Some people are hesitant to express their desires directly, fearing that “the marriage talk” will make them appear desperate or turn their partner off. That’s usually a strong sign that your relationship isn’t ready for engagement yet, which is OK. While there’s no concrete rule about how long you should be dating before communicating your desire to get married, if you believe you’ve established enough trust with your partner, then it should be safe to broach the subject with care....

We spoke with registered dietitians Jess Cording, M.S., R.D., CDN, and Huma Chaudhry, R.D., of Dose of Nutrition to uncover everything you need to know about when to consume this vibrant sea vegetable to get the maximum benefits. Get ready to bring your diet to the next level! It’s unlikely you’ll ever eat spirulina in its raw form, however, and the most common ways to consume it are pill, powder, or liquid....

In fact, she shares that “According to research studies1, the antioxidant potential of pomegranate juice is more than that of red wine and green tea.” But for Davar, there’s another benefit that is key: the impact of this fruit on gut health. “One of the most important health-related functions of the pomegranate is their effect on gut microbiota and their potential use as antimicrobial agents,” she shares. How do pomegranate seeds benefit the gut?...

A 2012 study in the journal Dreaming found sleeping on one’s stomach is linked to having sex dreams. While only 5% of participants reported sleeping on their stomachs as their dominant position, they were far more likely to report having sexual dreams or dreams about being naked. The study authors hypothesize that when you’re lying on your stomach, your genitals are more likely to be activated. Having them pressed against the bed can cause physical stimulation and therefore erotic subconscious thoughts....

“Baby!" I exclaimed, genuinely excited, “I am so happy for you!” Feeling all warm and gooey because your spouse had a great time banging someone else is not something we’re socialized to feel. But in that moment in the backyard when my husband was describing a spontaneous makeout session, I felt exuberantly happy for him about his connection with someone else. I felt slightly freakish for it, but it was at a point in our marriage when romance in the bedroom was at an all-time low....

Each of the signs is associated with different qualities, strengths, and weaknesses, and they’re also further divided by their element, as well as where they fall in the yin-versus-yang spectrum. “They are bold pioneers,” Lin explains, adding that Tigers are also analytical, practical yet ambitious, restless—and a bit reckless. You can think of them as the apex predator of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. “Intent with their eyes on their prey or the prize, they’ll do whatever they can to conquer,” Lin explains....

We take pet parenting very seriously, which is why we’re zooming in on gut health and how it’s connected to the whole-body health of our doggos. Anything that helps them live their best lives gets an immediate spot on our radar, like the new CORE Digestive Health line from Wellness Natural Pet Food. That’s where you come in. Research suggests the importance of choosing pet food with microbiome-targeted ingredients3 (translation: prebiotics and probiotics)....

Here’s everything to know about mastering your strength training routine, plus 33 trainer-approved moves to try yourself. She explains that depending on your goals, you can do different kinds of strength training. If you want muscular explosiveness, for example, you would do plyometrics. For muscular endurance, on the other hand, you would go for more repetitions and lighter weights. “You can train for hypertrophy (muscle size increase) or ultimate strength (like a powerlifter)—all are phenomenal ways to strengthen the body, and depending on your personal goals, you might decide to train more in one or two different ways,” Arrington says....

Why bother with cardio? This type of workout helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels1, manage cholesterol, improve circulation, promote the removal of cellular waste2, and aid with sleep3. Plus, of course, it has major heart-health benefits4 (think blood pressure management and heart disease prevention)—which is why the American Heart Association advises getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity 5aerobic exercise per week, or 75 minutes of high-intensity.

Though the holiday season typically applies to Thanksgiving through Christmas, many people start indulging when the pumpkins come out — and don’t stop until January 1. Well, allow me to become the voice of reason right now. Those few minutes of gooey sugary bliss aren’t worth the inevitable toll on your waistline, health, and sanity. Keep the enemy out of the house. Mine’s almond butter. One tablespoon becomes … more than one tablespoon....

