Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2017 i Women's Health

I love The Princess Bride. I mean, who doesn’t? Giant rats, true love, miracles, a protagonist named Buttercup. And quotable lines—highly quotable lines. I love to quote movie lines. I was thinking about the movie because it turns 30 this fall, heading back to theaters in the middle of this month so a whole new generation can root for Inigo Montoya and hate on Humperdinck. And as I looked over our October issue before it shipped, one of the flick’s best quotables kept coming to mind: “Inconceivable!” Criminal genius (and master of banter) Vizzini threw that word around a lot, in particular to describe the “man in black” (a.k.a. Westley) climbing an unclimbable cliff. Our October issue contains quite a few feats that could be seen as “inconceivable,” including— inconceivably…

SKIN My weak, soft fingernails are all cracking and peel-y. How can I make my nails stronger? Think back eight months—that’s when the nail you see now was first formed. If you had or have a disease or experienced a dietary change, your nails may show the signs: Psoriasis, for example, can cause little dents in the nails, and a zinc deficiency can show up as horizontal white bands. If you think a physical issue could be the cause, see your doctor. Otherwise, dishwashing detergent, harsh filing, glues or polymers used for gel and acrylic manicures, and the acetone in polish remover all draw moisture from the nail, weakening it. Wear rubber gloves when you do dishes and take a break from filing and acetone removers for a few months.…

TAMPON The free-bleeding movement—going without a pad or tampon during your cycle— has hit the gym. Well, kinda. Some women are replacing standard protection with absorbent fitness gear: Period-undie brand Thinx now has workout shorts designed to soak up liquid, and Dear Kate has a 10-piece leggings collection that does the same. Proponents claim it feels comfier, especially during cardio. But is it hygienic? Undetectable? Houston urogynecologist Terri-Ann Samuels, M.D., says yes and yes, if you follow these rules. FOR YOU Go “free” on light days. No protection with a heavy flow might make you feel annoyingly wet and distract you from your workout. Shower ASAP, within an hour, to prevent downthere infections (yeast and the like). Blood plus sweat doesn’t breed harmful bacteria, but the extra-moist environment could help…

Meditation is hard. And it’s even harder when you’re doing it for the very first time at 8 p.m. on Monday, the day’s successes and failures still making themselves right at home in your brain. But there I was, in a mindfulness guru’s light-filled brownstone, learning to let them go—with some help from a smoky wood scent I couldn’t identify wafting through the air. Fast-forward a month or so when I’m hugging a friend; I smell it again and quantumleap back to that Monday night. I press her for the name of her perfume—it’s palo santo oil, she says—and have a bottle overnighted so I can wear my still newish meditation practice on my sleeve. Let’s be clear: I wasn’t hallucinating. This is science! Scent has a unique ability to…

BETTER OFF RED Research shows that wearing red can make you appear more authoritative and confident (i.e., a natural fit for that promotion). And clearly, these boss ladies—General Motors CEO Mary Barra and TV mogul Shonda Rhimes— got the memo.…

What it is: Rather than using a stability (a.k.a. Swiss) ball only to sculpt your core, this challenging routine targets your butt, thighs, and hamstrings too. Why it works: It spikes cal burn by activating the deepest stabilizing muscles in your glutes and core, and it raises your body off the ground, which increases the range of motion for your hips so you can better tax your glute muscles with every rep. What to do: Once or twice a week, perform this circuit in order, moving from one exercise to the next without resting. After you’ve completed all four moves, rest up to one minute, then repeat twice for three total sets. Your trainer: Jeanette Jenkins, personal trainer and president of the online training site TheHollywoodTrainer.com 1 Hamstring Curl Lie…

FRAME IT These Olympic moments are unforgettable because they’re linked to something that’s easily brought to mind: the powerful emotions you felt watching them. But you can boost your recall of day-today facts using a similar theory of connection. If I told you there was a giant top hat in my kitchen sink, a pot of baby oil brewing in my coffee maker, granite spilling out of my fridge, hay stuffed in my microwave, and Garfield the cat roasting in my oven, you’d likely smile politely, nod, then back away. Very. Slowly. Don’t worry; I’m not seeing things. All of this stuff is just a mental shortcut, a way to remember the past presidents, specifically POTUSes 16 through 20. (You following? Lincoln is the top hat; Johnson, the baby oil;…

