January 07, 2019 at 01:19PM If you’re a carb lover, you’ve probably felt like persona non grata in the healthy eating world lately. The keto diet—notorious for limiting all forms of carbs in favor of healthy fats—has never been more popular. People are ditching their pasta and rice in favor of zoodles and cauliflower-everything. And some health experts are even out here insisting that you can (and should) live without carbs. (Have we all forgotten about our love affair with quinoa?) But before you dip out on carbs for good, you should probably talk to registered dietitian and 80 Twenty Nutrition founder Christy Brissette, RD. Brissette likes carbs. Like, a lot. She likes them in the form of whole grain toast and almond butter for breakfast. Or as roasted potatoes on her dinner plate (either white or sweet, depending on her mood). Or even as fruit like mango topped with Greek yogurt (aka carbs on carbs). Give up carbs? Never! Especially because Brissette says they’re actually good for you. Gasp. Not all carbs are created equal “Carbs have gotten a bad rap because when people picture carbs, they think of white bread, pastries, and other processed, nutrient-void foods linked with causing weight gain,” Brissette says. “But a lot of carb-rich foods are actually packed with other nutrients.” The big ones: fiber, vitamins like vitamin B and C, minerals like magnesium, and in the case of fruit, antioxidants. “So if you avoid carbs all together, you’re going to miss out on nutrients that are actually
Day: January 7, 2019
If your scalp is feeling dry and itchy this winter, here’s how to deal
January 07, 2019 at 01:15PM During the winter months, dry skin is about as common as puffer coats and pots full of vegan chili. While you may be taking care to de-chap your lips and moisturize your face on the reg, there’s another patch of skin that you may be forgetting about when it comes to adding extra hydration: your scalp. Yes, “dry scalp” is a thing. No, it’s not the same as dandruff (don’t worry—we’ll get there). And if you’re dealing with itchy, flaking skin up there, fear not—we’ve got you covered with a whole laundry list of expert-approved dry scalp remedies, none of which require slathering your head in yogurt or egg yolks. Even though no one actually sees the skin on your scalp, you should still care about what’s going on up there…ideally before things start to get itchy and uncomfy under your cute winter beanies. “The skin of your scalp is very much like the skin of your face or the rest of your body,” explains Dominic Burg, PhD chief scientist and trichologist with Evolis Professional. “The moisture of the scalp is influenced by the sebaceous glands, which reside within each follicle. As we know with the skin of the face, there are a variety of skin types ranging from dry to oily and this is no different for the scalp.” The symptoms of a dry scalp are more or less the same as those of dry skin in general: tightness, itching, and flaking. One thing worth keeping in
How to revive food-stained wooden spoons—and when to let them die
January 07, 2019 at 12:34PM There’s no prettier collection of utensils than a bouquet of wooden spoons displayed proudly on the kitchen countertop. Well, that is until they become so stained and rough to the touch that they totally ruin the vibe of the space. But must you let them go when they’re no longer pristine? Or can you salvage them with a little TLC? Long-lasting, yes, but wooden utensils are not immortal. Even if you care for them properly—which, FYI, means always hand-washing (sorry, dishwasher fans) and drying thoroughly with a towel—they’ll need to be replaced eventually. A little wear and tear or discoloration doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to buy replacements. However, according to The Spruce, if your spoon develops any cracks (caused by naturally drying out, exposure to extreme temperatures, or excess moisture after washing, etc.), you’ve gotta ditch it. Dried food particles and bacteria love to live in the cracks of a wooden spoon. Gross. If your wooden spoon gets worn down, rough, and fuzzy, or has some food-related stains, there’s a quick fix. You can renew wooden utensils with sandpaper or steel wool. Once smooth again, finish the job by using a soft cloth to rub in a generous amount of food-grade mineral oil. To prevent cracks from occurring, apply subsequent coats of mineral oil monthly. If you thought those turmeric, paprika, or tomato stains would never come out, rest assured that with just a little love, your collection of wooden utensils will be restored to its
Even the angriest skin is no match for anti-inflammatory elderberry serums
