November 13, 2018 at 10:00PM How families are making holiday memories in the kitchen. Continue Reading… Author | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Month: November 2018
Feel like your anxiety is triggered by your social life and relationships? You’re *so* not alone
November 15, 2018 at 08:49AM Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: You’re at a friend’s birthday party, except you don’t know anyone besides the birthday girl. Everyone’s broken off into groups, talking, sharing inside jokes…and you’re in the corner of the room trying to hold your drink with your sweaty hands, desperate to not be alone but also terrified that some rando will actually talk to you. Yup, my hand is up in the air, too. And there’s a lot of you like me. In a recent survey of nearly 2,700 Well+Good readers, 91 percent reported struggling with anxiety. But here’s the thing: Besides work and stress, people reported that social situations, their relationships, and their family were major anxiety triggers. And according to an expert, that’s not at all surprising. “People tend to feel anxious about the things and people that matter most to them, and interpersonal interactions tend to matter a lot to most people,” says Rachel Davis, MD, a psychiatrist at UCHealth. “Human interaction is critical for our emotional health, our sense of well-being, and our sense of connectedness. Our self-esteem and sense of purpose in life is often defined by or contributed to the ways in which others respond to and interact with us.” So it makes sense why relationships, family, and social situations would bring on the anxiety full-force: They’re some of the most meaningful components of your life. But what can you do to make sure it’s not getting in the way of you living your
If posting selfies is narcissistic, then call me a proud narcissist
November 15, 2018 at 08:36AM Another day, another scientific finding trying to keep me from living my life…. A recent study published in The Open Psychology Journal found that folks who take excessive selfies—whatever that means—exhibit an increase in narcissistic tendencies over the course of four months (the study duration). So basically, posting excessive selfies doesn’t mean you’re narcissistic outright, but the act can transform you into narcissist? K. To be fair, the study is insanely limited in scope: Only 74 people were studied, and they were between 18 and 34 years old (though, also to be fair, this group encompasses a core selfie-taking demo). “Taking our sample as representative of the population, which there is no reason to doubt, this means that about 20 percent of people may be at risk of developing such narcissistic traits associated with their excessive visual social media use,” lead study author Phil Reed, DPhil, tells Science Daily. Well, great. Adding insult to injury of the apparent high crime of feeling myself, this isn’t even the first time the psychological community tried (and failed!) to extinguish my selfie game’s bright spark. Back in 2015, a Psychology Today article tackled this very thing. And I understand it, truly I do. We live in a culture where it’s cool to not to care and a social premium is placed on being chill. Something that’s not chill? Posting a photo of yourself when you’re looking amazing and inviting people to comment and like it. Beyond being the opposite of
A derm tells us what’s behind those unwanted chin hairs we may or may not get
November 15, 2018 at 07:13AM I remember when I first noticed it. I was going through my skin-care routine, when one stray (but surprisingly long) chin hair caught my attention. That’s new, I thought to myself. I plucked it and have continued to do so since, but over the years, I’ve realized that I’m not the only one with rogue, unwanted chin hair that appears from time to time (and by that I mean every two weeks on the dot). It’s come up in conversation at the Well+Good office, and amongst my friends, and while we vary in the number of hairs that appear and how often they come, we all have them. After doing some digging, I learned what the elusive culprit typically is: always mysterious hormones (surprise!). Since these guys are extremely complex and differ for everyone, not everyone will have the same chin hair woes. So, to find out about all of these variables, I sought out the expert advice of a dermatologist and a hormone expert. Keep scrolling for their insight. Photo: Getty Images/Science Photo Library Why unwanted chin hair happens First of all, know this—so many ladies experience the hairy issue. “Having stray facial hairs is very common for women,” says Arash Akhavan, MD, a New York City dermatologist with the Dermatology and Laser Group. “It’s not uncommon for women in their mid to upper 20s to begin noticing stray hairs on their face.” And usually, the number of hairs one finds tend to increase with age.
