Do Jaw Exercises Really Work?

Happy Monday! Each week, we delve into health and wellness trends with a healthy dose of skepticism, offering practical tips to enhance your wellbeing and performance 🥑

Here’s what you’ll find in this week’s issue:

• 🦈 Chiseled jaws: Do jaw exercises actually work?

• 💤 Use these 3 quick tips to get the best sleep ever

• 🤔 Ever tried a weird wellness trend? We wanna hear from you!

• 🧍 Solo? Give masturdating a shot (it’s not what it sounds)

Let’s go!

Personal experiences build character and make for some great stories. Share yours and we may feature you in a future issue.

Today’s Q: What’s the weirdest wellness trend you’ve ever tried?

What was it? Why’d you try it? Was the result good, bad, ugly? We're looking for raw, honest answers. The more details, the better. Hit ‘reply’ to share.

Let us know if we can use your name or if you wish to remain anonymous.

MAIN FEATURE

Do Jaw Exercises Really Work?

Almost a decade ago, a young Cristiano Ronaldo was featured in a bizarre Japanese ad for a "facial exerciser." Today, YouTube is flooded with videos promising to transform weak jaws into chiseled perfection. But are people truly sculpting their jawlines through exercise — or are quicker, more invasive methods at play? Let's dive into some key facts.

Why the Fuss?

With a whopping 4 billion+ TikTok views, "jaw trainers" captivate many viewers with the promise of a more “attractive” appearance. Men seek chiseled definition, while women turn to facial exercises like jawzrsize for a slimmer look.

What Causes a Poorly-Defined Jawline?

Factors contributing to a weak jawline include genetics, weight gain, aging, sagging skin, mouth breathing, and hormonal changes (often caused by poor sleep from mouth breathing). However, just because you have a weak jawline doesn’t mean it’s a flaw that needs to be fixed.

Do Jaw Exercises Deliver?

In theory, yes, but it's a long-term commitment. Even then, results may be modest. Instead, consider:

• Nasal Breathing: Breathe through your nose, even while sleeping. This improves sleep, which positively impacts production of hormones like testosterone and estrogen.

• Proper Posture: Practice good posture, as well as tongue posture, to enhance your jawline's appearance.

• Nutrition and Exercise: A balanced diet and regular exercise can help reduce facial fat and water weight that may hide the jawline.

• Quality Sleep: Ensure you get enough sleep, maintaining nasal breathing. Although controversial, some experts recommend mouth taping.

• Beware Overtraining: Don't overdo it; overtraining masseter muscles can lead to negative side effects like headaches and teeth grinding during sleep.

Is it Exercises or Is It Jawline Filler?

For those seeking quicker solutions, cosmetic options are increasingly popular. Jawline fillers have surged in popularity recently, so keep this in mind next time a Youtuber tells you they achieved results in “just 7 days”.

Go Further Down the Rabbit Hole…

📹 Watch: Certified Physician Reacts to Dr Huberman on How to Chisel Your Jawline and Optimize Hormones

📕Read: Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic

So there you have it. Before you go crush your week, check out the rest of the email.

— JC

OPTIMIZATION

Three Quick Sleep Tips

🌒 Create an ideal sleep environment: Keep your bedroom dark and cool. Use blackout curtains to block out light, and set the thermostat to a cooler temperature, typically between 60-71°F (15-21°C).

🚫 Avoid alcohol within 4-6 hours of bedtime. This timeframe generally allows your body sufficient time to metabolize and process alcohol, reducing the likelihood of sleep disruption. Or, even better, cut out the booze entirely.

💤 Prioritize sleep hygiene: Create a bedtime routine. Stick to a consistent bed time — even on the weekends. Establish a calming pre-sleep routine to help your mind & body wind down for sleepy town.

📆 This Week in Wellness

Every week, we scan the web for the good, the bad and the downright intriguing in the world of health and wellness.

😻 The good:

• 'Barbie Effect’: Research suggests play – like dressing up to see the Barbie movie – positively impacts adult mental health. This finding is a great excuse to go all out on your Halloween costume.

👎️ The bad:

• One Brazilian woman spent a year recovering from botulism caused by farmer’s market pesto. The takeaway? Beware of buying foods without an expiration date.

🤔 The interesting:

• No partner? No problem. Wine and dine yourself with TikTok’s “masturdating” trend. Despite how it sounds, this content is PG rated.

💭 Parting Thought

True or false? Cardio it for clowns

Shot of Wellness Mission:

We’re hellbent on making expert-backed health info accessible & free of charge. In a world full of misinformation, we bring the skepticism, so you can think of us as your witty, well-informed friend who's got your back on all things health & wellness.

Something you want to see covered in a future issue?

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Until next time ✌️ 

Hi, I’m Jenna, founder of Shot of Wellness. Every week, I curate this newsletter with the goal of helping you optimize your health, focus and wellbeing.

Please Note: This is not medical advice. This content is to be used for informational or educational purposes only. I am not a doctor — I do not even play one on TV. Please consult with a medical professional before undertaking any new diet or exercise regime. Take care.