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Day: December 22, 2018

2019 Health

Are rice cakes a better for you than toast?

3 min read

December 22, 2018 at 07:00AM Rice cakes have been a health-food favorite since the 1980s, when low-fat eating was all the rage. But unlike TCBY and SnackWell’s, they’ve had undeniable staying power; rice cakes are still a pantry staple in many healthy kitchens. A rice cake has fewer calories than a slice of bread, which suggests it’s a healthier vehicle for almond butter or smashed avocado. But not so fast. “Bread can be a very healthy choice depending on the ingredients, so I would hesitate to say that a rice cake is a better option,” say registered dietitian Maya Feller. “Some whole grain breads have more fiber than rice [cakes] and supply more vitamins and minerals.” As you probably already know, fiber is key to maintaining a healthy metabolism and keeping your digestive system running properly. Holley Grainger, RD, says that it really comes down to the type of bread you choose, considering the nutrient profiles for white bread, whole-grain bread, and gluten-free bread differ greatly. That said, most breads are likely to be more filling than any rice cake. “When swapping a slice of bread for a rice cake, it’s likely that you’ll be decreasing the amount of satiating protein, fiber, and carbohydrates that you would have otherwise eaten,” says Grainger. “Also, most commercial breads are made with flour that has been fortified with iron and folic acid, so know that you’ll be slashing these nutrients and will need to find other ways to make them up.” The takeaway: Yes,

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2019 Health

Why I’m taking my skin-care inspo from a frog this winter—and yes, I’m serious

2 min read

December 22, 2018 at 05:29AM Sometimes I see a a dog with a super-shiny coat or a glistening, oily breadstick and wonder, “What highlighter she use?” For real: I can find beauty inspiration in many, many things. So this winter, I’m looking around for particularly moisture-ridden animals/food/objects to take cues from. Certain boiled vegetables and glazed donuts have stricken my fancy, sure. And also the hot duck, which looks like he’s dripping in finesse hydration. But then, in a twist of fate, as I dug through the Reddit Skin-care addiction subthreads, I stumbled across the king of all moisturized creatures: a monkey frog. In what might just be the most inspirational beauty video I’ve seen in my entire life, the monkey frog—an especially waxy amphibian—covers its entire body in its own skin secretion (it sounds gross, but hear me out). He utilizes his itty-bitty limbs to carry out some sort of genius moisturizing method, ensuring to reach each and every bit of its skin. It’s iconic. His ambidextrous feet hydrate his rump and his back (astounding, TBH), and then he proceeds to use his front hands to moisturize his head to his snout, then down to his décolletage and stomach, all in the correct direction to stimulate his lymphatic drainage (brilliant). The end result is pure glowy radiance that I could only pray for in the midst of winter. The frog’s technique deserves some sort of skin-care reward or recognition. While I sadly can’t copy his foot-to-back moisturizing method, I’m

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2019 Health

The one tiny change I made to my workday that has had a huge mental-health payoff

5 min read

December 22, 2018 at 04:00AM This year, I planned my wedding and got married; I tacked on a restorative vacay to the tail end of trip for a friend’s destination wedding; and when a role opened up at work that aligned with my personal interests and general career goals, I raised my hand to make the shift. But I wouldn’t call any of those things the most impactful wellness change I made for myself in 2018. That, rather, would be my conscious decision to leave the office at lunchtime each day for a break. Dream big, right? Well, it’s actually a bit tricky when taking that break—to stretch your legs, breathe some fresh air, give your mind a break, and grab some nourishment—directly conflicts with another priority: packing a lunch to benefit your financial health. And sure, when I have a hankering, I treat myself to a designer salad or poké bowl or grain bowl or whatever other lunch option is available near Well+Good’s headquarters in New York City (most likely, it’s in a—you guessed it—bowl). But I want that to remain the exception to the rule because, frankly, my packed lunches generally do fulfill me. Alas, the arrangement was flawed: I routinely let pass entire days, which gave way to weeks and months (yep, months), without leaving the office at all from the time I arrived in the morning until I left for the day. I’d barely even get up from my desk. Worse than not leaving the building to