January 07, 2019 at 12:14PM Now that the buzziest natural ingredients of 2018 have become a part of the permanent skin-care conversation (I am personally proud to admit that I have committed for life to witch hazel toner and a rosehip oil serum), it’s time to start looking ahead to the skin saviors we’re going to be talking about through 2019 and beyond. One week into the year, and we’re already calling it: Get ready to get excited about “elderberry,” an ingredient that you’re about to see a whole lot more of in the beauty aisle. You may recognize the word “elderberry” from fancy cocktail menus, but in addition to tasting delicious when mixed with gin and simple syrup, it also happens to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties—which means its A-plus for certain skin conditions when applied topically. “It is a powerhouse for fighting free-radical damage and aging pollutants caused by environmental exposure,” says dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian of NYC’s Schweiger Dermatology. “It’s also high in vitamins (such as C and E), which will help decrease signs of aging such as sunspots and fine lines.” While the hype on elderberry is relatively new, the evidence supporting its skin-saving benefits is not. One study, for instance, found that it can help fight off the effects of aging by improving microcirculation (AKA blood circulation in teeny, tiny “micro” blood vessels), and it has been used in holistic skin care dating back to ancient times. Because it’s a natural anti-inflammatory, Dr. Nazarian notes that
Marie Kondo’s Netflix show helped me tidy up my life after a particularly rough year
January 07, 2019 at 12:07PM I certainly wasn’t expecting a show like Tidying Up with Marie Kondo to change my life: I’d had a hell of a year, and my depression was doing me no favors. In fact, all things related to minimalism and the joy-sparking KonMari Method that the home-organizing guru touts were the opposite of my MO. The trinkets of my life had begun to line the walls of my bedroom, unable to find a place to exist. So naturally, when I was offered the opportunity to cat sit at a friend’s for two weeks rather than deal with the state of my place, I jumped. I love avoidance tactics perhaps more than Kondo loves organizing. And avoidance often means watching the screeners I receive for work and pushing the thought of my literal mess to the back of my mind. But when the screener in question is Tidying Up, avoiding that mess is tough. I anticipated turning off the Netflix show pretty quickly, but Kondo’s genuine sincerity while sitting on the ground, introducing herself to the home clawed at my heart. The compassion she has for how hard it is to stay on top of the state of your home felt revelatory to me—a person who grew up getting chastised for never cleaning well enough. This guru got me! Furthermore, like Queer Eye and The Great British Baking Show, Tidying Up features imperfect people doing their imperfect best—and everyone else being nice about it. I watched the rest of
Jillian Michaels’ foolproof guide for sticking to your fitness goals in 2019
January 07, 2019 at 12:00PM I’m calling it: 2019 is officially the year we break the cycle of failed and forgotten fitness resolutions. You know the one I’m talking about. Every year, during the first week of January, gyms are so packed that you can barely get a spot on a treadmill (let alone a shower once your workout is over). Everyone is motivated by the idea of starting things off on the right foot, and committed to their resolutions of getting up at 6 a.m. every day and hitting the gym. Slowly but surely, though, more and more people opt to stay in bed instead of trekking to their local weight room, and by January 15, things are back to their normal volume. Last year, I personally gave up on my marathon training by January 4, and spent the rest of 2018 wishing I’d stuck with it. Well, this is the year that all changes. Thanks to the guidance of Jillian Michaels, creator of the MyFitness App, author of the brand-new book The 6 Keys, and leader of our ReNew Year fitness challenge, we’re going to be staying in the gym long past the second week of January. She’s already mapped out an easy-to-follow 4-week plan to help us stick to our goals, and now she’s sharing her top tips for making every workout effective, efficient, and so enjoyable that you’ll actually stick with it all year long. Read on for Jillian Michaels’ 20 tips for how to tackle your fitness goals into the
How to pick your tarot card for 2019—and what it means for the year ahead
