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The intent behind the karezza method is to deepen the sexual and emotional connection, according to certified clinical sexologist Randi Levison. The practice “teaches couples to focus on the entire being, not just a body part,” she says. “It’s all about relaxing and being in the present moment.” The practice has also been known by the Latin name “coitus reservatus,” although this is slightly different from true karezza, because coitus reservatus only involves the penetrating partner withholding from orgasm while encouraging the receptive partner to still have them....

In terms of insomnia, I hear the same refrain over and over: How could one cup of coffee in the morning affect my sleep at night? We all underestimate how long caffeine lingers in the body. Caffeine has a half life of five to seven hours2 for most people. If you don’t remember this concept from high school chemistry, this means it takes about six hours for your body to metabolize half the caffeine, and another six hours to metabolize half of that....

But the truth is that for men, hormonal fluctuations are just as inevitable during middle age and beyond as for women. For many guys, none feels more dramatic than the decline in the hormone testosterone. You probably associate testosterone with libido and sex drive, but this sex hormone also monitors1 bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass, strength, and the production of red blood cells and sperm. Low testosterone can certainly drain sex drive, but a deficiency can also increase body fat, decrease muscle and bone mass, crash your energy levels, leave you feeling depressed, and impair cognitive function; all things you 2don’t2 want2 to experience when you’re aging....

At mbg, we developed our probiotic+ supplement to help people on their journeys to helping themselves. It is one of the only four-strain probiotic supplements on the market, and each of these strains has been clinically shown to help ease bloating and support a healthy weight. The strains Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria work together to elevate your gut microbiome, support digestion, and promote abdominal comfort.* —Melissa Wood, health and fitness coach —Maya Feller, M....

Your home is your refuge. It should be a place where you feel safe and comfortable. If you live with other people and don’t feel this way, it’s a key indicator that the time has come to get your own place. You may just have a strong desire for more peace and quiet or sense that you’ve outgrown your current environment. Maybe sharing your body wash with someone was always fine, but now it bothers you....

Ashwagandha has long-standing use in Ayurvedic medicine as a tonic and adaptogen, helping increase the body’s resilience to stress. Although more contemporary research is needed to confirm those traditional uses, a 2020 review of clinical and preclinical studies found evidence that ashwagandha is effective for moderating the effects1 of stress and anxiousness and improving sleep—hence why the adaptogen can be found in many stress-reducing blends and herbal supplements. Cardamom, a carminative2 with a distinctive flavor, increases oxygen and blood flow to the digestive tract3 and helps the body glean more nutrients from the food we eat....

That said, there are myriad factors that influence your weight and overall body composition (i.e., the personalized matrix of fat, bone, and muscle that make up a human body) that may be playing a bigger role in your weight journey than you realize—such as genes, life stage, sex, hormones, body composition, physical activity, gut health, stressors, health care access (or lack thereof), and food security. “In addition to its energizing effects, metabolism+ helps enhance and optimize metabolic rate, thermogenic calorie burn, satiety, energy balance, cardiometabolic health biomarkers, and body composition,”* Ferira previously shared....

According to Dainis Graveris, a sex educator and founder of Sexual Alpha, neopronouns are a category of new pronouns that intentionally go beyond the traditional gender binary of masculine and feminine. While some people consider they/them/theirs pronouns as the go-to gender-neutral pronouns, they still limit individuals to three pronoun categories—he, she, or they. That’s where neopronouns come in. “Neopronouns empower folks who feel different from the rest of the world to be true to themselves when all other pronouns and labels don’t fit them,” Graveris explains to mbg....

A great example of categorizing and judging in mental health is labeling emotions as positive or negative. Positive emotional experiences bring us joy, happiness, and contentment; they’re the ones we strive to feel, the ones we want to hold on to and savor. In contrast, emotions we label negative tend to be pushed away, ignored, diminished, avoided, and removed from our experiences. In reality, emotions are neutral—they are simply pieces of data, and they are neither good nor bad....

