Innholdsfortegnelse for September/October 2024 i Women's Health

My version is that as soon as I dialed in on macronutrients and hit my protein goal daily, I couldn’t stop singing the benefits from the rooftops. (Truly, check out my protein-obsessed IG page.) It all *clicked* two years ago, as I slowly but surely upped my protein consumption, eventually eating one gram per pound of ideal body weight (130 grams)—as many experts rec—every day. And then? Everything felt better: more energy, faster recovery from workouts, sounder sleep. It can be challenging to change our ways, especially when beliefs and behavior are hardwired in childhood. Our role as WH editors is to ensure you have access to the most current science and the best experts. That way, you can begin the work of “unlearning” the stuff that no longer serves…

1 Bed Heady This musky floral was designed to mimic the scent of a partner’s skin left lingering on your sheets. Phlur Missing Person Eau de Parfum, $99, sephora.com 2 Tech Touch AI helped Charlotte Tilbury discover note blends that bring on a sexy feeling, like oud, saffron, and jasmine.  Charlotte Tilbury More Sex Eau de Parfum, $150, sephora.com 3 Sultry Spritz The euphoric combo of Turkish rose, oud, and vanilla will turn heads (and increase heart rates). Parfums de Marly Delina Exclusif Parfum, $395, nordstrom.com 4 Hot Take Kilian’s creation has mastered the art of allure, with honey, sandalwood, and seriously tantalizing spices.  Kilian Back to Black Aphrodisiac, $295, bloomingdales.com 5 Cult Classic A bestseller for a reason, this is a bold blend of lavender, jasmine, orange blossom, and ambergris.  Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Parfum,…

You might be thinking, Isn’t the cost of eating unrefined or minimally refined, sustainably sourced foods too high for most people? Here’s a possibly uncomfortable truth: You will either pay for healthy food up front or you will pay for preventable medical issues and lost productivity in the future. It is a short-coming of public policy that it is cheaper for a lower-income family to purchase a soda than a bottle of water at many supermarkets. We must change the incentive structures of our food and health system—but, until then, do whatever is in our power to reject ultra-processed food. Here are some tips to do this on a budget: ▸ Buy frozen organic fruits, vegetables, meats, and wild-caught fish in bulk, or buy fresh and freeze. I get four…

The chips are down, the clock’s running out, and the underdog is staging a comeback. Fans of sports movies know the scene well. Whether it’s the worst team in the league defying the doubters by winning it all or an injured athlete making a triumphant return, the crowd always goes wild. Even the titles of such classics as Miracle, Field of Dreams, Invincible, and Cinderella Man signify the everyday magic in making a comeback. Of course, instead of pixie dust, there’s blood, sweat, and tears involved—elements of the sports comeback as relatable as they are aspirational, which may explain why these stories are so appealing. “Comeback stories resonate because we are all in need of a comeback at some point,” says Richard Cowden, PhD, a social-personality psychologist and the psychology…

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 Ariel Belgrave, CPT Board-certified health and fitness coach; Under Armour athlete; creator of the L.E.A.N. Method; DEI wellness expert Ben Bruno, CFSC Certified functional strength coach and private trainer Sohee Carpenter, MS, CSCS Evidence-based fitness coach and certified sports nutritionist; author of…

1 Heaven Scent You can feel good about wearing this fruity floral: It contains upcycled ingredients, 87 percent of which are derived from renewable sources. Ellis Brooklyn Dear Sky Eau de Parfum, $115, sephora.com 2 Balms Away A luxurious hydrator (in clear and soft pink) infused with ginseng oil and cocoa and shea butters, it softens and smooths. Sulwhasoo Glowing Lip Balms, $38 each, sephora.com 3 Head Case The wash’s soothing and protective ingredients improve scalp health and stop shedding. NatureLab Tokyo Saisei Stress Defense Amino Acid Shampoo, $22, amazon.com 4 High Beam With four acids, this glow-getter enhances radiance and fades dark spots. You’ll notice a diff in one week. L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Dark Spot Exfoliant Peel, $25, at drugstores 5 Active Duty Tennis pro Sloane Stephens’s new line includes a refillable deodorant, which neutralizes body…

