On Monday, journalist Piers Morgan decided to pick a fight on Twitter, taking aim squarely at English actor Daniel Craig, who you may recognize as James Bond. The point of contention according to Morgan? That Craig would dare to wear a baby carrier in order to safely carry his infant son while keeping his hands free while he runs errands (yes, seriously). Morgan's comments not only irked the entire internet, but they got Chris Evans to hop on Twitter to clap back at him once and for all over this silly issue.

More: Chris Evans Says Goodbye to Playing Captain America

The dad-shaming began when Morgan shared a photo on Twitter of Craig toting his first child with wife Rachel Weisz. The snapshot, which was taken in August, shows the doting dad out and about in New York City with his child resting in a carrier strapped to his chest. 

The mere sight of a man being a decent father was clearly too much for Morgan, who tweeted, “Oh 007.. not you as well?!!! #papoose #emasculatedBond.” 

Not surprisingly, the Twittersphere wasn’t terribly happy with the Good Morning Britain host’s regressive perspective on parenting. Among those vocal detractors putting Morgan in his place was Captain America himself, Chris Evans, who took the view that many of Craig's internet defenders had: It's not emasculating to keep your child safe or care for them, even when you're in public.

“You really have to be so uncertain of your own masculinity to concern yourself with how another man carries his child. Any man who wastes time quantifying masculinity is terrified on the inside,” Evans responded on Twitter. 

The fact that Evans stepped in on Craig’s behalf speaks to a very important point. Fathers don't necessarily need to be praised at every turn for caring for their child since that's basically the job description, but they also shouldn't be shamed for the ways in which they care for their kids either. 

More: Chris Evans Will Return to TV to Star in the New TV Show Defending Jacob

Twitter agreed wholeheartedly with Evans' stance, with many people praising the actor in the comment section for pointing out this almost-obvious universal truth. 

But if you really want to see the comments that win the internet this week (and we're sure Evans would agree), spend time perusing the heartwarming pictures submitted by proud baby-wearing dads. It's much better than any rude commentary about parenting that Morgan has to offer.

We love marathoning The Golden Girls as much as anyone, whether it's on late at night or early Saturday morning or streaming it whenever we feel like watching. But when you're watching that much TV, you need a good snack to go along with it, and now, Funko is delivering the goods: The Golden Girls Funko's Cereal.

More: Golden Girls  Hot Sauce Is a Thing That Now Exists

Made by the iconic brand behind Funko Pop figurines, each box of the bright-blue cereal contains a collectible Pocket Pop resembling one of the four main characters of the show.

The cereal will be available at Target later this month. Some shoppers have already seen boxes of the breakfast delight in both the toy aisle and grocery section of their local stores, but we're still waiting anxiously (and hungrily!) for the nationwide rollout. Boxes are also available for purchase on ToyWiz.com and Mercari.

No ingredient list is online yet, so we can't tell if the cereal is sugary sweet or more savory, but it is multigrain and comes in little crunchy O shapes in a bright-blue hue. Why blue? No one seems to know, but it is eye-catching. 

More: A  Golden Girls  Cookbook Is Coming in 2020, & Yes, There's a Cheesecake Recipe

The Golden Girls Funko's might not be available everywhere just yet, but we know what we're doing the second we get our first box: using it to make a crust for some homemade cheesecake. Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia would be proud.

Fifty percent of Americans believe saving $1 million will be enough to retire on, but experts are suggesting differently.

More than 2,000 U.S. adults were surveyed in a recent online study by NerdWallet and The Harris Poll. According to the submissions, 31 percent side with the experts, saying $1 million is not enough to retire on. And 19 percent answered that they were unsure.

“For many people, $1 million isn’t enough to live off in retirement,” certified financial planner Mitchell C. Hockenbury told Moneyish.  “With people living longer with the advances of medical care and the higher costs of living, a million dollars just doesn’t go as far as it used to.”

More: Here’s Exactly Where Your Credit Score Should Be at Your Age

This means most Americans aren't putting away enough money to successfully (and comfortably) retire. 

According to Mark Avallone, president of Potomac Wealth Advisors and author of Countdown to Financial Freedom, the lack of successful retirements in the U.S. is primarily due to Americans’ lack of proper investment income and planning. However, some external factors make it difficult to successfully retire as well. 

Unavoidable factors affecting everyone, including inflation, the pension crisis and increasing life expectancy combine to create “a toxic formula for successful retirement,” Avallone told CNBC. This combination of factors creates a major plummet in lifestyle for retirees.

Planning for retirement is stressful for almost everyone. According to the survey, only 32 percent of Americans believe they will have saved enough money to live comfortably when it comes time to retire based on their desired retirement age and current savings. 

And men are more likely to be comfortable saving for retirement. Thirty-five percent of men in the survey claim they expect to hit at least $1 million in retirement savings compared to only 20 percent of women.

So, how do you prepare to accumulate a comfortable, over-$1 million nest egg that may seem far-fetched? Most experts say the same thing: plan.

More: This Is How Badly Women Are Left Behind During Bonus Season

You can never overplan for your retirement. NerdWallet recommends using a retirement calculator to set a personal goal and get financial suggestions on how to reach it. 

According to Avallone, there are only two ways to properly ensure you are prepared for retirement: save more and spend less. 

A version of this post previously appeared on Fairygodboss, the largest career community that helps women get the inside scoop on pay, corporate culture, benefits and work flexibility. Founded in 2015, Fairygodboss offers company ratings, job listings, discussion boards and career advice.

Courteney Cox still wants to be there for her friends. The discussion around a Friends revival is never-ending, but that doesn't mean the former stars of the still beloved NBC comedy are going to stop being asked about the possibility of a reunion. Well, while chatting with People on Monday, Cox revealed she's down for a revival and to finally work with the cast again, but, sadly, she doesn't think it will ever happen. 

More: Lisa Kudrow Destroyed Hopes of a Friends Reunion Like It's No Big Deal

"People ask us all the time, 'Will we ever do a remake?’ That was a story about these group of people that are friends in their 30s who are finding themselves," she told the publication, before adding, "I don’t know if there’s a way to redo it." 

She then admitted, "I just don’t see it happening." Cox did positively add, "Even though I would do anything to be in a room with all of those people acting and having a great time," before reiterating, "But I don’t see it happening."

Cox isn't the only Friends star to discuss the possibility of reviving the series. In an interview with InStyle published in August, Jennifer Aniston said, "Before that show ended, people were asking if we were coming back. Courteney and Lisa [Kudrow] and I talk about it. I fantasize about it. It really was the greatest job I ever had."

