Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2023 i Women's Health

CARDIOLOGY Jennifer H. Mieres, MD Professor of cardiology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell; senior vice president, Center for Equity of Care, Northwell Health DERMATOLOGY Mona Gohara, MD Associate clinical professor, department of dermatology, Yale School of Medicine Ellen Marmur, MD Founder, Marmur Medical Joshua Zeichner, MD Director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City FAMILY MEDICINE Navya Mysore, MD Primary care physician; sexual and reproductive health expert FERTILITY Sheeva Talebian, MD Fertility specialist and reproductive endocrinologist, CCRM New York FITNESS Ben Bruno, CFSC Certified functional strength coach and private trainer Betina Gozo, CFSC Certified functional strength coach; NASM corrective exercise specialist; Nike master trainer; creator of Women’s Health’s The Woman’s Guide to Strength Training Lauren Kanski, CPT NASM-certified personal trainer; functional…

365 BY WHOLE FOODS MARKET COCONUT WATER “I drink a glass after a run or add a splash to smoothies for the extra electrolytes. I love that this brand has a light flavor and sweetness to it.”—Sabrina Talbert, editorial assistant PITAYA FOODS DRAGON FRUIT BITE-SIZED PIECES “Pop a few of these pink, one-ingredient fruit cubes into your blender the next time you make a smoothie or smoothie bowl—no peeling or chopping required. ”—Kate Merker, chief food director THE CHAI BOX CHAI CONCENTRATE “Tastes just like my grandmother’s chai that I’ve been sipping for decades! I pour over ice with oat milk as a refresher on a warm day.”—Neha Tandon, senior commerce editor GRILLO’S PICKLES “I snack on the spears, but also sip the brine and even mix some with sparkling…

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I got sunburned while I was in Bali recently. It was cloudy, and even though I knew the UV index hovered at 7 that day, I didn’t think to put sunscreen on my arms. (Yes, I know better.) Fortunately, I was with Kadek Supartika, a traditional Balinese healer, and we were in a jamu garden, a lush plot of healing herbs and flowering plants used for centuries by Indonesians to prevent and treat illness. Supartika whipped up a poultice of ground rice, clove, an aromatic ginger known as kencur, and a fermented alcohol called arrack. The remedy, known as boreh (which roughly translates to “body scrub”), looked gritty; I wasn’t sure I wanted it on my pink skin. But as Supartika applied it to…

Sarah MacKay Robinson recalls the exact moment she started questioning the role that alcohol played in her life. It was the day after she finished her crowning athletic achievement: competing at the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials, the once-every-four-years race in which the top three finishers earn a spot on the U.S. team. Simply qualifying for the event is a major achievement, one that Robinson dedicated a lot of work to accomplishing. As many runners do, Robinson celebrated the culmination of months of intense training with a few drinks with friends after the race. And although she’s never felt addicted to alcohol, or that there’s anything wrong with choosing to drink, she began realizing her decision to have a glass of wine a few times a week, or to toast a…

Protein bars are clutch if you’re looking for a quick eat that satisfies—you can stash them in your bag, and many offer additional benefits like fiber and healthy fats. Plus, if you’re on the hunt for a pre- or post-sweat option, a protein snack can boost your output and aid in recovery, says Amy Gorin, RDN. The catch: There’s no offcial definition as to what constitutes a protein bar, per the FDA. That means it’s up to individual brands to decide how much protein (and what type of protein) they add to products. This is also why you’ll find bars that range in amount from 1 to 20 grams. So really, these packaged goods aren’t that different than granola or energy bars—officially, at least. The names are all about marketing,…

CRUSHED CRUSH For your busiest nights, these tomatoes are already broken down and ready to become the base of a shakshuka. Sauté with garlic, crack in eggs, and dinner is (basically) done! Mutti-Parma Crushed Tomatoes CHARRED CHAMP Stunning salsa is a cinch to make, thanks to the char each tomato gets before it’s chopped and canned. The smokiness also dials up the delish factor of a pot of chili. Cento Organic Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes SAUCY STANDOUT This option serves firm fruit (that’s still easy to hand-crush), a luxurious puree, and bright fresh flavor that makes a killer base for sauce. Contadina Whole Peeled Tomatoes POWER PASTE Rely on this concentrated tomato puree to add some deep flavor to dishes when you’re pressed for time. San Merican Double Concentrate Tomato…

As far as bodily functions go, good ol’ breathing is probably one you don’t think about very often. You may assume everyone takes in oxygen through their nose, but some people default to breathing through the mouth. And that simple fact makes a big difference. Why: Mouth breathing can lead you to over-breathe (seriously!), messing up your oxygen and carbon dioxide balance. And it’s been linked to sleep apnea, which nose breathing can improve. (More details on how later.) So doing it allll through the nostrils is ideal, says pulmonologist Jamie Garfield, MD. Ahead, experts settle the nose-versus-mouth debate—and share how to perfect the practice. You get cleaner air through your nose. 100 PERCENT. The hairs in your snout strip out allergens and pollutants, making sure fewer ickies end…

