Frequent Napping Has Health Benefits, Including Reducing Stress

This is great news for me! As a self-described expert napper, I’m always looking for a good reason to take a quick snooze. And I can do it anywhere. Couch, chair, floor, under tables, in cars. Whatever you got, I can make it work.

And I know I’m not alone; there are tons of people out there who love the napping life just as much as I do. Well, research shows that not only are naps enjoyable, but they are good for you, too.

Nap

A napping habit can help you have sharper brain function and hone your problem-solving skills. A short slumber can also help you deal with stress better, regulate your blood pressure, and even assist you with maintaining a healthy weight.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, there are three types of naps that they suggest taking:

1. Naps that you plan before you get tired. These help out with tiredness and fatigue.

2. Emergency napping is when you are too wiped out to do your everyday work and activities. These are good for people who deal with fatigue and drowsiness.

3. Habitual naps describe ones that are taken at the same time, each and every day. A lot of babies and elderly people are on this schedule.

Nap

Napping is frowned upon in the United States because of our hectic work schedules, but in other countries, it’s very common to take a nap during the day. A study from Greece – where napping is culturally much more accepted – found that napping three times a week can lower your risk of developing a serious heart condition by up to 37%.

Nap time

The amount of time you nap has benefits for different aspects of your health. If you nap for 20 minutes, you can look forward to enhanced memory and mental alertness. A 20-30-minute nap can help boost creativity and memory. Snoozing for 30-60 minutes helps you optimize memory and decision-making skills. And if you want to nap for 60-90 minutes, you’ll experience REM sleep, which will help you to reset your brain and can improve your problem-solving skills.

Take that, anti-nappers!

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Experts Weigh in on the Health Benefits of Kombucha

You’d pretty much have to have been living in the wilderness under a rock to not have at least heard of the health craze surrounding kombucha. Even if you don’t know exactly what it is, you probably know that people think it’s good for you, right?

Enthusiasts claim it aids digestion, boosts the immune system, improves hair and skin health, detoxifies the liver, and can even help treat serious diseases like AIDS, cancer, and diabetes.

But is it really that good for you? Or even healthful at all?

So we got some info from two registered dietitians who ready to explain what it really does.

But first…

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha starts with a gelatinous blob known as a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). It’s a collection of bacteria (often acetic acid bacteria) and yeast blobbing along together in harmony.

Then, the blob is placed into a jar of black or green tea and sugar, and given 7-14 days to ferment. During that time, the yeast and bacteria feed off the sugar, making the tea carbonated and slightly alcoholic (very slightly).

To complete the process, a bottler removes the SCOBY, filters the tea, and stores the it in the fridge. Et voila!

How could kombucha affect your health?

Registered dietitian Despina Gandhi told Buzzfeed Health that acetic acid bacteria do have probiotic qualities, so drinking kombucha could conceivably aid in your GI health.

“Since so much of our immune system is influenced by our GI tract, by honing in on it, we can technically boost immunity as well.”

But registered dietitian nutritionist Angie Murad says it’s not quite a panacea.

“It’s not to say, though, that if you drink kombucha every day you’re not going to get a cold. It can just help you – it’s not something that’s necessarily harmful to your intestines.”

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K O M B U C H A ? This summer I visited Southern California and was swept away by their fabulous choice of healthy options: vegan, raw, fermented, grass-fed, organic, biodynamic – you name it, they have it. And! they have Kombucha on tap in every bar / cafe. So one morning I walk into a cute cafe, looking forward to enjoying a refreshing fizzy glass of probiotics and -horror- they were out of kombucha ? Customers were appalled. How could this ever happen? • Back in London I ended up spending so much money on Kombucha I eventually decided to brew my own. So I purchased a kit and welcomed home Scoby, my hungry friend who grew to KingKong proportions in the last few months. • Since I’m not a big fan of supplements (because the body has a limited capacity to absorb a nutrient without its carrier), I currently drink a glass day in day out to restore microbiome and support gut healing. • Are you a kombuchaddict too? • #dynamize #dynamizeco #health #happiness #holistichealth #holistichealing #holistichealer #holistictherapy #quantumhealth #quantumhealing #quantumhealer #quantumtherapy #homeopathy #homeopathyheals #homeopathyworks #yoga #nutrition #starttoday #london #kombucha #kombuchaddict #probiotics #guthealth #microbiome #healthygut #scoby

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Also, she says to make sure you’re drinking non-pasteurized kombucha for health benefits because the pasteurization process would effectively kill the good bacteria in your drink.