Aniston also said, "I don’t know what it would look like today, but you never know. So many shows are being successfully rebooted. I know Matt LeBlanc doesn’t want to be asked that question anymore. But maybe we could talk him into it."

Like Cox and Aniston, Kudrow also is open to a revival, but isn't exactly sure it would work now that they're older. "I mean, something should be done," she told Conan O'Brien in January, before adding, "I don’t know what." 

As for Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, they were less optimistic about bringing the Friends crew back together. "The thing is, I just don’t know if I want to see all of us with, like, crutches and walkers," Schwimmer said on Megyn Kelly Today in January. "I doubt it, I really doubt it."

More: Jennifer Aniston & Courteney Cox Are Best (Matching) Friends on Girls' Night Out

Perry told Variety in June, "I have this recurring nightmare — I’m not kidding about this. When I’m asleep, I have this nightmare that we do Friends again and nobody cares. We do a whole series, we come back, and nobody cares about it. So if anybody asks me, I’m gonna say no. The thing is: We ended on such a high. We can’t beat it. Why would we go and do it again?"

Even though their views are different about the six New York City friends getting back together officially, never say never. Just look at Will & Grace and Murphy Brown. Maybe the Friends cast could even pull a Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life by doing a shorter series somehow?

Whatever the case, let's not forget that this is the time of revival and reboots, so Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Ross and Joey could all reunite at some point in time. Fans shouldn't lose hope just yet.

After a rigorous workout at the gym or a long run, it isn't surprising we feel physically spent. After all, a physical activity is bound to leave us exhausted. But experiencing physical exhaustion after a long day working hard at our desks can cause us to scratch our heads — sitting down all day isn't generally our idea of a workout. But as it turns out, doctors say these two forms of exhaustion often go hand in hand. 

Dr. John Mayer, clinical psychologist with Doctor On Demand, tells SheKnows everyday operations of the brain such as thinking "don't just occur by some stagnant process. The neurons that get fired and the electrical energy that it requires for the brain to operate uses energy, and that energy has to go somewhere." 

More: How Trying to "Have It All" Impacts Your Mental Health

For the most scientific explanation, think back to high school physics class. If you don't remember much (or, like me, anything), don't worry — you've got plenty of company, and luckily, doctors are here to put it in simpler terms. "The second law of thermodynamics explains that energy has to go somewhere. In this case, the energy ends up being dispersed throughout our bodies and, thus, creates fatigue," Mayer explains. 

Along the same lines, Dr. Alex Dimitriu tells SheKnows that our bodies aren't in their natural state when we spend the day at our desks without getting much movement. "Our mental 'software,' in many ways, has evolved far faster than our bodies, so we ended up working at desks while we were meant to be running through the forests, foraging for food," he says. 

More: Yes, Your Allergies Are Making You Tired

For these evolutionary reasons, Dimitriu explains that the act of sitting behind a desk all day is actually unnatural, and that's why it requires a significant level of mental and emotional effort. "Your body says, 'Let's get some sunshine, run around and be with friends and loved ones,' while your work demands may be quite different," he adds. As a result, we must exercise impulse control, which is mentally taxing. 

"Physical exhaustion is often the result of mental fatigue," Dimitriu says. "It is one of several clues that the mind and heart are not in tune."

The act of sitting behind a desk and going through the daily grind is enough to tire us out physically — so it's no wonder that, during times of emotional stress, our physical exhaustion is compounded. 

More: Feeling More Anxious This Year? You're Not Alone

Therapist and licensed clinical social worker Shannon Thomas explains that when we're under emotional stress from life events such as temporary conflict with a loved one or the grief from the loss of someone close to us, our bodies are "flooded with bad chemicals like adrenaline or cortisol." Our bodies can only handle these excessive adrenaline and cortisol levels for so long — then the chemicals begin to impact our immune, muscular and nervous systems. 

"When we find ourselves emotionally exhausted, that's a warning sign that our body is also being pressured at an unhealthy level," Thomas tells SheKnows. 

Of course, stressful and even traumatic events are unavoidable — and in order to remain successful at an office job, sitting down at a desk all day is a necessity. Dr. Michael Genovese, a physician and chief medical officer at Acadia Healthcare, tells SheKnows that it's important to be cognizant of the impact this has on our mental health — and to seek help if it triggers serious conditions like depression, anxiety or substance abuse disorders. 

"I encourage people to talk to a doctor about their overall mental health," Genovese says. "Taking care of your mental and emotional health requires the same effort as taking care of your physical well-being." 

The mind-body connection is well-documented by science, so it's completely normal to feel physically exhausted after anything from a long workday to a stressful life transition. Taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body — so, as Genovese says, it's important to be open with your doctor about both so he or she can give you the best, most comprehensive guidance possible. 

For example, a medical doctor can refer you to a therapist if they determine you need more support and care when it comes to your emotional well-being. We live in a stressful, high-paced world so, when we stop to think about it, it's not terribly surprising that day-to-day stressors can leave us physically drained. The most important thing is to find ways to reduce the toll on our physical health, and experts can help us find coping techniques that do just that.

The first episode of The Conners, which has been the source of great curiosity following the rollercoaster of events leading from the Roseanne reboot's cancellation to the announcement of the spinoff to its actual premiere on Tuesday, Oct. 16 (mere months after the reboot was canceled) handled Roseanne Conner's exit with poise, poignancy, and punch lines. It also took the opportunity to plant its flag in the ground when it came to announcing what kind of show it wanted to be going forward. Topics that permeated the original series are now coming back into focus in this spinoff while supporting characters are being given the chance to step forward and show what they can do. 

While The Conners is both the same and different from both the rebooted Roseanne, we wanted to break down this first episode based on the major differences between these two shows so you can decide for yourself if it's worth watching this highly-anticipated spinoff. Here's what we noticed about the new and improved series.

More: The Conners Cast on How They Reacted to the Viral Tweet That Ended Roseanne

1. The intro and the outro feel familiar, but there's some key changes

The Conners opted to go with the same font, same backdrop, and even the same music to open and close out the spinoff. However, one piece of the puzzle was noticeably absent. That recognizable cackle you can hear a mile away, the one you can name even if you never watched a single episode of the show in the ‘90s, is now gone. Additionally, instead of panning the kitchen table at the beginning like Roseanne used to do, The Conners closed out the episode with a reenactment of that same camera circle, sans Roseanne. After an entire episode that revolved around the exit of this character, you would think that small absence wouldn’t feel too stark, but it does.

