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The first step is to disinfect your cup, following the instructions listed on the package. Menstrual cups (or anything that’s going to be inserted into the vagina, for that matter) should be thoroughly cleaned to avoid disrupting the balance in your vaginal pH. “The vagina is home for a myriad of bacteria and fungi to keep it healthy, but you throw that organism out of balance, and it leads to infections such as UTI,” board-certified OB/GYN Anna Cabeca, D....

And, of course, there’s the famous factoid that hyaluronic acid can hold 1,000 times its own weight in water1: It’s referenced so much in skin care, we might as well slap the slogan on a T-shirt and send it out to the fan base. It is a humectant, so it gives an immediate improvement in the way the skin looks—less ashy, dry, dull," holistic dermatologist Cybele Fishman, M.D., told us about the beloved ingredient....

The bad news? Digital technology isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so we have to learn to adapt to our growing list of distractions. The good news is that there are quite a few innovative focus supplements on the market that can help your brain cut through the constant noise to find a peaceful concentrated state.* (And if stress is getting you down, check out our roundup of supplements for stress....

Broadly speaking, if detected, STIs are no big deal. All sexually transmitted infections can be cured or treated, after all. “Sexually transmitted infections are only dangerous if you do not know that you have one,” says Emily Rymland, DNP, FNP-C, a doctor of nursing practice, AAHIVS-certified HIV specialist, and director of clinical services at Nurx. Left undetected, sexually transmitted infections can progress into sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which means they cause unfavorable symptoms and/or other issues....

While a great (and potentially life-changing) concept, opinions are mixed on whether these devices can actually help relieve stress. To learn more about the science behind stress and how these devices are meant to reduce it, we spoke with experts and researched the options available today. Below, find our picks for the best wearable stress relief devices of 2023—and hear what experts have to say about this technology. These vibrations are often made through low-frequency (20 to 200 hertz), or infrasonic sound waves (below 20 hertz), which are extremely quiet and often barely detectable by the human ear1....

Orthopedic shoes provide intentional arch support, targeted cushioning, and room for custom orthotics. Each person has different needs when it comes to footwear, so we rounded up a few of the best orthopedic shoes to help you get a little more support in your soles. Still, even if those conditions don’t apply to you, you may want to consider a pair of shoes that is designed to offer support and alleviate pain....

To learn what kind of mattress works best in bunk beds specifically, we spoke with experts and scoured the market, researching every viable option. Below, find the seven best mattresses for bunk beds that will satisfy any budget, comfort, and material preference. But first, what we learned about how to choose the best bunk bed mattress. Sleep coach and nutritionist Annika Carroll says your first line of business should be giving thought to the mattress size....

After all, a quality multi can ensure you’re getting adequate amounts of the essential nutrients you need on a daily basis. Even better, an innovative formula designed for women over 50 will deliver additional ingredients for your specific health needs—like antioxidants, energizing vitamins, and hormone-balancing botanicals.* We’ve scoured the market for multivitamins that are truly beneficial to women over 50 (so you don’t have to). Here are our top picks....

Since most of us can’t quite fit a true home gym into our apartments or homes, we asked a feng shui expert about how working out affects our space and some tips to make our exercising a seamless part of our daily behavior. “From a feng shui perspective, exercise is yang in nature,” she said, “which means it stimulates and activates not only our energy but the energy of the space where it happens....

As psychotherapist Annette Nuñez, Ph.D., LMFT, tells mbg, she equates mental age with things like executive function, emotional development, and overall maturity. These things, she says, usually come to us with time as we get older, but for some people, they may feel, act, or think in ways that indicate a younger mental age. According to clinical psychologist Carla Marie Manly, Ph.D., what we consider maturity “is generally defined as the ability to wisely and appropriately manage developmental responsibilities in mental, emotional, behavioral, and social arenas,” as well as other forms of maturity like physical maturity, developmental stage maturity, and career maturity....

The benefits and criticisms alike are vast, and it’s hard to wade through it all to know whether or not your body will benefit from this diet. But that’s where we come in. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the Plant Paradox Diet, plus a meal plan if you’re thinking of trying it out. In 2017, Gundry published The Plant Paradox, a book about “the hidden dangers in ‘healthy’ foods that cause disease and weight gain....

We spoke with Scott Stoll, M.D., health and wellness adviser at Swich and parent company, Rouxbe, and co-founder of The Plantrician Project, to find out exactly how cooking plant-based can improve our lives. Plus, we got his advice on how to set ourselves up for success—from developing skills with a cooking community like Swich to stocking our pantry full of staples that will serve as inspiration and nourishment. He continues, “The CDC estimates that between 75 and 80% of the cost of health care ($3....

While the keto diet is high in good fats—like avocados and coconut oil—it’s also very low in sugar and carbs, which can make a keto diet particularly tricky to follow for anyone with a sweet tooth. While, yes, your focus should predominantly be on nutrient-rich, keto-friendly whole foods, there are still ways to enjoy your favorite desserts on special occasions without countering all your progress. And these keto brownies are a delicious way to do just that....

I’m not the only one. From beauty lattes made with collagen to scoops of it in our morning smoothies—collagen is a fan fave when it comes to skin health.* And the collagen market is still climbing, estimated to reach $6 billion by 2026. But for how much we love it (and what it does for us), how much do we really know about collagen? Keep reading to deepen your understanding of this superstar supplement....

Here’s what the research found, plus some strategies to help you keep your gut (and subsequently your brain) happy as you age. To dig in to this suspected link, researchers from Edith Cowan University in Australia analyzed genetic data from existing research on Alzheimer’s and gut disorders, completing a large-scale analysis of over 400,000 people. Their findings suggest that people with gut disorders may be at a greater risk of developing AD, and further, that people with AD and gut disorders appear to share certain genes....

Davar approaches each patient in a personalized and holistic manner, emphasizing preventive wellness and long-term health. Not only a dietitian, Davar is also a bilingual Russian-American health coach, radio host, speaker, author, yogi, and theta healer. Based in Miami and New York City, Davar specializes in integrative, healthy-aging nutrition and lifestyle interventions. To help promote balance, Davar’s upcoming book, Driven Women Wellness: Your Guide to Self-Care for Self-Preservation, offers a cohesive list of priorities, plans of action, and hacks to help women reach wellness goals while managing their busy lifestyles in a sustainable way....

So why does blue light get such a bad rap? Too much artificial blue light can disrupt your internal clock1. Overexposure from excessive screen time can also cause eye strain, headaches, and blurry vision. There are ways to limit your exposure, such as less scrolling before bed, or turning off your TV a bit earlier. But for a lot of us, our workday is tied to a computer. We’ve done the research to round up the best blue light screen protectors for every type of screen—so you can keep your body functioning at its prime, no matter how many hours you’re logging on the computer....

Of course, it’s important to talk to your health care provider if you’re dealing with more severe cramps. However, if your cramps are livable—but not exactly pleasant—doctors say there are a few things you can do to ease your pain. When your uterus contracts, it helps your body push out the uterine lining, aka period blood, that has built up inside you during your cycle. On the first day of your period, the level of prostaglandins in your body is high, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists1 (ACOG) says....

Enter collagen water, a simple tonic that’s currently having a moment. So much so that you can now find it in stores, prepackaged and ready to go. But what is collagen water, exactly? Let’s explore its benefits and side effects (plus how to make it yourself) below. The prepackaged drink is super trendy right now, thanks to the popularity of collagen in general. That’s because collagen supplements are commonly sold as powders, which are meant to be mixed in liquid....