February 22, 2019 at 09:12AM by CWC Recently I learned that an old friend—a lingerie-loving sprite with a harlequin grin—took her life. We were estranged for years, but a mutual friend had recently spent time with her and sobbed to me on the phone about how “she seemed so happy.” There’s a lot more to the story, but when I think about that sad phone chat, smiling depression comes to mind because how she seemed is clearly not indicative of how she actually felt. As the public conversation about mental health expands, so is how living with a mental disorder looks. (Depression, for example, isn’t limited to an image of crying in bed for days on end). For many, it looks like nothing because so many people have learned to expertly mask their symptoms. This basically sums up smiling depression, which is characterized by maintaining the facade of happiness while battling depression. Sufferers often appear outwardly joyous and successful in all the typical parts of life “success” conjures—like having an S.O, a great job, and being wildly accomplished. It isn’t formally recognized as a psychiatric term, but comparisons have been drawn between it and atypical depression, a common form of the condition where mood reactivity is the key element (the mood can improve temporarily with positive events). Alas, atypical depression has its own diagnosis criteria separate from smiling depression, so to conceptually understand the latter—an idea that’s oh-so prominent right now—I called upon an expert to break it down. Psychologist Selena Snow, PhD says it’s common to
Month: February 2019
If you have high blood pressure, ditch the salt and try these 7 healthy foods instead
February 22, 2019 at 08:45AM by CWC Having your doctor raise their eyebrows when looking over your charts isn’t exactly the greatest feeling. Having them tell you to lay off the salt (and all the salty foods you love like ramen and popcorn) because your blood pressure is too high? Even worse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 75 million adults have high blood pressure (nearly one in three of adults). And that’s a BFD: Per the American Heart Association, high blood pressure puts strain on your heart, putting you at a greater risk for developing a heart attack or having a stroke. Lifestyle habits like exercising and quitting smoking can help, but giving your diet a revamp is key to combatting hypertension (the fancy term for high blood pressure), too. So now comes the big question: What exactly can you eat? Listed here are six healthy foods that lower blood pressure, according to current science and research. Consider this your handy go-to guide to use when meal planning. Scroll down for a list of foods that help lower blood pressure—and see what to avoid. Photo: Getty Images/Rfbrett Stevens 1. Spinach One of the best dietary habits you can make when trying to lower your blood pressure is eating foods high in potassium. Why? According to the American Heart Association, potassium helps counteract the effects of sodium (which can increase blood pressure in some people) while also easing tension in your blood vessels. The average adult should be getting 4,700 milligrams
This $3 drugstore buy will turn your shower into a zen lavender forest
February 22, 2019 at 08:20AM by CWC If I told you that I’d found a quarter-sized pampering product that has totally transformed my shower routine, would you believe me? I swear, it’s not a white lie: On a trip to the drugstore to CVS to buy toilet paper and dark chocolate (super chic, I know), I stumbled across $4 “Lavender Scented Effervescent Vapor Tablets.” The small white discs—which look a lot like TUMS—have since infused the 15 minutes I spend conditioning and exfoliating with the oh-so-calming smell of Provence. Since one package contains exactly three tablets, each blissful shower will set you back a little more than $1 a pop. You simply place one tablet on the floor of the shower directly beneath the stream. Then, like an Alka-seltzer tablet fizzing in a drink, the tiny shower-boosters slowly melt at your feet, releasing a heady lavender scent that permeates through the bathroom. All-in-all, it takes about five minutes for the water to crumble every last bit of the tablet, but the aroma sticks around long afterward. (TBH, I sometimes count detonating one of these babies as “cleaning” the bathroom since they smell so fresh.) Like an Alka-seltzer tablet fizzing in a drink, the tiny shower-boosters slowly melt at your feet, releasing a heady lavender scent that permeates through the bathroom. Since lavender notoriously takes on the ZZZ’s-inducing powers of Mr. Sandman, I prefer to schedule this ritual right before I’m about to dive beneath my covers. And just to make the
This Diet Choice May Be Messing With Your Mental Health, Study Says
