Month: November 2017

Gift Ideas For 5- to 7-Year-Olds

Post author By HealthyWay Finds
Post date November 12, 2017

Disclaimer: Just so you know, if you order an item through one of our posts, we may get a small share of the sale.

We’ve assembled a list of some of our favorite toys that keep kids active—both physically and mentally. We also like to focus on gifts that encourage social skills and spending quality time together. Here’s what we’ve come up with.

1. Combine technology and sports with this exciting invention.

The futuristic Hover Ball glides over smooth surfaces on a cushion of air as kids kick it back and forth. LED lights make playing with the Hover Ball even more exciting at night.

The sides of the ball have non-marking foam pads that make the toy easy on feet and on walls. This awesome contraption is great for team competitions or solo use.

2. Gift a wide variety of athletic options for a very reasonable price.

The Pro-Ball Set has a soccer ball, a football, and a basketball that can be used inside or out for hours of fun and exercise. All three balls are designed for small hands and are made of soft but durable plastic.

Get kids moving and playing at a young age to instill healthy habits and good coordination. This variety pack gives plenty of options to keep kids occupied in a positive way. This set is perfect for a sunny day, but works just as well inside.

3. Let kids show their nurturing side with this fun new pet.

A Hatchimal is a fun new pet that starts its life inside an egg. Owners can hear its heartbeat and feel it kicking when they tap on the shell.

Once it’s time to hatch, the Hatchimal pecks itself out of its egg. Then it’s time to teach him or her to walk, talk, and dance. Kids will learn important responsibilities as they raise their Hatchimal and the Hatchimal’s interactive games mean they won’t get bored anytime soon.

4. For those kids who have more energy than they know what to do with, here’s a suggestion.

A Pogo-It from Little Tikes provides hours of challenging and exciting exercise. Pogoing improves balancing skills, endurance, and strength.

It’s similar to an old-fashioned pogo stick, but has a few updates, like allowing kids to earn points based on how long they can jump. For extra safety, don’t forget a helmet.

5. For a more traditional pogo experience, Kidoozie has you covered.

The Pogo Jumper helps young children develop their hand-eye coordination, balance, and dexterity. They’ll gain confidence as they master this classic toy over time.

The handles and base are cushioned to prevent accidental bumps and bruises. The bottom is specially designed to not leave scuff marks on floors. The Pogo Jumper has a weight limit of 250 pounds, so everyone can get in on the fun and competition.

6. Washing the dog isn’t always the most enjoyable task, but this board game makes it a lot more exciting.

Soggy Doggy is one of the most unique new games around. Players try to race around a miniature bathtub where a very wet dog threatens to shake himself dry at any moment.

If a player makes it around the loop before getting soaked, they win. But every time someone gets splashed, they have to start over. This cute game is equal parts suspenseful and hilarious.

7. Here’s a colorful, healthy, and eco-friendly way to get around.

Razor has been making wildly popular scooters since 2000, but the Party Pop Kick Scooter takes the phenomenon to a whole new level. The deck features 12 multi-color LED lights that pulsate in a mesmerizing way.

This scooter is designed for children 6 and up and comes with a six-month limited warranty. A safety pack with a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads will protect your little daredevil from any accidental tumbles.

8. This is what would happen if you combined a trampoline with a Frisbee.

The Mezo OGODisk Set from OGOSport is an addictive multi-functional toy. You can throw it like a traditional frisbee, but that’s just the start.

You can also bounce tennis balls off it to launch them far into the air. The set comes with two OGODisks and a ball, so you can create and play badminton-style games by using the disks to bounce the ball back and forth.
This water-friendly product floats, so they’re great for pools or the ocean. The OGODisks even work as a great way to bounce water balloons high into the sky.

9. Doing makeup together can be a great way to bond.

This washable makeup set has everything you and a young friend need to play dress up. The set has four blush powders, two glitter lip glosses, three eyeshadow powders, two lipsticks, and two nail polishes.

It all fits snugly in a glittery silver cosmetic bag, so it’s easy to take for sleepovers or vacations. All included products are safety-tested and wash off easily.

10. Give a gift the whole family will love.

The Hot Potato Passing Game from Ideal is designed for two to six players. The spud plays a musical tune as it’s passed from hand to hand.

When the music stops, whoever’s holding the tater gets a potato chip card. Get three cards and you’re out. It’s as simple as games get, but you’ll have tons of fun as you pass the hot potato as quickly as possible.

11. If you know a budding magician, here’s a great set to get them started.

The My First Magic Set has 20 easy-to-learn magic tricks to dazzle audiences. An included DVD and instruction book guide young tricksters through the necessary steps to become master illusionists.

The set comes with a variety of props, including the necessities for a ball and vase trick, a drawer box, and a magic paint can. And, of course, a magic wand is included.

12. Give a unique way to communicate with friends and family.

These walkie talkies from Little Pretender have a two-mile range with crystal-clear sound. Users can choose from three channels, and a child-friendly design makes them easy to operate.

These high-quality walkie talkies have a durable but lightweight build. They’ll improve communication skills and kickstart imaginations in ways no smartphone can.

Tags Holiday Gift Guide

Health x Body Wellbeing

How To Get Rid Of Cramps: A Guide To Natural And OTC Relief

Post author By Christina Vercelletto
Post date November 12, 2017

Period cramps: Few women escape them entirely, and many downright suffer. More than 50 percent of women who menstruate report at least some pain from cramps one or two days each month, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and period pain keeps 10 in every 100 women from their usual activities one to three days every month, according to information from the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.
Meanwhile, across the pond, a study whose results were published in October 2017 found that bad period cramps cost employers in the UK more than 5.5 million sick days every year. An analogous Australian survey published on YouGov.au revealed that, of Australian women who soldiered on and went to work despite menstrual cramps, three-quarters said it negatively affected their job performance. That’s just affirmation of what females everywhere already knew. What was more surprising—and also more disturbing—was that just about half of the respondents to the British survey chalked up having to deal with heavy, painful periods to “just part of being a woman.”
Silently suffering in bitter resignation is not the way to go. Cramps can be managed, both by way of natural remedies and medications that bring period pain relief. Of course, figuring out which of the home remedies—or over the counter (OTC) solutions—are right for you takes a bit of careful consideration and, especially if the pain is severe, consultation with your gynecologist.
First: the basics of menstrual pain and discomfort, because understanding the nature of period cramps is an important step in learning how to get rid of them.

Why do we have menstrual cramps, anyway?

Period cramps are part and parcel of female bodily function, a necessary evil in a way. In order for the uterus to shed its lining each month, it has to tighten up and relax in an irregular rhythm. This detaches the tissue lining the uterus and essentially pushes it out of the body. Unsurprisingly, women who have a heavier flow during their monthly period tend to have stronger, and thus more painful, menstrual cramps.
While painful cramps can occur at any age, the nature of a woman’s period will change throughout her life, notes Jacadi Bignami, OB-GYN at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California. “How often periods come, how long they last, and how much bleeding occurs can vary from the teen years to menopause due to changes in hormonal balances, which changes the communication that occurs between the brain and the ovaries,” she explains.
Doctors split period pain, also known as dysmenorrhea, into two types: primary and secondary dysmenorrhea. If the pain is caused strictly by the uterine contractions, it’s called primary dysmenorrhea. Moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea is more commonly experienced by women under the age of 20. In general, it tends to lessen the older a woman gets. Also, many women have less primary dysmenorrhea once they’ve given birth, especially if their first delivery is spontaneous as opposed to cesarean.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is period pain that occurs for reasons other than uterine contractions alone. These might include polyps, fibroids, or another health condition like irritable bowel syndrome, which is why it’s a good idea to talk with your gynecologist about the specifics of your menstrual pain, especially if you suddenly start experiencing pain when you’ve never had any before.
Worth noting: Period pain is different from premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS is actually a constellation of symptoms that can include weight gain, bloating, crankiness, and fatigue. Also, PMS often hits one to two weeks before your period starts, whereas period pain has a much shorter timeline, kicking in more or less right when your period starts (although secondary dysmenorrhea can start earlier in your cycle than primary dysmenorrhea, last longer, and even occur when you don’t have your period).

Why don’t all women get the same severity of period cramps?

It seems really unfair that you can barely leave your couch when your period hits while your best friend seems to breeze through her monthly cycle. Experts remain uncertain about why some women seem to luck out when it comes to period pain, but according to a National Cancer Institute resource published by PubMedHealth, the difference may have to do with how sensitive a woman is to prostaglandins, which are chemical messengers that trigger the uterus to tighten. In fact, research published in The Journal of Pain indicates that women who suffer from severe dysmenorrhea tend to be more sensitive to pain in general.
An Australian study suggested that smoking increases the risk of having painful period cramps. Another study from the National Institutes of Health pointed to a possible genetic link. Thus, like so many other things, it appears that if your mother always had bad period cramps, that ups the odds that you will too.
And pain and discomfort from periods often goes beyond pelvic cramps. Back pain that radiates from the uterus contracting is also common, says Bignami. “The changes in hormone levels that occur when women have their periods can cause headaches as well. Some women even have nausea and diarrhea from the hormonal changes and prostaglandins released,” she adds.
As if all that weren’t bad enough, Bignami also points out that sheer exhaustion can come along with periods, due again to hormone fluctuations and blood loss. In short, the manifestation of pain and discomfort can and does vary from woman to woman.

