late in the evening. But a toddler who stays awake until 9 or 10 p.m. often is ready for bed many hours earlier, and is up late functioning on overdrive—often indicated by fussiness or hyperactivity.” Implementing an earlier bedtime could not only make bedtime a little easier, research suggests it’s best for your child. “Studies have shown that a child’s blood pressure, heart rate, and release of cortisol (a stress-regulated hormone) are all affected in a positive way by an early bedtime,” Pantley explains.

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To Kill a Mockingbird

Gregory Peck won the Best Actor Oscar for his riveting portrayal of Atticus Finch, the lawyer who defends an innocent African American man on trial for his life. This searing portrait of racism in the American south premiered during the Civil Rights era and was a critical and box office success. It’s considered one of those movies that’s just as good as the book it’s based on, Harper Lee’s acclaimed novel. It lost the Best Picture Oscar to the sweeping epic Lawrence of Arabia. Tough break!

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Botox is a neurotoxin that gets injected with a needle

So what exactly are you putting into your face? John Paul Tutela, MD, a board certified plastic surgeon, explains, “Botox is a cosmetic injectable neurotoxin that is a very diluted form of Botulinum Toxin, which is found in the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. In this diluted format, it is used to relax your muscles—typically in your forehead, in between your eyebrows, and around your eyes.” The idea is that if you temporarily block local nerve impulses to specific muscles within your face, you won’t make certain facial expressions, so you won’t form the wrinkles that come with them, explains dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD.

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All cars are not created equal

In your parents’ or grandparents’ day, all cars were created equal—or fairly equal. Oil needed to be changed every 3,000 miles—and everyone used basically the same type. That was just one example of the many ways car maintenance was standardized among all vehicles. Today, there are as many different maintenance guidelines as there are types of cars. The good news is that auto engineering has advanced to such a degree that car maintenance is easier than ever. The bad news: Many car owners still follow the old guidelines, wasting time and cash—and perhaps even damaging their cars. Jumpstart your knowledge, save money, and avoid engine damage by reviewing these common missteps shared by Ben Perricone, territory manager, AAA Mid-Atlantic, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.

from Reader's Digest http://ift.tt/2kiIxov

You’ve had HPV

Human papillomavirus is the number-one risk factor for developing cervical cancer, and it’s also one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases—about 80 percent of sexually active people are infected with HPV at some point in their lives. “It’s pretty uncommon to find a cervix cancer not HPV-related,” says Robert DeBernardo, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. There are more than 200 types of HPV but only a handful are considered “high risk” for leading to cervical cancer, with about 70 percent of cancer cases caused by just two of those types. The body clears up to 90 percent of HPV infections by itself without treatment, but sometimes it doesn’t and the virus is able to change the cells of the cervix; left untreated, this can advance to cancer.

from Reader's Digest http://ift.tt/2jMHlGy

A big baby can cause more than a difficult labor

According to the Joslin Diabetes Center, giving birth to a baby nine pounds or larger puts you at a greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes tend to put on more weight during pregnancy and give birth to larger babies, but a baby of above average weight is a risk factor with or without gestational diabetes. (These are the symptoms of gestational diabetes to watch out for.)

from Reader's Digest http://ift.tt/2jlA0BT

As an advocate for mental health awareness, I have learned a lot about various brain disorders and illnesses. Of course each one comes with its own set of symptoms which is helpful in making a diagnosis and moving forward with treatment. Some symptoms overlap among illnesses, and some are unique to a specific disorder.

In my experience, when dealing with these illnesses, there is one symptom that is often present, though because it might be perceived as an effect, and not a cause of issues, there’s not much attention paid to it.

I’m talking about loneliness.

Of course, those with mental health issues are not the only ones who struggle with loneliness. Many of us have experienced the ache of feeling isolated, disconnected, and even alienated from those around us. Loneliness is not uncommon. While it’s true that some populations seem to experience it more intensely than others, such as seniors and those with mental health issues, it is not confined to specific groups.

We all know that mental health disorders come with their fair share of stigma. I believe there is stigma associated with loneliness as well. Admitting that you’re lonely might feel akin to acknowledging that nobody likes you, or at the very least wants to spend time with you. Because friendships and being able to relate to peers are so central to the lives of children, teenagers and young adults, these populations might find it particularly difficult to verbalize their feelings of loneliness. Instead the pretend they “are fine.”

Why do people feel lonely? The answer to this question is likely unique to each individual. Are they reacting poorly to life’s stressors and therefore isolating themselves? Are they dealing with social anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or other illnesses? Do they have poor social skills, and if so, why? As mentioned above, it is often not even clear if these factors cause loneliness, or are a result of being lonely. Again, I think the answers will vary.

While professional help is warranted in all the above cases, what can those of us who care about someone who is dealing with loneliness do? How can we help ease their pain? While it’s easy to think just spending time with our loved ones will be helpful, it often isn’t. If depression is causing loneliness, for example, our loved one could be surrounded by people and still feel incredibly lonely. In my son’s case, he was dealing with severe OCD, and he could not be around his friends because he feared he’d harm them. Not surprisingly, this contributed greatly to his loneliness.

It can become a vicious cycle. No matter how the loneliness starts, it is likely to exacerbate mental health issues. These issues, in turn, can lead to more loneliness.

In these times of high technology and increased social media, we, as a society, are experiencing less and less human contact. It seems as if we are more connected, but we are not — at least not in real, meaningful, ways. We need live face-to-face connections, not virtual ones. So maybe the best we can do for those who are experiencing loneliness is to let them know we are there for them when they are ready — let them know we are available, in the flesh, to support them in whatever way they need, whether that means talking, listening, or just being together. Who knows? It could be that the simple acts of making eye contact, smiling, touching someone’s arm, and hugging, might be some of our most powerful tools in the fight against loneliness.

from Psych Central http://ift.tt/2kEVRUO