2. The Conners feels more like the original Roseanne than the reboot did

One of the most notable differences between The Conners and the Roseanne reboot us how much more this new show actually feels like its original source material than last year’s revival did. The original Roseanne spent the majority of the '80s and '90s lamenting over issues of the members of folks who fell into the white, lower-middle-class socioeconomic bracket. It also shed light on a new hardship this group of American faced in each new episode, tackling it with dry wit, sarcasm, and a healthy dose of anger. 

Although this premise in and of itself is indicative of the white privilege that has permeated the series from inception, it felt more organic to see this new series go back to its roots. The Roseanne reboot tried a few times to find this formula again by tackling issues like the 2016 election and introducing a few people of color and a grandson who is genderfluid into the household. These additions elevated the quality of the show tenfold, but they didn’t trigger the same issues week by week that Roseanne and Dan faced. Roseanne’s death by opioids in The Conners brings that familiar formula back into the picture; hopefully, in future episodes, it continue to do so without sacrificing the diversity it has to work with now.

3. The talented Conners cast gets to show off their acting chops

It could be argued that Roseanne suffered from one of the key drawbacks most other sitcoms that have been created around a single stand-up comedian, like Everybody Loves Raymond and Seinfeld: it's tough to build a show around an actor whose performance is, in some ways, overshadowed by their more seasoned costars. Roseanne Barr was, in my opinion, never the best actor in the series but it was her show, so she towered over nearly every scene. 

In The Conners, we’re able to watch some really talented actors shine. We all know John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, and Laurie Metcalf can act, but we really get to see it now. Their chemistry as a family is really fun to watch and it feels like we can finally focus on these talented folks who have built up their chops over the years in other assorted film, television and theater projects. This, in turn, lets us, the viewers, really give the supporting cast their due — without risking seeing Roseanne overtaking the scene at any given moment.

4. There's a different kind of comedy at work

The character of Roseanne always functioned a bit like a lightning rod, and the rest of the cast took turns waiting around to who she was going to strike next. She created conflict both between herself and the outside world, and between herself and the rest of her family. Without Roseanne, everyone else in the Conner family gets along pretty well, possibly even too well? 

The Conners is funny, but it’s definitely working with a different brand of humor without Roseanne around. Her dripping sarcasm and biting comebacks were the primary source of the laughs Roseanne was built on. Now, Darlene’s dry wit, Dan’s gruff grumpiness, and Jackie’s quirks are going to have to carry the comedy (which, not gonna lie, is something that will be very exciting to see play out). 

5. Everyone (thankfully) is a lot less angry

As mentioned above, on Roseanne, the character of Roseanne was like a bolt of lightning, waiting to strike with a smart-aleck remark. When she lashed out, her insults were based in a chilled anger. Without that anger, there’s now a chance some of the issues brought to light in The Conners might fall flat. But, there’s also a chance it might be a breath of fresh air, which one can only hope happens even though it’s too hard to tell this early. But even Dan’s anger in The Conners' premiere episode over the neighbor who gave Roseanne pain pills fizzles out quickly without Roseanne to carry the torch. The Conners is guaranteed to be a more sympathetic look at their surroundings, which might actually be what it needs.

More: The First Official Promo for The Conners Is Here, & They're Better Than Ever

As a final note, it's no accident that the title of The Conners premiere episode is "Keep on Truckin" because it looks like that’s exactly what The Conners plans to do. We’ll just have to see whether or not the family runs out of gas without Roseanne to fire up the engine, but for now, consider us very optimistic to see what comes next for this TV family.

Is there anything Chrissy Teigen can't and won't do? (The answer is actually yes, but we'll get to that later.)

Teigen has announced a new project, and we can practically already hear the collective sigh of relief from fellow parents.

More: Finally, Chrissy Teigen Shares Her Much-Anticipated Banana Bread Recipe

Not only did Teigen recently release her second cookbook, Cravings: Hungry for More, on Sept. 18, launch a cookware and dishware line for Target and team up with Becca cosmetics to release a holiday makeup collection inspired by the cinnamon desserts in her new cookbook, but the mom of two is also whipping up yet another cookbook. This time, though, she’s making her recipes kid-friendly.

At her own event, #CRAVINGSFEST, which took place during the New York City Wine and Food Festival, Teigen announced she’s writing a children’s cookbook.

“I really wanna make it awesome,” Teigen said onstage, where she was joined by her husband, John Legend, and their 2-year-old daughter, Luna.

“I know kids have really simple palates and we all want to make them more refined, but they’re just kids, so we’re gonna do stuff that kids are going to love,” she continued to say, according to People.

Teigen isn’t going at this project alone, though. Luna will likely be by her side tasting all her dishes. And, she said at the event she wants fans to tweet her the dishes they’d like to see included. 

“It’s going to be so good,” she added. “Hopefully it’s Luna-approved.”

Luna was also a vital part of the approving process during the creation of Teigen’s second cookbook, which is chock-full of family recipes. 

"With the first book, I remember being a little bit nervous about including the Thai food my mom cooked for me growing up. I wasn't sure if people would be open to it, but they loved it. So, mom is back!" she said in a press release in September. "Plus, John tested absolutely every single dish, and there are many Luna-approved recipes (blueberry pancakes with cream cheese bombs, anyone?)."

While Teigen has kept herself plenty busy, there’s one project you won’t see her take on: hosting her own cooking show.

More: Antoni Porowski & Ina Garten Show Each Other Instagram Love, & We Can't Deal

At the same #CRAVINGSFEST event, a fan asked her if she would star in her own cooking show. According to People, she said she’d rather leave that up to her idols Ina Garten and Giada De Laurentiis. 

All hope isn’t lost, though. She did admit she’d consider hosting a “travel-food cooking experience” series instead. 

Ever since news broke that the Roseanne reboot would be rebooted (again) without Roseanne Barr, speculation has run rampant about how The Conners might write off the original series matriarch. And now we all know. The Conners premiered on Tuesday night and didn’t waste any time addressing the fate of Barr’s character. 

More: 5 Ways The Conners Is Different From Roseanne

While the family initially thought she died at night due to a heart attack, they realized after discovering painkillers stashed throughout the house that Roseanne suffered from an unknown-to-everyone-else addiction. Ultimately, an opioid overdose killed her. 

Of course, this wasn’t entirely shocking. An episode in the first incantation of the revival showed Roseanne come to the realization she had a painkiller problem stemming from an operation. 

During a panel at Paley Center on Tuesday night, executive producer Tom Werner explained that the show felt they had an opportunity to raise awareness about a very real problem in an authentic way. 