MORNING WINS 1 START FRESH OUTTA THE GATE It’s a lovely 60ish-degree April morning, and you’re lacing up for a run. As the sun makes a grand entrance at 6:30, you notice green sprouts—the start of a vegetable garden that wasn’t there last week. Spring, after all, is the season of vitality—of energy. Now, imagine you could experience this kind of fully charged morning (and day) all the time. That’s the elusive wellness wish of, well, most people, right? Today, there’s an uptick in interest in energy—where it comes from, how we expend it, how to gain it—among individuals and researchers alike, says Martin Picard, PhD, a mitochondrial psychobiologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. (We’re not the only ones seeing tons of energy “hacks” flood our IG and TikTok…

As a lifelong soccer player growing up in New Jersey, Leeann Passaro was a member of some of the most decorated youth clubs in the country and had legitimate dreams of playing in the Ivy League. But she recalibrated her college goals after a former high school soccer teammate, Madison Holleran, died by suicide in 2014, at age 19. Passaro was shattered. Holleran, a track and field athlete at the University of Pennsylvania, was everything Passaro wanted to be, but her death, and the subsequent book about her life, What Made Maddy Run, cracked open a conversation about the declining mental health of female athletes. “I saw a lot of the same things in myself that I saw in Madison, with the perfectionism and always needing to be the best…

At 19 years old, Jessie suffered a harrowing injury that set her life on a new course: The French native broke her back jumping off a waterfall in Maui. “One of my vertebrae exploded into 13 pieces,” she says of the freak accident. Even after her body largely healed, her mood remained uncharacteristically low. Curious by nature, Jessie made it her mission to better understand her mindbody connection. She completed a master’s in biochemistry to learn the science but still didn’t find any answers to why she felt the way she did. Next, she took a job in genetics at a start-up, hoping DNA research might shed some light on the matter. Once again, she came up short. That is, until she became part of a pilot study that involved…

Admittedly, I very much enjoy being a guinea pig. I’m curious about my body and enchanted when my testing and tweaking creates a positive impact on my energy levels and well-being. Over the past year, I’ve turned myself into a little Liz Lab. The pursuit has included inserting a continuous glucose monitor into my arm to observe my body’s insulin levels. I’ve tinkered with my caffeine and protein intake, switched up my strength training routine, and tried supplements like creatine. I’ve gathered data on my resting heart rate, temperature, and sleep. I’ve used metrics to pinpoint each phase of my menstrual cycle. I’ve plunged in ice-cold pools, and I’ve sweated in steamy saunas. Fascinating adventures, to be sure! But it’s not realistic for me to do all of the above,…

Before As an adult, I rarely trust myself around simple household tools. In fourth grade, however, I loved shop class and even skipped out on recess to work on solo projects with my woodworking teacher. It felt so good to make something through physical work. But after a decade-plus pause on that passion, pursuing woodworking again felt unrealistic. It wasn’t just because I had grown more anxious over time and convinced myself I lacked the basic coordination. I also felt overwhelmed by how male-dominated woodworking studios seemed to be. Even in 2021, only 3.5 percent of working carpenters were women, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. I counted myself out until I discovered Makeville Studio—an intimate, diverse space in Brooklyn for woodworkers of all levels—and decided to step out of…

Adobo-Glazed Portobello Tostadas TOTAL: 25 MIN. SERVES: 4 ½ small red onion, thinly sliced1 jalapeño, one half sliced, other half finely chopped2½ Tbsp fresh lime juice, dividedPinch of sugarKosher salt8 corn tortillas1 Tbsp olive oil½ cup barbecue sauce1 tsp chopped canned chipotles in adobo plus ½ Tbsp adobo4 portobello mushroom caps, gills removed1 avocado, halved and scooped¼ cup cilantro leaves, finely chopped3 radishes, thinly sliced¼ cup crumbled cotija cheese 1. Heat oven to 450°F. In small bowl, combine onion, sliced jalapeño, 1 Tbsp lime juice, sugar, and pinch of salt. 2. Divide tortillas between 2 rimmed baking sheets. Using 1 Tbsp olive oil, brush both sides of each tortilla with oil. Bake, until brown and crisp, 3 to 4 min. per side. 3. Heat broiler. In small bowl, combine barbecue…

Cortisol is the Lisa Rinna of hormones—involved in everybody’s business and always getting blamed for the drama (RHOBH fans know!). To be fair, the stuff *is* connected to your body’s fight-or-flight response (there’s a reason it’s nicknamed “the stress hormone”). But cortisol also has a role in almost every major organ system, from brain function to joint and immune health. It regulates metabolism. It works with insulin to keep your blood sugar stable. It helps quell inflammation. Notice a trend? It’s not all bad! In an age of rampant burnout, cortisol imbalance has become wellness gurus’ favorite scapegoat for all kinds of health issues, such as fatigue, acne, bloating, and more—leading to widespread misinformation about how this particular hormone works and what’s considered healthy and normal, says Arti Thangudu, MD,…