Going Dopey ▸ Completing four races in four days: 5-K, 10-K, half-marathon, and full marathon (48.6 miles total) Perfect Dopey ▸ Completing the Dopey challenge each year since its inception (11 total so far) Going Goofy ▸ Completing the half- and the full marathon (39.3 miles total) on consecutive days Race-cation ▸ A vacation planned around a runDisney race Coast to Coast ▸ In one calendar year, completing a run of 10 miles or longer on both the East Coast and the West Coast Castle to Chateau ▸ Running one race on U.S. soil and one at Disney Paris (though Disney Paris races have yet to resume post-COVID) Balloon Ladies/Pace Cyclists ▸ People who maintain a 16-minute-mile pace at the back of the pack and sweep up the stragglers…

Saucy Beans and Greens TOTAL: 35 MIN. SERVES: 4 2 15.5-oz cans low-sodium butter or cannellini beans¼ cup grated pecorino romano4 Tbsp olive oil, dividedKosher salt and pepper4 oz country bread, torn into 1-in. pieces1 tsp lemon zest1 medium onion, chopped4 cloves garlic, finely chopped1½ tsp smoked paprika¼ cup tomato paste12 oz lacinato kale, ribs discarded, leaves chopped (about 8 cups) 1. Heat oven to 350°F. Drain bean liquid into large measuring cup and add enough water to measure 2 cups liquid total (do not rinse beans); set aside. 2. In medium bowl, whisk pecorino with 2 Tbsp oil and ½ tsp pepper. Add bread and toss to fully coat. Transfer to small rimmed baking sheet and bake, tossing halfway through, until croutons are crispy, 17 to 20 min. Sprinkle…

In the world of sports psychology, mental toughness is generally considered the ability to continue striving to perform well even when faced with challenges. It’s an important quality for athletes to possess, but anyone can increase their fortitude. (To practice mental toughness, take actions that push you out of your comfort zone, or push yourself in little ways to grow your character, says Cowden.) The secret to mental toughness, though, is recognizing its limitations. “The term is actually kind of paradoxical because there’s a softness to it,” says Cowden. If you’re up against a (metaphorical) brick wall, mental toughness doesn’t mean telling yourself you’re strong enough to bash your head against it in an attempt to bring it down. Instead, mental toughness may be taking a step back, assessing the…

Atopic Dermatitis Marked by red, dry, and itchy skin, this type, commonly referred to as “the itch that rashes,” can happen for infants, children, and adults. Atopic dermatitis typically has a genetic component and can be associated with asthma and allergies. Flare-ups can be treated and managed, but it’s generally considered chronic. Contact Dermatitis Another prevalent form, contact dermatitis occurs when skin encounters something that triggers a reaction (which is why it typically affects areas like the eyes and hands). It’s mostly associated with redness, flaking, and itching but can also include blisters (think of poison ivy exposure). Seborrheic Dermatitis This appears in places where there are a lot of sebaceous glands, such as the scalp, face, chest, and groin. “It can manifest as flaking or redness and itching,” Dr.…

Scent and sex have been linked for centuries, from stories of Cleopatra soaking her boat sails in perfume to lure Mark Antony, to Marilyn Monroe admitting she wore nothing to bed but Chanel No. 5. And today, TikTok influencers churn out videos about seductive fragrances they claim drive partners crazy. But experts say fragrance can also be a powerful tool to improve your own sexual pleasure. It’s a promise that can’t come true soon enough: All types of partnered sexual activities are on the decline, especially in young adults, according to research. Some of this could be stress related, says Nan Wise, PhD, a licensed psychotherapist and author of Why Good Sex Matters. Stressful stimuli—like incessant smartphone notifications—keep the sympathetic nervous system in a constant state of alertness, preventing us…

1 Start clean. It sounds basic with a capital B, but shampooing removes product residue that can burn when heated, says trichologist Bridgette Hill. She recommends double-washing with clarifying and hydrating shampoos, then finishing with a moisturizing conditioner from mid-length to ends. 2 Go low. The dial on your tools shouldn’t go higher than 375 degrees—anything more can make you feel the burn, says hairstylist Michelle Cleveland. Another hot tip? “Don’t leave an iron clamped on hair for more than five seconds at a time,” recommends hairstylist Adir Abergel. 3 Think small. “Styling larger sections can cause uneven heat distribution,” says Hill, so divide strands into one-inch chunks, which also reduces the number of passes it takes to get the job done. Also, practice with tools turned off to get…