“I think it was important that we all be respectful of Roseanne Conner and Roseanne Barr, but as we talked about it… what made the show work for us is I think we were touching on themes that were very relevant to our audience,” he told the crowd.

Werner added, “This is a problem — and again, we’re doing a comedy — this is a problem that has affects [sic] tens of thousands of people, opioid addiction — 80,000 people died last year dealing with opioid addiction and overdose. We felt that this is something that could shine a light on [the issue].”

More: The  Roseanne  Reboot Opening Credits Will Get You Pumped

Fan reaction to the way ABC decided to write Roseanne Conner off proved to be a bit of a mixed bag. 

Some fans, to put it bluntly, weren’t fans at all. 

However, plenty of viewers fell in love with the family all over again.

And some made a salient point: Addressing an issue not typically dealt with on primetime TV (in this case, the very real opioid crisis) is trademark Roseanne. 

It comes as little surprise that Barr herself — who’d been fired in May from the Roseanne reboot due to a racist tweet — had something to say about the way her character’s death was handled in the spinoff. 

“While we wish the very best for the cast and production crew of The Conners, all of whom are deeply dedicated to their craft and were Roseanne’s cherished colleagues, we regret that ABC chose to cancel Roseanne by killing off the Roseanne Conner character,” the actor said in a joint statement alongside her friend and frequent podcast collaborator, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. 

More: The Conners Cast on How They Reacted to the Viral Tweet That Ended Roseanne

They continued, “That [Roseanne’s death] was done through an opioid overdose lent an unnecessary grim and morbid dimension to an otherwise happy family show.” 

Barr and Boteach noted that Barr went on to reiterate that ABC didn’t have to fire Barr or kill off her character — per their statement, the “cancellation of Roseanne is an opportunity squandered due in equal parts to fear, hubris, and a refusal to forgive.” 

While detractors will likely point out that The Conners, with 10 million viewers, didn't perform as well as the Roseanne reboot (which had over 17 million viewers), it should be noted that The Conners numbers still make it the No. 1 new comedy series of the TV season. And excluding Roseanne — which isn't counted due to being a revival — The Conners is ABC's most-watched comedy series debut in four years. 

Tune in and make the call for yourself on Tuesday nights at 8/7c on ABC. 

If you ever thought cooking competition shows didn’t get any better than Bravo’s Top Chef, Netflix could prove you wrong.

Hitting the streaming giant on Nov. 20 is a brand-new cooking competition, The Final Table. It’s been described as a blend of Top Chef and Iron Chef, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.

The reality TV competition show is elevated in a few ways.

For starters, the 10-episode show sought out 24 chefs from 18 different countries, all of which will compete in teams of two for a spot at the final table of culinary icons. 

Each episode will focus on one country — U.S., India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, England, Brazil, France and Japan — and the competitors will cook those aforementioned countries’ national dishes. The dishes will then be judged by celebrity ambassadors, food critics and that country’s best chef.

For the U.S., the celebrity ambassadors are Fargo star Colin Hanks and comedian Dax Shepard, and the food critic is Times editor and former restaurant reviewer Sam Sifton. 

Supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio will also make an appearance on The Final Table as an Italian ambassador.

Take a look at the full list of celeb ambassadors and food critics below.

The celeb ambassadors & judges:

• Colin Hanks and Dax Shepard (United States)
• Martha Higareda and Julio César Chávez (Mexico)
• Miguel Bosé and Ana Polvorosa (Spain)
• Gary Lineker and Cat Deeley (United Kingdom)
• Alessandra Ambrosio and Bebel Gilberto (Brazil)
• Hasan Minhaj and Ranganathan Madhavan (India)
• Alessandro Del Piero and Eleonora Cozzella (Italy)
• Estérelle Payany (France)
• Hikari Mori and Yûji Ayabe (Japan)

The food critics:

• Sam Sifton (United States)
• Mariana Camacho (Mexico)
• Borja Beneyto (Spain)
• Jay Rayner (United Kingdom)
• Josimar Melo (Brazil)
• Rashmi Uday Singh (India)
• Andrea Petrini (Italy)
• François-Régis Gaudry (France)
• Akiko Katayama (Japan)

Last but not least, we have the competitors, who are all already rock star chefs, but are fighting for the coveted title.

• Aaron Bludorn (New York, New York, U.S.) and Graham Campbell (Dundee, Scotland/U.K.)
• Darren MacLean (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) and Timothy Hollingsworth (Los Angeles, California, U.S.)
• Shin Takagi (Kanazawa, Japan) and Ronald Hsu (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.)
• Alex Haupt (Amsterdam, Netherlands) and Ash Heeger (Cape Town, South Africa)
• Shane Osborn (Hong Kong) and Mark Best (Australia)
• Monique Fiso (Wellington, New Zealand) and Amninder Sandhu (Mumbai, India)
• James Knappett (London, U.K.) and Ángel Vázquez (Puebla, Mexico)
• Jessica Lorigo (San Sebastián, Spain) and Johnny Spero (Washington, D.C., U.S.)
• Collin Brown (England) and Colibrí Jiménez (Mexico City, Mexico)
• Esdras Ochoa (Hong Kong) and Rafa Gil (Hong Kong)
• Charles Michel (Colombia and France) and Rodrigo Pacheco (Ecuador)
• Manuel Berganza (Singapore) and Benjamin Bensoussan (Madrid, Spain)

This exciting new cooking competition will be hosted by former Bon Appétit restaurant editor Andrew Knowlton.

The Final Table premieres Tuesday, Nov. 20 on Netflix, just days before Thanksgiving.

For her first foray into the world of film production as an executive producer, Westworld star Thandie Newton knew she wanted to make it count by involving herself with the documentary Liyana (in theaters now) and the team behind it (prolific documentarians Aaron and Anna Kopp and 3-D animator Shofela Coker). When SheKnows spoke with Newton over the phone recently, we not only got to discuss the film itself but why, for Newton, it was so important to get this story — which beautifully interweaves the story of a young girl, Liyana, on a quest to save her twin brothers with the real-life experiences of a group of children from Swaziland — to the screen.

More: Thandie Newton May Have Confirmed She's Returning to Westworld

Throughout her career and life, Newton has sought to do work that would be more impactful beyond just providing entertainment, regardless of whether there was a financial benefit. When she was approached with the offer of becoming involved with the project, she became intrigued with the concept of a film centered around a young African girl and the way in which South African actor, activist and storyteller Gcina Mhlope guides a group of schoolchildren in creating and developing Liyana’s story, which we see in 3-D animation.

