September 25, 2018 at 02:12PM Americans certainly have a love-hate relationship when it comes to carbs. European and Asian cultures steadfastly make room for pasta, bread, and rice on their plates, but here in the States, carbs are like fanny-packs: in one day, out the next (and then, back in again?). With the low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diet dominating as the eating plan of the moment, the current consensus seems to mimic that of the early ‘aughts when the popularity of the Atkins diet was at its peak: Carbs are no good. Keto devotees limit their carb intake to just 5 to 10 percent of their diet—vastly lower than the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation that 45 to 65 percent of overall calories come from the macronutrient. The discrepancy between the recs is so big, it feels like both can’t be healthy. So, what’s the deal? Are carbs a vital part of your diet or not? First, it’s important to know the difference between the various types of carbohydrates out there. “Simple carbs are found in foods like sugary soda and bread, which get absorbed in the body quickly,” explains Wahida Karmally, MD, the director of nutrition for the Irving Center for Clinical Research and associate research scientist at Columbia University Medical Center. “But foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains have complex carbs, which are full of more nutritional benefits and get absorbed slower.” So when experts talk about carbs being “bad,” it’s mainly the first category they’re discouraging—there is merit to consuming the second category
Year: 2018
(Mostly) Mindful Parenting: My 2-Year-Old Eats A Lot Of Weird Things
September 24, 2018 at 11:00PM What it’s really like to feed (and breastfeed) my 2-year-old toddler. Continue Reading… Author | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
The weird way being tall increases your chances of getting varicose veins
September 25, 2018 at 12:46PM It’s not too often you hear anyone complaining about having model-level height and #legsfordays. What’s better than being able to reach that (literal) top-shelf matcha at the grocery store without having to get help? Unfortunately being tall does have some downsides though, one of them being that it might increase your chances of having varicose veins. Varicose veins aren’t just a vanity sore spot. They can also be painful and lead to ulcers and blood clots. The enlarged, bulging purple or blue veins that often appear on the legs and feet often come about due to a handful of reasons, including having added pressure on your veins from being overweight, your gender and family history, a lack of blood flow from sitting for long periods of time, your veins weakening as you age, or a decrease in blood flow to your legs while you’re pregnant, says the Mayo Clinic. And surprisingly, a recent study published in the journal Circulation that analyzed the data of more than 500,000 individuals ages 40 to 69 from the UK Biobank found simply being tall could play a role, too. While scientists know why being overweight or pregnant can lead to varicose veins, the whole height thing kind of threw them for a loop: “We not only found an association between height and varicose veins, but the genetic studies we did showed a causal link. That suggests that the genes and pathways that drive human height are also likely to be causing varicose veins,”
10 of the best yoga books to add to your shelf (or you know, use as a makeshift block)
September 25, 2018 at 12:31PM Maybe you’re looking to brush up on your yogic knowledge, or perhaps you know a handful of yogis who would appreciate a yoga book for the any gifting occasion that pops up. Whatever the case, finding the best yoga books in a sea of Amazon reviews is no easy feat…that’s where I come in. After hours spent scouring Amazon, I found 10 of the top yoga books for you to consider adding to your collection. Because whether you’re looking to get through a yoga sequence or refine your technique, it can be nice to have a read on hand. No matter if you’re a total beginner or an advanced practitioner, these are the ones that you should add to your library right here and now. Keep scrolling for the top 10 yoga books that you should add to your library right now. Photo: Amazon Every Body Yoga by Jessamyn Stanley Jessamyn Stanley made waves in the yoga space when she said that every type of body could practice yoga, which is exactly what Every Body Yoga is about: letting go of fear, getting on the yoga mat, and loving the body that you’re in. Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar If you’re new to yoga, Light On Yoga is a great place to start. Written by world-renowned yogi B.K.S. Iyengar, Light On Yoga not only gives readers a background on the philosophy of the ancient art of yoga, but it
Everyone in LA is taking sulfur supplements—should you, too?
September 25, 2018 at 11:51AM Recently, while at a dinner with some of my most wellness-obsessed (and woo-woo-leaning) friends, the topic of sulfur supplementation arose. Thrilling, I know, but everyone at the table was apparently devoted to the practice… except for me. Intrigued by the claims my friends were making—not the least of which was that sulfur can combat cancer, though it’s also purported to help prevent diabetes, contribute to glowing skin, and aid in pain relief—I decided to investigate. Sulfur, as it turns out, is a pretty big deal. “It’s the third most common element in the body,” says renowned heart surgeon and inflammation expert Steven Gundry, MD. “Sulfur is so important that many theorize that on some other planet, a sulfur-based life form (as opposed to our planet’s, which is carbon-based) could exist.” Impressive, but what do our bodies actually do with it? Quite a lot, says naturopathic doctor Amy Chadwick, ND, who practices at OM-cinita’s Four Moons Spa. “The body uses sulfur to support blood vessels, joints, and the digestive tract lining,” she says. “Sulfur also plays a role in the pathways that break down hormones and neurotransmitters.” Importantly, she says, sulfur is also necessary for making glutathione, the body’s primary intracellular antioxidant. “[Glutathione] helps the cells get rid of their garbage, which allows for healthier cell communication and reduces cell damage,” she explains. “The cells of the body keep each other healthy through feedback and signaling, but when communication becomes disrupted, cells become isolated.” This is a contributing
Hand washing doesn’t actually clean dishes without this 30-second step
September 25, 2018 at 11:23AM Hand washing your dishes seems simple enough, right? You take your trusty sponge, add some grease-fighting soap, then go to town on all that leftover red-lentil penne that decided to cling on for dear life. Even if all your plates look nice and shiny afterward though, you might not be getting things as clean as you think. One big germy mistake most people make while doing their dishes is not taking the time to give everything a solid soak. According to Apartment Therapy, the extra step ensures your plates and bowls are properly sanitized and free of foodborne illness-causing bacteria. You can kill those bad guys by submerging your dishes for 30 seconds in scalding-hot water that’s at least 170°F. (Water steams at 212°F, so H2O straight out of the hot tap should do the trick.) Think of it as giving your dishes a detoxifying bath. You could even add this essential oil blend that gets dirty dishes extra clean and treat them to the closest experience they’ll ever have to being in a dishwasher. Unless that is, you decide to trade in your (soak), wash, rinse, repeat routine for an automatic option instead. Uh oh: Dishwashing might be messing with your sex life. Don’t worry, though—here are some foreplay tips for a healthier sex life that can balance it all out. Continue Reading… Author Tehrene Firman | Well and Good Selected by iversue
The easiest way to check whether you’re dehydrated is to step on a super-smart scale
September 25, 2018 at 09:37AM Now that experts have debunked the long-held idea that the color of your pee can be used as a litmus test for your hydration levels (really, naysayers), you’ll need to keep tabs on your H2O stores some other way. You could try the “pinch test“—which sounds way more violent than it actually is, promise—or you could take a more hands-off approach and simply step on the scale. But not just any scale. New fancypants smart scales can measure your body water percentage (BWP) by sending a harmless electric current through the body (a process called bioelectric impedance analysis). Because electricity travels faster through water than solid mass (AKA your organs, bones, muscles, all that fun stuff), the scale can use the amount of resistance encountered by the electric current to calculate your BWP. Once your BWP pops up on the screen, how will you know whether that means you need to reach for your S’well, stat? According to Albert Ahn, MD, an internal medicine doctor at NYU Langone, your particular BWP needs will vary depending on your age, gender, and body composition (you can use a handy online calculator to help you determine yours). Generally though, a woman’s percentage should fall between 45-50 percent, while a man’s should be between 50-65 percent. “Those who are very athletic and active should have an additional 5 percent of body water percentage,” adds Dr. Ahn. If weighing yourself on the reg might doesn’t sound like a healthy lifestyle decision for you, Dr. Ahn says,
