A naturally occurring compound, betaine anhydrous is an amino acid derivative composed of the amino acid glycine and three methyl groups. In the body, its primary role is as a methyl donor, transferring those extra methyl groups to other compounds. This is important for promoting a healthy methylation cycle, keeping our metabolism running smoothly, and supporting liver detoxification.* Betaine is often talked about as a pair with its more mainstream sidekick choline, an essential nutrient often included with B-complex supplements because its benefits are very similar....

In a move that resonated with many, the World Health Organization1 reclassified and expanded its definition of burnout2 in May. It is now considered an “occupational phenomenon,” with symptoms including “feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and reduced professional efficacy.” All this stress and anxiety is wreaking havoc on our mental and physical health. Among the long list of health issues tied to prolonged stress and anxiety is cardiovascular diseases, major gut issues, serious prenatal concerns—and that’s just from updated research from this year alone....

Chronic stress (coupled with inadequate sleep) is the most common reason people get sick, Heather Moday, M.D., an allergist and immunologist, previously told mbg. “When we are run down and cortisol soars, our virus surveillance cells dip and we get sick more easily,” she explains. “Cortisol itself interferes with the ability of specific white blood cells called T-cells to proliferate and get signals from the body. In addition, cortisol also lowers an important antibody called secretory IgA, which lines the respiratory tract and gut and is our first line of defense against invading pathogens....

If you’re trying to figure out whether canola oil or vegetable oil is the healthier option, or if they’re even healthy at all, you may be surprised by the answer. The canola plant actually started out as the rapeseed plant, but as is, rapeseed contains two toxic compounds—erucic acid and glucosinolates—and can’t be safely consumed. According to registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator Shahzadi Devje, R.D., CDE, MSc, Canadian scientists figured out how to remove these compounds through targeted plant breeding and came up with the canola (Can for Canada and ola for oil) plant....

The character for chi (氣) means “energy’’ or “essence.” It depicts air with a pot of rice within and represents transformational power. Think of it like a seed that can be dormant for years but still have life force within it, just waiting to be awakened by dirt, water, and sunlight. Chi is best understood in relation to yin and yang. The principles of yin and yang theory are based on dynamic balance via the movement of chi energy....

I was writing about how diet affects the skin, specifically acne, and the emerging research on the gut-skin connection1. At the time, many dermatologists regarded the connection as an old wives’ tale. But not Bowe, who came to my first interview with her with research to back up all her advice on how to help skin from the inside out. A few years later, she was the first person to really introduce me to the skin microbiome (with her book The Beauty of Dirty Skin: The Surprising Science of Looking and Feeling Radiant From the Inside Out)....

According to both professional dream analyst Lauri Loewenberg and spiritual guide, psychologist, and author of The Alchemy of Your Dreams Athena Laz, the emotions a dream brings up for you can often be one of your biggest clues. “No dream symbol can offer the same meaning to every person because the dream as a whole story (not singular symbols) is what relays the guidance and message to the dreamer,” Laz explains to mbg....