Natural Remedies to Get Rid of Period Cramps

While the bad news is that menstrual pain and discomfort can take many forms and happen for many reasons—and a quick, sure cure is hard to pin down—the good news is that home remedies can alleviate much of the unpleasantry for many women. Among those natural remedies are:

Diet Adjustments

According to Bignami, foods high in saturated fats and simple sugars have been shown to increase the pain and other uncomfortable symptoms felt during your time of the month. On the other hand, though, she notes that “foods high in omega-3s, calcium, or iron can improve unpleasant symptoms of periods.”
She goes on to say, “A healthy diet of lean meats, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains is recommended for those with painful periods.”
Camille Finamore, a mom of two in New Hyde Park, New York, discovered the power of a healthier diet in easing period cramps. She recalls reading about how diet adjustments can help. Fed up with being relegated to bed for one day a month, she decided it was worth a try.
“I made a real effort to avoid processed foods and all the snacks I was eating that were high in sugar or fat or both.” After several months of making a slate of swaps such as fresh fruit for donuts, she noticed a change. “While I can’t say my menstrual pain vanished, it was noticeably more tolerable. And just as good, I lost five pounds.”
Light to Moderate Exercise

It may not be the first thing you think about doing in the throes of a painful period, but exercise—in particular 10 minutes or so of gentle stretching—is a great way to improve circulation and reduce pain.
However, Bignami points out that “there is always a fine line between the right amount of exercise and too much.” If you have always been pretty sedentary, suddenly jumping into a high-intensity exercise routine can cause more problems than it solves. Bignami says regardless of your fitness level, “light, easy exercise, such as stretching, walking, or biking, can alleviate period symptoms greatly.”
Stress Reduction

“Stress can impact every aspect of your life, including your period,” Bignami says. “Stress can cause your cycle to become irregular in frequency or duration, can alter your immune response, and even make you more sensitive to pain. Understanding how stress impacts your cycle is complex and can be different for each person. But what is certain is that finding a healthy and safe way to combat stress that works for you is important for your overall health.”
Regular exercise is widely recognized as a healthy, effective way to keep stress in check. Learning to say no to unnecessary demands on your time doesn’t hurt either. But one hugely helpful technique to combat stress is practicing mindfulness. Being mindful amounts to being in the habit of focusing on the present moment, not wringing your hands about the past or worrying about the future, and calmly accepting your thoughts and feelings in the moment without judgement.
“Mindfulness activities have been shown to help with pain by decreasing stress and aiding relaxation,” says Bignami. In fact, a study published in the journal Clinical Psychology Review found that mindfulness has several benefits to overall health.
Bignami says she likes the Headspace App, especially for women who are short on time.
“It’s a great way to improve your health in 10-minute sessions.”
Massage and More

Bignami also notes that massage therapy is an effective way to boost circulation, aid in relaxation, and decrease period pain. Can’t get to the spa? Taking a leisurely warm shower can also help relax tight muscles and improve circulation.
“Acupuncture, as well as acupressure, when performed by a licensed practitioner, may decrease pain and inflammation in some women as well,” adds Bignami. (Acupressure applies firm pressure to touchpoints along the meridians of the body, but doesn’t employ the hair-thin needles of acupuncture.)
Also, according to not only our moms, but also to a period pain resource published by MedlinePlus, curling up with a heating pad or hot water bottle and/or taking a hot bath are all tried-and-true means of period pain relief.

OTC Help for Period Cramps

As much as we’d all prefer to manage our pain with natural remedies, there may be times—the morning of a big job interview, say—when you need to be able to just take something to make the pain stop. OTC options for period cramps abound.
“Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], such as ibuprofen, Advil, and naproxen work by inhibiting a substance called cyclooxygenase, or COX. That ultimately decreases the prostaglandins which are made during your cycle. And by blocking the prostaglandins, you decrease inflammation and pain,” explains Bignami. Another benefit of NSAIDs, according to Bignami, is that taking one of those medicines a few days prior to your period may actually decrease blood flow in women who experience heavy bleeding.
Tylenol, which is the widely recognized brand name for acetaminophen, on the other hand, works by directly blocking the reception of pain. That old standby, menstrual cramp-specific Midol, combines acetaminophen with caffeine and an antihistamine. The caffeine increases energy levels and acts as a diuretic—decreasing water retention, also known as bloating, which may be just enough to give you the symptom relief you need.

When to Bring in the Professionals

Severe, debilitating period pain warrants a check-in with your gynecologist. They may consider prescribing you birth control pills, a Mirena IUD, or another prescription medication to regulate your cycle, decrease blood flow, and help control the pain. Some women, with the help of their doctors, even opt to use birth control continuously to stop their periods.
Still, Bignami cautions that severe pain with your cycle might be caused by something more than just your period.
“If you have pain that is not controlled with over the counter medications nor any of the natural lifestyle adjustments, you should be evaluated by a gynecologist.”
Endometriosis, fibroids, adenomyosis, and infections can all cause pelvic pain. In fact, in September 2017, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the UK issued new recommendations on endometriosis, which state that women presenting with chronic pelvic pain should be routinely checked for the condition.
Let’s face it: Your monthly period is never going to be easy-peasy. For the most part, minor pain and other discomforts are normal, but that doesn’t mean you need to suffer through adverse impacts on your quality of life. Experiment with natural and OTC remedies, and if your pain is persistent or severe, be sure to rule out more serious health conditions with your gynecologist.
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Life x Culture Lifestyle

How To Create A Vision Board To Achieve Your Goals

Post author By Allison Schmidt
Post date November 11, 2017

Having a grand plan for your life is a really good thing. Actually, it’s a great thing! With every goal you work toward, you’re defining your purpose in life for yourself and the world at large.
But a dream without a plan isn’t going to get you anywhere. We (among the likes of Oprah herself) are big fans of using vision boards to focus our aspirations and inspire us to achieve our dreams. Using vision boards may sound a bit like wishful thinking, but they really can help you focus your goals and work your way toward achieving them.

What is a vision board?

A vision board not just a collage. It’s a collage that follows a formula to serve a very specific purpose. Instead of pinning up your favorite images at random, the images used in a vision board are assigned meaning. Vision boards are a collection of images used to help you maintain focus and visualize an explicit goal.
Physical vision boards can include images taken from magazines, newspapers, or otherwise printed materials. They can take many forms, from images stuck into a shadowbox frame and positioned on a desk to a full poster or cork board with images glued or pinned on. Artsy individuals might draw a vision board out by hand, whereas those who are less driven by art and imagery might opt for a vision board dominated by a collection of quotes with fewer images.
When it comes to digital vision boards, many people are unknowingly familiar with them, since many social media websites serve as unintentional vision boards. A digital vision board is a collection of images stored on websites, your computer, or your phone. The top social media platforms for curating vision boards are Pinterest and Tumblr, but you can also get creative and use a document, a folder on your desktop where images are saved, or even the collection feature on Instagram.
Aside from the obvious differences between physical and digital vision boards, digital vision boards generally feature cleanly lined up images. Physical vision boards, on the other hand, usually look like collages. People who prefer a clean-cut look may be drawn to digital vision boards.

The Science Behind Vision Boards

Manifesting your goals in a vision board isn’t just daytime talk show fodder. The science says that the visualization involved in creating a vision board actually works to help you achieve your goals. But, it’s not all in the pretty pictures. You need to actually use the vision board in order for it to work. This means that besides taking the time to create your inspirational piece, you need to spend a few minutes engaging it every day.
Research suggests that visualizing the action steps that will help you achieve your goals works better than just meditating on the end game. A study at the University of California, Los Angeles found that students who pictured studying for an exam got better results than just visualizing acing the exam. And even if you don’t know what your action steps are yet, envisioning either action steps or an end goal were both found to work better than not visualizing anything at all according a 2014 study from the International Journal of Information and Education Technology.
For those of us who are no longer test-taking students, visualization can still be a helpful tool for manifesting our ambition in the world. Let’s say you have a fitness achievement in mind (who doesn’t?). A study published in Neuropsychologia found that doing “mental training,” namely picturing yourself doing a physical exercise, “drives the muscles to a higher activation level and increases strength.” In other words, visualizing yourself exercising helps you get stronger before you even hit the gym.
The mind is a powerful thing!

How to Define Your Goals

Before you can start on your vision board, you need to specify your goals. Defining your exact goals gives you something to work toward. Research suggests that crafting your goals to be as specific and actionable as possible in the short term is your best bet for making them happen.
This means that instead of choosing an intangible goal (like doing your best or being happy), you should articulate something concrete. If your ultimate desire is to be happy, think of the things you do, places you go, or people you interact with that bring you happiness. Use actionable verb phrases like “Take a walk after dinner three times a week” or “Have coffee with a friend every other Sunday” to inspire your vision board. These more clear-cut ambitions are easier to work with and depict visually.
Keeping your objectives reasonable in the short term will also help you accomplish your goals. You can always create another vision board down the line that expands on your shorter-term goals as you realize them. Naturally, definitions of short term are objective, but short-term vision board goals should play out on a timeline that is longer than one month but shorter than a year.
If your goal is to find yourself in the best shape of your life, start with the small steps. Consider researching trainers in your area or sign up for three group fitness classes to attend each week for the next month. Making sure a friend or acquaintance is in at least one of those classes can help keep you accountable and motivated.
If you’re trying start a business or build a brand, instead of agonizing over when you’ll get to celebrate a million dollars in sales or be invited to do a TED talk, finally get some business cards made (so you can stop jotting down your info on scraps of paper) or invest in a freelance web designer to spiff up your site.
If you want to enhance your morning routine, instead of committing to 30 minutes of yoga, a 15-minute meditation, and 15 minutes of journaling, try setting your alarm to get up 20 minutes earlier and add just one of these wellness-enhancing activities to your morning. Once you’ve gotten into the groove, it will be much easier to incorporate other elements. Setting yourself up to win in little ways—like filling a page in your journal before you finish your first cup of coffee or completing a guided meditation before you suit up for the day—will help you build momentum for your bigger, more ambitious goals.
Each step helps you get to where you want to be without getting discouraged along the way.

