Source: http://wellnessmama.com/69561/homemade-beard-oil/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=homemade-beard-oil

Many men participate in No Shave November only to decide that when December 1st rolls around they will hold on to that beard they have worked so hard to grow. But now what? After 30 days the patchiness is (hopefully) nicely filled in but now that beard is starting to get a bit long and out of control. Beard oil can help transform that beard from unruly to ruggedly handsome!

What Is Beard Oil

Beard oil is just that, oil. Oil is often given a bad rap in beauty care, but using oil to cleanse and moisturize can actually help balance your body’s natural oils and lead to soft, healthy skin and hair.

While I have written often about beauty care for women and natural hair care, your man’s beard is no exception and the skin hiding underneath all that facial hair needs as much care and attention as it would if he were shaving it everyday, if not more.

Because beard hair is typically quite course, men often experience itchiness, dandruff or “beardruff,” and even ingrown hairs on the delicate facial skin underneath. A full beard also makes it difficult to access the skin so common skin problems like dryness, acne, or inflammation can be compounded.

Longer beards can also become quite tangled a…

Source: http://www.foodpolitics.com/2015/12/weekend-reading-food-wars/

Tim Lang and Michael Heasman. Food Wars:The Global Battle for Mouths, Minds and Markets.  Second Edition.  Taylor & Francis, 2015

I did a blurb for this as well as for its first edition.

What’s so terrific about this book is its basis in theory applied to real-world, cross-cutting food issues involving government, business, and civil society.  The authors emphasize the need for all of us to advocate for healthier and more sustainable food systems, for food peace rather than food wars, and to do so now.

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Source: http://greatist.com/play/awkward-small-talk?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

Small talk can be the worst. And during the holidays, we find ourselves chatting with people we sort of know and others we’ve never met before. Between co-workers, your S.O.’s college friends, and your second cousin you haven’t seen since you both had braces, ‘tis the season for lots and lots of idle chatter.

Even if we have the gift of gab, most of us live in fear of the dreaded awkward silence. (“So, um, how ‘bout that weather?”) And having an actual face-to-face conversation seems to get more intimidating the more time we spend behind screens, while the pressure to seem as interesting as our social media profiles suggest ups the ante.

Fortunately, chatting your way through your next get-together doesn’t have to be so excruciating. Think of small talk like a tennis match, says Rebecca Hendrix, LMFT, a couples’ therapist in New York. “The goal is to keep the ball going back and forth.”

Before You Go: Put in the Prep Work

Doing a little bit of homework before an event can help ease pre-party anxiety, says Irina Langman, LCSW, a therapist in New York. “Think of subjects you would want to discuss beforehand,” she says. It’s also a good idea to do some research about the host or guest of honor—that way you can bring up the trip they just took to Italy or their passion for surfing if you hit a wall in the conversation.

Think about who you’re talking to and what questions make sense for them.

And mak…

Source: http://greatist.com/eat/nutritionists-worst-diet-tips?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

It seems like every time you turn around there’s a new diet trend demanding you become a devotee in order to stay healthy. With all the high-fat this and dairy-free that out there, the world of healthy eating can seem totally confusing.

Luckily, distinguishing the best advice from the bulls**t just got a lot easier. We asked top nutrition experts for the worst diet tips they’ve ever heard—and what we should be doing instead.

1. Don't eat after 8 p.m.

“Especially for those of us who exercise at night, that’s just not possible. If it’s within an hour or two of bedtime, just keep it under 500 calories. Eating a sensible, balanced meal at 7, 8, or even 9 p.m. is perfectly healthy. As long as that meal isn’t tipping your calorie intake for the day or full of high-fat foods (which can disrupt sleep quality and even digestion), it shouldn’t lead to actual body fat gain. Make sure it’s balanced, including whole grains, vegetables, and a little protein.” — Lisa Moskovitz, R.D., CEO of NY Nutrition Group

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Source: http://greatist.com/move/yoga-strong-core?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

Sometimes it’s good to take things slow. Rather than running through every workout at a breakneck pace—sweating up a storm, panting, and generally exhausting yourself—moving in a leisurely way can help you focus on your breath and give your body a break.

That’s the philosophy behind this week’s Grokker video, a 30-minute yoga routine. It still provides a great workout—focusing on core strength, hip mobility, and overall flexibility—but you’ll move in a slow, controlled fashion that’ll leave you feeling relaxed (and stronger) by the end. And all you need is a mat and a little bit of room. Just press play on the video below when you’re ready to start!

Interested in more short and effective at-home workouts? We have thousands waiting for you on Grokker, the one-stop shop online resource for wellness. Join Grokker today and get 14 days of FREE unlimited at-home workout classes.