You see, for years my hours, days, and weeks were organized around controlling my food, my exercise, and my body weight and shape. Evening plans with friends were routinely turned down to allow for my nightly date with the gym treadmill. Eating out became a stressful and unpleasant social activity and required desperately scouring the menu for the safest food option available. Friends would dive into the all-you-can-eat sushi menu while I feasted on my side dish of pickled ginger....

These descriptors feel like little badges of honor. They may not change the way I present myself in the world, but they provide a framework for analyzing some of my patterns and tendencies. To calculate your human design (you can find out yours using an online calculator, like this one), you’ll need your birth date, time, and location. The resulting chart is a slightly intimidating map of numbers and symbols arranged on a human figure....

Despite the nuts’ dietary praise, their apples (or pseudo fruits) remain mostly out of the spotlight. The cashew apple—or the plump part of the cashew fruit, connected to the cashew nut—looks like a mini, oval-shaped boxing glove. Botanically speaking, cashew apples are so-called accessory fruits because they grow after cashew seeds have fully developed. Thus, the actual drupe or peduncle is the kidney-shaped shell enclosing the edible cashew nut, which you’ll find at the end of the apple....

We’re talking about hormesis1, or the idea that short, intermittent bursts of certain stressors (“hormetic stressors”) can actually trigger a cascade of cellular processes that enhance overall health, slow aging, and make you more resilient to future stress (both physical and mental). It’s weird and fascinating stuff, and one of the hottest areas of longevity research right now. Hormetic stressors, on the other hand, are controlled, acute stressors that trigger healthy adaptive responses....

Consequently, this default operating system is wired to continuously scan internal and external environments and direct our attention toward threats—both real and perceived. This works very well for our basic functioning and survival (eating, sleeping, shelter) as well as ensuring our safety. It helps us to react quickly to catch something midair when it’s knocked from a shelf and keeps us out of the way from a car speeding down the street....

It should be noted, however, that dark green can mean something a little different from emerald. When it comes to auras, this color is associated with jealousy, pride, and feeling like a victim. “They can compare themselves to others. They may also find it difficult to take criticism because it feels like an attack,” Hira says. “They may have a victim mindset, focusing on blaming others rather than taking responsibility for themselves....

As dream tracker Lauri Loewenberg tells mbg, it’s actually one of the most common dreams she hears about. Here are five interpretations for what your naked dreams could be telling you—plus how to manage them if you’ve had enough of the nudity. If you’ve had this dream, she says to ask yourself what’s happening in real life that’s making you want to hide and not be seen. Maybe you have an evaluation or presentation at work coming up, or you’re having in-laws over for dinner, for example....

So, really, there’s something for everyone. Here, our favorite spots. For traditional Portuguese tapas, there are tabernas a plenty to pop into while in Lisbon. They’re a perfect place to share bottles of natural wine, snack on olives, and sample local fare. This is a favorite taberna of mine, where the friendly, knowledgeable staff will guide you through their advanced wine selections and give you sightseeing tips. The restaurant is across the street from Praça de São Paulo, where you can sit outside, under the stars, and laugh your night away....

What do you do if your partner doesn’t share your view about responsible distance or hygiene protocols? If they deny the seriousness of the situation, minimize the impact of the virus, or insist that they’re not at risk or a risk to you or others? To increase your chances of a conversation rather than a dispute, consider these suggestions: Once you agree on a time you’re both open to talk, temporarily shake off your worries, put away your phones and devices, and focus completely on one another....

This extra light not only makes it seem like there have been full moons for a few nights in a row, but it’s also long provided farmers with more light to harvest their summer crops—hence the name “Harvest Moon.” (Not to mention this is the time of year when farmers harvest the last of their crops ahead of winter.) And along with being a significant moon for farmers of the past, this moon also has significance spiritually, with the autumn equinox representing the halfway point of the astrological year and full moons being a time of great release and transformation....

CBD, or cannabidiol, is available as a supplement and comes from the same cannabis plant as the stuff you would smoke, but contains only trace amounts (less than 0.3 percent1) of THC—the chemical component that has psychoactive effects. CBD contains cannabinoids, which are the naturally occurring chemicals within the hemp plant that support the bodies normal inflammatory processes.* “Clinical reports showing its safety and tolerability allow us to move forward with confidence,” says Anjali Dsouza, M....