The Best of Pure Joy Wellness 2023 - Part 1
/
In just two weeks, 2023 will come to a close—and geez, it’s been a year! So much has happened in my life: a lot of hurt, a lot of healing, tons of good memories, and some hardship, too. During this time of year I find myself feeling extra reflective, as I think most people do, so it feels fitting to continue my tradition of rounding up the Best Of Pure Joy Wellness blog posts from this year—consider it our year in review, and a great opportunity to catch up on any of our best posts that you missed! This week, I’m recapping eight of our best articles, and next week I’ll share eight more in Part 2!
Here we go…
1 and 2. Your Sex Questions Answered, Part 1 and Part 2!
This year we dove into topics that are typically more personal, including sex! For this two part series, I asked Dr. Juliana Hauser, PhD, LPC, LMFT, a seasoned sexuality expert, coach, and educator, important questions about sex that were submitted by you, the Pure Joy Wellness Community! In this interview we talked about everything—ranging from the intricate details of the clitoris to navigating changes in one's sex life during menopause. Dr. Hauser offers practical insights, debunking myths and fostering a sex-positive dialogue—including invaluable advice on reclaiming lost libido, understanding the nuances of vaginal changes over time, and embracing a diverse spectrum of orgasm experiences.
3. Are You Sitting Too Much? Here's How To Know & What To Do*
For years we’ve seen headlines that say “sitting is the new smoking,” and the evidence is clear: Sitting for prolonged periods of time, and/or for hours and hours a day, is bad for your health. To tell us more about that, I interviewed Keith Diaz, PhD, an Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Diaz has spent years researching how sitting impacts us and how we can minimize those consequences—he’s an expert in the field, and in this article, he shared with me all of his findings and advice.
*To read this full post, join the Pure Joy Squad on Patreon!
4. Retinol: The Missing Piece In Your Skincare Routine
Something I’ve realized over the last few years is that skincare can be a controversial topic. Everyone—dermatologists, estheticians, people like you and me—has their own opinion on what products are the best, and which are actually worth your money. Through my work at Pure Joy Wellness, I’ve had the opportunity to speak to and collaborate with many different experts, from estheticians to dermatologists and more. This means I’ve had the chance to ask people at the forefront of their field: What products and ingredients actually make a difference? Nearly everyone I’ve surveyed had the same response: RETINOL. In this post, you’ll find a whole primer on retinol. My hope is that with all of this info, you have the knowledge you need to decide if retinol is something you want to use.
5. What To Eat To Heal Your Gut
Talk to any holistic health doctor—or Western doctor with experience in alternative medicine—and they will tell you the same thing: gut health matters. Whatever ailment or health issue you’re dealing with, chances are a) it is stemming from your gut and b) paying more attention to your gut can help. In this blog post, I share a few of my favorite gut-healing foods, as well as a few recipes that you can make to incorporate them into your diet! If you deal with bloating, indigestion, constipation, or other digestive woes, this article is a must-read!
6. How Music Can Affect Aging & Memory
If you’ve been with us for a while, you know I’m a huge music buff! Listening to music brings me more joy than just about any other activity. And, as it turns out, music is an effective tool for improving our long-term memory—yep, the studies say that! In this post, I explain why music is beneficial for brain health, and I included a link to my hours-long Pure Joy & Nostalgia Spotify playlist!
7. Why Do I Always Have To Pee? We Asked A Urologist & Menopause Expert To Weigh In*
If you feel like you always have to pee, you are not alone! The constant feeling of having to pee—and the urgency associated with that feeling—is very common in women, especially post-menopausal women. I have experienced this myself during and after menopause, and never understood why it was happening. To get some answers, I interviewed Dr. Angelish Kumar, a female urologist, menopause expert, and founder of Women’s Urology New York! In this post, you’ll learn the top three reasons why this need-to-pee feeling happens, and what you can do to alleviate that urge. (Hint: It’s not as hard as you might think!)
*To read this full post, join the Pure Joy Squad on Patreon!
8. How Your Beliefs About Aging Impact Your Health
Changing the way we think and talk about aging has always been one of the core missions of Pure Joy Wellness. So when I came across Dr. Becca Levy, and her book Breaking The Age Code, I was instantly drawn to her work and her research. I knew I wanted to feature her on the blog and share her findings and modes of thinking with all of you. Dr. Levy is a Professor of Epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health and Professor of Psychology at Yale University, and she is a leading researcher in the fields of social gerontology and psychology of aging. Her book Breaking The Age Code revolves around “age beliefs”—which are what they sound like, beliefs about aging. Specifically she looks at how our views about aging impact our lives, including how long and how well we live them. Click the link above to learn more about age beliefs and how you can change yours to improve your life!
There you have it, Part 1 of our Best Of 2023 Series! Check back in next week for Part 2—where I’m sharing articles on depression, grief, financial wellbeing, inflammation, and more!
Xo,
Renata