Alert! A legit avocado shortage is upon us, so we’re all at risk of toast withdrawal
November 15, 2018 at 07:08AM Every so often, the avocado-loving population (i.e., all of us) goes into full-on panic mode over attention-grabbing headlines about price hikes and shortfalls in production alike. And in turn, those affordable avo-toast dreams slip away unceremoniously. But by some miracle, nothing ever straight-up stopped you from getting your fix. Well, maybe until now, that is. According to Bloomberg, there’s a legit avocado shortage on the horizon that could keep you from finding the green fruit at your grocery store. Due to a price dispute between top avocado growers in Mexico and packing companies, growers have reportedly stopped harvesting the fruit, and because of that, avocado deliveries to the United States have halted—for weeks now. It’s not only the US that’s affected, either. Shipments have ceased to the other top two avocado-buying countries, too: Canada and Japan. Even though a pricing resolution has since been made, don’t expect things to self-correct instantly. The suspended shipments have affected Food Lion (which has supermarkets in 10 states), Firehouse Subs, and the healthy restaurant chain Dig Inn (which has taken avocados off its menu for the time being), among others. According to Rob Wedin, vice president of sales and marketing for Calavo Growers Inc., it could take a while for the fruit to make its way back into your diet. “The first avocados will reach the border this weekend. Many, many more will be needed to get supplies back to normal. Many avocados will not be ripened until after Thanksgiving.” —Rob Wedin, VP of sales and marketing for an
Beyoncé buys back Ivy Park from business partner accused of sexual harassment
November 15, 2018 at 06:13AM Beyoncé has officially asked British retail tycoon Philip Green to put everything he owns at Ivy Park in the box to the left. Queen Bey is taking full ownership of her fitness clothing brand amid allegations of sexual harassment and racial abuse against Green by his staff, Business of Fashion reports. “After discussions of almost a year, [Beyoncé’s] Parkwood has acquired 100 percent of the Ivy Park brand,” according to an Ivy Park statement. Few additional details are available as of now due to pending lawsuits, but here’s what we know so far. For the past two years, Green’s Topshop and Arcadia factories have been producing Ivy Park’s much-hyped streetwear and workout clothes. They’ll continue to fulfill all current orders, but TBD on who will be manufacturing Bey’s brand moving forward. Beyoncé should get more credit as a health hero and feminist. Here are just a few life lessons we’ve learned from her. Continue Reading… Author Jordan Galloway | Well and Good Selected by iversue
NYC and LA fave salad bar Sweetgreen just got $200 million and plans to expand
November 15, 2018 at 05:00AM The obsession with Sweetgreen is real. Since the company first opened its doors in 2007, it’s been showcasing a totally new side of fast food—one that serves up fresh, seasonal veggies, wholesome grains, and hearty proteins that make you feel good. While the restaurants are currently found on the coasts, a new funding round could soon let you score a healthy bowl in a city near you. According to a press release, Sweetgreen just received a $200 million investment from Fidelity Investments bringing the company’s value to more than $1 billion. Yeah, pretty big deal, huh? With this money, it’s planning on continuing to invest in its tech—as 50 percent of orders come through the app or online—its social impact (like expanding its “Sweetgreen in Schools” program, which educates kids about healthy eating and sustainability), and—maybe the most exciting part of all—building even more restaurants so people can get their fix even easier. “Recent funding will assist in expanding our footprint in existing and new markets,” Jonathan Neman, co-founder and CEO of Sweetgreen, tells me. “We’re always eager and open to explore new neighborhoods and have some exciting ones coming up in 2019, including additional stores in New York and Los Angeles. The South is certainly on the horizon as well. We want customers to be able to have Sweetgreen whenever and wherever they choose with an offering that’s personalized to them—truly creating intimacy at scale. To achieve this, the way we do things will evolve, but what
How to avoid over-stretching in yoga and Pilates—because yes, it happens
