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In partnership with Ricola, a Swiss-made brand, we investigated some of the practices and environmental aspects associated with happiness in the country. To find out our top five takeaways when it comes to the blissful Swiss lifestyle, check out the video above. Ryan is passionate about holistic health, fitness, and spiritually-centered living. She loves using her knowledge and personal experience to help others improve their well-being. When she’s not working or studying, Ryan can be found traveling to new places, snuggling her dog, or experimenting with gluten free, vegan baking....

The idea is that positive thinking creates self-improvement, she adds, and repeating your affirmations throughout the day can transform our thought patterns and mental attitudes. “Together, with honest self-reflection and concrete action steps,” she says, “positive affirmations can be a wonderful part of one’s behavioral change regimen.” “[Affirmations] work primarily at the conscious level, whereas many of our conflicts about ourselves and our sense of adequacy are within our subconscious or unconscious mind,” Yusim notes....

Rosemary has been used medicinally for centuries and today, we’re unpacking the healing potential of this holiday favorite. (Even Shakespeare knew rosemary had some major mental benefits: In Hamlet, Ophelia says, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance: pray you, love, remember.”) In one 2017 study on 40 school-age children, the students in a room infused with rosemary oil scored 5 to 7 points better on a memory test. Separate research on adults2 supports these findings that rosemary essential oil can boost cognitive performance....

“Why are you getting so defensive?” they ask. In the heat of the moment, you’re 100% convinced that you’re just stating the facts of the situation and sharing your point of view. And that’s not being defensive, right? …Or is it? “To be defensive is to react with an overprotective mentality to a situation that perhaps doesn’t warrant it,” marriage therapist Linda Carroll, LMFT, writes at mbg. “Rather than listening with an open heart, we respond with our metaphorical shields up and weapons drawn....

There are plenty of common foods that contain high levels of zinc, including chicken, chickpeas, and cashews, to name a few. To address a dietary gap or to consume a guaranteed amount, zinc can also be taken as a supplement. What’s more, “elderberries are an excellent source of antioxidants, which help to maintain a strong immune system,” functional medicine doctor Tiffany Lester, M.D., previously told mbg. “Especially against viruses.” It can be taken in gummy or syrup supplement form, but look out for added sugars when purchasing elderberry....

This year, many of my students have told me that since they now do every workout at home, they’re gravitating toward quick, efficient routines. That’s why I’ve created this bodyweight upper-body workout, which will help build stronger shoulder, arm, and core muscles—all in less than 15 minutes. It also plays with your body’s own resistance to improve body awareness and mental endurance. For an extra challenge and spice, you can grab a light set of dumbbells (think 2 to 3 pounds)....

Om your marks, get set, O. Tantra itself is an ancient spiritual practice with roots in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jain traditions that’s thousands of years old. Today, “tantra as we know it is a heart-centered, embodied spiritual practice that embraces every aspect of life and says, ‘This could be a path or vehicle to enlightenment,’” explains Barbara Carrellas ACS, AASECT, author of Urban Tantra: Sacred Sex for the 21st Century....

While PETA claims that shearing hurts the animal, this is an extreme outcome and generally happens if the animal isn’t given the proper time to recoup its fleece before the next shearing. Meaning, the animal is only harmed if the farm or shearer in question cares more about profit and the amount of wool than the animal itself. Otherwise, shearing is pain-free for the animal and necessary for maintaining the health of the flock....

We spoke with Shapiro about working in the medical field during the COVID-19 outbreak and how it’s affected his work and personal life. She has additional certifications in public health from the National Board of Public Health Examiners and humanitarian assistance from the Harvard Humanitarian Institute. As a speaker, Kalaichandran has been invited to present for wide-ranging audiences, from Stanford University’s MedX in Palo Alto, California to South by SouthWest in Austin, Texas....

The short answer: It’s an awesome, healthy alternative to cornstarch (and a few other questionable ingredients you may want to avoid); and yes, you should consider using it to upgrade the texture of sweet and savory recipes. Think of it as your secret weapon for thickening up sauces and fillings, adding a crisp finish to meats and veggies, and lightening up gluten- or grain-free baked goods that might otherwise be too heavy or dense....

That being said, not all forms of hair loss are permanent either—especially if you actively treat the scalp to encourage regrowth. Hair loss in women and men is alike in many ways and different in some. Here, the difference between the two and what derms want you to know about treating and preventing hair loss. Women tend to have more subtle thinning throughout the scalp, characterized by a widened part or more visibility of the scalp, Miller explains....

My boyfriend and I had been dating for over a year. After separating for a couple of months, we happily rekindled and decided together that we should enlist an impartial professional to help us work through some communication issues and learn how to fight better. An older, mutual friend who my boyfriend and I both respected had shared with us that before proposing to his wife, they agreed to couples counseling....

We consulted with health and nutrition experts on this comprehensive guide to drinking coffee while fasting: the pros, the cons, and how to do it most effectively for metabolic health and longevity benefits. Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a type of intermittent fasting that involves limiting food intake to a short hourly window each day and fasting for the remaining time. Example ratios include 16:8 and 18:6, with the first number being the hours you spend not eating during a 24-hour period....

Not all essential oils are created equal. And herein lies the danger because many people assume there is a yes-or-no side of this debate to fall on, making all safe to ingest or all unsafe. This is why having knowledge of essential oils and their components as well as seeking the advice of a trusted health care professional is paramount. In general, the FDA has approved a list of essential oils that are considered GRAS, or “generally recognized as safe....

We’re here to tell you that your chest deserves a skin care moment, too, well before the first fold settles in. Below, derms explain what causes chest wrinkles and how to rid those fine lines. Additionally, sleep wrinkles tend to crop up in this area. If you’re a side or stomach sleeper, chances are your skin is smashed and folded for eight or some hours each night—over time, those grooves may not bounce back as quickly....

“Therapists are trained to help people who are struggling with mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. They diagnose, assess, and provide treatment of mental disorders,” Christine R. Melendres, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, recently told mbg. She adds that therapists can also help clients with crisis intervention, grief counseling, or processing and healing from past hurts and traumas. “Counselors typically provide short-term, solution-focused strategies to address behaviors that include exploring stressors, coping skills, and environmental factors contributing to behaviors which are negatively impacting one’s life,” says Angeleena Francis, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor, therapist, and executive director at AMFM Healthcare in Washington....

One plant that has plenty of aesthetic appeal is the cactus, a member of the succulent family. Browse Instagram and you’ll find over 2 million posts tagged #cactus, a Mr. Cacti fan account with nearly 250k followers, and Cactus Magazine, which claims to be “The Most Succulent Collection of Instagram.” Cactuses may be all the rage right now, but can they filter the air at all through that spiky exterior?...

Another familiar scene is the group of men meeting for happy hour, bemoaning their lot as married men who’ve accepted the “fact” that women lose interest in sex after they’ve been married for a few years. Yes, some women do say, “I don’t care if I ever have sex again as long as I live.” I think the truth is more likely, “I don’t care if I ever have the kind of sex, or the circumstances under which I’m having sex, again....

I recall moments when my encounters and conversations made me feel unworthy, stupid, unloved, offended, fearful, and even sick. We can call them energy vampires—the people who only “take” from you, and leave you feeling emotionally drained. Energy vampires can be your family, friends, clients, colleagues, teachers, neighbors, lovers, or even strangers. Here are some things to think about when considering if someone is worth keeping in your life: