I was, however, highly suspicious considering breast cancer is rampant in my family. Of course, I’m young and didn’t have any symptoms of estrogen dominance, so I never thought it would affect me. I was so glad I found out because it has changed my life. Estrogen dominance occurs when either your body is producing too much estrogen or you’re not getting rid of it properly, as in my case....

Lecturing, he paced the front of the hall like a panther. A brilliant, challenging, occasionally terrifying trickster, he became my guide to the frontiers of healing. Together Shyam and I cooked meals that astonished my taste buds, raised my energy, and lifted my mood. The fast, “chaotic” breathing meditation he had learned in the Indian mountains pushed me through fear and anger. Desperate, I called Shyam in London. “Eat three pineapples a day, and nothing else for a week,” he said....

With all those cooking skills as the silver lining on a year of hardships, we’re ready to start a new year with a whole host of healthy new recipes. From comfort food made gluten-free to vegan soul food and beyond, each of these cookbooks will satisfy your cravings and keep inspiration at an all-time high all year long: Along the craving-crushing journey, Jenné will spill knowledge, exploring the narratives surrounding her favorite soul food recipes and explaining why staple ingredients like dandelion, turnip greens, okra, and black-eyed peas are also nutritional superstars....

For what it’s worth: Minimal does not mean boring. (Far from it!) Below, makeup artists fill us in on how to nail the modern look. While you might conflate minimalist makeup with “no-makeup makeup,” the two are very much distinct. See, the latter is still pretty detailed—even though it’s hailed as an effortless glow, it takes time and skill to truly get right. “You really have to focus on getting all of these intricate details correct,” says celebrity makeup artist A....

I realized I desperately needed to reevaluate my relationship with alcohol. In London, I had heard of a new tradition, a government-sponsored Dry January when people pledge to take the month off booze while also raising money for charity. Although I would be spending January in the States, I decided to give it a try, hoping it would help me transform my overall drinking habits. Studies have shown that the average participant in Dry January loses about a pound a week and also experiences improvements in other health measures, like blood pressure and cholesterol....

Here’s why you might want to get your hands on a stress toy, plus eight of our top picks on the market. On top of that, she adds, using these toys can also be a mindfulness practice, as they bring people back into the present, grounding them in their bodies and helping them to focus on their immediate surroundings. Lastly, if your stress toy involves squeezing or exerting pressure (like a stress ball, for example), “that gives good proprioceptive input,” Beurkens explains....

But all hope is not lost—you can still get your meditation in by taking your practice on the road. Here are some of my favorite go-to public places to meditate, and how to tune out any noise and distractions in each one: I recommend getting in the front passenger seat of your car, taking your shoes off, letting the seat back a little, and maybe even keeping a shawl or blanket in the car for additional comfort....

Here are some simple tools that you can incorporate into your daily routine to cleanse and purify yourself from any negativity. We all unconsciously carry these negative cords from past relationships and experiences that could be weighing us down and preventing us from moving forward. One way to release them is to visualize your cords retracting back into your body, and with each cord you slowly begin to gain your power back....

That said, it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough protein. Below are some symptoms of protein deficiency—keep in mind that as with any nutrient deficiency, symptoms can have other causes, so this is a general list and not to be used to self-diagnose. “Studies show2 that eating a higher protein meal (compared to a higher carbohydrate meal) stimulates the secretion of a number of satiety hormones like PYY and GLP-1,” Heather Leidy, Ph....

Since our bodies are unique, it’s important that you find a pillow that caters to your specific needs. Factors like whether you’re a side, stomach, or back sleeper, as well as whether you struggle with neck pain or allergies, can all affect your decision on the best pillow. Pillow designs also differ in material type and sleep technology, which can affect the final price of your purchase. While this range means you can certainly find cheaper options out there, you’ll likely sacrifice comfort and quality....

Although it may seem disconcerting at first, it’s a lot more fun to realize you’ll always be growing, making mistakes, learning, and moving forward. Even with your imperfections and flaws, you were always perfect and you always will be.

This one is a really fun recipe to make. Using thermal shock, you’ll craft a mixture and set it suddenly in ice-cold water. A few minutes of chilling the ingredients, and you’ll have a ball of mozzarella that can be used just like traditional buffalo mozzarella. Try it in a traditional Italian salad before moving on to the main event, where you can enjoy it sliced over a pizza.

If you’ve ever seen someone and thought “Wow, they are so attractive!” while also not wanting to touch, date, or have sex with them, then you have likely experienced aesthetic attraction. In addition to the obvious—liking someone’s body or face—being aesthetically attracted to someone’s appearance can include an attraction to their fashion style, tattoos, piercings, hairstyle, and overall demeanor, says licensed therapist Neathery Falchuk, LCSW-S, CGP. “There is a misconception that you have to experience aesthetic attraction in order to feel sexual attraction....

Here, we’re diving into Aries’ personality traits and how they apply in love, career, and more. This is partly due to their planetary ruler, Mars. As the planet of desire, action, war, and heat, Mars is responsible for lots of the traits we associate with our Aries friends. As a Cardinal fire sign, Aries also likes to be on the move and travels a zillion miles an hour. It can be hard to keep up with an impassioned and empowered Aries....

This recipe is fast and easy to make. For convenience, pre-blend the spices and keep it in a shaker. You can also replace banana with (or add) sweet potato, figs, or ripe mangoes. Ingredients Ingredients Ingredients

It’s a sticking point for many people trying to cut back on the sweet stuff, who will happily eschew cake and cookies but throwback three glasses of red during a happy hour. Which raises the question: How sugary is alcohol, really? And why should we care? “Insulin, which is secreted by the pancreas to allow your cells to take in glucose (blood sugar) for energy or storage, prevents fat cells from being broken down,” LeVeque says....

Experts say even 20 to 30 minutes of exercise a day can make you happier, but that’s not the only reason to get up and get a workout in. Exercise can improve cognitive function and memory, give you more energy, help you sleep better, and even boost your sex drive. Plus, you’ll be strengthening your body and your heart—and you’ll feel better, too. Reason enough to refresh your fitness wardrobe, right?...

Of course, a full-size sauna isn’t always accessible thanks to the high price point (and space needed to host it). Enter: The best infrared sauna blankets. These downsized versions of the popular well-being tech make it easier to bring the sweat-inducing sensation into your home. Read on to uncover why adding an infrared sauna blanket to your routine could benefit your overall longevity—no fancy spa membership required. So instead of sitting in temperatures around 185 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll only have to put up with a temperature around 140 degrees Fahrenheit....

Improving concentration and mindfulness is the object of this practice, and trataka sadhana remains an important tool in yogic traditions. It’s believed that when the practitioner can fix their concentration on a certain point, all areas of their life will improve with their new, cleared vision and stronger sense of awareness. Connecting to the fire element, in particular, can also help you while meditating. “The element of fire is a powerful tool for transformation,” Poon adds....

The cervix is located at the very back of the vagina and surrounded by a lot of nerves, which may feel good when stimulated, explains Good Vibrations sexologist Carol Queen, Ph.D., Depending on the owner’s phase of their menstrual cycle, reaching the cervix may involve pretty deep penetration, adds OB-GYN Sherry A. Ross, M.D., and that feeling of “fullness” combined with the stimulation of those deep vaginal nerve endings can produce an orgasm for some people....