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Source: http://greatist.com/happiness/how-to-deal-with-depression?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

Face it: Being a 20-something isn’t easy. On the one hand, the period between ages 18 and 29 is the best ever. It’s that time when you get to develop a sense of independence in college, start a new job, scout out the dating scene, or head off to new cities. On the other hand, it’s a time often characterized by financial debt, romantic misadventures, loneliness, and a sense of uncertainty about who we are and why we’re here. So it’s not surprising that people in their late teens and 20s are especially vulnerable to feelings of depression.

The positive news is that these emotions are pretty common and typically pass by the time people hit 30. But depression can still be a serious issue that often requires some kind of treatment. Here’s how to address those feelings when they pop up.

What You Need to Know

At one time, most people didn’t experience their first depressive episode until their late 40s or 50s; today, depression typically first appears around age 25. And while about nine percent of the American adult population suffers from some type of depression, that number is closer to 11 percent among people ages 18 to 24.

Today’s 20-somethings are going through a number of psychosocial and biological experiences that make them espe…

Source: http://greatist.com/discover/science-develops-pleasurable-condom?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

The family planning aisle at your local pharmacy seems to have dozens of different options when it comes to condoms: ribbed, studded, warming, cooling, ultra-thin. But those are all just bells and whistles added on to a standard latex condom, which hasn’t changed much over the last century. That is, until researchers at Wollongong University in Australia developed hydrogel condoms, which are made from water and polymers.

They’re stronger and thinner than the latex variety and designed to feel more like human skin, rather than a barrier that could kill the mood. Brain scans showed that test subjects found the hydrogel more pleasing to the touch than latex. This pilot study is thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which hopes improvements can lead to increased condom usage, especially in areas of the world with high STI rates. Phase two of the trial should begin next year, so you’ll have to wait a bit before these show up at your neighborhood drugstore.

(h/t Sydney Morning Herald)

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Source: http://greatist.com/move/rest-between-weight-lifting-sets?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

When you’re strength training, there’s more to consider than reps and how much weight to pick up. Another important factor in improving: rest between sets.

The amount of break time you take determines how your muscles adapt to the movement, says Carwyn Sharp, Ph.D., chief science officer for the National Strength and Conditioning Association. “Matching rest periods and intensities places the appropriate amount of stress on the muscles and their energy systems,” he says.

Besides working your muscles in different ways, the breather you take between exercises correlates to injury prevention. “If you wait too long to move your muscles again, they become cold, which increases the risk of injury due to muscle damage,” says Peter McCall, exercise physiologist and American Council on Exercise trainer. “On the other hand, if you don’t rest long enough, your body can’t replenish the muscles’ energy efficiently, so you’re exercising in a fatigued state. This can lead to poor form and therefore injury.”

Reach your fitness goals while still feeling 100 percent by following this goal-based breakdown.

Editor’s note: For much of the advice below, it’s helpful to know your 1RM, or one rep max. That’s the maximum amount of weight you can lift and perform one repetition before you’re fatigued. If you aren’t sure of your 1RM, here’s how to calculate it.

<img src="http://greatist.com/sites/…

Source: http://greatist.com/move/quick-no-rest-workout?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

The holiday season is upon us—which means hectic days, busy nights, and just about zero time (or energy) for a workout. Thankfully, we have a 15-minute solution, courtesy of celeb trainer and Cyc Fitness creator Keoni Hudoba. The Hawaiian-born trainer is known for his tough, high-energy workouts—and an incredible personal transformation story of his own: Once unhealthy and sedentary, Hudoba lost more than 100 pounds.

This quick workout comprises 15 moves, but the directions are simple: Do each one for 60 seconds, and you’re done. You won’t need a thing for this workout (the equipment in some of the images below simply ups the ante), just a little endurance to push through to the end.

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Source: http://greatist.com/move/best-exercises-lower-abs?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

If you’re like us, there’s probably one area you feel like you can’t work enough: your abs. More specifically, your lower abs. It seems like no matter how much training you do, they just stay the same. Well there’s a reason for that.

“In order to lose weight and show muscle definition, you need to train the whole body,” says Amanda Butler, certified trainer and instructor at The Fhitting Room in New York City. “[You need] to expend calories—and pair that with a well-balanced diet.” Maybe you’ve heard the best abs are made in the kitchen?

But that’s not a pass to skip those crunches and planks. “It is important to train the core because that is your center for balance,” Butler says. “Plus, a strong core can help reduce back pain.”

Not sure exactly how to hit those lower belly muscles? You’re not alone. “Lower abs are very difficult to strengthen because that is where our body stores most of its excess fat,” says Butler. “And for women, the hormone estrogen naturally wants to hold onto fat in this area.”

In order to eliminate the guesswork, we asked Butler to share the most effective lower abs exercises as a workout. For three of these moves, you’ll need towels or sliders. (We’ll be using Slidez by SKLZ, $29.99, sklz.com.)

<img src="http://greatist.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_main/public/LOWER-ABS_INTRO.gif?itok=4uwbk09k" alt="Use towels in place of sliders" class="media-element file-g-full-widt…