Let’s take a look at the various stages your body progresses through so you can get an idea of all the effects you’re experiencing at different points throughout your fast. Your pancreas produces the hormone insulin. This allows your body to use up the glucose that was released into your bloodstream after your meal and to store any excess energy in your cells for later use. Once the energy stored in your cells runs out, your body starts to rely instead on stored fat....

As natural hair continues to grow in mainstream prominence, it only makes sense to take a deep dive into the curly world and learn more about one of the three subcategories for Type 4 hair—Type 4a. Whether you’re just beginning to transition to natural hair or find yourself caring for a child with this hair type, consider this a crash course on the basics of Type 4a hair. Type 1 refers to straight hair and doesn’t have any subcategories....

We tapped a lash expert to get the ins and outs of an eyelash lift including what it is, how it’s done, and who it’s best for. Plus, a few tips on how to lift your lashes naturally, if you choose to do so. Keep reading to learn more. Imagine if you took a curling iron to your lashes (ouch, I know, but stay with me): That perfect rounded lift is exactly the look you’d get with this treatment....

When it comes to AHAs, lactic acid has one of the larger molecules in the group, which means it can’t penetrate as deeply as others. This means all of the hard work of the acid happens on the surface of the skin, which decreases the amount of irritation and helps to protect the skin barrier. So, no matter whether you have sensitive skin or not, if you’ve found that other AHAs cause irritation, try swapping for the gentler lactic acid with the same benefits....

I didn’t always live what some call a “zero waste” life. But I started making a shift about three years ago, when I was an Environmental Studies major at NYU, protesting against big oil, and president of a club that hosted weekly talks on environmental topics. In my mind I was super environmental, or as my grandma called me, a real “treehugger.” Everyone thought of me as the sustainability girl, so that meant that I was totally doing my share for the earth, right?...

Carl Jung defined synchronicity as “a meaningful coincidence,” as opposed to something coincidental that happens and has no greater significance. In the examples below, I’ll share some recent synchronicities from my own life that occurred over the span of one week and how I discerned that these coincidences held greater meaning for me: Synchronicity lesson: When this synchronicity happened, the moment felt heavy with meaning, time seemed to slow down, I was amazed at how the universe had gotten me this information, and this guidance made perfect sense—sure signs of a synchronicity....

There are so many reasons people remain single even when they don’t want to be, ranging from unconscious self-sabotage to systemic barriers to simple, uncontrollable happenstance. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with prioritizing other parts of your life over dating, and if that’s just what’s most important to you at this time, own that and do it proudly! You get to decide what your priorities are, and your dating life can happen on the timeline that you choose....

Now, let’s be clear about who these women are. A 2015 survey found one in three women report watching porn weekly. Meanwhile, a 2014 CDC report found just 1.4 percent of women identify as lesbian, and a more recent Gallup report found about 5 percent of women identify as LGBT. So while actual lesbians likely account for at least some of lesbian porn’s popularity, these numbers do suggest there’s quite a lot of straight-identifying women who also enjoy watching women getting intimate with each other....

And believe me, it is easier. I’ve been guilty of hitting up any place with a drive-thru on an afternoon when my son wouldn’t stop crying and would only be quiet while the car was moving. And trust me, with an irritable four-week old in the back seat, you’re not likely to be ordering a salad, hold the dressing. Are you shocked and awed? It seems like everywhere I turn someone is talking about juicing and its benefits, and I’m pleased as punch by it....

Culturally, the pendulum has swung from focusing on children’s behavior (in previous generations) to focusing on children’s emotions (today). With this, however, there has been an exponential rise in anxiety disorders in children and teens1. Although it’s extremely important for children’s emotions to be heard and validated, a parent still needs to be in charge to create a secure and stable environment for their kids. In particular, parents are responsible for setting boundaries in the household, in order to foster an environment where their children can be heard, but also encouraged to develop patience, self-awareness, and so on....

