Along with all the symptoms of a luteal phase defect1, her cycle day-21 lab test showed low progesterone levels. And she’s not alone: Many women struggle with PMS, and up to 90% of women will experience it during their lifetime—oftentimes, this can be due to a luteal phase defect. Let’s take a step back: During the first part of your cycle (the follicular phase), your ovaries produce follicles. This is a predominantly estrogen-dominant time of your cycle....

Those stones eventually became associated with the 12 different zodiac signs, and then, the 12 months of the year. Finally, in the early 1900s, the National Association of Jewelers made the 12 birthstones official. Today, they’re often gifted on birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, and more. “Aquamarine is the blue variety of the mineral beryl,” she says, adding, “It encourages you to follow your curiosity and can help you break out of mindless routines, stale habits, and fear-based thinking....

“While it can maybe help people fall asleep, it disturbs sleep—especially in the second part of the night. It’s not an effective sleep aid to turn to,” Fiona Baker, Ph.D., the director of the Human Sleep Research Program at SRI International, says of alcohol. That’s because as alcohol gets metabolized in the night, it disrupts essential deep sleep stages like REM sleep1. Baker adds that it can also increase body temperature and heart rate, contribute to inadequate hydration, and lead us to need to use the bathroom—all things that will further disrupt sleep quality....

When people feel good about feelings, they often use “emotion coaching” in their communication. Essentially, this means that they seek out feelings—their own and their partner’s. Other people believe that feelings are unproductive. Their belief system tells them that exploring, sharing, and talking about feelings makes the problem worse. It prevents moving through the issue. These people generally have uncomfortable feelings about their feelings. For instance, when they feel anger, they feel disappointed that they have anger....

Well, if that last point stumped you, you’ve come to the right place. Let us explain the world of mineral and chemical sunscreens, how they work, and the various pros and cons. “Zinc oxide is a mineral that reflects light, including longer wavelength UVA, from the skin’s surface,” says board-certified dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., FAAD. “It is one of only two mineral (also referred to as “non-chemical” or “inorganic”) sunscreen active ingredients, but it is the only one that is effective at blocking UVA since titanium dioxide doesn’t effectively block UVA....

Mycotoxins have also been associated with neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms2 including pain syndromes, movement disorders, delirium, and disorders of balance and coordination. It’s a common but potentially harmful mildew that we see often in the remediation industry throughout the home—mostly on windows and surrounding frames and sills; on doors and frames leading outside; under bath mats; on shower curtains, often between the liner and the curtain; and on bathroom grout or caulk....

One thing’s for certain: This devil on our shoulder does not serve us, and it certainly doesn’t benefit our mood and energy. Luckily, there are ways to change the inner dialogue within ourselves, shift our attitude, and love ourselves with stronger intention—and it can start with a yoga practice. Connecting to your body is key, but before we find purpose through practice, we’ve got to put on a motivating look from Athleta, designed with all of our unique shapes in mind....