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The Importance of Heart Health All that said, it’s worth prioritizing cardiovascular health, a key aspect of overall wellness. This is especially crucial as you get older, as aging increases the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. Over time, your heart and blood vessels undergo a series of changes. This includes increased hardening of the arteries, or arteriosclerosis, according to the National Institute of Aging....

It’s smart to listen to your body to figure out your ideal water intake because drinking too much or too little water can affect everything from metabolism to mood. For example, if you quickly consume two liters when it’s cool out and you are relatively sedentary, it’s possible you could be drinking too much water. More commonly, you are likely not drinking enough. We asked top health experts to help us hone in on an amount of water that makes sense for each of us....

Hibiscus Tea Benefits According to Roxana Ehsani, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, studies have shown that “drinking three 8-ounce mugs of hibiscus tea for six weeks lowered participants’ systolic blood pressure by 7.2 mmHg, while participants that drank a placebo showed a 1.3 mmHg drop.” In addition to its blood pressure-reducing effects, Ehsani notes that, when consumed without added sugar or dairy, hibiscus tea (made from the flower’s petals) serves as the perfect hydration motivator for those who struggle to reach their daily water intake....

Fun Graduation Party Games & Ideas As we start celebrating graduates of all age in the next few weeks, I thought it was time to revamp and reshare some of my favorite graduation games we played at my sister’s graduation a few years back. These would go great with any of these other graduation party games and activities! These graduation party games are simple to play and perfect whether you have a small group, a big group, adults, kids, teens, high school graduates, college graduates, you name it....

That’s because physical activity induces structural changes in the brains, thickening the prefrontal and hippocampal grey matter that’s key for executive function, decision making, and memory, Dr. Nields says. Exercise can also maintain mitochondrial function, which is important to your brain’s neurons, since mitochondria make about a third of the energy your brain uses, and it can improve neuroplasticity, the ability of your neurons to grow and reconnect. “Neuroplasticity is important for learning new things, adapting to new situations, and overall cognitive performance,” he says....

Consider This Before spouting off different numbers, let’s think about this for a second. We all know you’re supposed to wash undergarments (underwear, socks, etc.) after every wear, but since pajamas are only worn indoors and usually when you’re clean (post-shower), it seems wasteful to wash them after every wear. And for city dwellers who don’t have a washer and dryer in-unit, washing pajamas every day is just plain impractical. On the flip side, we also have to consider how dirty pajamas get, even if you’re not going out....

First a disclaimer: There isn’t one correct way to apply eyeshadow. The fun part about makeup is that there are no rules, after all. That being said, there are some fundamental techniques, which we’ll review here in just a sec. But first, let’s cover picking the right eyeshadow. If you’re a beginner, opt for matte shadows, which are more forgiving of mistakes and easy to wear on any skin type....

The terms boiled chicken and poached chicken are interchangeable. Cooking in boiling liquid is ideal for preparing chicken breasts, which can quickly dry out when roasted or grilled if we turn our heads for just one minute. Skin-on, bone-in breasts are ideal for boiling if you want the cooking liquid to become a tasty broth. Opt for skinless, boneless chicken breast halves for a shorter cooking time. For the quickest cooking time, use cut-up chicken breast....

How to Boil Sweet Potatoes When purchasing, look for small to medium sweet potatoes that have smooth skin and are firm and free of soft spots. Store whole unpeeled sweet potatoes in a cool, dry place for up to 1 week (do not refrigerate or they will dry out). To know how many sweet potatoes you need for your recipe, one medium sweet potato (about 8 ounces) equals approximately 1 ½ cups when peeled and cubed....

In essence, the electrical load applies to anything that consumes electricity. In your home, it refers to the amount of energy needed to power all the light fixtures, kitchen appliances, TVs, washing machines, and other items that require electricity. This is important information if you plan to make any changes to your electrical system, including adding a circuit for a new light fixture or receptacle. The chart below outlines how to calculate your home’s load, how to add capacity, how to understand the size of your home’s electrical load, and how to inspect a service panel using our tips....