How to Create a Vision Board

With your goals in mind, it’s time to start crafting! The first thing you need to do is decide if you’re going to keep it digital or get physical with your board. We’re big fans of the digital vision board for ease, but taking the time to create a physical board that you can see daily is extra helpful in solidifying your goals. Out of sight, out of mind, right? A digital vision board may not be seen as often as having a tangible board you see during your day. If you’re creating a physical vision board, make a specific place for it so you’ll see it while doing everyday tasks. The refrigerator, your closet door, or a spot near your desk are all great places to hang a vision board.
You also need to decide whether you want to make your vision board alone, with a friend, or with a larger group. If you’re making big changes that will require your support system, it can be fun to get them involved in creating your board. But if you want to engage in deeply focused self-reflection, it may be best to execute the actual creation of the board alone and share it later. It all comes down to personal preference in this case.
The images you put on your vision board are totally up to you. Look for photos that show off your end goal, whether that’s a job you’d like to get, a physique you’d love to attain, or a big move you want to make.
While you’re selecting pictures that represent your ultimate goals, think about what steps you can take to get yourself there. These action steps are important for helping you achieve your dreams, so find and include images that convey them, like stretches you can do to prepare for meditating in lotus or snaps of beautifully plated healthy food that will help you eat a more nutritious diet.
Also, it wouldn’t be a vision board without an inspirational quote or two. Add quotes that spark your desire to do the hard work to get to your goal; we suggest picking just a couple of shorter quotes so you don’t get too bogged down in the words.
When you are piecing together a physical vision board, it’s a good idea to have different sections mapped out for your different goals. If all the different imagery gets mixed together, it can be hard to focus on a specific goal. You can section off different corners of your board and work inward, or map out different areas for different goals. Affix your images and quotes however you please. You’ll look at it every day, so spend a little time making sure you really love the aesthetic of your vision board, from the background to the thumbtacks (if you decide to use them).
If you’re going the digital route, keep different files (or tags, collections, etc.) for each specific goal. Digital vision boards are particularly susceptible to overload with too many images and themes as space is seemingly unlimited. Keeping your images whittled down to only the most impactful will be helpful in keeping you focused on your goals rather than being overwhelmed by too much visual stimulation.

Accountability Tips

If you don’t put it to good use, a vision board is just a piece of art or collection of data on your computer or up in the cloud.
Research on the power of visualization consistently concludes that visualizing your goal must be followed by taking actionable steps toward achieving it. After creating your vision board and placing it prominently, take just a couple of minutes a day to meditate on your goals and how you’ll get there—a practice that’s so much easier to keep up with if you keep your vision board highly visible! If you do go for the digital vision board route, pencil in a time once a day to take a scroll through your inspirational images. Once the images are sharp in your mind, you can drop into a couple of minutes of reflection.
To keep track of your progress, it can be fun to keep a mini notebook or journal; even a note on your phone would work. Depending on the goal, check in on a regular basis to evaluate whether you’re making progress and what you need to keep up or consider changing. We suggest a bi-weekly or monthly check in, which is just long enough to see changes, especially when it comes to fitness goals that can take longer to achieve.
It’s also a great idea to get your loved ones in on your vision board. Having your partner, family, or a good friend to help keep you on track is helpful. They can encourage you when you need a push and congratulate you when you get there!

Vision Board Success Stories

It isn’t just Oprah who finds that that vision boards really work. Anyone can make their goals a reality with the help of a vision board. All it takes is the inspiration, visualization, and dedication to get it done.
Writer Jeannine Morris says that manifesting goals through a vision board totally works. “Throughout the years, I manifested TV hosting gigs, brand partnerships, and even finding the love of my life. Since I started putting that energy out into the universe, I’ve hosted for E!, had brand partnerships beyond my wildest dreams and yes, even got married.” Her vote is for a physical vision board.
“There’s something about the creative process of cutting up magazines that’s so satisfying.”
Yoga instructor Mia Michelle Marie says she rooted her vision board in a slightly different way. Instead of pasting together images, she hand-drew her vision of living in a tiny home in the woods. The path to her goal involved selling her yoga studio, taking a work-trade job, then getting a promotion that landed her a tiny house in the woods as part of her compensation. Total kismet.
Actor Kellan Lutz told Men’s Fitness that he creates a vision board once a year. “It’s great when you get to check off dreams” like his acting career, fitness goals, and his fashion line collaboration with Abbot + Main.
“Man if I didn’t have no vision board, I’d be in trouble” Steve Harvey told Oprah during a 2014 episode of the show Life Class. Harvey keeps his visions in front of him in a most unusual way: He has them sewn into the hem of his pants.
Taking an hour to create a vision board may turn out to be the best thing you’ve ever done. When you begin to achieve your goals, you can work your way toward your life’s purpose. A vision board isn’t just a collection of pretty pictures, it’s a tool to help you visualize and internalize your own success. Believe in yourself and just watch what can happen.

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Sweat

This Is How Your Body Changes When You're In A Relationship

Post author By HealthyWay Staff Writer
Post date November 10, 2017

In the 1950s, a young man named Kyle Ballard worked as a waiter on the liner ship SS Lurline. The ship sailed between Honolulu and California, running vacationers back and forth between Oahu, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. It’s safe to say there were lots of married couples gathering in the ship’s dining room at mealtime.

Ballard and his fellow waiters got to know their passengers—they were assigned to the same tables every night for the entire five-day trip. Ballard still marvels at the details he and the other waiters noticed about these long-married couples.

“All the experienced waiters agreed on the same thing,” the octogenarian tells HealthyWay. “We could take all 20 people for dinner on sailing night when we first met them and jumble up all persons married at least 40 years, and we could match those couples [because] they looked so much alike.”

Even the height was similar, Ballard says, except the husband was typically a bit taller than the wife.

“Both with about the same weight,” Ballard says. “Even eating and dressing alike. We never stopped making that comparison.”

The thing is, the science backs up Ballard’s story of romantic seaborne adventures from long ago. One 1987 study found that after 25 years of marriage, couples did begin to resemble each other—as in, facially. One working theory is that spouses come to mimic each other’s facial expressions and that leads to physical changes in the face’s musculature over time. Twenty-five years later, you’ve got two faces that look more alike than they did on their wedding day.

If you think that’s incredible, or just incredibly romantic, check out these other physical and physiological changes that long-term relationships can create within our bodies.

1. You start to like the same foods and maybe even the same perfume. But it might not mean what you think it means.

There’s no need to argue over the wedding menu. You may hate onions today, but if your spouse is a die-hard onion ring devotee, give it a few years (or maybe a few decades).

A recent study in the journal Appetite makes the astonishing claim that the longer a couple stays together, the more their preferences in taste and smell line up. The researchers asked 100 couples between the ages of 18 and 68 to rate how much they liked the study’s collection of flavors and scents. Some of the couples had only been together for 3 months; others had 45 years under their belts, but most fell between these extremes.

The data revealed that “both taste and smell preferences are more similar the longer couples have been in a relationship,” according to the study’s abstract. However, in a surprise finding, the researchers report that people in happy marriages don’t necessarily love the same odors.

In fact, relationship satisfaction was “negatively related” to similar preferences in scents. So the happier people said they were in their relationships, the less likely they were to like the same smells. To further complicate matters, this finding did not extend to flavor.

So if you and your spouse still disagree about the smell of frying onions, don’t fret. You might be one of the lucky ones.

2. In the early stages, your brain chemistry goes haywire.

There’s a reason all the pop songs are about love or substance abuse. Or both. Apparently, the initial stages of an intense romantic relationship affect our brain chemistry not unlike an illicit pharmaceutical.

That’s according to David Bennett, a certified counselor and co-runner of the men’s support website The Popular Man.

“When you’re in love, your physiology changes quite a bit,” Bennett says. “And it’s the result of brain chemistry changes.”

In particular, Bennett points to three neurotransmitters that have powerful effects on the way you feel.

“Your dopamine levels go up, leading to feelings of excitement and euphoria related to your partner,” Bennett explains. That can also get you into trouble, of course.

“If your partner stops reciprocating attention (such as not texting back right away,) you’ll feel anxious and nervous,” he says. Call it love withdrawal.

Second, your brain produces extra norepinephrine, a chemical similar to adrenaline.

“This is why when you’re in love, you can barely sleep and will stay up late into the night with your partner, even if you have to get up early the next day,” Bennett says. It’s a good thing this particular effect tends to fade with time and familiarity, or else our work lives would be even rougher.

Oddly, though, serotonin levels actually drop during an experience of romantic love, Bennett explains. A 1999 study in the journal Psychological Medicine found that the loss of serotonin makes the young Romeo’s brain more similar to that of someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder, another psychological state associated with low serotonin.

“This explains why when you’re ‘in love,’ you want to spend time with your partner almost obsessively, and you jealously guard your time with them,” Bennett says.

3. That wedding ceremony line about “sickness and health” is onto something.

You might promise to care for each other “in sickness and in health,” but you’d better plan for these conditions happening to both of you at the same time. Long-married couples have health similarities that seem to go way beyond sympathy pangs.

A 2016 study published in the journal The Gerontologist lays out some of these findings, which include health similarities in some surprising areas. For instance, couples who have been married for decades and decades showed similar grip strength. That might not sound like much, but grip strength is actually a reliable predictor of mortality, so it’s a valuable metric.

Other indicators that long-married couples tended to have in common include cholesterol levels and even kidney health. No big deal, you might say. People choose spouses who are similar to themselves, maybe even on a genetic level.