November 15, 2018 at 03:05AM As far as workouts are concerned, yoga and Pilates are typically thought of as restorative, gentle ways to get your sweat on. It’s not like you’re swinging around heavy kettlebells or throwing jabs at a punching bag. But as it turns out, they also have their own extremes: over-stretching is real. Over-stretching happens when you work a muscle or joint too hard. “It’s the difference between soreness, which is okay, and sharp pain,” says Heather Peterson, the chief yoga officer at CorePower Yoga. “When you’re stretching, you’re always supposed to push yourself a little bit—which isn’t the most comfortable feeling—but it should never be actually hurting you,” adds Tianna Strateman, the vice president of education at Club Pilates. “There’s a fine line between getting in somewhere that’s a little tight and actually causing a tear in a ligament or something of that nature.” Uhh, I’d say so. Here, both experts share their tips for avoiding over-stretching—and offer advice on how to recover if (eek!) it’s a little too late. Photo: Getty Images/ jacoblund Ease into the poses and exercises Both experts say there are a few key reasons why over-stretching can happen. One: Not warming up properly. Peterson says this can occur particularly in a heated yoga class because the high temps get you sweating before your muscles are fully warmed up. “If you’re taking a heated yoga class, don’t go your full-depth in the moves,” she advises. “For the first half of the class, only stretch
Whole Foods’ 2019 trends are here and they’re good
November 15, 2018 at 03:00AM Supermarkets are looking a lot healthier these days, in large part to chains like Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods that are willing to test innovative products and see if they resonate with consumers, who vote with their dollars. Curious as to see what the big offerings will be in 2019? Get ready: Whole Foods just released its trends report, indicating what their primary focuses will be when stocking their shelves for the year ahead. Last year, adaptogenic mushrooms, flavored sparkling beverages, and floral flavors all took center stage at the retailer. (So feel free to blame your La Croix addiction on them.) Scroll down to see Whole Foods’ 2019 wellness trends. 1. Pacific Rim flavors: Last year Whole Foods was all about expanding #TacoTuesday into an all day, everyday trend. This year, the Pacific Rim is serving up major food inspo. Expect to see more products made with tropical fruits, like dragonfruit, not only being featured in juices and smoothie bowls, but also other beverages and in nutrition bars. Another Asian staple Whole Foods says you’ll see popping up more is jackfruit. 2. Shelf-stable probiotics: Whole Foods predicts that supplements and yogurt will no longer be the only ways consumers will get their fill of good bacteria. “New strains of probiotics such as bacillus coagulans GBI-30 and bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 are making more shelf-stable applications possible,” the retailer says in a press release. “Wellness-focused brands are making it easier to get more probiotics in your
This is the most socially acceptable way to slather avocado all over your face
November 15, 2018 at 02:00AM Drop everything: You can now harness the glow-inducing benefits of avocados while you sleep (without getting green schmear all over your pillows). K-beauty brand Glow Recipe just launched the Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask ($45), which literally lets you soak in all of those essential fatty acids minus the mess. But it’s more than that—all of the parts of the superfood are utilized in the beauty product’s formula, from the avocado butter to the flesh, extracts, and the oil. So you’re getting a healthy smattering of skin benefits: soothing inflammation, infusing antioxidants, and gentle exfoliation with polyhydroxy acid. As the creators of the cult-favorite, quickly sold-out Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask, combined with the fact that they’re using the health world’s fave superfood, people are bound to go avo-crazy for this new product. While the watermelon mask was more about max hydration, while the avocado iteration provides some extra TLC since avocados are so thick and creamy. It also has Manuka honey, too, a natural antibacterial that nourishes the skin, so you’re really getting a deep, moisturizing treatment. And it delivers. I excitedly slathered the pastel green mask all over my face before bed last night and soaked in the fruity smell. While you can use it as a sleeping mask or a regular 10-minute treatment, I decided to go full monty. In the morning, as I washed the mask off, I noticed a brighter complexion that felt really plump and dewy—very different than it did the previous day, when