About Health

Monday, June 30, 2014

The Book You NEED to Bring to the Beach this Summer

The Book You NEED to Bring to the Beach this Summer

Get a preview of The Vacationers by Emma Straub

Every month, Women's Health hosts our 60-second book club, where we invite you to take a quick peek inside a buzzed-about new book and let us know what you think. This month's pick: The Vacationers by Emma Straub (Riverhead Books).

Sure, it's fun to dig your toes into the sand and sip on a drink with an umbrella in it. But one of the best things about going to the beach has to be lying on a towel or sitting on a beach chair with a good book—and we know which one you'll want to dive into first this weekend.

The Vacationers by Emma Straub (Riverhead Books), focuses on the Post family—Franny, Jim, and their children Sylvia and Bobby—during their two-week trip to Mallorca, Spain. Each of the characters is in the middle of a pivotal change, but Jim's drama threatens to upset the balance in everyone else's lives: When the novel opens, he's dealing with the fallout of a mistake that lost him his job at a men's magazine and is threatening his marriage.

In the below scene, Franny, has an unexpected encounter with Lawrence, her best friend Charles's partner, about the turmoil:

"Listen," he said. "I'm really sorry about earlier. About saying something about the magazine, to Jim. I honestly don't know what happened, but I do know that I put my foot in my mouth."

Franny leaned back, drawing her legs up beneath her. She stretched her arms over her head, and then lowered them until they were blocking her eyes. She groaned. Franny had never felt older than she had in the last six months. It was true, of course, that was always true, that you'd never been older than you were at precisely that moment, but Franny had gone from feeling youngish to wizened and crumpled in record time. She could feel the knots in her back tighten, and her sciatic nerve began to send out little waves of distress to the sides of her hips.

"I'm sorry," Lawrence said, not sure if he was apologizing for worsening Franny's mood or for whatever had happened with Jim at the magazine, or both.

"It's okay," Franny said, her eyes still hidden behind her arms. "I'm surprised Charles didn't tell you."

Lawrence sat down on the lounge chair next to Franny's and waited.

"He fucked an intern." She moved her hands and waved them around, as if to say "Abracadabra!" "I know, that's it. Jim fucked an intern. A girl at the magazine, barely older than Sylvia. Twenty-three years old. Her father is on the board, and I guess she told him, and so here we are."

"Oh, Franny," Lawrence said, but she was already sitting up and shaking her head. He had imagined many scenarios for Jim's sudden leave from Gallant, and for the tension in the Post family—prostate cancer, early-onset dementia, an ill-timed conversion to the Jehovah's Witnesses—but not this one. Jim and Franny had always seemed happily solid, still capable of goosing each other in the kitchen, as off-putting as it sometimes was."

"No, it's fine. I mean, it's not fine, we've been married for thirty-five years, it is not fine for him to have sex with a twenty-year-old. A twenty-three-year-old. As if there's a difference. I don't know. Thank you. Sylvia knows some, but Bobby doesn't know anything about it, I'm pretty sure, and I'm trying to keep it that way for as long as possible. Maybe forever."

Something that struck us as we read the novel was how real it was…while the plotline is salacious for sure, nothing comes off as feeling clichéd or one-dimensional.

Tell us: What did you think of the excerpt? Do you plan on reading more? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The RIGHT Way to Choose a Watermelon

The RIGHT Way to Choose a Watermelon

Because be honest—you're not really sure, are you?

Is there anything worse than buying a watermelon, getting home, excitedly cutting into it...and discovering that it has a weird texture or that it tastes more like water than the juicy goodness you were so looking forward to? OK, yes—but it's still an annoying experience. Luckily, it's also one you can avoid—so long as you follow the simple tips in this video:

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Pretty awesome, right? Once you pick up your perfect watermelon, you might want to consider trying out one of these five ridiculously awesome ways to use it.

4 Ways to Find What Truly MOVES You

4 Ways to Find What Truly MOVES You

It's been said that passion breeds success, but how, exactly, do you zero in on what you love—and make a living at? Start here.

In theory, it's good to do what makes you happy. But finding what spurs you—what you wake up thinking about, or what you would gladly do for free—may take some digging and distilling. Forging my own successful yet unconventional career as a chef, author, and entrepreneur took listening to my gut and, even tougher, trusting it. These four valuable tips can help speed up the process for you.

