Many people, at the advice of their doctor, take vitamins before, during, and after pregnancy. These tend to be highly targeted for optimal fetal growth and development—as well as maternal health. But those who already had a supplement may be left wondering where their other products fit into the lineup. Like, say, collagen supplements: Are they pregnancy safe, or do you need to put them on the bench for the time being?...

The supporting actor to essential oil’s star presence, carrier oils are subtle and understated but important to the success of the whole production. Here’s a guide to the types of carriers out there and how to find and apply your perfect match. Essential oils, on the other hand, are made from the isolated aromatic compounds of a plant, which are fragrant but volatile. They’re really concentrated—but also really prone to evaporate quickly, so they can’t be absorbed by the skin like a carrier oil can....

For those thinking of picking up a bottle or bar, here’s exactly what Castile soap is, how it differs from other cleaners, and 14 recipes to help you get the best use of it in every room. Nowadays, “Castile is truly a multipurpose soap and very popular among people who want to live a cleaner, healthier, and more natural life,” says Loni Brown, the founder and CEO of EntirelyEco. In addition to the original olive oil blend, you’ll also find solid and liquid Castile soaps made with coconut oil, palm kernel oil, or hemp oil....

“It’s gluten-free, so that’s great,” says New York City–based holistic nurse practitioner Victoria Albina, N.P., MPH. “It has a delicious natural sweetness, allowing you to use less sweetener in your baking.” Coconut flour is naturally gluten-free, which makes it an ideal option for people who either can’t tolerate gluten or are seeking out ways to reduce their intake. The nutritional info for coconut flour is as follows: If coconut flour isn’t available in your local grocery story, but you’d still like to try subbing in a gluten-free option in standard recipes, you might consider alternatives like buckwheat, sorghum, teff, or brown rice flour....

Here, the creator of colorstrology herself, Michele Bernhardt, walks us through the fundamentals. As Bernhardt tells mbg, she used her own intuition and knowledge of color and astrology, to come up with a color for each month, as well as each day. She also took factors like the ruling planet of each month, the zodiac elements, numerology, and more into account. As Bernhardt explains to mbg, you can wear certain colors, surround yourself with them, meditate on them—even eat them....

Within two weeks, doctors and surgeons at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City treated five patients under the age of 50 for large-vessel strokes1. They reported these cases in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The patients “were all home when they began to experience sudden symptoms, including slurred speech, confusion, drooping on one side of the face and a dead feeling in one arm,” the Washington Post reports....

There are several ways to achieve dewy skin: It takes the right balance of moisture, exfoliation, nutrients, and tenderness. (Or, as any makeup artist will tell you, you can also mimic the look with the right products and tricks—which we’re all for faking a natural glow if your skin just isn’t having that type of day.) And ultimately, your skin care path will look different from that of someone who has another skin type....

Schedule a consistent number of runs per week—but make sure you’re dressed for success. As their most popular daily trainer, the Brooks Ghost 15 is ready to be your new favorite running shoe. Whether you’re planning on an easy jog, a sweat-dripping run, or even a walk (to get out of the house for a sec), this all-levels running shoe is famous for comfort and stability. Plus—like music to your ears this time of year—these kicks are as affordable as they are reliable....

Often, students coming to your yoga classes are in a state of sensory overload. The constant stream of information we’re exposed to through radio, television and internet, and the challenges of our jobs and relationships can leave people exhausted and immune to hearing. Your job is to figure out how to cut through the chatter in their heads to seal the connection between what they hear and what you want them to do....

Then, to tackle any stains, you’ll want to use water or a specialty product depending on the material of your couch. Be sure to check its cleaning label before getting started so you don’t end up doing more harm than good: From there, Rubinchek recommends Castile soap. “It’s similar to a dish soap, but it’s natural, typically. It’s vegetable- or hemp-based, not petroleum-based,” she says. “If you have a natural dish soap, you could use that too....

But one design philosophy is saying not so fast. Here, leading feng shui experts explain why the bedroom may not be the best place for all of your plant pals: She also recommends looking into some of nature’s other eye candy, like crystals, rocks, and driftwood. “Keep a bowl of river rocks out; display your collection of necklaces over a sturdy branch; or use a gorgeous quartz crystal as a paperweight atop a pile of books....

Leafy greens, which are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, are essential to maximizing the nutritional value of your green juice. They’re also rich in chlorophyll, the compound that puts the “green” in green juice. Chlorophyll not only gives greens their color, but it’s also a powerful antioxidant and can help support your body’s natural detoxification pathways. The darker the green vegetable, the more chlorophyll it contains. Spinach is a great choice because it’s high in carotenoids and phytonutrients, according to Godoi....

Here’s what to know about the health benefits of this fall favorite. Manganese3 is a mineral that, along with calcium, is key for bone formation and density. It also plays an important role in enzyme activation, which helps support metabolism, wound healing, and neurotransmitter production. In one randomized, controlled study5 in 2015, patients who used a eugenol-based paste after dental work experienced less pain, inflammation, and infection than patients who used a typical topical pain reliever or nothing at all....

Gundry is known as the leading expert on the lectin-free diet as the key to reversing disease and boosting longevity. He believes we have the ability to heal ourselves through nutrition when certain dietary obstacles are removed. Gundry is currently the director of the International Heart and Lung Institute in Palm Springs, California, and the founder/director of The Center for Restorative Medicine in Palm Springs and Santa Barbara. Learn more by listening to “The Dr....

The Fresh Foam X 1080v12 When we lace up our shoes, hit the trail, and turn up the pace, our body starts experiencing a form of “healthy stress.” In response to this stress4, our brain releases endorphins, AKA the feel-good hormones everyone knows and loves. But it also releases endocannabinoids, like anandamide (the “bliss” chemical) and neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. In other words, while you’re counting mile markers, your brain is at work mixing up a chemical cocktail that leaves you in a better mood....

Now, with both of us working from home, we’re even more strapped for time. Juggling our active 2-year-old and adjusting to full days of video conferences while trying to find time to work out, healthy meals remain low on the priority list. It’s easier to just throw a meal together ad hoc and then get back to work. And since we’re limiting our grocery runs, we need to think more creatively about balanced meals—and that means I’m trying to ration the fresh produce we have instead of dumping our weekly stash of spinach into one of my morning smoothies....

Here’s what the research says about the potential benefits of using hemp oil for steamy sex, and how to get started. “Several studies have shown that when taken orally, CBD can help reduce the stress hormone cortisol1. It can also act in the brain, working on the serotonin system and the GABA system, which are both related to anxiousness and stress levels2,” explains Julie Moltke, M.D., a medical doctor with a focus on mental health and the author of A Quick Guide to CBD....

Alcohol always seemed to be my ally, something to get me through the good times and the bad. I associated it with champagne in restaurants, red wine with meals, a cold beer on a hot day with friends in the garden. Today I inhabit a different world, a sober one, and I see the whole business of alcohol consumption differently. Here’s what I think of my erstwhile friend, booze, after almost two years of shunning it in favor of a healthy and happy existence: alcohol erodes your body’s natural ability to cope with difficulties in life, thus causing anxiety....

Whether you’ve been under anesthesia before, or it’s your first time needing it, it’s common to have questions (and even some fears) about how long it will stay in your system, what kind of side effects you might experience, and more. According to Patel, that just means the grogginess will fade within the hour. The systemic anesthesia, or the medicine remaining in your system, can last for up to four or five hours, she tells mbg....