It used to be that these loud, heavy, stubborn contraptions were among the least sexy small home appliance. They were annoying to push or pull around, to clean out, and were only good on carpet. But no more. Now, they’re appliances you can fall head over heels in love with. Today’s vacuums are sleek, sexy, colorful, and come with bells and whistles to accompany their signature whirrs. They tackle shedding, trap allergens, and can even tidy up and empty themselves while you’re out to brunch....

How to Clean a Mattress To keep your bed fresh and odor-free, follow these tips on how to clean a mattress, remove mattress stains, and prevent dust and bacteria growth. You’ll sleep better knowing your bed is clean! What You Need Vacuum with crevice toolBroom (optional)Distilled white vinegar Step 1: Vacuum the Mattress to Remove Dust For regular cleaning, plan to vacuum your mattress about every month to remove dust and debris....

If you have a pair of crusty lash strips rolling around in your makeup bag, it’s important to learn how to clean them properly. Whether you opt for lash extensions, magnetic lashes, or strip lashes, keeping them clean is easier (and much more low-maintenance) than you think. Fake Lashes Different types of lashes require different forms of maintenance. First, you need to know how to remove strip lashes. “Glued-on lashes can be removed easily because the glue used for this type of lashes is super flexible, making it easy to peel off the skin,” explains Clementina Richardson, founder of Envious Lashes....

Grill grates can be made of cast iron, stainless steel, or a porcelain coating. Cutting through fat and greasy buildup on each surface is easiest when you’ve got the right products and equipment. You can buy a professional grill cleaning kit or use supplies you already have around the house. However, each surface requires different tools and techniques. How to Clean Stainless-Steel Grill Grates Stainless-steel grill grates are known for their rust resistance....

While an old toothbrush is the ol’ standby for this dirty job, you can also invest in this durable scrub brush set that will last longer. Prevention Plan: This is a task that will take a little elbow grease, and unfortunately, there’s no way around it. But to save yourself from future scrubbing sessions, be sure to seal your grout and use a squeegee after each shower. Prevention Plan: Soap scum and hair are the most common causes of shower drain clogs....

“It’s important to clean your brushes because you don’t want the shedded hair to get in the way of allowing the brush to perform at its highest level and serve its purpose,” says Shelly Aguirre, a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. Take a few minutes to clean your hairbrushes and reap the beauty benefits with this simple method. How to Clean Hair Out of a Hairbrush Cleaning lint and strands of hair out of a hairbrush is simple....

And even if you do get plenty of sleep, dark undereye circles still affect some of us frequently, whether it be genetics, allergies, excessive sun exposure, or other factors that are hard to control. Below, we’ve enlisted the help of two makeup artists for their best tips on how to color correct undereye circles effortlessly. What is a color corrector? Color correcting is using complementary colors (which are opposite on the color wheel) to cancel each other out....

Designing a Cottagecore Table Spread “A cottagecore tablescape should feel bright, happy, warm, and a touch eccentric,” says Noel Fahden Briceno, vice president of merchandising at interior vintage furniture shop Chairish. “You’ll want to include mixed and matched floral china, scalloped placemats and napkins, rattan cutlery and ice buckets, colorful chintz linens, and whimsical vintage tureens and accessories.” When searching for pieces, go for anything quilted, checkered and floral patterned, and try to find handmade glazed and ceramic dinnerware....

We’re kicking off our “Taxes in Ten” series with the story of Teresa (not her real name), who started a new job and discovered at tax time that an error in how she was input into the system resulted in no federal or state tax withholding—and a big tax bill at the end of the year. Money Confidential host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez tapped Kristin Myers, editor-in-chief of The Balance, and Caleb Silver, editor-in-chief of Investopedia, to lay out exactly what you need to know to file your taxes appropriately....

How to Freeze Apples As with all fresh produce, thoroughly wash apples in cool tap water to rid them of any pesticides or bacteria. From there, follow these simple steps for freezing apple slices. Step 1: Peel Apples To peel, use a vegetable peeler ($11, Target) or paring knife; start at the stem end and circle around to the blossom end. Step 2: Quarter Apples Cut the apple into four pieces through the stem and blossom ends....