But wait! The researchers controlled for that. They compared these health similarities in couples who had been married for fewer than 20 years, and didn’t find the same convergence. This seems to be something that grows over time—just like a lifelong romantic relationship itself.

4. Physical fitness habits tend to sync.

One possible explanation for the aforementioned health similarities between long-term couples is that your general predictors of health might align. We’re talking about the big two: diet and exercise.

“Couples influence each other,” says Michele Paiva, a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in body image disorders. “One person might be trying to be more healthy and the other is sabotaging them with ice cream.”

But this reciprocal influence isn’t necessarily a bad thing, Paiva points out.

“Perhaps they both go to yoga together and are vegan,” she says. That type of relationship would likely lead to better health outcomes over the years.

So if you really want to maximize the “in health” part of your marriage over the “in sickness” agreement, start working out and eating right—and do it together. It’s also important to be present and loving with one another, Paiva says.

“How the couple relates together intimately and how healthy their relationship is plays a part” in overall health over the long term, she says. “If there is a healthy relationship, there is not self-sabotage or sabotaging of the partner; there is mutual health encouragement.”

Now that sounds romantic.

5. You may feel less actual pain when your partner’s in the room.

Pain is subjective; that’s not to say it isn’t real, just that it’s a physiological event that occurs within your body and that complex factors can influence how bad it can get—what the scientists call “modulation of pain.”

A 2013 literature review published in Frontiers of Human Neuroscience looked at six studies in which romantic partners were present while their loved one was experiencing pain.

Taken as a whole, these studies support the claim that the presence of a partner reduces the intensity of experienced pain for the patient. Of course, nothing in medical science is that simple.

In order to modulate pain, the relationship had to meet certain criteria: The partner couldn’t be seen as acting out of character, and the “adult attachment style”—the overall model of how you connect to others—makes a profound difference. Still, the idea of reducing pain just by having your sweetie hold your hand is a comforting one.

Romantic Love and Health in the Long Term

Ballard points out that his experience aboard the SS Lurline was far from scientific research. It was just something he and the guys would laugh about when the shift was over.

“This was not a study,” he says. “This was nature’s real life.”

The funny thing is what the study that backs up Ballard’s experience also found. The more those long-term couples came to resemble each other over the course of 25 years of cohabitation, the more satisfied they said they were with their marriages. Presence, it seems, makes the heart grow fonder.

Opposites may attract, at least in the beginning. But after a lifetime of partnership, it seems that similarity is one key to true marital bliss. If that’s not just as romantic as taking a liner ship to Hawaii with the love of your life, we don’t know what is.

Tags 50036676, body, hemingway

Lifestyle

Does Purple Shampoo Really Help Your Hair? (And Other Shampoo Myths)

Post author By Mary Sauer
Post date November 10, 2017

They say that blondes have more fun, but if blonde isn’t your natural color, you might be in for a lot of work to keep it up.
Truth is, maintaining golden locks isn’t easy. Repeatedly coloring or bleaching your hair can be damaging, causing it to become dry, brittle, or porous. Additionally, some environmental factors can influence the health of your hair, such as having hard water in your home.
Many women with hair that has been dyed blonde deal with brassy tones or fading of the original color over time. In an effort to make life as a blonde a bit simpler, there a many speciality products on the market. And this is how purple shampoo became a popular trend in the beauty industry.

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Purple shampoo is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a bright purple shampoo that’s specifically marketed toward women who color their hair blonde. Typically, no matter the brand, these shampoos all claim to do the same thing.
They’re intended to balance the colors of blonde hair by working against fading and preventing the emergence of brassy tones.
If you’ve found yourself wondering if they work, you should know we’ve found ourselves wondering the exact some thing. We’ve heard of countless beauty products that don’t live up to the hype or can’t deliver on the bold claims they make. Is purple shampoo just one more useless product you don’t need?

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Two industry experts gave us the lowdown on purple shampoo and cleared up a few other commonly asked questions about shampoo.

Does purple shampoo actually work?

Using a purple or violet shampoo may seem like a strange grooming practice, but the reason it works is as simple as looking at the color wheel. Purple and yellow are complementary colors, which means that in the right proportions, they effectively cancel each other out. Because of this, the purple or violet color of the shampoo neutralizes the undesirable brassy tones in your hair and helps to return it to a cooler blonde or platinum color.

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“Not only do purple shampoos work but they belong in the haircare arsenal for most anyone with blonde, gray, or lightened hair. They’re all about neutralizing brassy tones and, particularly for blondes, help keep hair looking fresh and icy,” explains Fae Norris, licensed cosmetologist and esthetician at Neighborhood Salon in Echo Park, California.
Before you splurge on a bottle of purple shampoo, you should know that this isn’t a product everyone needs on hand. According to professional hairstylist and industry educator Michelle Farley, this is a product that is only meant for those with blonde, platinum, gray, or white hair.

“It will not make a difference on hair that is dirty blonde, light brown, or darker. If they get lighter highlights, it will tone the lighter pieces only. It will not correct a bad color job or if the hair is an unwanted orange tone. The orange is too strong to counteract the violet,” she explains.
When it comes to buying a purple shampoo, there are a few things you should know. If you’re on a drugstore budget, Norris recommends Clairol’s Shimmer Lights but warns that it can have a drying effect. Although it works well, she recommends following it up with a good conditioner. If you are able to spend a little more, Norris recommends No Yellow by Fanola.

“It’s significantly stronger and less drying than Shimmer Lights,” she says, cautioning that leaving it on too long could actually result in purple hair. (Although Farley says a wash with clarifying shampoo will solve this problem.)
No matter what brand you choose, Norris recommends you don’t shampoo with purple shampoo more than once a week.

Do I have to spend a lot on my shampoo?

The price difference between drugstore shampoos and name-brand products can be alarming.

It’s hard to know if spending that much is really necessary.
Although many will say that drugstore brands are always a bad choice if you want healthy hair, Farley says the ingredients are way more important than the brand name printed on the bottle.

In general, professional products have higher quality ingredients, which is why they are more expensive.

“These categories range so widely it is hard to say definitively. In general, professional products have higher quality ingredients, which is why they are more expensive. They are less damaging to the hair than cheap ingredients,” she explains, adding that even expensive products have been known to use cheap ingredients and that she knows of plenty of inexpensive products that are gentle on the hair.

Should you really “rinse and repeat”?

For as long as I can remember, the phrase “rinse and repeat” has been in the instructions of every shampoo I have ever bought. Is a second washing really all that necessary? The answer, like many things in the beauty world, is all about your hair type and lifestyle.
“It’s not hard to figure out why a shampoo company would have ‘rinse and repeat’ on a bottle but it’s really only necessary if there happens to be a lot of buildup. If hair starts looking dull, feeling extra dirty and greasy, or is laying flatter than usual after just a day or two, then washing twice makes sense,” explains Norris, adding that a clarifying shampoo can accomplish the same result after just one wash.
If you don’t shampoo often, rinse and repeat may be the right choice.

According to Norris, if you are only washing once a week with a sulfate-free shampoo, your hair may require a second wash before applying conditioner. This will remove buildup and allow your hair to better absorb your conditioner.

Can I skip shampoo altogether?

In the world of curly hair, skipping shampoo altogether is a fairly common practice. Instead, women with curly hair are often advised to adopt “co-washing,” or using their conditioner as their cleanser. According to Norris, shampooing less is a good practice, but conditioner can’t replace shampoo for the long term.

“I’m all for skipping shampoo if you have dry, curly hair or if you’ve gone with fashion colors. But that doesn’t mean you should avoid deep cleaning. At least once or twice a week it’s important to do a real scalp scrub, rinse, and condition. Daily brushing should also be part of the regimen as it stimulates the scalp and helps move the oil down to the drier ends,” she says.

Can I shampoo every day?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are plenty of people who insist a daily shower and shampoo is the only way they can start the day. But some say that a daily shampoo can be bad for your hair, drying it out and causing it to produce more oil. How much truth is there to this claim?

According to Norris, only certain hair can handle a daily shampoo. Fine, flat, or oily hair can benefit from daily shampoos, especially if it isn’t as voluminous as you might prefer. But daily shampooers should be certain they’re using a high-quality shampoo and following it with hydrating conditioner.
If the ends of your hair or your scalp seem to be dry, daily shampooing might not be the best habit. Instead, if a daily shower is your thing, she suggests a rinse followed by a conditioner to refresh your hair.

“The frequency of hair washing is entirely dependent on the individual’s hair type, shampoo, and lifestyle. Some of the factors at play include where someone lives and the harshness of their tap water, if they work out every day and, of course, if hair is bleached, which needs the least amount of washing. If the hair is coarse and frizzy, once a week or even just using conditioner can also be enough,” she says.
“For other hair types, simply rinsing and conditioning daily is more gentle and will refresh the hair,” says Norris.

Do I need to switch shampoos regularly?

One common piece of shampoo-related advice is that you need to switch up the brand you use on a regular basis. The idea is that your hair grows accustomed to a certain brand and that brand becomes ineffective over time. This is said to cause your hair to lack volume or to become hard to manage.
The truth is, if your favorite shampoo doesn’t seem to have the same effect it once had, buildup could actually be to blame.

“Finding the right shampoo can be a lot of trial and error. If you find one that works initially it might stop being as effective down the road. That’s usually caused by buildup. Some shampoos use animal proteins and, just like the way they can build up in our arteries, they can build up on hair. I suggest using a detox shampoo on occasion, particularly if you’ve found a product you really like,” Norris says.