A mere five years ago, skipping meals was a top diet taboo. Now it’s the core of an increasingly popular (and increasingly research-backed) weight-loss approach. Intermittent fasting—periodically eating very little—is not only not bad for you, it may lower blood glucose levels and insulin resistance and reduce inflammation and cardiovascular risk. Why? How? Theories abound, but some experts believe fasting puts your cells under mild stress, just as exercise taxes your muscles and heart, ultimately strengthening them and making them more resistant to disease. And that’s not all, says Courtney Peterson, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of nutrition sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “Studies suggest you keep more muscle and lose more fat than on other diets, even if you lose the same number of…

ON BEING A FATHER (TO HIS 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER): You can’t take for granted that she will just love you because you are her father. That unconditional love comes from my direction to hers. She didn’t ask to be here. I chose to have her here, and so now, I’m looking to do everything I can to earn her love and to try to make her time here on this planet special. ON FACING JUDGMENT ABOUT HIS INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE: I can see their perspective. It doesn’t make me change my perspective. I can find beauty in any color— whether pale white or dark black. But [color] doesn’t tell me what I need to know about a person. There’s a reason people fixate on [race in relationships]. Something may have happened in…

Wind-Blown Brows A good breeze: the key to tousled, devil-may-care hair, and the quickest route to swept-up arches, which not only appear thicker but, thanks to the visual lift, leave you looking fresher and more awake. Thundercloud Lids Like air vapors before they drench the ground—darker on the horizon and lighter toward the heavens—these lids are moody-beautiful. The blue-gray mist is most concentrated at the lashes, making eyes look larger and more defined. Sandstorm Cheeks Set your pink blush aside. A dusting of tawny bronzer on the apples and cheekbones gives skin an earthy flush reminiscent of the sands that extend across the Sahara—they glow a faint amber under the sun. Constellation Eyes When glitter is haphazardly placed on lids, it follows the pattern of the night sky—stars vary in…

“HOOKED” On page 150, we feature fall’s best sweaters and boots alongside one of the season’s great outdoor activities: fly-fishing. Below, WH advisor and fertility specialist Sheeva Talebian, M.D., shares the mood-boosting benefits of another autumn sport. “Fall is my favorite season for outdoor running. The temperature and humidity drop so that it’s still sunny but not too hot, and the foliage starts to change color, which is refreshing and distracts me from thinking about the distance. It’s also marathon-training season in New York, so my usual paths are filled with other runners motivating me to keep going and push harder—a plus, since I’m training for the 2017 New York City Marathon.”…

My awesome new man’s friends all seem boring and uncool. Is this a bad sign about our compatibility? IT COULD BE IFFY. The people he chooses to spend his time with say a lot about him, and chances are he’s more like them than you realize—he may not be acting like his true self around you yet. I’d evaluate if he’s truly as “awesome” as you think. KEEP AN OPEN MIND. I don’t get it. You’re enjoying the entrée you ordered, but you don’t care much for the sides? Sounds like you might be acting a little too picky. And really, have you even given the sides a chance? HANG IN THERE. Don’t give up just yet. If you think he has potential to be “the one,” isn’t it worth…

EXPENSIVE TASTE Some small-batch bars can cost double the price of grocery store chocolate, but do they taste better? Chef Marco Canora, founder of restaurant Hearth in New York City (which offers chocolate tastings), did a blind test. COMMERCIAL Lindt 70% Cocoa Excellence Bar, $2.79 for 3.5 oz “It’s creamy and sweet and has vanilla notes, qualities often found in mass bars.” PREMIUM Valrhona 71% Cacao Le Noir Amer Bar, $3 for 3.5 oz “The most bitter of these, with tobacco notes. It’s not overly smooth but not grainy.” ARTISANAL Amano Macoris 70% Dark Chocolate Bar, $8 for 3 oz “This was the fruitiest, with notes of cooked cherries. It’s grittier with a waxy feel.” BOTTOM LINE For a truer chocolate with a complex cacao, the more bitter, the better.…

THE HALF-GASM You’re getting close, any second now, almost, and…whomp whomp. Most women have experienced an almost O. Usually, it’s because we’re worried about taking too long or thinking about how to tell the guy his moves aren’t doing it for us. But the more surprising reason, especially if it’s also happening in your solo sessions? You could be overstimulating your clit, says sex therapist Kat Van Kirk, Ph.D. We know, you keep hearing how most women need C-spot action to orgasm at all, but too much attention on the hot spot can be painful as you get close to finishing. Take a more indirect approach in that area (around the one o’clock position) to get over the brink. Rx for Two, Please If you test positive for an STI,…

