Hi, Yahoo Life readers! My name is Kaitlin and I share the best health and wellness tips to help you get through the week.
With August halfway through and the election just around the corner, take our new Yahoo Life poll to find out your biggest health concerns heading into this year’s election. If you’re heading to the movies this summer to escape the heat, see what some readers think about the difficult issue at the center of the poll. It ends with us before you select your movie.
As always, check the weather in your area and, if you like, your horoscope. Then check out the tips below.
🪵 Should you try wood therapy?
To be clear, wood therapy isn’t about brushing up on your wood carving skills. Rather, it’s a form of massage that uses handheld wooden tools. Therapists say it helps with lymphatic drainage (which relieves swelling), improves circulation, and relieves stress—and some even claim it reduces the appearance of cellulite.
As appealing as wood therapy sounds, there is still a lot of research that needs to be done to prove its effectiveness. And while it’s not yet conclusive whether wood therapy helps with cellulite, massage therapy in general has been shown to have many benefits, including pain relief and a stronger immune system. Curious about how you’ll feel after a wood therapy session? Contact a professional who offers wooden tools as part of their practice, but let them know in advance if you have a medical condition like osteoporosis that might make wood therapy too intense for you.
🫘 Discover fava beans
Broad beans may have been on Hannibal Lecter’s menu—and you may want to add them to yours, too. These beans, which contain nearly 13 grams of protein per cup, contain a chemical called levodopa, which can be converted into dopamine. That means snacking on broad beans could ease depression symptoms. More research needs to be done, but in the meantime, you can use broad beans as the main ingredient in a protein-rich dip: Just mash some with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and spread on toast.
🚽 Don’t spend too much time on the toilet
If the bathroom is your favorite place to escape to, I’m sorry, but you may be doing yourself more harm than you think. Sitting on the toilet for too long can put extra pressure on your lower rectum and anus, which can lead to hemorrhoids – swollen veins that can cause pain, itching, and bleeding.
One tip to avoid sitting for too long? Leave your phone outside the toilet. Endless scrolling can cause you to sit for long periods of time, making you prone to these problems. And by leaving your phone outside the toilet, you also prevent your phone from picking up nasty germs that you can pass on to other people.
👩💻 Protect your mental health at work
A new study has found that stress at work is associated with a higher risk of heart rhythm problems. What can you do about it? One expert told Yahoo Life that keeping a journal can help you cope with the emotional and mental stress of your job. During stressful times, remind yourself of your personal successes (such as a compliment from a colleague).
✈️ Avoid the holiday blues
You planned your vacation months ago and were looking forward to a great time—only to not feel the magic when you arrive. The vacation blues are annoying, but there are ways to avoid this feeling in the future. Experts tell Yahoo Life that you can improve your vacation mood by paying attention to your physical well-being—that means getting enough sleep and eating nutritious foods, even if you’re visiting four museums a day.
If jet lag due to time zone changes tends to mess up your sleep schedule (not to mention your gut, which can be messed up by disruptions to your circadian rhythm), you can try adjusting your sleep schedule by a few hours before you leave for vacation. This may help you feel more rested when you arrive.
🥗 Try vinegar
A recent study found that consuming vinegar daily can help reduce symptoms of depression. While more research needs to be done to confirm the results, this is just more evidence of the benefits of vinegar. There’s one type you might want to start with: apple cider vinegar, which is touted for regulating blood sugar and improving cholesterol levels. You can use it in a simple homemade salad dressing to replace sugary alternatives for an extra boost of well-being.
🎨 Get smart
New research published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health has found that people who enjoy arts and crafts have greater feelings of happiness and life satisfaction. Previous studies have shown that artistic creation activates reward pathways in our brains, which can increase feelings of joy and success. You don’t have to be the next Picasso to get creative: Go to a “paint and sip” class with friends, or skip scrolling on your phone in the evenings and make beaded bracelets instead.
🔉 Listen to the colorful noise
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University found that white noise (think of a steady noise like radio static) and pink noise (soft sounds like rain) can improve concentration and cognitive performance in children and young adults with ADHD. The researchers believe these types of noises help with ADHD because they help mask distracting background noise.
Whether you have ADHD or not, incorporating these sounds into your sleep schedule can help you get a better night’s sleep by creating a blanket of sound that blocks out the noise of the outside world. This means you’re less likely to be woken up by noises like an ambulance siren as you try to fall asleep.
🦷 Rethink oil pulling
There are so many health myths about oil, but one you may want to be aware of is the hype surrounding oil pulling. While some people claim that rinsing your mouth with oil can help with oral hygiene, experts warn that there is little evidence of any benefit—and if you skip oil pulling instead and skip flossing or brushing, you’re probably doing more harm than good.
Ultimately, oil pulling will not harm you as long as you follow the recommended practices to maintain healthy and clean teeth. However, when you do oil pulling, avoid spitting the oil into the sink as this could clog your drains.