Tags 50036621, care, hemingway

Sweat

The Gross Reason To Stop Going Sockless (And Other Foot Health Factoids)

Post author By Mary Sauer
Post date November 10, 2017

With the average person walking nearly 115,000 miles in [their] lifetime … our feet take significant physical abuse.

Earlier this week, I was talking to a few friends about our feet. It’s admittedly a weird topic to get into with friends, but hear me out.
It started with talk of shoe shopping and slowly digressed into complaints about foot pain, toenail problems, visits with the podiatrist. It was kind of funny—all of this time, I’ve assumed that experiencing foot pain wasn’t typical, that my endless search for comfortable and stylish shoes was just me, with my fallen arches and big feet, but this conversation revealed otherwise.

I had one friend who was constantly battling athlete’s foot on her preschooler’s little feet, while another was having a really hard time with arch pain while running. Another had an entire toenail removed after months of fighting with an ingrown nail. I, on the other hand, was nursing a case of plantar fasciitis.
What I realized was that most of these women had foot problems and were actually dealing with them. I, on the other hand, had been ignoring my foot pain for years—outside of looking for better shoes.
It’s pretty common to struggle with foot problems, Mark Hinkes, doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM), tells me.
“With the average person walking nearly 115,000 miles in [their] lifetime … our feet take significant physical abuse,” he says. “It’s no wonder people suffer from a wide range of problems,” which can include bone, soft tissue, skin, and nail deformities.

Many people dealing with foot pain, dermatological problems on their feet, or issues with the way they walk can find a link between their foot problems and the foot health habits they employ, according to Hinkes.
Yet foot care simply isn’t a priority for some. Are you guilty of these bad foot health habits?

Baring it All

There’s nothing wrong with going barefoot from time to time (more on that later), especially if the skin on your feet is intact. However, there is one common habit that everyone should avoid, according to Edgard Nau, MD, DPM, and that’s going sockless while wearing shoes.

“The major concern is developing a fungal infection,” explains Nau, who owns Manhattan Home Podiatric. “The shoes [are] the perfect environment for fungi. It’s dark, it’s warm, and it’s moist.”
So to avoid the growth of foot fungus, for some it’s as simple as making sure you’re wearing socks.

Improper Trimming

Ingrown toenails can be incredibly painful and might earn you a house call from Dr. Nau. The next time you set out to do a little nail trimming, make sure you are careful not to set yourself up for nail problems in the future.

If your feet and nails are healthy, nails should be cut straight across, according to Nau—avoid cutting into the corner to avoid ingrown nails. The rules might be different if you have problems with your feet, though, such as compromised feeling in your feet or vascular compromise caused by chronic health conditions.

Being Unsupportive

Many people have come to expect that they will experience foot pain after enough time standing or walking. While some level of foot pain may be unavoidable for certain individuals, the right amount of support can significantly improve overall foot health. Take a look at the video below to learn more about the dos and don’ts of footwear.
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Do-it-Yourself Foot Care

Those do-it-yourself corn removal kits at your local drugstore might be tempting, but they’re actually not the solution to your foot problems. While there is nothing particularly harmful about those kits, they only address the symptom, according to Nau.

A habit that is bad for foot health is ‘bathroom surgery,’ where people often attempt to treat their own foot problems.

“I’d rather you figure out why you’re getting the corn in the first place,” says Nau, referring back to his comments about poorly fitting shoes.
Corns are caused by ill-fitting shoes. They develop because the body is trying to protect the joint underneath when there is too much pressure on the foot.

And, although corn-removal kits are mostly harmless, individuals with vascular or neurological compromise to their feet should avoid them.
“What happens is folks leave them on longer than they should and the acid stays on there and actually causes an ulcer,” Nau explains. “If you’re diabetic, those are very dangerous.”
In general, trying to deal with foot problems on your own is a dangerous habit, says Hinkes.
“A habit that is bad for foot health is ‘bathroom surgery,’ where people often attempt to treat their own foot problems,” warns Hinkes. “This is a dangerous practice because they may not have the correct instrument for the problem and end up using what they have: a scissors, razor blade or tweezers. The use of these non-sterile, inappropriate instruments combined with poor lighting, bad vision, and faulty eye-motor coordination is a recipe for a foot health disaster.”

So next time you’re faced with, say, an ingrown toenail, let the professionals do the doctoring.

Forgetting the Fungus

If you you have a problem with fungus, we have good news! There is plenty you can do to prevent it, according to Nau. Specifically, he suggests wearing socks made from natural fibers, avoiding wearing the same socks for two days in a row, and occasionally treating your shoes with an over-the-counter anti-fungal powder.

In any case, don’t ignore it. If you catch it early, you can prevent it from spreading.
“If you see any kind of changes in the color of your nails, like white streaks or white spots, get it checked out,” he advises. “ If you can prevent one nail unit being infected to the extent that the actual nail root is growing out fungus, you can prevent the whole foot from being infected.”

Always Wearing Shoes

Going sockless might be a problem for your feet, but don’t be nervous about ditching your shoes and socks altogether. There is actually some benefit to going without shoes from time to time, especially outdoors.
“It’s good to run in the sand barefoot,” encourages Nau. “It’s good exercise for the deep muscles in your foot.”

Additionally, walking barefoot on the ground is natural. The transference of body weight when our bare feet hit the ground outdoors exposes our bodies to the least amount of stress while walking, according to The Washington Post.
When it comes to fear of picking up disease, the risk is minimal, according to The Washington Post. Diseases spread more often by hand than by foot, anyway, especially if there are no cuts on on our feet.

Not Taking Shoe Clues

Another fascinating fact about feet is that your shoes might be giving you clues about underlying problems with how you walk. Shoes wear over time—that’s only natural—but certain patterns of wearing might be a signal of a larger issues.

“It’s normal for the outside part of the heel to wear down,” says Nau in reference to running shoes. “If you’re noticing wear in the center or the inside part [of your heel], you want to get that checked out, because you’re not striking the ground normally.”
If you’re not noticing any strange wear on your shoes, you should follow a few basic guidelines for replacing running shoes. Avid runners should replace their shoes every six months; Less active individuals should still replace them once a year. Even if they still look great on the outside, it’s important to replace them because the interior material will break down, according to Nau.

About Amputation

For individuals with diabetes, foot care simply isn’t optional. Taking care of your feet and watching for signs that there is something bigger going on is essential to protecting your health.
Of the 185,000 limb amputations in the United States each year, 54 percent are caused by vascular diseases like diabetes. In 2010, 73,000 diabetic American over the age of 20 had amputations, according to Healthline.

“… and up to 85 percent of [diabetes related] amputations are preventable,” Hinkes says. And he’s right, according to a paper in the Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders.
If you have diabetes, protecting yourself from serious foot problems is as simple as scheduling a yearly check up. Specifically, Hinkes suggests diabetic patients make sure they have a Comprehensive Diabetic Foot Health Screening with a podiatrist every single year. This test should include a monofilament test, a simple test that checks the foot for loss of sensation that would indicate neuropathy in the foot.

Tags 50036946, body, Commerce, hemingway

Conscious Beauty Lifestyle

Want Healthier Nails? Here’s What You Need To Know

Post author By Jeanne Sager
Post date November 10, 2017

How far into fall do you get before your hands start to look like something Disney would do to the evil stepmother? The colder (and drier) the air gets, the more my hands scream for me to pay attention to them.
From the cuticles I’ve neglected while running myself ragged during the summer to the nails I’ve been using to dig in the sand and garden dirt, this is the time of year when my hands start screaming for a detox.
Care to join me? Here are some of the best ways to bring your nails, cuticles, and the rest of your hands back from the front lines.

Start with the basics.

Got [linkbuilder id=”6448″ text=”yellow nails”]? Yup, you, me and everyone else who opted out of using that base coat of nail polish. Who has all that drying time to waste on a coat that no one will even see? But a base coat won’t just protect you from polish staining your nails. It can actually make your manicure last longer.

Where to start?

Julep’s Oxygen base coat is a little pricey, but you want something free of toxins this close to your nails, and Julep’s products are free from chemicals that are often found in other polishes, such as formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and camphor.
OPI Start to Finish doubles as a base coat and a top coat, offering a pretty good bang for your buck.

Take a tip from your haircare.

Moroccan oil and coconut oil don’t just take care of your flyaways. Oils have surged in popularity for use on our hair, and it turns out they provide moisture for our hands too.
If you have dry cuticles (and who doesn’t this time of year?), add a drop of oil on each and rub it in. Don’t forget the nail itself. Even though we tend to think of them as dead, the nail is connected to living tissue—hence why they continue to grow—and the American Academy of Dermatologists says that nails need moisture too.

Remove your acetone remover.

Acetone makes fast work of old polish, but while it’s stripping your nails of that power red, it’s also stripping your body’s natural oils. Substitute a non-acetone remover (many brands offer both varieties) in its place for a healthier alternative. It will take more elbow grease to get the polish off, but your cuticles will thank you.
Zoya Remove + won’t just strip the polish, it moisturizes your nails too. And it’s reasonably priced.
Or grab an old standby! Cutex has a budget-friendly, acetone-free option.

Drink more.

Water, that is. Women are supposed be getting about 91 ounces (that’s 2.7 liters) of water a day, whether it’s in the form of plain water or via the foods and other beverages we consume. But the average adult drinks less than half of that every day.
That’s not good for your body, and it’s not good for your nails either. Moisture in means moisture fed to your fingers and toes, and well…you know how this works. Get a water bottle. Start drinking.

Polish your polish collection.