RIP, bad hair days. You used to torture us, but these days? Not so much. Bobby pins, topknots, cute hats: The options to conceal misbehaving strands are endless (or just leave ’em as is— messy bedhead has never been chicer). If you woke up with a face full of breakouts, however, hiding is harder—it’s not as if you can casually throw on a ski mask. And while well-meaning social media movements like #makeupfreemondays are meant to highlight natural beauty, they also present incredible pressure for selfie-ready skin. “This kind of moment-tomoment monitoring of the skin leaves us vulnerable to negative self-appraisals,” explains Rick Fried, M.D., Ph.D., a Yardley, Pennsylvania, dermatologist and psychologist. “The images we see of ourselves often elicit self-talk that torments us on an ongoing basis.” This is…

Every morning, Max and Melissa awake from their temperature-regulated beds, nosh on a breakfast of organic, non-GMO, sustainably sourced food, slip into their designer sweaters, and—okay, so this is clearly a setup. Max is a dog. And Melissa is a human. (Or a “hooman,” as dogs would say, if they could speak.) But this made-up pair is part of a very real trend— the humanization of our four-legged friends, and the transformation of pet “owners” to pet “parents.” Consider this: Pet spending for 2017 is estimated to top $69 billion in the U.S., up 25 percent from just five years ago. There are doggie massages, paw-ticures, and fitness classes where canines can work on their “core.” Bella can even dine out with Mom and Dad, as restaurants have added play…

[SPECIMEN ] MAITAKE [CHARACTERISTICS ] Robust and earthy, with a distinctively ruffled, flower-like texture [STRENGTHS ] Also called “hen of the woods,” this variety shines in simple preparations with compatible flavors such as woody herbs (think rosemary and thyme). Its meaty bite also makes it the perfect sub for beef fillets. MAITAKE “STEAK” AND EGGS 1 / In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon oil, 2 halved garlic cloves, and 1 rosemary sprig for about 2 minutes. Remove garlic and rosemary, cool, and chop. 2 / Add 1 large halved maitake mushroom, cut side down, cover, and cook until bottoms are golden, 3 minutes. Flip both halves and continue cooking, flattening with a spatula, until golden, 4 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and sprinkle with reserved…

Krystal Cormack was on the verge of a meltdown. Earlier this year, the 35-year-old mother of three from Oxford, Mississippi, was holding down her job as a director at an educational nonprofit while also moonlighting in an unpaid side gig: as her family’s de facto secretary. Since becoming a mom nine years ago, Krystal’s to-do list had ballooned to include making her kids’ orthodontist appointments, drafting grocery lists, scheduling piano lessons, and planning social events. “It felt like running a small business,” she recalls. The constant stream of duties left her so overwhelmed, “I became the angry mom who was snapping at my family.” Krystal was essentially the ringmaster of her family circus—an invisible job that overwhelmingly impacts women. The French artist Emma (no surname, FYI) spotlighted the issue in…

Earwax removal videos are the new pimple-popping videos, have ya heard?! (YouTube it, but not on a full stomach.) Seth R. Schwartz, M.D., M.P.H., otologist, neurotologist, and medical director for the Listen for Life Center at Virginia Mason hospital in Seattle, reveals the right ways to treat the sticky stuff. • Leave it alone. Ear glands secrete oils that mix with dead skin cells, creating wax that traps debris that could otherwise migrate to your eardrums and possibly worsen your hearing. Women tend to have softer wax and fewer ear hairs than men, so we’re less likely to get blockages. But if you just can’t help yourself… • Use cotton swabs on the outer ear only. Jam one in your inner ear and you could rupture your eardrum; more commonly,…

Doctor: “How often would you say you exercise?” Patient: “I know I don’t look like it, but I swear I walk three miles every morning!” Many people think they’re being judged by their M.D. Are they projecting? What to know: 1 / A recent study shows overweight patients would avoid docs who emphasize their own health in online profiles (e.g., “I hike and bike to stay in shape”), even if the doctor admits struggling to maintain it (e.g., “I like to exercise, but it’s hard to find the time”). They were most likely to see M.D.s who believe health is an individual journey (e.g., “I help patients meet their personal goals”). 2 / Patient fear is legit: Studies show weight bias in the medical field can lower the quality of…