Put aside practical concerns.
What's stirring in your soul can be blocked by thoughts about, say, what salary you can earn for the work. To unearth what you really want to do, quiet your mind and tune in to your heart. Pose queries such as "At the end of my life, what am I going to wish I'd done?" I moved to Maui, sight unseen, and lived there for 15 years because it was my answer to "If I could live anywhere, where would I live?"

Identify granular interests.
If it's not realistic to give up a regular paycheck for a passion project right now, chances are there are aspects of your current job that intersect with what moves you. Figure out what you dig in your day-to-day and focus on that. For example, if you're interested in social responsibility, scout a nonprofit that is related to your work and create a proposal for how an affiliation would benefit your company.

Figure out what you don't love.
Be honest about where your true talents lie. One critical lesson I learned: As a restaurant owner, I was capable of sourcing competitively priced ingredients, but that wasn't the best or most joyful use of my time. So I enlisted someone to handle that duty while I focused on what really inspired me—developing new recipes.

Be true to you.
Don't let what others say override your inner counsel. At many points, I was told that there wasn't enough interest in the things I wanted to pursue to make them successful. I opened one of the country's first raw-food restaurants in Maui in 1996, which was way ahead of the curve. I also became deeply interested in environmentally responsible practices well before they became mainstream. Trusting my instincts above anyone else's enabled me to be a pioneer in the sustainable-food movement, proving that authenticity is the most valuable commodity of all.

Renee Loux has had a diverse career in the field of sustainable food and is the author of the Gourmand Award-winning The Balanced Plate. Visit her at reneeloux.com.

Friday, June 27, 2014

The Beauty Look Men Find Most Attractive on a Date

The Beauty Look Men Find Most Attractive on a Date

Read this before you spend a billion hours getting ready.

The next time your hair or eyeliner is just not cooperating before a first date, take a deep breath. First of all, this guy is going to be way more impressed with your charm and wit than he will be with your makeup prowess. And second of all, most guys actually prefer a more subtle look.

According to a recent survey from the online dating site Zoosk, men like a more natural beauty look on a date. Of the 1,200 men surveyed, 66 percent said that they didn’t find a date any more attractive if she was wearing dark eye makeup like a smoky eye. As for your hair, 82 percent of men said that a natural hairstyle was the most attractive and 84 percent preferred natural-looking hair color over hair that was obviously dyed.

MORE: You'll Be Shocked By How Long Women and Men Spend on their Hair and Makeup Each Day

So the next time you're preparing for a date, skip the crazy-expensive blowout and opt for one of these quick and easy hairstyles. Then swipe on one or two of these awesome beauty products for after hours and call it a day. Voila—easiest primping ever.

Of course, the thing that's really most attractive is confidence—so if you feel hottest with a blowout and a smoky eye, then you do you!

MORE: The Makeup Men Find Most Attractive

4 Things You Should Be Doing for the Most Effective Workout

4 Things You Should Be Doing for the Most Effective Workout

If you want to have a successful #FitnessFriday, do this.

Your workout routine won't yield any results just by doing different exercises back to back. If you really want to see muscle tonnage and weight loss, you have to make sure your body is fueled properly and allowed time to recover. So for this #FitnessFriday, make sure you've got these four essential workout basics covered.

1. Fuel Up Pre-Workout

To boost your workout endurance—and push yourself harder—you should definitely remember to fuel your body before you get moving (this girl above has the right idea with bananas and peanut butter toast). Here are five of the best pre-workout foods you should stock up on.

2. Stay Hydrated

Make sure that you're hydrating before, during, and after your workout. The 10 ways to drink more water will help you guzzle lots of the good stuff.

3. Break Out a Foam Roller

During your cooldown, work out the kinks and tight muscles all over your body to avoid soreness later. You'll love these seven awesome ways to use a foam roller.

4. Remember to Refuel

Now that your body's been sweating bullets, your system needs to recharge. The bowl above has peanut butter for protein (to repair muscles) and oats and fruits for carbs (to replenish your energy). If you don't have time to whip up an entire meal afterward, just bring along these five post-workout snacks in your gym bag!

7 Things No One Ever Told You About Caffeine

7 Things No One Ever Told You About Caffeine

For starters, you're probably consuming it a lot more often than you think.

Ready for a jolt? According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 80 percent of adults in the United States consume caffeine on a daily basis, and they take in an average of 200 milligrams (the equivalent of two five-ounce cups of coffee) per day. With those numbers in mind, it actually begins to make (some) sense that a recent survey of over 7,000 people found that most of them said they'd prefer coffee over sex. That's one popular stimulant!