Aside from potentially boosting your GI health and immune system, there are no proven benefits to drinking kombucha – though some of the claims seem medically and scientifically possible.

In a 2014 review, kombucha was shown to reduce the ability of certain cancer cells to spread. It also seems that the antioxidant properties of the tea could help detoxify the liver and boost immunity.

A different study noted a drop in the blood sugar levels of diabetic rats who lapped the drink (but results based on lab rats don’t always translate).

It’s also possible that those same antioxidants could reduce the damaging effects of UV rays on the skin, but there’s no scientific studies on the effects of kombucha on skin or hair, specifically.

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For #sugarawarenessweek we want to talk to you about low-sugar diets and their benefits as well as how to handle sugar cravings for those of us who have a sweet tooth. Ever had Kombucha? It’s a great alternative for processed fizzy drinks that are often packed with lots of sugar and/or artificial sweeteners. The @gutsy_captain Kombucha is a naturally fermented living green tea with 100% natural ingredients and organic raw cane sugar. If you can’t get rid of those sugar cravings why not have more of nature’s candy ? ? ????? ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #sugarawarenessweek #sugar #awareness #week #wellness #wednesday #wellnesswednesday #kombucha #kombuchalove #coworking #coworkingspace #areaworks #areaworkscolindale #areaworksfarringdon #coworkinglife #gutsycaptain #healthylifestyle #healthy #living #organic #lifestyle

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The one article that notes effects on AIDS patients suggests that the bacteria in kombucha could overstimulate the immune systems of HIV-positive people, which could actually be detrimental to their health.

Gandhi warns against taking any unproven claims to heart.

“The important thing to remember is there are no clinical trials that prove kombucha can do these things, so they’re really just claims and anecdotal evidence.”

And you always, always want to make sure you’re drinking kombucha from a reliable source – it could be a health risk if you’re not. Murad stressed,

“If you’re doing it at home, you can introduce bad bacteria into the system, and people have become very ill. So you have to be careful to have clean food practices when you’re fermenting the kombucha.”

If you ferment it too long, it could also lead to metabolic acidosis, another medical complication.

Bottom line? Both experts agree that there’s no harm in drinking store-bought kombucha, but it’s best to keep an eye on the sugar content and serving sizes.

Gandhi says that for her, the bottom line is that “it’s not necessary to be part of a balanced diet. It doesn’t contain a lot of vitamins, minerals, or anything like that.”

So, if you like it and feel better when you drink some…go for it (responsibly)!

If not, have some probiotic yogurt and you’ll be fine.

And now you know.

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The Chainsaw Was Originally Invented to Assist with Difficult Childbirths

If you thought that c-sections were awful and take weeks to recover from, well…you’re right.

But you should also count yourself lucky. In the (not as far back as you’d think) past, your doctor or midwife might have whipped out a chainsaw if an emergency arose during labor.

Basically, the chainsaw is so good at cutting through wood and stuff because it was originally designed to be able to easily slice through flesh and bone.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Chainsaws were invented by two Scottish surgeons, John Aitken and James Jeffray, who were looking for a “more humane” way to widen the birth canal when a baby was breach or became otherwise lodged in the birth canal.

Yeah. Instead of cutting open your abdomen to remove a dangerously stuck infant (like a modern C-section), they used to just stick a knife into your pelvis and start “widening” it so the baby could slip free.

Image Credit: Pixabay

And, as if giving birth wasn’t terrifying and painful enough already, the chainsaw was invented in the 18th century – prior to the development of a little thing called anesthesia.

