Hoping to get your gut health in fighting shape? You could be doing *all* the things in your quest to maintain bacterial balance and keep inflammation at bay—yet soon enough, you’ll likely wonder if your efforts are paying off. To help you decipher if you’re headed in the right direction, board-certified gastroenterologist Kenneth Brown, MD, shares how to tell if your microbiome is inflammation-free (or pretty darn close). Plus: a few tips worth adopting if you’re not quite there yet and hope to expedite the balancing act. 5 signs of an inflammation-free gut 1. Regular bowel movements If you a ..read more

Growing up, my relationship with my sister Allia was far from what I imagined a sibling bond should be. Braiding hair, sharing our deepest darkest secrets, laughing until our stomachs hurt…I wanted what the Halliwell sisters had on Charmed. But as the middle child sandwiched between my older sister and my younger brother—two years between each of us—our sisterly dynamics felt less like a cheesy WB show and more like a losing game of “The Floor Is Lava.” No matter what cushion I hopped on, I lost. Despite my best efforts, my sister and I could not get along. Even when we shared a school, it fel ..read more

The Blue Zones are having a moment. Although bestselling author and former National Geographic journalist Dan Buettner coined the term back in 2004 to describe the places around the world where people live the longest, many are deep-diving into his work again (or discovering it for the first time) through his hit Netflix show, Live to 100. In the series, he travels to the five Blue Zones—Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Okinawa, Japan; and the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica—to highlight the longevity lessons found in each place. That’s why I was so excited when I was invi ..read more

Fact: Summer is right around the corner, which means it’s finally time to start shopping for the closet staples we’ll rely on this season. The most important article of clothing come summertime? Shoes. The warmer weather inevitably calls for spending more time outside, thus spending more time on our feet. And, sooner or later, the 80-degree and above temperatures will call for open-toed shoes and breathable sneakers to get us to-and-from. If you haven’t yet solidified your summer shoe rotation, worry not: right now you can find Vionic shoes on sale. We spotted four of the brand’s practical and ..read more

You know the saying, Those who can’t do, teach? I’ll let you in on a secret: Those who can’t do also write. This rings true at least in my case, since I often cover hacks and habits for better sleep… all the while dealing with lifelong insomnia and a history of relying on meds or supplements to induce my ZZZ’s. Last spring, an email about the newly launched Sleep Enhancement Program at Ananda in the Himalayas landed in my inbox. I was intrigued straight away. A wellness program integrating ancient Ayurvedic practices and principles, customized for my dosha (constitution) and lifestyle, correct ..read more

Come marathon season, your social media feeds might be filled with friends and acquaintances traversing the boroughs of NYC in the TCS New York City Marathon. Now, even if you can’t run over the Verrazano Bridge or get cheered on by the crowds in person, you can get a taste of the experience on your Peloton Tread. Wednesday, April 24, Peloton and the New York Road Runners launched exclusive scenic content from the 2023 race onto the Tread and Tread+. Users will have the option to do a two and a half hour scenic run that takes you through course highlights, or five different 30-minute ..read more

Spring is nature’s way of pressing the reset button—and it’s a perfect time for kick-starting or restarting a walking routine that’s as refreshing as the season’s first iced coffee. As the weather warms, there’s no better time to step outside and reinvigorate your routine. Walking isn’t just great for your physical health—it’s a fantastic way to clear your mind or turn a catch-up with friends into an active outing. To help you stay motivated and increase your daily steps, our May 2024 Movement of the Month Club is dedicated to walking. So lace up your walking shoes; it’s time to take advantage ..read more

At this point, you’ve probably heard someone in your life—a TikTok influencer, gym bro Tinder date, or maybe even those of us at Well+Good—talk about the importance of getting enough protein to keep your body feeling full, satisfied, and energetic. It has other benefits, too: Protein can help build and repair muscle, support organ function, aid in nail and hair growth, and improve your immune system. Additionally, it’s associated with better physical performance in postmenopausal women and is a key part of healthy aging. Despite knowing all the pros, getting enough protein isn’t always the eas ..read more

A stinging sensation when you pee, cramping in your lower belly, an intense urge to tinkle all day long. Anyone who’s ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI) knows it’s not pleasant. Add on gut health issues like diarrhea, and you might be wondering what’s up. Is an upset stomach usually a UTI symptom? While it’s rare, it’s possible to have UTI-induced diarrhea. Whether this comes from the infection itself, UTI treatments like antibiotics, or something else entirely, will likely depend on the person. Here, a urologist answers all your burning questions, plus offers tips on treating UTI and di ..read more

For most of us, sweat is a part of everyday life. It’s normal to smell after a hard workout or on a particularly hot day. Fun fact: the sweat itself isn’t what’s causing the stink. Your sudden increase of body odor is actually from sweat mixing with the bacteria on your skin. But why do your armpits sometimes smell like onions? Now that’s a pretty extreme smell that anyone would feel concerned (and let’s be real, maybe embarrassed) about. Here, a dermatologist shares four reasons why your body odor can smell like onions, and how to get rid of it, so you can go back to feeling fresh and clean ..read more