When you hear that a seemingly rock-solid couple is going to counseling, it’s all too easy to assume the worst. Couples therapy is often seen as the last stop en route to Splitsville, because we’re largely a disaster-driven society, says Melissa Fulgieri, LCSW, author of Couples Therapy Activity Book. In fact, unhappy couples wait nearly three years after problems start to see a counselor, per a study from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. “Oftentimes, people come through my door when they’re in the state of crisis, and they just can’t take it anymore,” says Fulgieri. “Part of my work is helping them not be so crisis-driven.” Think about it: It’s like going to the doctor only when something’s wrong and not for your yearly checkups. On top…

It’s the fourth consecutive day of rain in Los Angeles, and Hayden Panettiere, clad in a white sweatshirt and sweatpants, is lighting candles in the guest room of her apartment before cozying up underneath a blanket. The 33-year-old actor has owned this home since she was 16 years old—one of her first big purchases after moving from New York to L.A. and landing the role of Claire on the hit NBC series Heroes. “This is the last place my family lived all together,” she says of her parents and younger brother, Jansen. Hayden moved multiple times over the past 15 years, including relocating to Tennessee to film the TV show Nashville. But she always held on to this place. Recently, she’s been renovating it into her personal sanctuary since returning…

LONI LOVE Emmy Award–winning host and comedian Loni Love recently revamped her a.m. routine to focus on well-being. In the process, she became a Peloton fan, a juicing devotee, and a meditation maven. The best part? She’s feeling better than ever. “Last year, I started a health journey. Now, the first thing I do when I wake up—no matter how much time I have—is hop on my treadmill. I don’t care if I do 10 minutes or 45 minutes. That’s the commitment I made. After, I take a shower. I use Neutrogena products (the body wash and body oil) because my skin needs a lot of moisture. I lock it all in with Eucerin lotion. With my body moisturized, I move on to my scalp. I wear my hair in…

True or false: You can shrink your pores. If you answered true, you’re—to be blunt—wrong. But don’t sweat it: With so many products making that claim and influencers touting glass-like skin, it’s understandable that you’d get swept up in this misconception; there’s arguably no beauty topic more plagued with misinformation. “It drives me nuts. Everyone online is saying that you can get rid of pores, and you simply can’t,” says New York City dermatologist Robyn Gmyrek, MD. “People are comparing themselves to filtered photographs, when having pores is totally normal.” But while it’s important to realize they’re not a nuisance that should (or even can) be eradicated, you still may want your skin to look a little smoother. The TL; DR: Pores aren’t going anywhere, but there are ways to…

1. Mask Mandate A de-gunking trifecta of kaolin clay, charcoal, and salicylic acid acts like a power wash for your pores, flushing away excess oil, dirt, and dead skin cells. But wait! There’s more: Niacinamide brightens and glycerin hydrates so your skin never feels tight. The Outset Purifying Blue Clay Mask, $46, sephora.com 2. Face First Harsh contouring? O-V-E-R. The subtler “soft sculpt” is where it’s at now. For that you need a buildable product like this creamy, cool-toned stick, which can be used to create a natural shadow effect that enhances your features. Milk Makeup Sculpt Cream Contour Sticks, $24 each, sephora.com “I’m not great at contouring, but these sticks are so beginner-friendly, it doesn’t matter.”Danielle Jackson, beauty editor 3. Strand Softener You’ll notice a lot of fancy French words in the…

Rowing and I go way back. Our relationship started with a four-year stint on my school’s varsity crew team and has evolved into a more casual affair between me and a gym machine. I was especially intrigued by the newest model of the Hydrow connected rower because of its compact size compared with other ergs. I had to try it for myself. The lightweight Wave is 30 percent smaller than the original, meaning, for the first time, I could now comfortably fit a cardio machine (that also offers classes!) in my small space. It’s designed to feel like you’re on water—a feeling that, if you’ve ever experienced it, truly can’t be beat. Did it really feel like I was reliving my glory days on the Allegheny River? My honest thoughts…

Basic Nut Butter TOTAL: 25 MIN. (INCLUDES ROASTING TIME) MAKES: 1CUP 2 cups raw unsalted shelled nuts¼ tsp kosher salt1 to 2 tsp avocado oil, as needed 1. Spread nuts on rimmed baking sheet; bake at 350°F until toasted and fragrant, about 10 min. 2. Transfer nuts to dry food processor and process, scraping down sides occasionally, until nuts turn into smooth paste, 4 to 10 min. (Timing will vary based on type of nuts and your specific food processor.) 3. Add salt and flavor boosters (see combos at right) and process until smooth. If butter is too thick, add oil 1 tsp at a time until desired consistency is reached. Store nut butters in jar or airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. CRAVE-WORTHY COMBOS Peanuts +…

YOU STEP INTO A NEW DOCTOR’S OFFICE. You’re handed a tablet to fill out forms. You breeze through questions about your own health, then pause when you flip to the next screen—the one where you’re asked details of every condition your parents, siblings, even grandparents had. Was my mom on antianxiety meds? Is it bad if I’m not even sure whether my grandma died from health issues? If you’ve pondered related questions, you’re not alone. Not knowing every piece of the family-health puzzle isn’t automatically a catastrophe. And many people don’t have ready or easy access to the info. But it certainly can complicate things for you and a doc when it comes to figuring out the best personalized-care approach for you. “Your family-health history is the cheapest genetic test…