February 22, 2019 at 08:18AM New research finds a link between your food and your mood. Continue Reading… Author Elizabeth Gerson | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
I work out at a movement salon where I get my Pilates with a side of soup
February 22, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC Around the country, but especially in New York City, there’s a never-ending supply of hip and trendy workouts and studios to sample. And that’s great…for some people. Don’t get me wrong, I like to work up a sweat, but I make it my mission to stay away from fitness that doubles as an Instagram opportunity. That adds a level of social anxiety that I work out to actively escape from. So after flirting with a number of workouts and studios over the years, I’ve decided to stick with the first one I ever crossed paths with: Sal Anthony’s Movement Salon. Sal Anthony’s first opened its doors in 1998, when Pilates was still a workout you had to spell out for people. To this day, the studio remains wildly untrendy. Its decor has a noticeable lack of the Pantone color of the year. There’s not a stitch of Shibori-dyed fabrics. And, for heaven’s sake, don’t expect to see whatever the plant du jour is anywhere near here. Despite all of this, the studio remains a looker, with its high ceilings and iconic stained-glass skylight. The decoration, and the studio itself, is organized chaos, and I can’t get enough. The walls (and really all of the surfaces) are covered in a random assortment of photos, posters, and artwork. I am particularly fond of the photo of Gandhi that I stare at while on the Reformer. In direct contrast to its clutterbitch aesthetic, the quiet classes at Sal Anthony’s could double as meditation.
How to master the Mediterranean diet when you don’t eat meat
February 22, 2019 at 07:35AM by CWC Everyone and their Italian grandmother seem to be following the Mediterranean diet right now. (Before it was just the grandmas.) Unlike some other eating plans, this one is tried-and-true, beloved by doctors for its cardiovascular benefits. High in fruits and veggies, healthy fats, protein, the occasional glass of wine…it really does seem to have it all. The guidelines surrounding the Mediterranean diet emphasize foods high in omega-3s and healthy fats—and of course lots of fruits and vegetables. However, when you start Googling around for recipes, you’ll often be directed to ideas for grilled salmon, couscous with shrimp and veggies, or big salad bowls topped with chicken, olives, and feta cheese. Which all sounds great—unless you don’t eat meat. It’s enough to make you wonder if it’s possible to meet the requirements of the Mediterranean diet (and reap those health benefits) while sticking to a vegetarian or vegan diet? “Part of what makes the Mediterranean diet so great is that it’s so adaptable, so it’s actually an easy one to follow even if you don’t eat meat or animal products,” says registered dietitian Marisa Moore, RD. Here, she gives tips on how to get your fill of the Med diet, the vegan or vegetarian way. She also points out some common mistakes many non-meat eaters make when trying this eating plan for the first time. Keep reading for everything you need to know. Are there any Mediterranean diet-friendly proteins? “Regardless of what eating plan they’re
The 6 healthiest items on Drew Barrymore’s wellness résumé
February 22, 2019 at 07:15AM by CWC Drew Barrymore’s wellness journey doesn’t come with filters. Growing up as a child star in one of the most iconic movies of all time, she’s been very candid about the struggles she had with fame in her early years—especially those that impacted her health. But today, it’s hard to believe the life of America’s sweetheart was ever filled with anything but green smoothies and Pilates. After making it her mission to make her health a priority, she’s stuck with it. And it shows: The girl is glowing. And what better way to celebrate her birthday than going through some of the healthiest items on her wellness résumé? From her love of natural beauty to the healthy foods she can’t get enough of, we can all learn a thing or two from Barrymore. Here are 6 of the healthiest items on Drew’s wellness résumé 1. She always keeps digestive enzymes in her purse Most people have crinkled-up receipts in the bottom of their bag—and Barrymore probably does, too. But you’ll also find some digestive enzymes floating around, which she keeps on hand to help her break down food more easily after eating so she’s not left with a stomach ache. “This way, when you eat, your stomach is saying, ‘Oh, thank you. You’re helping me,’” she says. 2. She’s a fan of going makeup-free Despite having a popular makeup line, Barrymore also loves ditching it all and going bare-faced whenever she gets the chance. Not just because it’s easier,
Ever tell a harmless white lie just to keep a conversation going? Here’s why
