Blog Posts by Refinery29

By Rebecca Smith Hurd, Refinery29

.Angelina Jolie's recent essay about choosing to have a double mastectomy to circumvent breast cancer gave women a lot to think about. I don't know about you, but it terrifies me that extreme pre-emptive strikes like hers - as in electing to remove body parts before actually being diagnosed with an illness - seems to be the future of medicine.

Jolie explains that she tested positive for a "faulty" gene, which doctors estimated put her at very high risk for breast and ovarian cancers. Surgery, she said, greatly reduced her odds of getting sick, at least from anything having to do with her lady parts. Does that mean that every woman with a history of cancer in her family should get a DNA test? Thanks, but I'll pass. Because, honestly, if the world's most beautiful woman has somehow lost the genetic lottery, the rest of us are doomed.

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Well, maybe not all of us. The general odds of getting breast

By Kelsey Miller, Refinery29

.There is little in this life that makes us feel more healthy, glowy, and Paltrow-esque than a big glass of green. Now, we may have been a little bit skeptical about some of her lifestyle choices, but this is one thing Gwyn definitely got right. A green smoothie is a fantastic addition to your regime, whether you're looking to boost nutrient-intake, kick-start your metabolism, or just start the day off on a healthier note. Here at R29, we're utterly hooked on our green drinks, both juiced and blended. Not only are they packed with nutrients, but somehow, if you start the morning with one of these you'll find yourself eating better throughout the day. But the smoothie blends have a major leg up on juice for two reasons.

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First, with smoothies, you keep all the fiber and nutrients that get discarded in the juicing process - a major necessity for the metabolic benefits of greens. Second, and

By Amy Blaut, Refinery29

For New Yorkers, summer means sunny days in the park, the return of shorts, streetside mango vendors, and humidity - lots of it. I grew up in Miami, which is essentially the same as growing up inside a sauna. My adolescence was basically made up of one frizzy-haired disaster after the other. I've since learned that on humid days, the best thing to do is throw all your hair up.

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So, while I love my topknot as much as the next girl, I thought I'd mix things up a bit and try out these three super chic updos. They'll keep your hair off your neck and stay sleek even in the city's 90% humidity. Bring it on, NYC.

More from Refinery29:

The No-Fail Guide To Banishing Frizz - For Good

Here's The Surprising Way You're Screwing Up Your Skin

The Best New Shampoos For Your Hair Type

Here's The Real Truth About Cellulite!

By Alice Tate, Refinery29

Move over cronuts. World, meet "townies" - the newest delicacy to hit the world of hybrid pastries. Gone are the days when a classic almond croissant used to satisfy our demands for a sugar high. Now, in a world of innovation and exploration (and greed), one single pastry just isn't enough.

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Following the craze that was the "cronut," Bea Vo of London bakery Bea's Of Bloomsbury, is taking her own innovation to the drawing board (well, the mixing bowl), in search of the next best blend. There was the "muggel" (muffin-slash-bagel), the "wagel" (waffle-slash-bagel), but the best so far? The "townie." (A tart-slash-brownie, duh.) And, according to Vo, it's pretty major. The baker describes the pastry as offering "a good balance of flaky and gooey." Vo added a mince pie short crust pastry shell to a classic brownie, slightly under baked the whole lot, and voilà, the "townie" was born. Just remember where you read

By Nicole Catanese, Refinery29

.You brush your teeth, do a quick rinse with mouthwash, and floss (pretty much) every day. So, your teeth and your mouth are in tip-top shape, right? Well, hopefully if you were lucky enough to be born with the anti-cavity and never-a-root-canal genetic jackpot. But the truth is, doing what you can to ward off cavities and have a bling-y white smile is not (or should not) be your only focus. Your mouth is a straight shot to the rest of your body and what's happening in there could be a red flag for - or the instigator - of some potentially serious health concerns.

"There is an association between inflammation of the gum tissue and inflammatory processes in other parts of the body," says Gregg Lituchy, a cosmetic dentist at Lowenberg & Lituchy in NYC. And if you think about it, that makes sense - your mouth is literally a direct link to your insides. And it's a place where icky bad breath and post-eating gook thrives, which can then go well, everywhere.

By Erin Phraner, Refinery29

.Motivating to make dinner (or turn on the oven) in the heat of summer is hard. That's why easy no-cook cooking this time of yea is a no-brainer! Our go to lazy-girl meal of the moment: Crunchy Scallop Ceviche Tacos. They're loaded with fresh summery flavors and couldn't be simpler to make - just toss the ceviche ingredients in a bowl and let them hang out in the fridge for a few hours. When you come back, dinner's ready!

Crunchy Scallop Ceviche Tacos
Serves: 2 to 4

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1 pound sea scallops, quartered
1 bunch radishes, very thinly sliced
1 shallot, minced
1 jalapeno, minced
1 cup multi-color grape tomatoes, quartered
1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions, white and light green parts only (about 3)
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons salt
4 to 6 crunchy taco shells
1 to 2 avocados, sliced
Lime wedges, for serving

1. Toss the scallops, radishes, shallot,

By Eyla, Refinery29

.In the age of constant communication, 24/7 jobs, and mandatory multitasking, finding a moment for reflection is almost impossible - almost. Courtney Somer made mental wellness her mission, creating Eyla, an online resource packed with inspiration and real-life tools to maintain your personal peace. We'll be sharing some of this goodness every week on R29 Guest Stars, so whether you're looking get spiritual, clear your mind, or just read some motivating interviews, Eyla is here to help you shine brighter.

I've recently become much more aware of what I say, and I admit that sometimes, I would not want to be the one listening! The fact is we all complain sometimes, but lately, I've noticed people that complain constantly. Starting with a focus on one thing, and when that is resolved, the complaint is just moved onto the next item, topic or person. Some people can complain up to 30 times a day.

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So

By Laura Argintar, Refinery29

.We've always been a bit wary of artificial sweeteners - the key word here being "artificial" - but due to the lack of valid research, we haven't exactly banned Splenda from our lives or anything. But now, we might finally think twice about our fake sugar habit, as the Center for Science in the Public Interest has now officially downgraded sucralose's safety rating from "safe" to "caution." Meaning that because of Splenda's potential health risks, we should consider cutting our usage down to just a packet a day.

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And, don't think that switching to another artificial sweetener such as Sweet 'N Low or Equal will be any better for you - the CSPI also recommends avoiding saccharin, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium. But, before we start a substitute-sugar hysteria, it should be noted that there are still mixed opinions and skepticism surrounding the safety of artificial sweeteners. The research and