"It’s not often that the work I do as an actress that I feel such pride and feel so satisfied with the work that I put into it," Newton tells SheKnows. "There were obviously no monetary gains for me, but that really didn’t matter because this is the kind of work that is so much more satisfying."

For Newton, throwing her weight and vision behind Liyana meant helping bring to life a film that, when viewed by other women of color, might help them feel empowered, like amazing things can be achieved. As Newton describes it: "If you do things to the benefit of brown women, that’s your right. It falls directly into the health of your mind and body. Because we’re so disconnected from one another, it’s divide and rule, that’s what capitalist systems thrive on, and we are trying to at least resist and agitate the change within the system. It’s bloody hard, but I’d rather be doing that every day than just going along with it."

And during our conversation with Newton, we learned that Liyana is just the beginning of a new creative path. With Liyana finished, Newton is currently producing and putting together her first feature film. She believes that by empowering people, whether it be in front of or behind the camera, fiction or reality, the community as a whole become stronger. 

More: Denzel Washington Tells Us Why He Wants You to Get Involved & Give Back

“This movie [Liyana] is another opportunity for me to wed myself as a creative and as a human rights activist, which absolutely falls into that new category that has just evolved in my life," Newton says. "I think it’s going to be a huge amount of what I do, producing and putting together my first feature film right now, which has similarly evolved from what I think is very valuable and empowering for women and reframing our views of people of color and also creating a platform for glorious female empowerment, which I believe is human empowerment. Nurturing a woman is nurturing a family, a community and on and on and on."

It's no secret breastfeeding offers numerous health benefits. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the act can protect infants from numerous diseases and conditions, including ear infections, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, diabetes and childhood obesity. However, a new study conducted by Queen's University Belfast in collaboration with University College Dublin, University College London and Cass Business School found that breastfeeding may also enhance your child's cognitive skills.

In fact, breastfeeding may improve your baby's memory later in life.

More: Breastfeeding May Come With Another Bonus: Lowering the Risk of Stroke

The study, which began in 1958, tracked approximately 9,000 participants from birth to age 50. What researchers found is that babies who were breastfed for one month or more scored higher on memory tests in adulthood than babies who were not. 

The breastfed children also had a higher household income: 10 percent higher to be exact.

Lead researcher and lecturer in economics from Queen's Management School Dr. Mark McGovern said in a statement that these findings were important — very important — as they showed there may be a direct correlation between infancy and later economic development.

"Promotional campaigns have highlighted the health benefits of breastfeeding in recent years," McGovern said. "However, our research shows that in addition to those benefits, breastfeeding may also have a significant economic impact throughout the life course," and these benefits could impact not only the individual in question but society as a whole.

More: We May Finally Have a Drug to Treat Postpartum Depression

That said, not all women can or should breastfeed. However, if a person has the chance to breastfeed, this study is yet another reason a new mother may want to do so, even if they only do so for a short period of time.

We knew it was coming. In fact, fans of NBC’s This Is Us have been waiting not-so-patiently for it. The “it” we’re referring to? A deeper look into Jack Pearson’s past by way of his time serving in the Vietnam War. On Tuesday, fans finally got to see Jack before he was Rebecca’s husband or the Big Three’s father — and, to be honest, we’re all still wrapping our head around the revelations. 

More: This Is Us Season 3 Will Feature a Major First for Jack & Rebecca

There was a lot to unpack in this week’s Jack-centric episode but let’s start with the heart of the matter, which is quite literally Jack’s heart. As it turns out, Jack had a preexisting medical condition that almost made going into the military impossible. Naturally, this is significant because it could — we’re not saying it definitely does, but it could — help explain why Jack perished following the house fire that struck the Pearson home (which we saw play out in season two). 

This is Us fans didn't hold back when they connected the dots that Jack's death wasn't as random as we once thought; Jack was always in danger. 

Take a minute if you need to. We know we did. 

What exactly was the problem? Tachycardia. In a scene during Tuesday’s episode, a young Jack can be seen telling his longtime doctor (since he was 6), “I want to enlist, doc. I need to be there with him.” 

Which brings us to another revelation! Jack vows that his “harmless irregular heartbeat” won’t keep him from being there for one of the episode’s other big reveals: Jack’s little brother, Nicky. 

Although Nicky is alluded to and even seen briefly in previous episodes (and at different ages), the first real introduction to Jack’s brother occurs when Nick gets his draft notice. Clearly unnerved by the news, he leans hard on Jack to help calm him. In flashbacks to their childhood, we see how Jack was always Nick’s rock — supporting and protecting him in the moments their father lost his temper. Then, finally, we see Jack show up in Vietnam, catching his brother off-guard. 

More: This Is Us Has Big Plans for Miguel in Season 3

 There’s more to come from these two but, in the meantime, we are wrecked by these reveals about Jack's past. How does This Is Us always know precisely what heartstrings to pull to turn us into emotional puddles?

Keira Knightley is already raising her 3-year-old daughter, Edie, to be a feminist, and we're so here for it. During a Tuesday appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the actor shared that Edie isn't allowed to watch certain Disney movies because they send the wrong message to little girls. 

In particular, Knightley said Cinderella isn't on the viewing list for Edie. "Banned," the Oscar nominee said, "because she waits around for a rich guy to rescue her." 

More: Keira Knightley's Daughter Had the Best Reaction to Donald Trump's Win

"Don’t," Knightley continued. "Rescue yourself, obviously." (Amen!) Cinderella isn't the only Disney film that's banned in the household. "This is the one that I’m quite annoyed about because I really like the film, but Little Mermaid,'" she added. “I mean, the songs are great, but do not give your voice up for a man. Hello.'" 

More: 11 Kid-Friendly Movies Being Released in Theaters This Summer

Luckily, Disney movies have become more progressive over the past decade, and Knightley happily allows her daughter to watch films that depict strong girls and women who rescue themselves, thank you very much. 

"‘Frozen is huge, Moana totally fine," Knightley told DeGeneres. Edie is also a fan of DeGeneres' own Disney movies: Finding Nemo and Finding Dory. 

More: Girl Power Gifts for Little Wonder Women

"There’s nothing wrong with Dory," Knightley assured DeGeneres, who voiced Dory in both films. 

Many young girls idolize the characters they see on-screen, so we love that Knightley is selective of the heroines Edie is exposed to. And luckily, there are new Disney classics that send messages of self-reliance and not giving up something important to you for a love interest. More movies like that, please! 

Whether it’s a legit friend or someone you hang out with every so often and fool around with, a friend with benefits scenario can satisfy your sexual needs. It’s more than a one-night stand but less than boyfriend/girlfriend status, yet it fills a need without deep-diving into anything too meaningful. 