The chainsaw was supposed to be a faster, less painful (somehow) option for a procedure called a symphysiotomy.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Neither the procedure nor the chainsaw is today used in hospitals – in maternity wards or elsewhere – but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it happen on an upcoming season of American Horror Story.

Because just thinking about it makes me want to scream.

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It’s Not Too Late to Get Your Flu Shot, so Go Do It!

Flu season is here – and as the proud owner of two tiny little disease vectors (otherwise known as my beautiful children), I can tell you that getting sick is way easier than you might think.

Sure, you can wash your hands, try not to touch your face, and carry hand sanitizer everywhere you go, but following every single protocol didn’t save Kate Winslet in Contagion. Chances are, they’ll eventually let you down, too.

If you didn’t get the flu shot back in the early fall when it was recommended – because you decided to tough it out, or didn’t have time, or whatever – you might be thinking it’s too late to get one now.

Image Credit: Pixabay

You would be wrong, according to Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

“It’s late – but not too late.”

The vaccine does take a few weeks to build up its protection in your body, and flu season peters out around the end of February, so although you’re not too late yet, you might not want to wait any longer.

The flu can be passed around any time of year, but in the States, it is most likely to be diagnosed between October and February. That said, flu cases have been known to regularly appear as late as May.

Image Credit: U.S. Navy

You can actually get a flu shot year round, though Dr. Robert Glatter, an E.R. physician with Lennox Hill Hospital, admits there are optimal dates to try to get it done.

“You can vaccinate any time of year, but ideally, it happens in the fall.”

If you’re high risk for some reason, Dr. Joseph McBride says that it might still be a good idea to get the flu shot, even when the season begins to wane in February or March.

Another thing – you should get the flu shot even if you’ve already had the flu, doctors say. There are two reasons: first, Americans often think they have the flu but never go to a doctor and turn out to have been battling a different virus. Second, there is more than one strain of flu circulating this year, says McBride.

Image Credit: U.S. Navy

“We’ve picked up information in our surveillance system that an occasional poor soul has had one kind, recovered and then gotten another one. That’s not common, but when you have two sequential dominant strains it’s going to be more common than it has been in the past.”

Although you can technically get a flu shot any time of year, the vaccines are updated for what physicians and disease experts are expecting to see each season, so if you got one over the summer, it might not be for the strain that’s expected to dominate the following winter.

The optimal time to get a shot is late September into October. A shot received in that window should give anyone with a good immune system and no secondary complications protection until late winter/early spring.

Image Credit: Pixabay

If you’re older, younger, pregnant, or have other complicating factors, Dr. Schaffner says definitely wait a bit into the fall, because there’s some debate on how long the shot’s protections last for those kinds of people.

“I would not recommend getting a flu vaccine in August. It’s a once a year type thing, which makes it a good reason to wait until September or early October to get vaccinated.”

So there you have it, folks! Getting a flu shot reduces your chance of being completely miserable (if you’re healthy) or losing your life (if you’re in one of those other groups) by around 60%, so make sure you clear some time in your busy schedule to get one on board – if not this month or next, then definitely next fall.

Your body (and everyone who has to be around you) will thank you.

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Advice About Going Vegan from People Who Have Been There

It’s intimidating to start a new lifestyle, especially one that will have a major impact on your daily life in pretty much every way imaginable. One way to prepare yourself is by doing plenty of research, including getting advice from people who have gone before you. Frankly, hearing what they have to say can be invaluable to a successful transition.

So, if you’re considering ditching meat and other animal byproducts in the near future, these 12 pieces of advice from practicing vegans are required reading.