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2019 Health

This 1-minute yogic technique makes you instantly more radiant

2 min read

December 22, 2018 at 03:30AM Long drives, plane travel, and general holiday goings-on can be a *lot* for your skin and energy levels to handle. Fortunately, getting in touch with your inner—and outer—glow takes only a minute and doesn’t cost a penny. Here, Kundalini teacher Guru Jagat shares two go-anywhere, do-anywhere techniques to boost your brightness. 1-minute holiday beauty practice One of the things I love about the holidays is that even ordinary days feel special. The holidays are the time to dress up and put your best face forward. You can up the luminosity of your skin, balance your body, and activate that feel-good glow with this amazingly powerful micro-technique from Kundalini yoga. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU9iJmQlHug] 1-minute holiday radiance secret Tinsel decks the halls, lights galore bedazzle the streets and shimmering clothes are the order of the day. Tis the season for the shiniest you. I fell in love with this 1-minute practice form Kundalini yoga when I experienced how effective it was at activating undeniable magnetism.  The posture this exercise uses is called celibate pose because, when you sit in it, you create the same level of electric glow as the eternal yogis of yore without their inconvenient vow! [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WweBjFRTQMY] Guru Jagat is the founder of RA MA Institute for Applied Yogic Science and Technology, a Kundalini yoga school with locations in Venice, CA; Mallorca, Spain; and New York City, and the author of the best-selling book Invincible Living: The Power of Yoga, The Energy of Breath, and Other

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2019 Health Vegetarians

These are the top 10 healthy eating tips we learned in 2018

7 min read

December 22, 2018 at 03:00AM One of the benefits of interviewing wellness experts for a living and doing deep dives into questions that keep us up at night (Are potatoes healthy? Can you OD on adaptogens?) is that you learn a lot about healthy eating. It seems like a new food trend pops up every week—I think we can all agree that 2018 was the year CBD officially went mainstream—and it can be hard to know which ones are worth pursing and what’s more hype than healthy. MDs, dietitians, nutritionists, and health coaches help cut through the noise and tune into what’s really important. To that end, compiled here are the most surprising, educational, and behavior-changing eatings tips Team Well+Good learned this year. Keep reading and prepare for your mind to be blown—and for your meal-prep routine to get a New Year’s makeover. Photo: Getty Images/Klaus-Vedfelt 1. Eating moldy bread is nothing to freak out over. Unlike those apples in your crisper that take weeks to go bad, bread has a relatively short shelf life. If you don’t eat it in time, you’re bound to see fuzzy green spots starting to sprout up—a sure sign to toss the loaf. But what if you bite into your sandwich before you see it? Terrifying, right? Before you freak out—don’t. Turns out, a little bit of mold just one time isn’t going to do much damage. The image of biting into a moldy slice, though? Let’s be honest, you may never get that

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2019 Health Fashion

These $22 fuzzy slippers are single-handedly combatting my winter blues

3 min read

December 22, 2018 at 02:12AM Once the temperature starts to plummet, you won’t see me trying to figure out if that dress I bought in August could still work with a pair of thigh-high boots and a jacket. Nope. I abandon all breezy fabrics and immediately start pulling out my collection of oversized sweaters, flannel pajamas (yeah, I have multiple pairs), scarves, and pom-pom hats. “Cozy” is the watchword, my friends. And while this California expat has successfully figured out how to keep nearly every body part warm during an East Coast winter, there is always one place that has consistently stayed frozen: my feet. I don’t know if this is just because I’m tall and thus have poor circulation or what, but my feet are basically always cold. My boyfriend calls them “witch feet.” I wear socks to bed even in the summer, that’s how cold they are all the time. But I have officially solved my “witch feet” problem—well, while I’m indoors, at least—thanks to my impulse purchase of Muji’s fuzzy slipper boots. They’re “so ugly, they’re cute,” cost $22, and I’m obsessed with them. These bad boys are the perfect kind of slipper. They’re fuzzy on the outside and the inside thanks to the boa fleece fabric, keeping my feet toasty warm while making it look like my legs end in teddy bear paws. (The dream!) The softly padded sole gives your feet a bit of extra comfort and insulation from potentially cold floors. And they come up

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