In traditional Chinese medicine, the belief is that after a woman has a baby, there is an empty space in her body where the baby once was. Her body is open, her ligaments loose, and it’s believed that if “yin” or wind/cold comes into this open space, it will cause future ailments and prevent the body from properly recovering. Thus, the practice of confinement emphasizes staying warm by remaining indoors and abstaining from cold foods/drinks, from touching cold objects, and from washing one’s hair lest one catch a chill....

Despite the known benefits of exercise in pregnancy, I am continually asked one specific question by friends and patients. Is childbirth going to be easier because I am working out? One factor that has a negative impact on the length of labor and can be modified by routine exercise in pregnancy, especially in first-time moms, is a higher maternal weight at the time of delivery1. In other words, routine exercise can limit the possibility of excessive maternal weight gain during pregnancy and potentially shorten the first stage of labor....

There are so many things that contribute to breakouts, from genetics to hormones to lifestyle and yes, your diet. But rest assured coffee lovers, “There isn’t evidence to support that coffee itself can directly cause acne,” board-certified dermatologist Ramya Garlapati, M.D., tells mbg. “However, there is some supportive evidence that the way coffee is consumed can potentially lead to acne,” she notes. Depending on how your body reacts to caffeine, the way you drink it, how much you consume, etc....

As it turns out, the herb is quite fascinating and facilitates various processes in the body that can “indirectly” enhance weight loss while providing other benefits. While using herbs, roots, or other natural supplements, I have found that they tend to affect various pathways in the body, which is why you will experience a variety of changes when introducing them to your daily regimen. Forskolin specifically influences pathways in the body that modulate the inflammatory response, calm the stress response, and detox neurotoxins....

Also worth noting: Many products on the market are fortified with nutrients that are often lacking in plant-based diets (calcium, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, just to name a few), so if you know you need help covering your bases, they can also be a good way to address gaps in your diet, especially if you’re just starting the transition to that style of eating. With all nondairy milks, go for unsweetened varieties to save yourself the negative effects of the added sugar....

That was when I discovered Dr. Andrew Weil and his integrative medicine center at the University of Arizona. Having been trained quite conservatively as a doctor, I was a bit of a skeptic about this more holistic approach to medicine; however, with some careful prodding from my wife (it’s always a good idea to listen to your partner, I’ve learned), I started to read more about some of the lifestyle changes I could make to optimize my wellness and get my health back on track....

You’re staring at the clock, too wiped out to get up and do something else yet too alert to drift past the twilight into the rest you need. The deadline of morning is looming, and you’re anxious and frustrated. The sun finally rises, and you prepare for the day ahead with a dry mouth and puffy eyes. There are very few people on the planet who haven’t had some kind of undesired up-all-night experience....