Sure, the lines can get blurred when it comes to these types of relationships, as sex and love can complicate things. But if you draw clear boundaries, these temporary dynamics (and booty calls!) can be a sexual godsend. If you want to hang out and hook up, there are 10 things to keep in mind. 

1. Don’t have unrealistic expectations 

If you go into an FWB situation expecting it to become something more, you’re going to wind up disappointed. 

“If you and your sex partner agree to this kind of relationship and you then don’t know why they won’t date you, it’s because that was never on the table,” Gigi Engle, a writer and sex educator, tells SheKnows. “If you’re uncomfortable with casual sex that doesn’t have a chance of developing into a relationship, don’t have friends with benefits.”

The biggest mistake dating coach Marni Kinrys sees men and women making is that they hope — fingers crossed — that an FWB will turn into something more. They think if they can just spend more time with a partner, they’ll eventually see how great and easy-breezy they are and will fall in love.  

2. Do capitalize on their benefits

Another FWB mistake Kinrys sees all the time is friends not capitalizing on their benefits. “Both parties have an open, commitment-free, no-judgment-zone relationship where they could do anything they want to or have wanted to,” she tells SheKnows. “To really capitalize on your friends-with-benefits situation, use that time to explore, try and see what you like.”  

Never done it in public? Do it. Never tried toys? Try them. “Try everything you’ve ever wanted so that you are more clear on what you want and how you want it,” she says.

More: How Jury Duty Saved My Sex Life

3. Don’t make any assumptions

Assuming what another person feels or wants is dangerous to any relationship. 

“If you both go into a sexual relationship with eyes wide open and full communication, then there can be no misunderstandings,” Spike Spencer, dating and relationship speaker, tells SheKnows. “It is a tightrope you walk if you have been very close for a long time. Misunderstandings can end the entire friendship. If you are more casual, then the stakes aren't so high. Either way, there should be some serious grown-up open discussion around the subject.”

4. Do practice self-awareness

Stella Harris, certified intimacy educator, sex coach and author of Tongue Tied: Untangling Communication in Sex, Kink, and Relationships, says a lack of self-awareness can lead to a lack of communication. 

“All too often, we think we're fine with a situation because we haven't really done our self-work,” Harris tells SheKnows. “People regularly accept an FWB situation in the hopes that more will develop, and sometimes they don't even know at first that's what they're doing.”

5. Do speak up if feelings develop

If feelings weren't part of the initial negotiation but develop anyway, Harris says you should say something. “It might mean the end of the FWB arrangement, but it means less hurt down the line,” says Harris. “Maybe the other person feels the same way. You won't know if you don't talk about it.”

6. Do put friendship first

An FWB arrangement probably means you'll go back to being friends when you're tired of hooking up — or when one of you starts dating someone else, Andrea Amour, founder of UpDate Coaching, tells SheKnows. “Throughout the FWB period, focus on being a good friend — who's also good in bed — so it makes transitioning back to being friends seamless,” she adds.

7. Don’t maintain FWB past its expiration date

The whole point of FWB is that it should be fun. “If you're hooking up and both people are having a good time, keep going,” says Amour. “If it starts being stressful, confusing or not that fun, it's probably worth high-fiving and transitioning back to a traditional friendship.”

8. Do clarify roles

‘It's not always sexy to have a ‘what are we doing here?’ talk before you hook up for the first time,” says Amour. “But if you've been together a few times — and you want to keep it going — have a five-minute check-in.” 

Make sure you're both on the same page about expectations (Are you hooking up with other people? Are you dating other people? Could it turn into a relationship?). “Otherwise, someone's probably going to get hurt and your ‘friendship’ could get really awkward, really fast,” Amour notes.

More:  The Definitive Rules of Rebound Sex

9. Do set ground rules

By definition, an FWB scenario means it’s an open relationship. It’s up to both parties to define what that means. “Does FWB mean you don’t owe an explanation to the other person in regard to who else you’re sleeping with?” asks Rori Sassoon, relationship expert and cofounder of Platinum Poire. 

“It’s up to you to say what works for you," she tells SheKnows. "This is something you can ask. Having a conversation before you are physically intimate with them minimizes the possibility that one person may be building a connection while the other is thinking it’s just physical.”

10. Do communicate

Communication is key. “If you’re thinking it can be FWB at first and then discover that you’d like to have a monogamous relationship, you should express that you may be interested in that,” says Sassoon. “Setting the stage for a relationship in this way comes with a very likely chance for you to be disappointed if the other person is not open to this. Be clear and direct with what you want — or may want — from the beginning.”

Kelly Ripa just posted an Instagram photo of the men in her family, and it has us seeing quadruple. The sweet pic depicts her husband, Mark Consuelos, with his father and the couple's two sons, 21-year-old Michael and 15-year-old Joaquin. 

Ripa captioned the photo, "Papi chulos," a Spanish slang term that essentially means "attractive men" in this context. (We concur.)

More: Kelly Ripa's Vacation Pics Prove Her Sons Are Men Now

The men share a sweet embrace in the multigenerational photo — and Conseulos' father and sons are even wearing the same color. (Consuelos himself opted for a gray coat, but he still fit in just fine.)

More: Kelly Ripa & Mark Consuelos Are Working on a Completely New Show Together

This isn't the first time Ripa has shared a pic that shows just how much her sons resemble their dad. In August, Ripa posted a photo of her husband and Michael at the Teen Choice Awards — and her Instagram followers were quick to point out the pair's resemblance.

"Wow! They look like twins!" one commenter noted, while another described Michael as "Mini Mark."

More: Kelly Ripa Claps Back at Haters Criticizing Her Family Vacation

The resemblance hasn't gone unnoticed by Riverdale's showrunners. Consuelos plays Hiram on the show, and Michael is joining the season three cast as a younger version of his dad's character. In August, the proud parents congratulated Michael on his new role — and added a healthy dose of humor in the process. 

"Congrats, Michael on being cast as young Hiram Lodge on @thecwriverdale however @instasuelos and i would like to take this opportunity to remind you and your siblings that as your fiduciaries we are hereby entitled to 10% of all future earnings hereto wit, or something like that," Ripa captioned her post.

"Bucket list moment for Mom and Dad," Consuelos wrote. "Congrats to my son Michael on being cast as the younger (and much better and handsomer) Hiram.. We are so proud. Love you MJC #riverdale#bucketlist." 

Can you say #FamilyGoals? 

