OUR HEALTH & WELLNESS “MUST READ” ROUNDUP: AUGUST

We scour the web for the best mind, body and spirit stories – so you don’t have to. Check back monthly for more of our favorites and sign up below to get our wellness content sent straight to your inbox. Between debunking food fad myths and fighting for stronger regulation of the beauty industry, we’re dealing with some serious and overwhelming issues in this month’s roundup. Luckily, we’re also sharing 101 ways to help you deal with that overwhelm through self-care. The best part? A study shows that women's dissatisfaction with our bodies is on the decline, so hopefully that gives us all one less thing to be extra hard on ourselves about. Read on for the full scoop! The Unhealthy Truth Behind 'Wellness' and 'Clean Eating', Vice In this personal look at some of today’s biggest wellness trends (or fads depending on who you’re talking to). Former eating disorder sufferer, Ruby Tandoh, reminds us that we, “deserve facts, figures and thorough research,” and that we should be listening to our own bodies before blindly subscribing to any specific diet (even, or perhaps especially if it’s referred to as a “lifestyle”). She adds, “Wellness doesn't cause eating disorders. But when we advocate, and even insist upon, a diet so restrictive, moralizing, and inflexible, and market that diet to young women, and then dress it up as self-care: Just how responsible is that?” We’re all for perpetuating healthy habits, but when it comes to the overwhelming world of wellness, Tandoh serves up some food for thought. 101 ways to take care of yourself when the world feels overwhelming, Upworthy Though there’s never a bad time for self-care, there are sometimes moments of such utter stress, chaos and even sadness that it can seem as though nothing can to be done to help. Those are actually the exact moments when you need to exercise self-care practices most. Unlike the click-bait-y listicle you might expect from the title, this piece actually consists of 101 simple suggestions that are totally doable and will actually work. They range from something as basic as having a good cry or taking your (or a friend’s) dog for a walk, to the more challenging, but equally effective task of remembering that whatever has you down, is in fact temporary. Hopefully you won’t be needing it, but we’ll just leave this link here in case you ever do. Their Hair Fell Out. Should the F.D.A. Have the Power to Act?, The New York Times A great follow up read to last week’s post about toxins in beauty products and the onset of a “Clean Beauty Revolution”, this New York Times article addresses the current lack of regulation in the beauty sector while specifically calling out Wen Hair Care and its founder Chaz Dean. The, “stylist to the stars,” capitalized on his celebrity clientele and endorsements from the likes of Brooke Shields to sell millions, but the product line has garnered over 21,000 complaints of symptoms such as itching, rashes, and even hair loss in large clumps, in both adults and children. However, the government’s hands are apparently tied for, “legal reasons,” because, “unlike pharmaceutical companies, cosmetic companies are not required to notify the government of, 'adverse reaction,' reports — even if someone dies.” This is simply unacceptable and all the more reason that legislation is at the center of the crucial clean beauty fight. The study finds women's dissatisfaction with their bodies is declining - and we have models like Ashley Graham to thank, The Telegraph Now for some good news. Like, really good. “According to new research, women are becoming more accepting of their own bodies, with scientists linking this to the emergence of outspoken, body-positive movements,” The Telegraph reports. Based on an analysis of more than 250 studies, including over 100,000 participants from 1981 to 2012, the research found that women's dissatisfaction with their bodies is gradually declining. While there is still a long way to go, we can all agree that a combination of self-love, self-care, and women coming together to change the course of the conversation will keep us all moving in the right direction.

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