Author: Richard C. Trotter
Picture this: You’re out at a meal where the food is delicious and you can’t help yourself from all but licking the plate clean. Or, you’re feeling low and turn to cookies as a short-term salve. Or, you simply feel like you’ve overeaten, your belly and brain bloated with regrets about finishing your partner’s fries. We’ve all been there. Overeating is human. And while eating past the point of comfortable fullness leaves nobody feeling like their best self, it’s also not a serious offense. (Not to mention if you have access to enough food to overeat, you should probably count…
Your weekly horoscope for April 14 to 20, 2024, features a rare planetary meetup that hasn’t happened since May 1941! But before that, part of your solar eclipse story is reactivated on April 15 when Mercury in Aries meets with Chiron in Aries. These two celestial bodies are meeting at the very spot in the sky where last week’s solar eclipse in Aries took place, inviting you to reflect on your triggers, pain, and healing journey. Conversations are more raw and vulnerable under these skies. Also on April 15, the first quarter moon in Cancer marks the end of the…
Crow pose is a hallmark yoga move that requires strength, balance, and wrist mobility. If nailing it has been a challenge for you, know that you’re certainly not alone. It’s an advanced yoga pose that many people struggle with as they move through their practice. However, there are several ways you can ease into crow pose with other poses. Here’s why you should consider including crow pose in your yoga practice, plus crow pose progression moves to practice if you’re struggling with it. In This Article 01 Benefits 02 Progressions First things first: What are the benefits of crow pose,…
Like many decisions regarding your health, the decision to start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause is a very personal one. And likely one that’s not easy to make. Personally, I debated back and forth for a while about whether or not I wanted to try out HRT, and turned to menopause support groups on social media for advice. These groups are chockfull of information on the pros and cons of HRT, and I found solace in relating to other women making the same decision. The hottest of topics, though? Whether taking estrogen protects against cardiovascular disease (i.e., diseases of…
You’ve seen the pictures: The ones where a runner is covered in their own feces, struggling through the end of a race. Maybe your marathon-running bestie has war stories of barely making it to the porta-potty—or not making it all. But runner’s trots are normal, right? Well, no. It turns out runner’s diarrhea is not a foregone conclusion to logging miles. If you have runner’s diarrhea, something needs to change. Soiled shorts are not a badge of running honor. It’s actually improper fueling and dehydration that may lead to unfortunate bowel emergencies. And yep, it’s mostly preventable. We chatted with…
Prebiotics, not to be confused with probiotics, are popping up everywhere, including in soda cans. Drinks like OLIPOP contain a whopping nine grams of fiber per serving, about a third of the recommended fiber intake for American adults. While these health benefits sound amazing on paper, emerging anecdotal stories from consumers complaining of some gastrointestinal distress symptoms like gas, bloating, and even pain suggest there are a few more things to consider before popping a tab on a prebiotic soda. Unlike probiotics, which are the bacteria that fortify our gut with new healthy bugs, prebiotics—a fancy word for non-digestible fibers…
Along with sharks, masked intruders, and apocalyptic disasters, the film industry has done a damn good job at making air travel seem more terrifying than it already is. If your first exposure to a Hollywood flight gone wrong—whether it was The Twilight Zone’s The Odyssey of Flight 33 or Tom Hanks’ deserted island epic Cast Away—was enough to make you anxious about planes for life, you’re not alone. For some people, though, that fear is so insurmountable that they can’t even bring themselves to think about flying in a plane, let alone visit an airport to board one. Such is…
Breast or chestfeeding can be a beautiful bonding experience with your baby. But it can also bring up some anxieties for some people—one of them being about keeping up milk supply. Rest assured: Most people make just the right amount of breastmilk to meet their baby’s needs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). You heard it here; you don’t need a freezer full of milk to successfully breastfeed. Still, your milk supply can be fickle at times. One day you’re overproducing and the next you’re barely getting enough. “This is common and normal,” says Melissa Kotlen, IBCLC, RN,…
Wearable technology is a health and fitness trend that’s not likely going away anytime soon. Tracking health metrics like your fitness, sleep quality, menstrual cycle, and workout recovery has never been easier with more and more products hitting the market every year. Heart rate monitor watches—aka smartwatches—are one of these products, which can give valuable insight into your personal health. They work by using a light and optical sensor to measure blood flow passing under the watch face, to determine heart rate, says Mintu Turakhia, MD, cardiologist and heart rhythm specialist, professor of medicine at Stanford University, and chief medical…
Despite being the largest muscles in your arms, your triceps are generally not the first muscles you think of when you think about training this body part. That title goes to the big, bad biceps. However, to get strong arms, your fitness routine should include both. “Triceps are a key muscle for arm and upper-body movements,” says Jordan Fernandez, CPT, a certified personal trainer with Trainer Academy. “You use your triceps constantly because they are responsible for extending your elbows. So anytime you press, reach, or do anything that involves going from a bent-elbow position to a straight-elbow position, you’re…