In one 2008 study, collagen supplementation helped manage exercise-related joint pain4 in a group of physically active individuals.* A more recent study found that daily intake of collagen peptides moderately helped manage muscle soreness5 after jumping exercises, suggesting it might aid in overall athletic performance.* There’s also evidence6 of collagen peptides playing a role in managing activity-related knee pain in young athletes.* Researchers speculate that collagen peptides support collagen synthesis in articular cartilage, which could help micro-injuries caused by physical activity....

Recognize your patterns. “Why does this always happen to me?” “People always treat me this way…” “I never get to…” As soon as you hear yourself say certain phrases, this should trigger you to check your current status. You’re in a cycle. Don’t blindly follow your well-worn path. Recognize and make a conscious break from it. Be accountable. After recognition, the next step to changing anything is to accept responsibility in the situation....

Making hair masks at home is a simple joy we can get behind (seriously, we love a DIY hair mask around here). Extra-virgin olive oil has plenty of hair-healthy benefits, making it an ideal ingredient to add in or use as a base for your hair treatments. Before we jump in, do make sure your oil is high quality (check out a simple test here if you’re not sure), as you’ll likely not get any of the benefits below if it is not....

“The combination of economic and social stresses brought on by the pandemic, as well as restrictions on movement, have dramatically increased the numbers of women and girls facing abuse, in almost all countries,” the United Nations reports. Calls to helplines doubled in Lebanon and Malaysia and tripled in China compared with the same month last year, the U.N. reports; similar increases have been seen in the U.S., Canada, the U....

The first thing to know is that there are actually several different forms of constipation, but most often it is caused by poor nutrition, lack of exercise, or emotional or stress-related issues. In addition, certain medications may cause constipation as a side effect, or you could be suffering from a more chronic condition known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Luckily, there are a handful of natural remedies that you can take advantage of to help move things along, including essential oils like peppermint....

Whichever persona they choose, one thing is certain: It’s not authentic. Psychopaths are shape-shifting chameleons who constantly rearrange their personalities depending on your individual needs. If you notice behavioral inconsistencies, find that other people in this person’s life describe them in entirely different terms, or even just sense insincerity in their behavior, honor and explore that feeling. In the workplace, they’ll manufacture these reactions in a calculated way, to turn others against you and diminish your credibility....

If you want to stop being emotionally dependent, Mahalli says that you need to start showing up for yourself. What is it that you feel you need from your partner or the person you’re emotionally dependent on? How could you begin to satisfy those emotional needs yourself, without relying on another person? “It’s healthy to spend time alone, whether you’re self-reflecting or simply taking part in a favorite solo activity,” she writes....

Avocado oil has a high smoke point compared to other oils, says Nisha Chellam, MD, a functional medicine doctor with Parsley Health. The smoke point is 480 degrees Fahrenheit for unrefined avocado oil and 520 degrees for refined avocado oil. That’s significantly higher than extra-virgin olive oil (350 degrees) and vegetable oil (400 degrees). In one 12-week study3, 163 people who had up to 175 grams of avocado (about one large ‘cado) once a day found that those who ate the fruit had a more diverse range of gut bacteria compared to the control group....

You can also do a series of wrist stretches to warm up and strengthen your wrists and forearms to help prevent more pain. Here are a few of my favorite wrist- strengthening exercises and stretches that you can do from home: How to: From a seated position, place your arms straight out in front of you, at a 90-degree angle with your torso, parallel to the floor. Make gentle fists....

Peppermint tea is made from steeping fresh or dried peppermint leaves in hot water. As the leaves sit in the water, the essential oils are released and you get to reap the benefits as you sip it. If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), talk to your doctor before adding peppermint tea to your routine. Because peppermint tea relaxes the muscles, it can affect the muscle connecting your esophagus to your stomach, which can make acid reflux worse....