That being said, even though you and all your friends and family members probably consume caffeine on the regular (and may exhibit many of these 16 signs you're obsessed with coffee), we're betting that you don't know much more about the stuff, other than (a) it's in coffee and certain sodas, and (b) it's an energy-booster. There's actually a lot more you need to know about everyone's favorite legal drug—so here's a crash course.

Caffeine has a positive impact on short-term and long-term memory. There's been a lot of past research on caffeine's effects on short-term memory, but recent studies are indicating benefits for long-term memory, as well. "Around 300 to 400 milligrams per day may protect against cognitive decline and Alzheimer's," says Jaclyn London, MS, R.D., a senior dietician at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. There is one caveat, though: "Getting enough sleep is also important in Alzheimer's prevention, so keep that in mind if you're caffeine-sensitive." (Learn 3 more memory-boosting tricks here.)

Caffeine may enhance athletic performance. Taking in some caffeine about an hour before your workout or race may up your game. "We're seeing statistically significant increases in alertness and decreases in reaction time," says London. "Also cool, caffeine has been shown to decrease your perception of effort." In other words, you can put forth more effort for what seems like the same amount of work.

The effects of caffeine are almost immediate. We can't decide if this is neat or kind of scary. "Caffeine very easily crosses the blood-brain barrier, so the central nervous system is stimulated quickly," says London. That means you'll feel more alert instantly and continue to feel a big boost until effects hit their peak 30 to 60 minutes after consumption.

The caffeine content of coffee varies a lot. In a study published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, researchers found that a 16-ounce Starbucks coffee had 100 milligrams more caffeine than the same size from Dunkin' Donuts. The study also showed that the same drink from the same chain can differ by 300 milligrams in its caffeine content, depending on which day you order it. London says a standard serving of coffee typically ranges from 90 to 225 milligrams.

The caffeine content of espresso is actually a whole lot less than coffee. Everyone thinks espresso is a caffeine powerhouse, but London says a single shot of espresso clocks in at 40 to 70 milligrams—much less than the average cup of coffee. Since you get more caffeine in drip coffee, ordering an espresso-based beverage like a cappuccino might be smart if you're sensitive to the stimulant.

Caffeine doesn't actually dehydrate you. Since 98 percent of caffeine is consumed in beverages, according to the FDA, you're also probably hydrating at the same time you take it in. So although caffeine is a diuretic, it's unlikely to truly dehydrate you. Still, that doesn't mean you should drink caffeinated beverages alone exclusively. Enjoy them in moderation, and don't forget that water is still the gold standard for hydration. (Learn more about this, plus 7 other myths about hydration.)

Caffeine sources aren't just limited to beverages. Chocolate is also a major source, and caffeine can also be added to almost any food or substance—which is why you'll also find caffeine in some medications, like Midol. If you have a heart condition or hypertension, check with your doctor before taking any pain relievers with caffeine.

Find Out Who's Having the Best (and the Longest!) Sex Around the World

Find Out Who's Having the Best (and the Longest!) Sex Around the World

Because soccer isn't the only thing you can judge a country on

Even if you're not that interested in the World Cup, you'll probably enjoy these international stats. The luxury sex toy brand LELO decided to see how the countries competing in the World Cup rank on the important things—like sexual satisfaction and stamina. So they pulled data from their global sex survey of over 30 countries and more than 35,000 respondents to see who’s really scoring.

Interestingly, the winners on the field aren't exactly the winners in the bedroom (maybe that's because of these crazy World Cup sex restrictions). England and Greece are tied for having the most satisfying sex lives, while Chileans are actually the least satisfied.

MORE: And the State with the Biggest Penises Is...

When it comes to stamina, Brazilians go at it the longest (a third of them last more than 45 minutes in bed!). The Swiss may be having the most sex, with 26 percent of them reporting that they've had more than 20 sexual partners. And while we're sure they're very loyal and honest in the world of sports, it's France that houses the most cheaters, with 75 percent of them admitting that they've strayed. Yikes!

MORE: This Hilarious Soccer Video Explains Why You Shouldn’t Fake an Orgasm

But let's not let our locations define us in bed. You can try our better sex workout to rival the Brazilians' stamina, and have an even better hookup this summer with these steamy sex tips.

MORE: You Will Not Believe This Crazy World Cup-Themed Condom