12. Listen to your body.

“A lot of people are allergic or intolerant to soya and quorn so try things but make note of any reactions (usually a dodgy tummy). If you want to be a ‘clean-eating’ vegan then stay away from junk food and meat/dairy substitutes, they are usually bulked out with carbs and fat. If that doesn’t bother you, go wild.” —lolalal

11. Ease into it with foods from regions that eat naturally plant-based.

“Focus your attention to foods from regions that naturally tend to be plant-based. Don’t try to replace your favorites all at once but look to eating beans and grains for satiation. Tacos, burritos, curries, Asian noodles, chili and cornbread, cannellini beans and pasta, are all friendly and easy ways to feel full and nourished.” —elyseh4fc39db5a

10. Expand your cooking range and community to help you feel entrenched.

“Do yourself a favor and purchase the Vegan Stoner cookbook on Amazon. So many awesome and easy vegan recipes. Vegan Mac and Peas is simple and delicious!” —emmaf49fcf7695

“‘Accidentally Vegan’ is a great IG page with everyday items that are unintentionally vegan friendly. ‘Madeleine Olivia’ does great budget vegan food shopping haul videos on YouTube, along with recipes from said hauls.” —lolalal

9. Hopefully you enjoy Indian and Mexican foods.

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What a timeless classic ??

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“Curries are fantastic! Sweet potato, chickpeas, lentils and tofu can all be used instead of meat! You can use coconut cream for a creamy curry sauce.

Mexican food is also easy as heck to make vegan – just use beans and mushrooms instead of meat and load up on veggies ? .” —cazboline”

8. It’s fine to start just with the easy stuff.

“Jumping right in with the plan of learning a million new vegan recipes is awesome, but can be super overwhelming. Fall back on the easy (and cheap!) stuff – PBJ, pasta with marinara, smoothies, oatmeal, falafel, soups, chili (just minus the meat), etc. Chipotle is also my fav dependable easy option for a quick and yummy vegan meal.” –Mbpanda

7. Give your tastebuds a break before jumping into meat and cheese alternatives.

“I wouldn’t suggest jumping right in to meat alternatives, trust me they will taste a lot better when you haven’t had a burger in a year. If you go straight from having real meat to meat alternatives, the thought may make you feel sick.” —cieraskye

“Do a cheese detox before trying vegan cheese! I waited about 6 months and it gave my tastebuds a chance to adjust because it is a very different taste. I would also recommend trying to get your hands on Mozzarisella, it’s the best vegan pizza cheese.” —lolalal

6. You might want to supplement with vitamins.

“Make sure to take a B12 supplement and perhaps iron. I’ve been vegan for over 2 years. The first year I didn’t supplement and my energy levels paid for it.” —kmfogleman

5. Get your cheese substitute recs here!

“Cheese for yeast flakes! It makes the transition easier, trust me. Just sprinkle it on top if you’re craving a cheesy taste.” —alicep47367d31a

“For me, cutting out dairy was the most difficult part. So here’s some recommendations to hopefully help someone else! Milk: so many awesome alternatives (soy, coconut, nut, hemp, etc.) but my absolute fav is oat milk. Oatly is the best brand imo. I actually strongly prefer it over dairy milk even if I wasn’t vegan. Cheese: Fieldroast’s Chao has been the best I’ve tried so far. Great for grilled cheese, pizza, sandwiches, etc. Also a fan of Follow Your Heart brand and Kite Hill’s ricotta. Butter: Earth Balance is fantastic. I’ve also heard Miyokos is outstanding (for cheeses too) but I haven’t tried it yet! ” —biebersdadssoulpatch

4. Eat more vegetables.

“Don’t think of it as losing access to food. Just start focusing more eating a ton vegetables and everywhere you can have a vegetable instead – do It! Mac and cheese lover? Try sweet potato mac. Big taco fan? Chickpea tacos it is. You’ll feel better and not like you are being deprived of anything. Also Oreos are still vegan if you’re in veggie overload.” —odonnellshea17

3. Become an expert at reading labels.

“Learn to read food labels…milk is hidden in so many things!” – Mariah

2. If you’re giving up a favorite food, try finding a replacement recipe.

“When I’m making vegan mac and ‘cheese’, I make a white sauce using unsweetened soya milk heated and thickened with cornstarch. I then add salt, smoked paprika and mustard powder. Maybe it doesn’t taste like traditional mac and cheese, but the smoke paprika definitely is reminiscent of smoked cheese, and it works for me!” —enilorac2

1. Become friends with nuts, seeds, and fresh herbs.

“Nuts and seeds are seriously slept on. Roast them on top veggies, sprinkle on pasta or salads, or make your own trail mix. They’re so versatile.” —copperfox666

“You MUST use spices and herbs – fresh herbs will change your life!” –emcduffie916

I’m not going vegan any time soon, but these tips are definitely interesting anyway.