Is TV saturated with reality competitions? Sure. Are we still super-hyped about the one CBS just announced via Deadline? You betcha. Because, honestly, The World’s Best sounds like the reality competition show you never knew you needed. And because we could all use something to look forward to in the near future, the series is slated to make its big debut after the Super Bowl on Feb. 3, 2019. Score! And we did a bit of sleuthing to bring you a breakdown of everything we know so far. 

More: Here Are the Secrets to Tim McGraw & Faith Hill’s 22-Year Marriage

It has some serious reality TV pedigree

If you’re worried about getting hooked on the series only for it to be unceremoniously canceled, suffice it to say this show has a better chance of survival than most. 

The reality TV competition comes via reality TV royalty Mark Burnett (The Apprentice, Shark Tank, Survivor, The Voice) and Mike Darnell (American Idol, Secret Millionaire).

The judges panel is our dream dinner party

You know how people ask which guests you’d invite to your dream dinner party? Well, the judges panel for The World’s Best is pretty much the embodiment of that question’s answer. 

The star-studded panel offering critiques to the talented contestants will consist of VH1 drag superstar RuPaul, actor Drew Barrymore and country superstar Faith Hill. It’s official — we’d tune in just to watch that trio. 

It’s bound to be super-funny too

A good host can make or break a reality show, and the one tapped for The World’s Best already has an edge — he has a background in talk television. And did we mention he’s hella funny? Say hello to The Late Late Show’s James Corden, who’ll be hosting and co-executive producing. 

It’s like America’s Got Talent but more global & 110 percent more fantastic

You might be thinking, "What makes this different from the other reality TV talent competitions already on TV now?" In a word: scope. According to a statement from CBS (as reported by Deadline), the show will feature “acts from every genre imaginable from every corner of the planet.” 

Additionally, it won’t just be the American judges these talent acts must impress. They’ll also face “the wall of the world” — 50 of the most accomplished experts from every field of entertainment from all over the globe. 

“The time has come to take talent competition shows to the next level and bring in judges from around the world to decide on the ultimate winner,” said Burnett. “It’s like the Olympics for entertainment, but you don’t have to wait every two years.” 

More: This Viral Drew Barrymore Interview Is Fake News — & It's Blowing Our Minds

Basically, this new competition show sounds amazing, and yes, you definitely need to watch; we sure will.

If you can’t get enough of HGTV’s Property Brothers, you’re in luck. The sibling duo that hosts the series has inspired a brand-new show — only this time, it’s not reality TV. Fox has green-lit a comedy pilot based on Drew and Jonathan Scott’s best-selling memoir, It Takes Two: Our Story. 

Here’s what we know so far. 

The comedy will be shot in single-camera format and, like the memoir, follow a pair of entrepreneurial twin brothers who realize they make a pretty good team. So, instead of going it alone, they decide to team up in the real estate biz. Sounds familiar, no? 

More: Drew & Jonathan Scott Have Big Plans for the Next Couple of Years

Also worth mentioning is the fact that it remains to be seen whether or not the third Scott brother, JD, will be featured on the show. Although initial reports suggest it will focus on “two brothers,” if the show follows real life, a third brother would definitely factor in through cameos. 

Interestingly, the script is being written by another set of identical twins, Jon and Josh Silberman (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia). The series, like the memoir that inspired it, will be called It Takes Two. 

More: The Scott Brothers Make Their Latest HGTV Series a Family Affair

The Scotts, proving once again that they’re total renaissance men, will co-executive produce the series, As any good fan knows, the brothers already have a slew of hit series on HGTV: the original Property Brothers along with the hit spinoffs Brother vs. Brother and Property Brothers at Home.

The brothers haven’t commented on the scripted series yet, but it could be because they’re still busy with a few other recent developments. In addition to a brand-new children’s book, they’re featured on HGTV Magazine’s first-ever flip-cover issue this month. 

If you want to bide your time until they reveal more intel on It Takes Two, you can always binge-watch back episodes of Property Brothers on Hulu. 

I don't know when my teachers and parents first suspected I might be "gifted." I mean, I was reading young and writing young — well before I entered school — but which behaviors piqued their interests are unclear. What I do know is, when I started second grade, they tested my IQ.

I sat in a room with a woman who asked me questions about words, history, science and math.

I guess I did well, because they informed my mother and father that I was "special." I was "gifted," at least as that was defined by the state of Florida — and by my elementary school. And as such, I was to be placed in accelerated classes.

Of course, gifted programs vary from school to school and state to state; even my particular program changed a great deal over the years. In the late '80s, the curriculum was simple. As a second-grader, I was placed in third-grade reading and math. Academically, I was a year ahead of my age group peers.

I know that may not sound like much — a second-grader reading, writing and problem-solving at a third-grade level — and truth be told, it wasn't. I picked the new information up quickly. I fell in step with the coursework, and before long, the transition seemed natural. I was holding my own.

More: What You Need to Know if Your Child Is Gifted & Talented

But the difference wasn't just in the work. I was placed in a separate program with new and unfamiliar teachers. I was placed in a separate classroom with new and unfamiliar friends, and I spent most of my day there, learning in a trailer set up in our school's courtyard.

And that part caught up with me.

Within a year, there was a shift — in my learning ability as well as my personality. 

You see, the jump from second grade to third grade caused me to lose out on pivotal lessons, like how do decimals, fractions and write in cursive. I struggled socially, finding it difficult to interact with my older and more advanced peers. And these lapses — in my education and socialization — caused me great anxiety.

I went from being an extrovert to an introvert: a meek and nervous little girl.

I was also a perfectionist. To a fault. Failure upset me so much that I once cried for hours because I received a B. And while this didn't seem abnormal, at least not at the time, hindsight is twenty-twenty. I see now how the emotional gap my "giftedness" caused continued to widen over the years until I was paralyzed by depression in my early teens — consumed by sadness, loneliness and fear.

It turns out these educational lapses are not uncommon. A 2009 study from Hungary’s Semmelweis University found "an association between high academic performance, creativity and the T/T genotype, a gene that’s been linked to an increased risk of psychosis — all of which may help to explain exactly why conventional wisdom tells us that gifted individuals tend to be more prone to anxiety and stress."

According to Dr. Linda E. Brody of Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, gifted children can struggle with low self-esteem, unhealthy levels of perfectionism, poor social skills and/or asynchronous development — which, according to the National Association for Gifted Children, is a "mismatch between cognitive, emotional, and physical development of gifted individuals."

All of which I have or have had.