If it feels as if everyone you know (IRL and/or on the ’gram) is a Pilates girlie now, no, you’re not imagining it: The number of people in the U.S. who participated in Pilates was up 10 percent from 2019 to 2022, according to a Sports & Fitness Industry Association report. And the Pilates reformer market, specifically, has grown significantly, according to another industry report. It’s almost poetic that Pilates has been around for almost a century and is now having a modern renaissance of sorts. Created by Joseph Pilates in the early 1900s, the exercise method focuses on strengthening the core muscles, including those of the abdominals and back, as well as improving stability, posture, balance, and flexibility, says Ariel Schwartz, a Pilates instructor and cofounder of The Workshop…

We make hundreds of daily microdecisions about food that can change our genetic and physiologic “fate.” Like any doctor, I would end appointments by giving patients vague dietary advice such as “eat more fruits and veggies” and then writing a pharmaceutical prescription. Because in training, doctors are told that nutrition is a soft topic that “isn’t evidence-based.” You will rarely find specific nutrition recommendations in the official treatment guidelines for any given condition. Interventions such as prescribing a pill or performing surgery are seen as “heroic,” while nutritional interventions are seen as fuzzy and wimpy. We ignore that natural foods have over 5,000 known phytochemicals alone—each of which is a small molecule that impacts health. The pounds of molecular information we put into our bodies daily impact our health. Every…

Caffe Vita Queen City I add a tablespoon of frozen whole coffee beans during the last seconds of blending. It contributes flavor and crunch! —Samantha MacAvoy, assistant food editor Pitaya Foods Avocado Bite-Sized Pieces A trick I picked up working at a smoothie shop in college: Avocados elevate the creaminess. These come ready, so no need to scoop anything. —Lindsay Geller, lifestyle director Sweet Nothings Mango Açai Bowl I keep a stash of this brand’s ready-to-eat smoothies in my freezer at all times. —Maridel Reyes, senior deputy digital editor Get Up & Goji Blender Bomb by The Bomb Co. These are perfect when I don’t feel like pulling out multiple different bags of separate superfood ingredients. —Talene Appleton, fitness editor Atlantic Sea Farms Original Kelp Cubes A smoothie is a…

You’ve seen the celebrities and influencers donning futuristic LED face masks to improve signs of aging and acne. The technology behind it—red light therapy (RLT), which is a form of photobiomodulation, as scientists say—has potential perks that are more than skin-deep. Elite athletes, for example, hop into specialized red light beds to speed up recovery time. Doctors use it as an adjunct treatment for patients with chronic and acute pain and are hopeful it may help curb the amount of opioids they prescribe post-op. Experts believe red light energizes your cells and makes them function better. Just as plants convert light into energy, so can you, says Robert Bowen, MD, a physician in West Virginia who has been using the modality to treat patients for 20 years. Should you jump…

At the age of 24, a fit, longtime lover of movement and exercise, I woke up one day immobilized by an ache deep in my hip. The pain reached down my right leg, into my toes, and up through my back into my rib cage. It felt like a massive bruise being pummeled within my bones, but it had the sharpness of a brain freeze. Visits to doctors over the years were demoralizing at best and sometimes humiliating. I was a small-framed woman, and although my job as an immigrant rights advocate had strengthened my ability to give voice to people’s needs, I was often dismissed by the male doctors tasked with my care. One told me, absurdly, that I had my period and should try a hot bath. Months…

1 / First thing you do when you wake up? Go downstairs to get a cup of coffee—with milk—and feed our animals: one dog, two cats, and two goldfish. 2 / Time your alarm goes off? If I’m setting an alarm, that means I’m waking up to swim, so in that case, it’s 5:20 a.m. 3 / First person to inspire you? My mom. She was a runner when I was little, and I used to bike next to her. She taught me that exercise is a part of everyday life—it’s not something you have to force upon yourself. 4 / Post-workout food? A smoothie made with whatever is lying around—usually almond milk, banana, frozen cherries, peanut butter, and chocolate protein powder. It has a chocolate peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich type of…