Are you vegan? Are you considering it? Let us know what you think!

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Learn About the Important Hidden Benefits of Regular Exercise

I am in no way, shape, or form a model of physical fitness, but I will say that I try to go to the gym most days just so I can get my heart rate up and those endorphins flooding my brain. If I do, I just feel better about everything – I get more work done, I’m in a way better mood, and I sleep better, too.

It turns out there are a lot of hidden benefits to exercising regularly, as health psychologist and author Kelly McGonigal expounds upon in her new book: The Joy of Movement: How Exercise Helps Us Find Happiness, Hope, Connection, and Courage. McGonigal argues that there are a lot of great things that come out of exercising besides trying to look better and losing weight – those things can be important goals, of course, but there’s a lot more to it than that.

Exercise

Regular exercise can literally give us hope and a sense of purpose. It makes us happier and gives us greater overall satisfaction in life. And this applies to all kinds of exercise: jogging, swimming, yoga, biking, lifting weights, whatever.

McGonigal says, “These benefits are seen throughout the life span. They apply to every socioeconomic strata and appear to be culturally universal.”

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Here are some of the specifics that McGonigal talks about:

1. Exercise gives us a natural high when our brains release the neurotransmitters dopamine and endocannabinoids. This high can feel similar to the effects of smoking marijuana.

2. The endorphins that flow during exercise help us feel bonded to other people, whether you’re running with someone or doing a group exercise class. You can be a more social version of yourself.

3. Regular exercise can help you fight depression. McGonigal says, “It actually alters what’s happening in your brain in a way that looks really similar to meditation. People report feeling connected to all of life … and they feel more hopeful about life itself.”

4. A big brain boost is in order when you start moving. “If you are willing to move, your muscles will give you hope. Your brain will orchestrate pleasure. And your entire physiology will adjust to help you find the energy, purpose and courage you need to keep going.”

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It’s a new year, so get out there and get yourself in shape! Or at least get moving a little.

Your body and your mind will thank you for it.

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These People Are All Very Confused by Periods

Hey guys…can we have a talk? Some of you are making the rest of us look bad because you have no idea how periods work, and you kind of look like morons.

Fellas, let’s try to do a little better, okay? Go read up on this subject so you don’t embarrass yourselves any further.

Here are 10 prime examples of what I’m talking about.

1. The answer is “no.”

2. What is this thing?

3. No need to be shy.

4. How about spearmint?

5. He seems like a brilliant guy.

6. This old classic.

7. Wow. That is really something.

8. Not quite, Cody

9. Solid advice

10. “I’m not seeing it in here…”

Ladies (or maybe even some of the fellas out there), have you had any embarrassing/infuriating/annoying interactions with people about period knowledge?

Tell us all about it in the comments! We could use some more laughs!

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WOOP Is a Research-Backed Method to Help You Achieve Your Goals

All of us could use a little boost when it comes to hitting the goals we set for ourselves, right? A lot of folks out there have tried all different kinds of plans and methods to motivate themselves, but it’s just not easy.

Luckily, there is one that is backed up by research, and you might want to consider implementing it into your own life.

It’s called WOOP, which stands for wish, outcome, obstacle, plan. It’s a mental strategy meant to help you realize and achieve your goals. It’s also been called “mental contrasting.”

Here are the four, easy-to-follow steps to WOOP.