January 07, 2019 at 10:54AM Anyone who likes getting a little extra guidance straight from the universe probably checks in on their horoscope with some regularity. A fun woo-woo activity you might be missing out on, though? Tarot cards. Each deck contains 78 cards (no two alike), all of which serve the purpose of providing a little insight into your life through the metaphors the cards display. And what better way to kick off the year than by picking out the ones that will be meaningful to you? For the latest edition of her beloved Many Moons Planner, Los Angeles-based tarot reader Sarah Faith Gottesdiener touches on the three tarot cards of the year—two meant for society as a whole and one just for you. For 2019, Gottesdiener selects the Empress, which includes themes like “the garden of your life, nature, the earth, love, and care,” and the Hanged Woman, which invokes “surrender, gaining different perspectives, and spiritual awakenings.” You can read these cards together as “a change around [the country’s] value systems, one that will take form as we all do our inner and outer work,” she writes. That is, these changes will make the world more loving, more accepting, and more charitable. Beyond the general picks of 2019, you can figure out your personal card of the year by following a few simple instructions. Gottesdiener offers four methods you can use to figure out your card. From there, you should pick whichever resonates most deeply. How to pick your tarot card for 2019,
Why your period is actually the best time for running
January 07, 2019 at 10:46AM Crazy back pain and dramatic breakouts are just a couple of the woes that can plague women during their monthly cycle. But that oh-so-special time of month does have a silver lining: According to Meg Takacs, a New York City-based CrossFit and Aaptiv trainer, it’s the (ahem!) period when some women might achieve their most goal-crushing workouts. “Yeah, periods suck. But your workouts don’t have to,” the trainer captioned a recent Instagram post. Can I get a hallelujah? While your luteal phase (the week before your flow starts) might spell more sluggish sweat sessions, the week when you’re menstruating comes with the ideal hormonal conditions to kick your usual mileage up a notch. “Schedule races, HIIT workouts, and sprint workouts” during this time, recommends the trainer. The biological reason behind this supercharged time of month is pretty cool, too. “It’s because at this time in the cycle, the female hormonal cycle is resetting and getting ready for the upcoming month,” explains Adeeti Gupta, MD, founder of Walk In GYN Care in New York City. “The estrogen has started to rise at this point and the other hormones are at a stable baseline. The hormonal symphony is a complicated topic, but essentially a woman’s energy and libido is primed during or just after the period.” View this post on Instagram The Power of Your Period Remember the last time you were mad at a wall? Yeah, periods suck. But your workouts don’t have to. Here’s the truth: *Cues Cardi B
Marie Kondo’s Best Decluttering Advice For Every Room Of The House
January 07, 2019 at 10:00AM We spark-noted her new show for you. Continue Reading… Author Emma Loewe | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
How to stay healthy when your contagious coworker won’t take a sick day
January 07, 2019 at 10:00AM Don’t come to work sick. It’s a mandate given to employees at workplaces from coast to coast, but it doesn’t stop people from arriving at the office clutching the Kleenex. Yes, there are deadlines to meet and meetings that feel too important to skip. But sometimes a day’s rest under a fluffy duvet with a bowl of chicken noodle soup is all it takes to get on the mend. So, how do you avoid getting sick at work, especially when a sickly coworker refuses to take a day off? (Darn you, open-plan offices!) People pose this question to Eddie Fatakhov, MD, a lot this time of year. You can’t control whether or not your contagious coworker takes a sick day, but you can be proactive about your own health. In addition to getting a flu shot, here’s how to decrease the odds of catching whatever is going around the office: 1. Give communal spaces a frequent and thorough wipe-down. “The use of a simple disinfectant wipe on light switches, doorknobs, and computer keyboards can minimize exposure to germs and viruses,” says Dr. Fatakhov. Literally any surface or object you share with your coworkers is worth making sure is disinfected. And while sharing is great and all (you know, most of the time), if people in the office are getting sick left and right, try to minimize your exposure to their germs by bringing in your own coffee mug from home or being a little stingy when it comes