What makes this vegan butter a true standout starts with the heart of the brand itself. Started in 2014 by iconic plant milk cheesemaker Miyoko (pronounced ME-YO-KO) Schinner, Miyoko’s Creamery sees itself as the natural evolution of dairy, built on both craft and compassion. Like all their products, their plant milk butters are made with time-honored techniques (like fermentation), plus only the finest organic ingredients—their European Style Cultured Vegan Butters are made with organic cashew milk, while the Spreadable Cultured Vegan Oat Milk Butter is made with organic oat milk....

For thousands of years, sound has been utilized in various cultures as a tool for healing and finding balance. It all comes back to something called entrainment. Entrainment is, in simple terms, the way the body gradually synchronizes itself with either a biological or external rhythm. When it comes to sound, we can use rhythm and frequency to facilitate shifts in our brainwaves, moving from our normal waking state (beta) to a state of relaxed consciousness (alpha) or even a meditative (theta) or sleep (delta) state....

The answer, of course, is to adjust your topical routine. Still, not everyone wants to swap their favorite moisturizer for a heavier cream, so here’s one tip you may be overlooking to keep your skin dewy year-round. For those with oily or acne-prone skin, using an astringent toner with ingredients like witch hazel, gentle exfoliants, or tea tree may help ease the shine. However, these astringent toners aren’t going to help you out in the winter....

So what are the specific properties that make witch hazel so popular as an anti-inflammatory acne-fighter? “It has tannins naturally, which make it an astringent and contains anti-inflammatory properties that may help acne,” says board-certified dermatologist Morgan Rabach, M.D., and co-founder of LM Medical NYC. Tannins have been shown in research to be beneficial for the skin barrier1, too, so it’s not just anecdotal evidence to support these claims. So how can you tell if it’s a good ingredient for you?...

Studies show1 that one in five people experience regular foot pain, aching, or stiffness, and most of those people are women. So whether you’re supporting your longevity with daily “hot girl” walks or have an active job with long hours on your feet, this expert-advised list of the best walking shoes for women will keep your feet comfortable and your body happy. “Whether it is a soft or hard surface will determine which shoe gear is best for standing all day,” says Weiser....

Here are 10 habits we can learn from naturally calm people: All of these behaviors and attitudes are within your grasp, even though it may not be easy to make them a habit right away. Start small, start now, and enjoy all the calm you deserve.

Here’s the thing about B vitamins: Because they’re water-soluble and not stored by the body, vitamin B complex supplements are often unfairly dubbed “expensive pee” because they tend to turn our urine fluorescent yellow when consumed in excess, according to Valerie Goldberg Libraty, RDN, owner of No Diet Dietitian. But they’re so much more than that, she says, noting that they’re essential in numerous metabolic reactions and red blood cell, DNA, and brain health....

Of the many journals I’ve acquired in my life, a few were so inviting that they made this exploration super easy. Curious about the journals that other professional writers keep coming back to, I asked a pool of authors to tell me about their personal top picks. “I also love the satin ribbon marker that keeps my place,” Daly adds. “It’s so beautiful and brings me a tiny bit of joy every time I open the page!...

It covers so much surface area, after all, especially if you slather it all over your body post-shower (which we highly recommend to keep your skin soft and aptly hydrated). So how can you ensure a body lotion is truly fragrance-free? Well, you can peer at ingredient lists for terms like parfum or any of the EOs, or you can peruse these options below: We did the work for you....

“Think about the amazing food!!” he said. Since my only experience with Thai food was way-too-oily sauces with a few unrecognizable vegetables all dumped on white rice, the food wasn’t exactly a selling point for me. So off to Thailand we went, him: excited about the food, culture, monkeys, and elephants, me: excited about the massages. And now back from Thailand, I’m missing, craving, yearning, cooking the food, reading books on Buddhism, practicing more yoga, diffusing lemongrass essential oils, displaying elephant figurines around the house, and he’s saying, “I big fat told you so!...