Swan Lake-inspired lunges give leg day a whole new spin
September 25, 2018 at 10:56AM As a little girl, I used to prance around in my living room—donning a tutu—pretending that I was the princess in Swan Lake. While my childhood dream of becoming a ballerina never came to fruition (I can barely even point my toes without getting a Charlie horse), I’ve at least been able to live out that fantasy by taking a barre class here and there. The low impact workout is known for its small movements—from pliés to pulses—that look graceful but blend aspects of Pilates, yoga, ballet, and boot camp in order to seriously burn. This of course results in ballerina-esque toned and lifted muscles. Much to my (and every other ballet lover’s) joy, there’s now a Swan Lake-inspired workout that takes your barre game to the next level. Created by professionally trained ballerina Saskia Gregson-Williams, founder of Naturally Sassy and its corresponding online workout studio, the Swan Lake Leg Sculpt sequence is meant to use your body as resistance to help you gain strength and flexibility—all from the comfort of your own home with no equipment required. To evoke the stars of the ballet—and lengthen your gams as you do so—try this regimen at home, 12 reps at 4 sets, alternating right and left legs. Keep scrolling for the Swan Lake Leg Sculpt workout. Photo: Naturally Sassy Swan lunge “This exercise is my go-to for toned legs, working the glutes, quads, hamstrings, and inner thighs,” says Gregson-Williams. “As you pivot from the second position into the lunge,
4 chair yoga moves that treat back pain sustained from slouching at your desk job
September 25, 2018 at 10:16AM A lot of jobs require a whole lot of sitting—and considering that the average workday consists of at least eight hours, that’s a minimum of 40 hours a week spent hunched over your desk. Not only does all this time on your booty cause pain all over your body—especially in your neck and back—but experts say it can also increase your risk of developing health issues like diabetes and heart disease. So how do you combat a problem like this that originates from something over which you don’t have much control (as in, your job)? Do a little yoga, of course. Yoga instructor Mary Ochsner recently shared her fix for avoiding the aftermath of slouching for hours on end, and you don’t even have to leave your chair to get some relief. “Most of us spend the majority of our days slouched at our desks, hunched over the steering wheel of our cars, or leaning over our phones,” she writes. “The next time you’re at your desk for too long, try these poses for a great stretch. They’ll help counter the slouch and improve your posture.” “Most of us spend majority of our days slouched at our desks, hunched over the steering wheel of our cars, or leaning over our phones.” —Mary Ochsner, yoga instructor Sure, you might get some side-eye stares from your coworkers, but once they see how much these simple poses positively impact your life, they might just take a hint and
The easiest way to break in leather boots (minus the blisters)
September 25, 2018 at 09:48AM So you’re honoring the onslaught of fall weather by treating yourself to a new pair of leather boots. The purchase has you daydreaming about the endless comfy-cute leggings and sweaters combos you’ll rock them with all the season. But then reality hits: Before you can live out this hygge-fied fantasy, you’ll have to break them in (ugh). Rather than adopt a “no pain no gain” philosophy, try this method for pre-habing your shoes so you don’t have to rehab your bleeding, blistered feet. All you’ll need is a thick pair of cozy house socks and a blowdryer, according to The Independent. Once you’ve slipped your socks on, blast one of your new booties with the hairdryer for 60 seconds, or until the material is warm and soft to the touch. Put the shoe on its corresponding foot, and repeat these steps on the opposite side. When you’re all geared up, stroll around your house until both shoes have completely cooled. This trick works best when you repeat the whole process multiple times, so maybe take advantage of your time spent indoors to catch up on chores. In the end, you’ll be left with boots that are truly made for walking. So you can bid blisters, “buh-bye.” Uncomfortable doesn’t need to take up *any* space in your closet. Here are 10 pairs of heels that won’t murder your feet, and slipper shoes you can take out on the town. Continue Reading… Author Kells McPhillips | Well and Good Selected by iversue