Here are some signs of a controlling parent, plus what to do if your parents’ controlling behavior is negatively affecting you as an adult. “They want to influence the child and be part of their every decision,” adds clinical psychologist Shefali Tsabary, Ph.D. RELATED: 13 Signs Of A Controlling Person + How To Deal Fundamentally, controlling parents “stunt your own ability to be an autonomous human being, who has a right to make their own mistakes in life,” Tsabary says....

To put those resistance bands (and your body) to the test, try this workout from my signature Love Sweat Fitness 3:1 method. Each circuit features three strength exercises and one plyometric exercise—so you’ll get great strength and a cardio workout, all rolled into one. Depending on how much time you have, either choose one of the circuits below, or do all three. Note: You will not likely be able to return to full upright position with the band in hands....

As doctor of clinical psychiatry Perpetua Neo, DClinPsy, previously wrote for mbg, “A toxic person is someone who regularly displays actions and behaviors that hurt others or otherwise negatively impact the lives of the people around them, and they’re usually the main instigating factor of a toxic relationship.” With that in mind, toxic friends are those people who claim to be your friend yet do things that actively harm you or your well-being....

The last thing I wanted was for my peers to think that I was crazy or woo-woo. When this happens, we often think our grief is obscuring our judgment. Are we hallucinating? Is it wishful thinking letting our imagination run wild? Because of this inner conflict, we usually keep these experiences to ourselves lest family or friends criticize us or back away with a wide-eyed stare. By following these three suggestions, you can strengthen your faith and even heal your grief....

Never fear, like that awkward elf on a shelf arriving against all odds every morning, your friendly neighborhood introvert (and meditation expert) is here with my three best practices for thriving—not just surviving—during the holidays! Reflect on these questions and anything else that stirs up happy memories for you. Based on your answers, create a mindful game plan to set yourself up for success ahead of this holiday. This way, you’ll be less reactive to inevitable plot twists, and more likely to respond from a place of connection....

Sugars, including those in refined carbohydrates and starches, often lead to a spike in blood sugar and then a crash later in the day. Traditional game-day foods, albeit delicious, often trigger these blood sugar dips, leading to sluggishness and a lack of energy. Pro tip: Make these ahead of time and bake them again on game day for an extra-crispy end result. Plus: 5 more of our best guacamole recipes....

Fortunately, researchers have spent decades turning an inquisitive eye to the fine art of making friends, and the science has yielded some pretty fascinating results about what matters most when it comes to creating bonds that last. “The friendships we’ve built aren’t random; they reflect our internal hardware, our ability to develop certain characteristics that nurture friendship,” Franco writes. “These are a set of mindsets and behaviors that we’d naturally gravitate toward if we weren’t so wounded by past experiences of disconnection, so afraid of rejection, so fearful or mistrusting of others, and, consequently, so out of touch with our inner core of love....

Here are just some noteworthy people we want to highlight—there are, of course, many, many more. A post shared by Tie, The Mindful-Living Maven (@hippie_heathen) on Jun 11, 2020 at 1:24pm PDT A post shared by Sylvester McNutt III (@sylvestermcnutt) on Jun 11, 2020 at 8:09am PDT A post shared by 💗Koya Webb💗 (@koyawebb) on May 17, 2020 at 6:46am PDT A post shared by Dive in Well (@diveinwell) on Jun 11, 2020 at 2:38pm PDT

The morning sickness and nausea were constant, I barely ate, I was exhausted all the time and since I wasn’t really gaining much weight, everyone thought I was just being lazy and grouchy. (Hey, it takes a lot to create a human! Take it easy on me!) When I wasn’t worrying about pregnancy loss, I was worrying about becoming a mother. Was I really ready? Would I know what to do?...

Nutritional yeast (informally referred to as “nooch”) comes from the same strain of yeast as baker’s and brewer’s yeast, but it’s distinctly different. Baker’s and brewer’s yeasts are alive but dormant, whereas nooch is inactive, or dead (aka it won’t make your bread rise). Also, brewer’s yeast tastes bitter, whereas nutritional yeast has an appealing, cheesy flavor similar to that of Parmesan. Its salty, umami quality and nondairy status have made nutritional yeast incredibly popular among vegetarians, vegans, and dairy-intolerant people looking for a healthy seasoning and alternative to real cheese....