1. Identify your wish.

Your wish or goal could be something big like getting a new job or something small(ish), like going to the gym four or five days a week.

gym

2. Identify the best possible outcome if that wish came true.

Ask yourself how you would feel if you achieved that goal. What would the best possible outcome be from the situation? If a new job would relieve the stress in your life, maybe feeling calmer in your everyday life would be the best outcome.

Roman Cab

3. Recognize the obstacles that currently keep you from achieving that goal. 

Ask yourself this question: what is holding you back from achieving your goal? And, in turn, from feeling the best possible outcome? Maybe you don’t feel like you’re good enough for a new job? Maybe you don’t have any connections that could land you an interview for that new gig?

Manon a Job Interview

4. Make a plan to reach the goal.

How can you start to overcome these obstacles? Maybe you could start emailing or reaching out to a few people every week to make the connections you need to get your foot in the door at a new company. Maybe you can completely re-do your resume and send it out to all your friends and former co-workers, expressing your interest in getting a new job. You should also ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen?” to try to put your fears to rest.

Smile

As I mentioned earlier, WOOP doesn’t have to be for huge, momentous decisions. You can use this method for smaller things, like cleaning your house or exercising more. The folks behind WOOP say that it can “support all areas of behavior change. It is for people who feel stuck and don’t know what to do. It is also for people whose lives seem just fine but who feel they can do better. And it is for people who face a particular challenge or transition.”

And the research doesn’t lie. Study participants who followed WOOP doubled the amount of exercise they did over a four-month period. They ate 30% more fruits and vegetables over a two-year period. And WOOP helped people with diabetes improve their self-care.

And those are just a few examples of how it was effective.

What do you think about WOOP? Have you tried it? Did it work for you? Maybe you have some other methods for reaching your goals?

Tell us what works for you in the comments!

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10 Humorous Tweets About Having the Flu

While being sick is no reason to laugh, we’re going to make some exceptions for this article.

Yes, having the flu really sucks, but maybe we can all laugh at it to relieve the pain a little bit.

Laugh at these tweets, take some pills, go back to bed, and call me in the morning. Trust me, I’m a doctor.

1. DON’T GO OUTSIDE.

2. It’s going to be very romantic.

3. Oh, now you’re sick?

4. Thanks for the reminder.

5. Be a good parent.

6. Comes to a standstill.

7. A big F.U.

8. A total breakdown in the system.

9. I’m really not sure…

10. Being stung from all sides.

Avoid the flu this winter!

Get your flu shot and stay healthy out there!

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A Botched Surgery Causes Pubic Hair to Grow on a Woman’s Face

It’s hard to deal with traumatic events – things like a dog biting a hole in your face, for instance. That’s exactly what happened to Crystal Coombs when she was 9 years old, according to People.

It bit an actual hole, in her face.

“It was open for a while. Like how the outside of Freddie Kruger’s face looks, with the burn? That’s what the inside looked like.”

That was clearly a horrible experience for a 9-year-old child, but her saga doesn’t end there.

The video below explains a bit more about why Coombs is seeking help from Botched, a reality TV series that connects people to doctors who help them after a past botched surgery.

Coombs reveals that she had a hole in her face for a good while before she eventually sought help. Though her doctor fixed her wound, unfortunately, there were some complications to the surgery that her doctor didn’t warn her about. She says,

“He suggested the skin graft, [and to] take it from the groin. They did the surgery, and then the hair started growing.”

Coombs has been growing pubic hair on her face since that surgery. And, in fact, the show’s Dr. Terry Dubrow told her that it’s rare for a doctor to grab a patch of skin from the groin in order to do this type of surgery, for this exact reason.

“They could’ve done the back, the abdomen. You obviously wouldn’t do the armpits.”

Typically, doctors do try and match skin as well as possible before a graft, but that appears not to have been a concern this time,

The show’s doctors did say that – hair aside – Coombs’ original surgeon did a good job with the surgery, and that they’d have to be careful with her next corrective surgery. It looks like Coombs will be fine soon enough.

What do you think of Crystal Coombs’ predicament? We’re all ears for your opinion in the comments!

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