Ever peeked at the ingredient list on a bottle of nail polish and wondered how to pronounce half of those things? Scientists are still sorting out whether all of those chemicals are bad for our bodies. But while they’re doing the digging, you can put your nails on a toxin-free diet. The watchdog non-profit Environmental Working Group regularly reviews beauty products and rates their safety based on the ingredients. Check out their list to find toxin-free polishes.
Some of our favorite nontoxic nail polishes are Smith & Cult, Butter London, Pacifica 7 Free, Deborah Lippmann, and Zoya.

Tags Featured, organic

Motherhood

Budding Genius? Here's How To Find Out If A Child Is Gifted

Post author By Michael Taylor
Post date November 9, 2017

Every parent wants to see their child excel. If we can provide what’s best for their well-being and development, we know it will serve them well throughout their life. And it’s imperative that we tend to both their physical and mental development—just as we must nourish their body, we must nourish their mind, as well.
So what happens when you discover that your child has an above average intelligence? Or displays abilities far beyond their years? It can be exciting and rewarding to see their accomplishments, but it can be stressful, too. Finding out the best educational environment for their skillset can be daunting—extraordinarily gifted children don’t come in a one-size-fits-all category.
It can also be a confusing process to discern the difference between a child that is truly gifted, versus one who is bright (yes, there is a difference, as we’ll cover shortly).
So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed with how to best serve your gifted offspring (or need tips on how to determine if they fit into that category), we’re here to help. Let’s take a look at varying definitions of giftedness and what methods allow gifted children to capitalize on their innate talents.

Bright vs. Gifted

It’s easy to assume that all children who exhibit high intelligence are gifted, but it isn’t always the case. That isn’t to say that intelligence and giftedness aren’t linked (they can be), but the distinction is important, for often, gifted kids underperform academically if their skills aren’t properly identified. Likewise, bright, capable children may be placed in accelerated programs that could hinder their success.

“[Gifted kids are] so far ahead intellectually, and academically, and maturationally, and developmentally, that they need very personalized, tailored education.”

Gabriella Rowe, head of school at The Village School in Houston, Texas, cautions that determining a bright child from a gifted one is “a very hard distinction [for] a parent to make, because the line between really bright and exceptional and truly gifted is a much more complicated one.”

She adds that truly gifted children are “not one step ahead of what’s happening in their class, but three, four, or five steps ahead. They ask questions that make connections with information that are well beyond their years,” and are “typically gifted in very specific areas: cognitive abilities and visual-spatial abilities.”
She also adds that truly gifted children are “are typically very hard to teach. They are so far ahead intellectually, and academically, and maturationally, and developmentally, that they need very personalized, tailored education.”

“They have a nonconformist mindset.”

Exceptionally bright children on the other hand “tend to be more widespread. … that child might be a grade level ahead of where they might be in a more typical age group. … they can be taught more uniformly in an accelerated fashion across their entire learning continuum.”
According to Andrew Loh from Brainychild.com, one of the most obvious differences between bright and gifted children boils down to their school performance. If your child makes straight A’s and a permanent fixture in the honor roll, odds are you have an extremely bright child—but likely not a gifted one.

Bright children tend to be exceptionally well-mannered, respectful of authority. They actually enjoy going to school and relish turning their work in ahead of schedule.
Gifted children, on the other hand, may exhibit behavior that could be viewed negatively if misunderstood: they openly question authority, are considered rebellious and dislike convention. They tend to daydream, and get bored easily. They may talk in class, and are often ill-tempered, especially if they’re frustrated with not meeting the high goals they set for themselves.

In addition, their advanced development often ostracises them from their peers, making them withdrawn and the target of bullies. As a result, a normally structured classroom environment might not help them reach their potential.
Joyce Nuner, an associate professor in family and consumer sciences, child and family studies at Baylor University, specializes in early childhood development, and says it’s important to understand that “Sometimes some of your most gifted children get overlooked because they may not make the highest grades—they have a nonconformist mindset.”

Nuner emphasizes that a key sign of giftedness is “a great deal of creativity. There’s a relatedness between creativity and being gifted—that’s often the sign that can make us think towards the traditional definition of giftedness.”

Other Traits To Look For

For more specific indicators of giftedness, the National Association of Gifted Children offers an extensive list of traits and characteristics to look for. Let’s cover some of the most distinctive signs that could be major flags of giftedness.

Many gifted children can be distinguished even at the preschool level, reaching developmental milestones earlier than their peers and piecing together vocabulary and sentence structures at a faster rate.
Other examples include excellent memory, the ability to put together abstract concepts, and learning basic skills with minimal instruction.
Gifted children are also relentlessly curious, can engage in advanced intellectual thought and critical thinking, and tend to have an aptitude for the arts and/or advanced math skills.
It’s also worth noting that while gifted kids show a shortened attention span in general, they can become hyperfocused on specific tasks they find of interest.
Another major hint that you have a gifted child is if they exhibit a keen sense of imagination (including having imaginary friends). Likewise, gifted children tend to have a healthy sense of humor and a quick wit.

Rowe says the best way for parents to determine if their child is truly gifted (or exceptionally bright) is the MAP test: “the reason I like it for giftedness and exceptionally bright children is its adaptive. … for every question that a student answers correctly, the next, more complex and difficult question is then populated into the test. So everyone isn’t taking the same tests—it essentially morphs and changes based on the demonstrated aptitude of the child in the moment they’re taking test.”

Famously Gifted Adults Who Struggled As Children

If you need further proof that gifted children are often misunderstood and improperly diagnosed, look no further than Albert Einstein. The genius physicist who developed the theory of relativity had learning difficulties as a child.

“I think we can all agree that Albert Einstein was gifted,” says Nuner. “Some literature suggests he didn’t speak until he was almost four. Some have theorized that if he was alive today he might have been placed into a special education program as opposed to developing the type of scientific mind that he had.”
And he’s not the only noteworthy example. Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci struggled with dyslexia as a child, and he often had trouble following through on tasks, a trait strongly linked to ADHD.
And many would be surprised to find that famed author Agatha Christie struggled with reading herself, showing signs that experts say could have been dyslexia or dysgraphia.

One can wonder if these figures would have reached even higher heights if they had the proper nurturing environment, as they prove the exception to the rule. Many gifted children will struggle to reach their lofty potential without getting the tools they need to succeed. Let’s look at some ways to do just that.

Ways to Positively Challenge Gifted Children

So, how do you help a gifted child maximize their potential?
Rowe states that “best thing you can do, and this applies to both gifted children and exceptionally bright children, is to give them big, meaty problems to solve. …enable them to solve real world problems that have high levels of complexity. Because that’s going to stimulate that intellect on many different levels.”

Nuner suggest giving gifted children “free time and open-ended materials. That gives them an opportunity to show you what their gifts and talents truly are. We make the joke that a child likes a box to play with as opposed to the toy that came in it. For example, giving them recyclable items like cereal boxes and popsicle sticks and a whole variety of things that can be used in a number of different ways.”
Scholastic offers other helpful tips, including accelerated learning. Giving gifted children more advanced materials can not only bolster their skillset, but keep them from getting bored waiting for the rest of the class to keep up.

Encouraging goal-setting, using modern technology and tailoring assignments that mirror their interests, can also be beneficial.
And one of the most important ways to keep gifted kids on their toes is by providing choices. Try giving them an alternative (and more advanced) book for a report, and see if they can pull deeper meanings in research topics that go beyond basic facts.
And remember how we mentioned that creativity is abundant in gifted learners? Let them put that into action, and express their knowledge through poetry, collages, music and more.

What can hinder gifted kids’ development?

Nuner says a packed calendar can be detrimental to gifted kids.
“In our current society, we have this tendency now to really over schedule our children in all of their activities,” she says. “Every minute is filled with something, and that doesn’t allow a lot of room for creativity to come out.”
Her solution? Allowing children free time to explore their creative passions, one to two hours per day of unstructured time with which to stretch their creative muscles.

Rowe also says that “the worst thing you can do is tell them to wait until everyone else catches up” instead of giving them assignments that fit their aptitude. She also warns against telling them they’re superior, because it puts undue pressure on perfectionism: “as an educator, I can’t think of anything worse for any child than to prevent them from trying new things and experimenting and failing forward.”

Not every kid is gifted. And that’s okay, too.

And while all parents think their children are the best and the brightest, a preoccupation with harnessing giftedness can put undue pressure on children who simply can’t reach those heights.

Nuner has seen examples of the that, saying: “there’s a lot of pressure on parents when they get in a group of … peers that all have children the same age. They kind of start start rattling off their children’s resume, so to speak, and it’s almost become a competition amongst parents.”
In other words, most children aren’t gifted. But we shouldn’t love or support them any less. It’s about building their self-esteem, not bolstering ours. The more time you can focus on building a relationship and letting your child be the best version of themselves they can be, the more you fulfill your role as a parent.

So just remember, whether you have a gifted child, a very bright child, or an average kid (that shouldn’t be a dirty word), all of them deserve the best education that we can provide. And they also deserve all the love you have to give.
If a child feels respected, valued, and understood, they will do the same with others, and your bond will be unshakable. The world can be a very uncertain, scary, ever-changing place, and our duties as parents is to keep them prepared and to have the ample time and opportunity to let their gifts and spirits shine.

Tags 50036851, hemingway, parenting

Lifestyle

Stop Microwaving Your Sponges (And 7 Other Cleaning "Hacks" That Just Don't Work)

Post author By Brooke Geller
Post date November 9, 2017

Remember the good old days before Pinterest? When hacks were still called tips and if you wanted a recipe for lasagna you’d just call your grandmother? Those days are all but a distant memory now, though truth be told, it’s actually quite handy living in the age of information.

But with so many domestic lifehacks populating the internet, there’s no guarantee that every single one of them will work.