The benefits of sauerkraut go beyond the gut, though. To find out more about the nutritional value, answer commonly asked questions, and learn how to make sauerkraut, mbg consulted registered dietitians to share their knowledge on the fermented vegetable. Prebiotic fibers help feed good bacteria in the gut (aka probiotics) so they are better able to flourish and thrive, integrative gastroenterologist Marvin Singh, M.D., writes for mbg. These fibers are critical for creating a healthy and balanced microbiome, which supports overall digestive and gut health....

Stretching is not only for athletes and yogis. Anyone who wants to improve their flexibility and range of motion should consider performing a few stretches every day. People with sedentary lifestyles, in particular, should stretch daily to help improve their mobility. Sedentary individuals are generally more prone to injuries because their tight muscles aren’t acclimated to sudden or jerky movements and tight muscles lead to mobility restrictions in our joints....

It’s no wonder that so many folks despise the thought of being awake before 9 a.m.! Here are some morning habits that healthy and happy people tend to share: Happy people even use affirmations to declare how their day will go. Steve Jobs’ morning routine used to start by looking in the mirror and asking himself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?...

That’s why we suggest always sticking to mineral sunscreens, like zinc oxide, which have been shown to be better for the environment as they break down in water. So here, our favorite ocean-friendly, biodegradable options for you to take to the beach. Clear Zinc Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 with 100% Mineral Actives, Babo Botanicals ($19.99) Everyday Body Lotion, Unsun Cosmetics ($12.99) Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen, Blue Lizard ($14.95) Daily Protezione, Vivesana ($55) Daily UV Defense Cream, Naturopathica ($64) Cellular Protection Sun Cream SPF 50, The Organic Pharmacy ($69) SPF 30 Sport Sunscreen, Juice Beauty ($16) Unseen Sunscreen, Supergoop ($34) Sunforgettable Total Protection Body Shield, Colorescience ($45) 

Good news! We’ve spoken to several experts about this very topic and have quite the collection of winter skin care pointers. Here, find every tip imaginable to get rid of parched skin, even in freezing temperatures. You see, once the air faces a significant drop in moisture, that low humidity means water more easily evaporates into the air—if your skin barrier is compromised, that water is more likely to come from your skin....

Although toxic relationships are certainly draining and dissatisfying, oftentimes there’s something about the dynamic that’s difficult to leave behind. So you keep putting energy into maintaining the relationship despite the fact that it’s taking a toll on your life. I should note that “letting go” of a toxic relationship doesn’t necessarily mean ending it; it means releasing yourself from the grip the toxic dynamic of the relationship has on you....

As a certified Pilates instructor and prenatal and postpartum corrective specialist, the question I often find myself asking is: “Why do so many prenatal and postpartum fitness classes focus just on restorative practices and not on actually building the strength and stamina required for motherhood?” Your primary focus post-baby is restoring your deepest core and pelvic floor muscles, and part of this includes relearning how to breathe. Because the growing baby essentially pushes organs up into your diaphragm, you may have become accustomed to short, shallow breathing—this can prevent you not only from finding nervous system relief but also from using your core functionally....

And while it may seem counterintuitive, some suggest apple cider vinegar may also help soothe heartburn symptoms. If so, that’s great news to the 60 million Americans who experience the gastrointestinal issue (GI) at least once a month. As for apple cider vinegar as a remedy, “The use of ACV to prevent heartburn depends on what the source of the heartburn is,” functional medicine doctor Elroy Vojdani, M.D., IFMCP, says....

One natural ingredient you might see is arbutin. Arbutin is, essentially, a natural variant of the controversial hydroquinone. The latter is controversial for several reasons, like severe sensitivity, irritation, and contamination issues. But most notably: It’s been used and marketed as a “skin lighter” for many, many years. Now, it’s one thing to formulate a product to help people fade unwanted dark spots (a valid concern many women have of all skin tones), but it crosses the line when you imply skin tones need to be lightened in general....

If you want to get into the nitty-gritty details, here’s some of the recent research: Here are a few insights from the research: That’s not a good thing—it means our culture has an even longer way to go before an attitude of sexual acceptance and celebration truly becomes the norm. Some research shows people view women who’ve slept with a ton of people as less confident than they do women who’ve slept with fewer partners....