Make no mistake: I am not blaming the school, my teachers or my parents for my mental health issues or my anxiety. It is simply part of who I am. It makes me me, and I believe I would struggle with said issues whether or not I had been placed in the gifted program. However, it is important to note that these issues are very real concerns for many gifted children.

It is also important to note that there is a difference between "gifted" students and high-achieving students, one which author Chris Cross explores in an essay entitled "The Truth About 'Gifted' Versus Achieving Students," published on Loudoun Now. According to Cross, "high achievers are students who perform at peak academic levels. They take the hardest classes and ace them all." However, gifted students often have a hard time. 

More: How to Parent a Gifted Child

"Gifted students... may or may not earn high marks," Cross wrote. They "often frustrate teachers because they don’t quite live up to their potential, especially in classes that are too easy for them... [and] many gifted children have few friends because of their esoteric interests. Sometimes, these students feel so isolated that they become depressed... even suicidal," which is something I can relate to; I tried to take my life when I was 17.

So what is a parent to do? How can you help your gifted child? Well, you engage them, you support them, and you enrich them — not just academically but emotionally. You tend to all their needs.

Does this mean things will be easy? No, not necessarily. You and they  may still struggle. No matter how preventative you are, issues may still arise. But understanding and awareness are key, as "special" children often have special needs.  

As for me, today I am a "gifted" 34-year-old woman: a wife, a writer, a mental health advocate and a mom. And while I never identify with the G-word (if I'm being honest, it makes me uncomfortable), I am talking about it today to help others — because no child should grow up feeling lost, crazy or alone.

Condoms have existed for thousands of years. According to the University of California, Santa Barbara, the condom may actually date back to 11,000 B.C., when it was first depicted in cave drawings. However, the condom didn't take its current latex form until the early 1900s. And while there have been a few innovations to the contraceptive device since that time, not much has changed... until now.  

More: How & Where to Get Free Condoms

Meet the self-lubricating condom, a protective sheath that takes on a slick and slippery quality in the presence of natural bodily fluids.

The condom was developed by scientists at Boston University, and according to a study published by The Royal Society Publishing, the condom came about after the team assessed the performance of current condoms on the market.

"A majority of participants — 73 percent — expressed a preference for a condom containing the lubricious coating, agreeing that an inherently slippery condom that remains slippery for a long duration would increase their condom usage," the team said in a statement. However, even with lubrication, some expressed pain and/or discomfort, which is why many people opt not to use condoms at all.

As such, the scientists set out to develop a better alternative, and it seems they did. 

Unlike water- or oil-based lubricating condoms, the hydrophilic, "liquid-loving" latex condom "retains its 'slippery sensation' almost indefinitely," according to the statement. What's more, the polymer coating does not affect the effectiveness of the condom and "provides consistently low friction even when subjected to large volumes of water, or 1000 cycles of articulation," the study reported.

More: How Custom-Fit Condoms Can Change Sex

That said, it may still be some time before the condom is consumer-ready. The study was small in scope — i.e., it included just 33 participants — and the new condoms have yet to be tested during sex; however, the scientists are optimistic and have already filed a patent for the self-lubricating condoms.

Menopause, like so many other aspects of women's health, is stigmatized. And if you’re approaching your mid to late 40s, there’s a good chance that menopause is on your mind. Since we all know it’s going to happen at some point, isn’t it a good idea to get the facts straight? Because let’s face it, when it comes to menopause, there are so many myths that need to go away now.

Myth: You’re too young for menopause

Fact: We hate to break it to you, but menopause can start at any age (within reason). “While it typically occurs from ages 44 to 48, it can also start in your 30s and early 40s,” Dr. Prudence Hall, founder of The Hall Center in Santa Monica, California, tells SheKnows. 

According to Hall, there are a variety of reasons menopause can start early. She says stress, viruses and birth control pills can all cause hormonal interruptions leading to an earlier menopause.

Myth: After menopause, say goodbye to your sex life

Fact: “Wrong,” says Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, an OB-GYN at Yale University. Sure, many women experience vaginal dryness after menopause, but Minkin tells SheKnows you can get vaginal moisturizer therapy, which is quite effective for most women, over the counter at your pharmacy. 

More: What Is Premature Menopause & What Can You Do About It?

And if you have issues that do not respond to the moisturizer, Minkin recommends checking in with your health care provider for other safe and effective medications. Your doctor can also help if you’re having problems with libido even after you fix the dryness problem.

Myth: You need antidepressants

Fact: Hall says the depression and anxiety you feel during menopause is due to depleted hormones, and by replacing your hormones with bioidentical hormones, your depression and anxiety will decrease much more effectively than with antidepressants. 

That said, if you have a diagnosis, you need to talk with your doctor about any medications you’re taking for depression or anxiety and how bioidentical hormones can work with your current treatment plan.

Myth: You’re stuck sweating it out, day in & day out

Fact: There are tons of remedies that help with hot flashes and night sweats. Minkin says the simplest thing to do, believe it or not, is to wear layered clothing. That way, when it gets hot, you can take off your sweater, but leave your base layer on. 

She also suggests keeping your bedroom cool at night. If your bed partner is freezing cold, consider investing in a dual-control electric blanket. It’s also a good idea to avoid known triggers for your hot flashes, which includes hot drinks, caffeine, spicy food and alcohol, particularly red wine. 

Minkin says there are several over-the-counter remedies you can try, including products like Remifemin (German black cohosh) and Relizen (Swedish pollen extract). And if you’re still uncomfortable, consult with your health care provider.

Myth: What’s the big deal about menopause? Isn’t it just a loss of ovarian function & hormones?

Fact: Menopause is so much more than just a loss of ovarian hormones. “The adrenal glands also begin to fail, thyroid hormones become imbalanced, and insulin no longer acts effectively to handle sugar,” says Hall. When you look at it that way, menopause is actually a full-body systemic decline of your body’s core endocrine glands.

Myth: When menopause is done, you’ll feel much better

Fact: Oh, how we wish this were true. But the truth is, once you’re in menopause it doesn’t end. 

“You stay in it for the rest of your life, feeling the same bad symptoms,” says Hall. And when you use bioidentical hormones to replace your menopausal hormonal deficiencies, Hall says you’re actually taken out of menopause, and the symptoms diminish or completely disappear. “Women tell me every day that they feel more healthy, vital and sexy with their hormones replaced than at any other time in their lives,” she adds. 

More: What to Eat If You're Going Through Perimenopause

This list is of myths is just the beginning. The bottom line is this: If you’re experiencing menopausal symptoms, the most important thing you can do is listen to your body and talk to your health care provider. Together, you can design a treatment plan that works best for your individual needs.