“Cancer patients are often made to look or feel vain or superficial if they inquire about hair loss, nail loss, skin issues, etc.,” says writer Kiernan. “But all of these things are a major part of the cancer journey. Beauty is just as important, if not more so, when you are sick as when you are well.” And unlike Kiernan—a former beauty editor who had access to the top hair, skin, and makeup pros when she was ill—most women don’t know how to deal with the frustrating issues that often accompany cancer treatment, from shedding hair to sallow skin. Now she’s offering up that information, with sharp wit and brutal honesty, in her new book, Pretty Sick: A Beauty Guide for Women with Cancer. “As long as I was living—and…

Oh my god, why did I just look down?! The forest-covered mountaintops that once felt towering while on flat ground now resemble teeny softrolling hills. A wave of anxiety floods my stomach, competing for space with my heart, which just dropped into the bottom of my chest. I’m standing somewhere above 9,000 feet on a 45-degree glacial slope known as the Roman Wall on Mount Baker in Washington. Collecting myself, I pause to look at the asteroid-like rocks beside me when I feel a slight tug of the rope at my waist. It’s from Melissa Arnot, arguably the country’s best female mountaineer. (At 33 years old, she has successfully summited Mount Everest six times, most recently without the use of supplemental oxygen—a first for an American woman.) We’ve been tethered…

It sounds like a stonery thought: Less is actually more, man. But that’s precisely what docs who prescribe medical marijuana have discovered. Many of their patients had better results—for example, less nausea from chemo drugs—with low doses than with high ones. As the word has spread, people in legal states—30 of ’em and the District of Columbia now allow cannabis either for medical or recreational use—have begun “microdosing,” as it’s called. Often via edibles, they’re turning to pot for all kinds of health reasons, from easing chronic pain, anxiety, and depression to soothing migraines, gut problems, and PMS. Others nibble medicated goodies to nix insomnia or boost focus or creativity so they can crank out a major work project. Pot…for work? It sounds far-fetched, but experts say microdosing for other…

THE BENEFITS ARE BLOWING UP! Americans chew about 16 pieces a week—and it’s a good habit to keep up. One to three sticks daily helps reap some surprising body benefits. BRAIN Who said gum is for ditzes? Au contraire: It may improve your powers of concentration. In one study, gum chewers were faster and more accurate at a mental task than those who tackled the same problems sans the sticky stuff. Other research has found that chewing fires up your neurons, increasing brain signals in five different regions. TEETH The sugarless variety can be good for your teeth, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). It increases the flow of saliva, which helps neutralize and wash away tooth-harming acid from your food. But take note: While any gum can increase…

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Such is Jessie Graff’s ambient, humming energy that she practically trots to the table we’ve booked at a New York City bistro. It’s a hot day and she’s in short denim cutoffs and a simple white tank, fresh from a weekend of competing in a Minnesota Tough Mudder obstacle course and attending the grand opening of a ninja gym in Oregon. “The woman who runs the gym holds the world record for breaking the most boards with her fingertips,” she says, clearly impressed. Over the past year and a half, stuntwoman Jessie has crushed a couple of firsts of her own on the NBC sports competition show American Ninja Warrior. The 33-year-old was the first female ever to finish Stage 1 of the national finals in 2016, and then again…

A FAMILY HISTORY Having a first-degree female relative (mother, sister, daughter) with a thyroid disorder increases your risk of developing one. HASHIMOTO’S DISEASE Hypothyroidism is frequently triggered by this autoimmune disorder, which causes the body to produce antibodies to attack the thyroid. “Over the course of several years, the entire thyroid can be destroyed,” explains endocrinologist Antonio Bianco, M.D., Ph.D. But: Testing positive for the antibodies doesn’t guarantee you’ll develop a thyroid disorder. “Over 20 years, only around a third of patients’ condition progresses to the point that they need to take synthetic thyroid hormones,” says endocrinologist Martin Surks, M.D. OTHER AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and celiac disease slightly raise your odds for Hashimoto’s, and therefore hypothyroidism. Why? Having one autoimmune disorder increases your risk of developing…

THE PRINT Bright colors and flowers can energize and inspire positive vibes—why just a glimpse of these Asics made with Liberty of London fabric makes burpees less joyless. THE TONGUE Because both the base and sides of the tongue are attached, the shoe fits snugly against the top of your foot, which prevents chafing…and the need to readjust in the middle of a workout. THE HEEL More cushion for pushin’! The supportive padding at the heel + the crisscross weave at the back of the shoe help keep your foot stable, key for avoiding injury. THE OUTSOLE Nothing’s gonna hold you down in HIIT: The superlight webbed gel that forms the outsole adapts to your foot’s shape so the shoe doesn’t feel like an extra appendage.…