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Coping with the Coronavirus Pandemic

I constantly get ads for these wellness drinks, so I looked into them

Measuring cups of different supplement powders.

If your social media feeds look anything like mine, you've seen an advertisement or two (or dozens) for different brands of greens powders and "mud" drink powders, which aren't actually made of mud but mushrooms.

These products promise loads of nutrients in a convenient drink, but I was curious what experts thought. So I asked registered dietitians whether these powders are worth buying.

"While powered wellness drinks are very popular, seem convenient and may be portrayed as being 'healthier' than alternatives, a lot of the time these drinks are purely marketing ploys," says Jenna Litt, of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. 

While these drinks may provide additional micronutrients, they are not providing anyone with all of their daily micronutrient needs, Litt adds.

Instead, she recommends choosing whole foods first in order to get your daily recommended vitamins and minerals.

Experts also warned it's always important to check the label of these types of products, both for ingredients and third-party testing certifications for your safety

To learn more, click here to read the full story.

How mental health took center stage at the White House this week

This week my colleague Jenna Ryu visited the White House to attend a mental health event. Here she is in the photo below with Ambassador Susan Rice.

How cool, right? Well, what's even cooler is the messaging shared at the event. Here's an excerpt of Jenna's coverage:

As a proud mental health advocate, Selena Gomez is on a mission to shift the cultural narrative from awareness to action by bringing the issue to the White House. 

Days after her "Saturday Night Live" appearance, Gomez this week stopped by the nation's capital to host the first-ever Mental Health Youth Action Forum led by MTV Entertainment — an event encouraging businesses and peers to address the growing youth mental health crisis affecting more than a third of high school students. The forum kicked off one day before Mental Health Action Day created last year by MTVE to inspire taking meaningful action for well-being.

Donning a navy sleeveless dress with a floral accent, the "Only Murders in the Building" star was joined by first lady Jill Biden, Ambassador Susan Rice and 30 activists and creators— all of whom had different personal stories yet shared the same struggle of knowing what it's like to not be OK. 

"The darkness inside of us can feel heavy at times, but we can share the weight of it together," Biden said Wednesday. "It takes courage to be honest about the struggles that you've faced and to tell your stories. And it takes courage to understand that your voice can make a difference, and to show your creativity and talents to all of the world. I'm so proud of everyone here today."

To read Jenna's full story, click here.

First lady Jill Biden and Selena Gomez pose during a first-ever Mental Health Youth Forum, hosted by MTV Entertainment at the White House on May 18, 2022.

Do love languages really matter? Yes.

You've likely heard people talking about love languages, which is essentially how someone receives love.

In this week's column, Sara Kuburic, the Millennial Therapist, explains it's important to know what makes us feel loved and it's equally important we understand how our partner experiences love. 

Love languages break down as follows:

  • Words of affirmation (e.g. "I love you," "I am proud of you")
  • Quality time (e.g. taking the evening off to spend time together)
  • Physical touch (e.g. hugs, kisses, holding hands)
  • Acts of service (e.g. doing laundry, picking up your parents from the airport)
  • Receiving gifts (e.g. a bouquet of flowers, the sweater you've been looking at)

But what happens if you and your partner have differing love languages? She provides some tips:

Check-in: Once a week, reflect on how you showed up in the relationship. 

Communicate: If you are starting to feel like your love language isn't being met, it can be helpful to talk to your partner about it. 

Be open to feedback. If someone tells you that they don't feel loved – even if you are offering love – it might be worth exploring their feedback. 

For a deeper explanation of these love language tips, click here. 

Today's reads

Not everyone can leave a toxic or abusive relationship. That's why experts recommend "gray rocking," a communication technique to set boundaries with the narcissists in your life.

Today's pet

Meet Maddox.

Someone's ready to go play in some rain puddles!

"Showing off his new rain jacket," Paula Labadie wrote of her grandpuppy. We think Maddox looks marvelous in it!

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