Sadly, it seems that a few homemaker blogs are more invested in making that Pinterest pin look pretty than testing out their “mind-blowing” cleaning hacks.

Afraid your Pinterest board might be nothing more than a digital scrapbook of lies? Maybe you should be. Check out these worryingly ineffective cleaning hacks and see what you might be doing wrong.

1. Microwave sponges to kill bacteria.

Your microwave might just be the handiest gadget in your entire kitchen. Did you know that microwaving water is the most energy-efficient way to boil it?

As effective as they are at reheating dinner, one thing microwaves are not great at is blasting the bacteria right out of a dirty kitchen sponge.

It’s not too much of a stretch to assume that microwaving a sponge would help to kill bacteria. After all, we make sure we heat food all the way through to kill bacteria, right?

This is what researchers thought about 10 years ago. A 2006 University of Florida study found that “two minutes of microwaving is sufficient for most sterilization.” Since then, dozens of blog posts have raved about the benefits of regularly zapping sponges.

But more recent research revealed that the average kitchen sponge actually harbors a lot more bacteria than previously thought. So much, in fact, that the kitchen is actually the most bacteria-ridden room in your house—even worse than the toilet.

Kitchen sponges are also responsible for the spread of bacteria to people and other surfaces when they’re used, thanks to the fact that they’re frequently touched and used to wipe down counters and dishes.

Although microwaving does help to kill a lot of that bacteria, this recent study found that “no method alone seemed to be able to achieve a general bacterial reduction of more than about 60%.”

The same study even showed that frequent attempts to clean sponges also increased the amount of certain bacteria, since they become more resistant to these sanitation methods over time.

Do this instead: So what exactly is the best method to clean a kitchen sponge? Considering persistent attempts to clean them can end up doing more harm than good, it’s better to simply replace them regularly—about once a week. Otherwise your kitchen may just become a breeding ground for super-resistant bacteria, putting you and your family’s health at risk.

2. Remove hair dye stains with potatoes.

The most daunting aspect of dyeing your hair with box dye is not knowing how it’s going to turn out. The second scariest part is the messy aftermath all over your bathroom.

Hair dye stains are one of the most annoying things to get rid of. The dye can wreak havoc on porcelain, especially if it happens to be porous. And if your basin is cream colored rather than white, you might feel reluctant to bust out the bleach and end up with even more discolored splotches.

A much less risky method is rubbing a slice of potato on the stain. Potatoes contain something called oxalic acid, which can naturally lift stains and even rust. But they’re no miracle solution.

First of all, yes, oxalic acid is an ingredient used in many cleaning products. But potatoes have a relatively low oxalic acid content compared with many other vegetables, such as turnips or even Brussels sprouts. So their popularity as the go-to stain removal veggie doesn’t quite add up.

Second, even the most oxalic acid–rich vegetables will have a very gentle effect on stains. This may be enough to lift temporary hair dye off your sink, but it’s not going to do much when it comes to permanent or semi-permanent dye stains.

Do this instead: There are dedicated stain-removal products that will lift even the darkest hair dye stain off your bathroom tiles. Stain removal pens use both a concentrated cleaning solution and micro-scrubbers to really lift those pesky spots.

Emma Couch is a professional cleaner who knows a thing or two about banishing stains. The 28-year-old has worked in pubs, hotels, and private homes, scrubbing away every possible mess imaginable for over five years. Before you bust out the specialty products, she says you might want to try her method first: good old elbow grease. “The best way to remove stains in a sink is some gumption, fine steel wool, and, as an old lady I once cleaned for always used to say, ‘a bit of elbow grease.'”

3. Remove rust with Coca-Cola.

Here’s the thing: Coca-Cola (or any soda, really) does have the ability to remove rust. But dousing something in Coke is far less cost effective than buying an actual rust-removal product.

Not to mention it will leave behind a sticky residue because of all that sugar. If you’re trying to steer clear of strong cleaning products, you can always try regular soda water instead. It’s just as effective as Coke, and the carbonation will help to lift the rust.

4. Use newspaper to clean glass.

For the budget or environmentally conscious, paper towels are an unnecessary expense. But using old newspapers to wipe away window cleaner isn’t exactly an effective alternative. The ink in the print can easily run when wet, leaving even more smudges on the glass.

Do this instead: Trying to cut down on waste? Microfiber window-cleaning cloths are a great substitute for paper towels. Just make sure they haven’t been washed with fabric softener first, or else you might leave a film on the glass.

5. Put lemon peels in the garbage disposal to eliminate odors.

Garbage disposals are one of the trickiest parts of a kitchen to clean. You might be tempted to stuff something down there to neutralize unwanted odors. But whatever you do, don’t use lemon rinds.

A nasty-smelling garbage disposal could be the result of a clogged drain. And if your drains are smelling bad due to buildup, it’s counterintuitive to stuff more food down there.

Do this instead: If you do insist on treating the odor, make sure to use a liquid or powder form to prevent the problem from worsening.

More importantly, have your drains inspected for clogs or use a product designed to clear them out. Treat the cause, not just the symptom!

6. Use vinegar as a disinfectant.

Vinegar is often touted as the ultimate natural cleaning agent. But is it an effective disinfectant? Not exactly.

Much like baking soda and even tea tree oil, vinegar has the ability to kill a lot of bacteria, including the flu virus. Unfortunately, it’s not capable of killing some forms of very harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella.

Do this instead: You can still use vinegar as a cleaning product. But be aware that it won’t sufficiently sterilize everything. To eliminate the presence of dangerous bacteria, always make sure to scrub your kitchenware with very hot, soapy water.

And if you’re looking for a more effective natural disinfectant, Couch says you might want to consider eucalyptus oil.

“My favorite disinfectant is eucalyptus oil,” she says. “A lot of people really aren’t aware of how good that stuff is at killing bacteria.”

7. Clean wood furniture with tea.

We all know you can’t wash your wooden furniture with just any old surface cleaner. You have to take care not to damage the wood itself.

Tea may seem like a gentle, natural way to freshen up your furniture, but it could do more harm than good. Different kinds of finish require different methods of cleaning. Black tea will stain most unpainted wood. Unless you’re going for a natural tint, put the kettle down!

Do this instead: Wooden furniture is actually very simple to clean. Just dust it down with a dry cloth regularly, as water can dampen and damage the wood.

8. Salt will stop dye from running in the wash.

There’s nothing worse than discovering your entire load of laundry has become stained by dye running off a new item of clothing. Unless you’re overly fond of wearing the same shade of baby pink, you need to protect your clothes from accidental dye disaster.

Salt has the ability to act as a natural mordant—that is, it fixes the dye and stops it from running. But throwing a cup of salt in the washing machine won’t do the trick. This is because salt is only useful for specific types of fabric and dyeing techniques.

Do this instead: Always hand-wash a new item of clothing to get rid of any excess dye that wasn’t properly “sealed” during the manufacturing process. If you find it’s still bleeding dye after the first wash, then you’re better off just sticking to hand-washing whenever you need to clean it.

The most underrated method to prevent dye from running is to follow the care instructions on each garment, especially in regard to temperature.

Cleaning Hacks That Actually Work

By now you’re probably feeling a little disillusioned by the whole “cleaning hack” thing. Fortunately, there are still plenty of tips and tricks that really do work.

Check out these effective hacks and get ready to level up your cleaning game.

1. Microwave a bowl of lemons and water to clean it.

Do you hate scrubbing away at the crusted-on food in your microwave? Good news: Now you never have to do that again! Simply cut a lemon in half, place it in a bowl of water and microwave on high for two minutes. The steam from the boiling water will loosen up all the gunk, meaning all you have to do is wipe it off with a cloth. Easy!

The lemons also make your microwave smell like citrus. It won’t last too long, but it’ll make the cleaning experience a lot easier to endure.

2. Use eucalyptus oil to remove sticker residue.

If you’re guilty of hoarding old jars, then you’ll know how hard it is to remove the residue left by the label. Lucky for us, eucalyptus oil isn’t just great at killing bacteria. It makes quick work of those labels and is actually a super versatile product.

“It’s great for so many other cleaning things,” says Couch. “Removing chewing gum from carpet, a few drops added to mopping water to help remove any stickiness from floorboards and tiles, removing stubborn labels from glass jars. And it smells so good!”

3. Soap nuts are a natural soap alternative.

Soap nuts are hailed as the magical, all-natural replacement for pretty much any cleaning product imaginable. Dishwashing liquid, floor cleaner, even shampoo!

They’re not actually a nut, but the dried outer casing of a berry. They contain naturally occurring saponin, otherwise known as soap. When combined with water, they produce bubbles and that slippery feeling that you get from regular soap. This helps to lift grime and grease.

Their all-rounder status means you get to cut down on the amount of products you use, which aligns perfectly with Couch’s motto: simplicity.

So many people tend to buy 20 different products to clean a few things at home.

“My biggest tip would be to keep things simple,” she says. “So many people tend to buy 20 different products to clean a few things at home. So many cleaning products you see on the shelves are total wastes of money. A lot of cleaners and sprays can be used for multiple purposes, and a lot of things can actually be made at home.”

Tags 50036711, care, hemingway

Lifestyle

10 Hygiene Habits It's Time To Ditch

Post author By Hilary Thompson
Post date November 9, 2017

Del the Funky Homosapien rapped it best: “It’s important to practice good hygiene/At least if you wanna run with my team.”
Well, we do want to run with Del’s team, and besides, smelling nice is always a plus. But think of hygiene more as a happy medium than an all-out blitz. It is possible to overdo it.

In fact, sometimes, in the name of health, we innocently do more harm to our bodies than good. From drying your hands to washing your dishes and cleaning your ears, here are 10 hygiene practices you’re better off skipping. Don’t worry; you’ll still be able to run with Del.

1. Relying on Too Much Hot Air

Ah, the old and bitter controversy: hand towels versus air dryers. Well, debate no further. An authority no less illustrious than the Mayo Clinic points to research that shows paper towels are better than electric hand dryers, at least in terms of scraping away bacteria.

By nature, not only do electric hand dryers fail to “wipe off” the bacteria remaining on your hands, but they may also spread it to the entire room, essentially aerosolizing the bugs. Not to mention, hand dryers are louder and often less effective, and they can leave your skin chapped and dry. Plus, if you’re concerned about the environment, know that standard warm air dryers use a lot of power and can be resource-intensive to install.
Summary: Hand towels are often more effective at fighting germs. Use fewer towels to reduce your ecological footprint.

2. Using This Old Excuse to Get Out of Your Turn Doing Dishes

Dishes are everyone’s least favorite chore—they’re gross, and they take forever. So it’s no surprise that people often “let them soak” to avoid the dirty work. It turns out, though, that there’s some very scary things that make a home inside that dirty sink.
According to research compiled by the University of Arizona, somewhere between 50 and 80 percent of bugs that lead to food-borne illnesses are bred right at home.
And where exactly in the home do you think these pathogens are breeding? The second-worst offender in microbiologist Charles Gerba’s research, after the kitchen sponge, is the kitchen sink. It has more bacteria than your toilet, according to Gerba. (“That’s why your dog likes to drink out of the toilet,” he jokes.)
Summary: Wash dishes as soon as possible with hot water and soap.

3. Waging All-Out War on Microbes

Good old-fashioned hand-washing is still the best way to fight the spread of germs, but should you really choose antibacterial soaps designed to nuke all microorganisms, no matter what? Triclosan, a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent used in soap, mouthwash, and even deodorant, was examined in a study in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

According to study authors, this sanitizing agent is “no more effective than plain soap at preventing infectious illness symptoms and reducing bacterial levels on the hands,” and its potential to kill even healthy bugs may be associated with the “emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.”
The FDA seems to have agreed with the study’s conclusions, as the administration recently restricted triclosan’s use in certain products.
Summary: When in doubt, use plain soap every time to win the fight against germs.

4. Skipping the Dirt

According to researchers at Cornell University, a little dirt in your diet is a good thing. Maybe you shouldn’t wash your garden vegetables so scrupulously.
They say that geophagy, or the consumption of soil, has existed in humans for millennia—and it may actually help protect the stomach against pathogens, toxins, and parasites.

The data shows that geophagy shows up most commonly in women in the early stages of pregnancy and in pre-adolescent children. Both categories of people are especially sensitive to parasites and pathogens, according to the study’s authors. A little dirt goes a long way.
Summary: Don’t fear a bit of dirt on your veggies—that mud pie you ate as a child might have been medicinal.

5. Over-Reliance on the Fridge

It goes without saying that some foods (such as meat) need to be refrigerated. But according to a study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, purposefully allowing other foods like fruits and vegetables to be exposed to warm air (thereby slightly fermenting them) can actually cultivate your own homemade and delicious probiotics!

Long before the invention of refrigeration (and the concept of hygiene), milk, bread starter, and vegetables were often fermented before eating. The researchers found that eating slightly fermented foods actually boosts your immune system and increases the nutrient content of the food. Who doesn’t love sourdough?
Summary: Keep your fruit and veggies in a bowl on the kitchen counter for a little probiotic boost in your diet.

6. Refusing to Share

Odds are, if you and a pair of friends want to share an oversized dessert at your favorite restaurant, you’ll ask for three spoons with the dish. You might assume using separate spoons is healthier than sharing. Not necessarily, say researchers.
Encouraging the spread of healthy bacteria in our guts is something we need to do more of, the researchers say. Sharing saliva among healthy friends and family members—and thus introducing their microbes into your own microbiome—may actually help your immune system. Not only does sharing cut down on calories, then, but it also builds up the body’s supply of good bugs.

It’s important to note, though, that you really don’t want to share food or drinks with people who are actively sick. That’s especially true of drinks, Sunny Jung of Virginia Tech explained to Popular Science. No matter how careful you may be, there’s always some level of backwash left in the cup after a sip. Yuck.
Summary: Share food and drinks with healthy friends and family to boost your immunity.

7. Relaxing in the Shower

There’s nothing like a long hot shower, especially first thing in the morning. It wakes you up and leaves you feeling fresh and ready to start the day. But is it good for your skin?
According to Alan J. Parks, MD, founder of DermWarehouse, the answer is, sadly, not so much. Hot showers strip protective oils from your skin, so you should always keep them short as you can stand, Parks suggests.

The soap you use is important, too. “Many soaps will strip your skin of natural oils and cause your skin to dry out,” Parks says. Try to use gentle soaps, like those made for sensitive skin, and make sure to rinse every last bit of lather from your body before [linkbuilder id=”3589″ text=”getting out of the shower”].
Here’s another shocker: Hot showers are actually most beneficial at night, as part of your bedtime routine. The cooling process that begins after stepping out of a hot shower can create an easier transition to sleep—potentially leading to a more restful night. A temperature drop triggers your body to rest because it slows down the body’s metabolic activities, like digestion, breathing, and heart rate.
Summary: Keep hot showers as short as possible, and take them at night to help you sleep.

8. Abusing the Q-Tip

It’s too bad earwax is brown and sticky. Many people falsely assumed that it’s dirty and needs to be cleaned. Earwax (scientifically named cerumen) is a combination of sebum (oils), secretions from glands in the outer ear canal, and skin cells. It’s all good stuff, people.

Like many processes in the body, earwax production is a self-cleaning, protective mechanism that you shouldn’t interfere with in most cases. Even worse, sticking objects in your ear can damage your eardrum and lead to hearing loss.
Occasionally, earwax gets impacted and messes with your hearing. Even in this case, though, you shouldn’t try to clear the blockage yourself. Instead, visit a doctor to remove it.
Experts suggest that if you absolutely must try something at home, just put a drop of mineral oil in your ear every day for a few days. That can loosen built-up earwax. Once the wax reaches peak-gooeyness, squirt clean water gently into the ear canal and wipe with a fresh towel; that should do the trick.
Summary: Don’t stick things in your ear. Ever. Unless earwax is impeding your hearing, leave it there.

9. Developing a Preoccupation With Exfoliation

You need to exfoliate to remove a layer of unpleasant skin cells, exposing the beauty beneath, right? Maybe so, but it’s a mistake to treat your skin like a plank that needs sanding. There’s no good reason for most of us to exfoliate every day.

Just like with hot showers, this is an issue of preserving the oils that protect the skin. Even worse, you can actually damage the skin if you don’t give those shiny new layers time to grow in.
So how often should you exfoliate? Dermatologists like to point out that everyone is different, and that your skin will let you know if you’re over-exfoliating. Unfortunately, it can only do that by getting all red and painful, so it might be best to err on the side of caution.

The consensus among dermatologists, when pressed, seems to be that you shouldn’t exfoliate more than two or three times a week.
Summary: Do exfoliate. Do not do it every day. And don’t try to get a straight answer out of a dermatologist.

10. Fearing Greasy Hair

Everyone’s hair is a little different—there’s a wide range of types, from the brittle and dry to the over-oily. But all of us could probably stand to go easier on the shampoo.

The oil that the hair naturally produces, called sebum, is actually good for your hair and your skin, as it forms a protective layer and locks moisture in.
Unfortunately, shampoos don’t discriminate between healthy oils and gunk like dirt, sweat, and product residue. Shampoo strips away the good and the bad, potentially leaving your hair drier and more vulnerable to damage.

Now, it’s true that some people need to wash their hair daily. People with extremely fine or oily hair, or who live in very humid climates, or who sweat profusely, might consider shampooing daily with a mild moisturizing shampoo. But that’s not most of us.
Summary: Go as long as you can between shampooing your hair, even if that means more ponytail days.
The point of all this is not that you should stop taking care of yourself entirely, of course. Fail to heed Del the rapper’s warnings and you know the result: “You’ll be funky.”

Tags 50036736, body, Commerce, HD, hemingway

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1. You start to like the same foods and maybe even the same perfume. But it might not mean what you think it means.

2. In the early stages, your brain chemistry goes haywire.

3. That wedding ceremony line about “sickness and health” is onto something.

4. Physical fitness habits tend to sync.

5. You may feel less actual pain when your partner’s in the room.

Romantic Love and Health in the Long Term

Does purple shampoo actually work?

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Do I need to switch shampoos regularly?

Baring it All

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Forgetting the Fungus

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Start with the basics.

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Take a tip from your haircare.

Remove your acetone remover.

Drink more.

Polish your polish collection.

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1. Microwave sponges to kill bacteria.

2. Remove hair dye stains with potatoes.

3. Remove rust with Coca-Cola.

4. Use newspaper to clean glass.

5. Put lemon peels in the garbage disposal to eliminate odors.

6. Use vinegar as a disinfectant.

7. Clean wood furniture with tea.

8. Salt will stop dye from running in the wash.

Cleaning Hacks That Actually Work

1. Microwave a bowl of lemons and water to clean it.

2. Use eucalyptus oil to remove sticker residue.

3. Soap nuts are a natural soap alternative.

1. Relying on Too Much Hot Air

2. Using This Old Excuse to Get Out of Your Turn Doing Dishes

3. Waging All-Out War on Microbes

4. Skipping the Dirt

5. Over-Reliance on the Fridge

6. Refusing to Share

7. Relaxing in the Shower

8. Abusing the Q-Tip

9. Developing a Preoccupation With Exfoliation