February 22, 2019 at 06:58AM by CWC “You’ve watched Paris, Texas, right?” “Did you see the latest Cardi B rant?” “Can you even believe what’s going on in Washington today?” Flash back to the last conversation you had with an acquaintance who referenced something about which you really have no idea and certainly can’t offer intelligent opinions regarding. There’s a good chance you still cosigned the thought, though—because fake it till you make it, right? This is the agreeable fib, AKA a knee-jerk harmless little white lie that’s probably the most innocuous, unnecessary, and weirdly embarrassing strain of deception. So why do we do it? Why risk getting into a deep, 10-minute conversation hole where the only way out is to admit you don’t even know who Cardi B is? Despite the negative connotation of deceit, the reason is surprisingly wholesome: feeling insecure and just wanting just to fit in. “Given that we’re gregarious creatures who crave to be liked and included, we often provide a ‘white-lie’ response as a primitive response designed to increase a sense of safety,” says clinical psychologist and author of Joy From Fear Carla Marie Manly, PhD. “Although a white-lie response isn’t generally ideal, such instinctive replies often stem from an often-unconscious desire for inclusion.” “Although a white-lie response isn’t generally ideal, such instinctive replies often stem from an often-unconscious desire for inclusion.” —clinical psychologist Carla Marie Manly, PhD Yeah, this checks out, especially when you consider that the agreeable fib is generally called upon when we’re
Two words to blow your workout wide open: HIIT weightlifting
February 22, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC As a person who gets quite bored in workouts, I’ve definitely hopped on the HIIT train over the past year. At the gym, you can catch me either doing a HIIT running workout, or alternating (swiftly!) between bursts of burpees and strength training and cardio movements for the biggest bang for my sweaty buck. Despite being such a devotee, though, I’ve never come across HIIT weightlifting as an option…until now. If you’re not such a fan of cardio machines or plyometrics, you can still get your HIIT on using weights and only weights. “High-intensity interval training workouts burn more calories beyond the workout itself because your body is working 24 to 36 hours after the workout,” says Angela Leigh, trainer and director of talent and fitness at Aaptiv. “To create that same EPOC—excess post-exercise oxygen consumption—effect of traditional HIIT workouts with just weights, you need to combine certain movement patterns, big bang exercises for reps and times. The goal is to complete movements with as little rest as possible to maximize the output.” So just as you’d take up the intensity of a regular run in order to make it HIIT-worthy, you’d essentially do the same to your weightlifting routine. How, exactly, can you do that? According to celebrity trainer Lacey Stone, you just have to lift heavy and incorporate little plyometric-type cardio spikes to lift your heart rate and tone your muscles at the same time. “In my opinion, incorporating HIIT training to weightlifting
The more-is-more, high-tech facials to bookmark (for your complexion’s sake)
February 22, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC When I first started booking facials, they were pretty straightforward: The esthetician would essentially slather my skin with a bunch of decadent beauty products, perhaps do some extractions, and voila—I’d be left with a glowy, hydrated, refreshed complexion. Lately, though? Facials have become multi-hyphenate experiences wherein the face is poked and needled and lit with LED lights to get a complexion boost. “By combining multiple modalities into one treatment, practitioners can enhance their clinical results and help their clients take the stress out of self care by maximizing their time,” says Stefanie DiLibero, founder of Gotham Wellness, a center that offers cosmetic acupuncture with add-ons like facial cupping, LED light treatment, and microcurrent stimulation. Facialist Ildi Pekar agrees, noting that “by utilizing effective natural techniques along with modern technology, we can provide results for common skin concerns and repair your glow with a customized nurturing experience.” I must admit I’ve had the thought during regular facials that I could mimic the same thing at home in my own bathroom—but because high-tech facials accelerate the the results you’re looking for (which isn’t exactly something you can do at home) I really feel like they’re a good way to get bang for your buck. “Adding on extra high-tech machines can help you achieve an accelerated and more long-lasting result,” says Pekar, who uses a plethora of add-ons from microcurrent machines (to tone) to oxygen therapy (to revitalize) and radio frequency (to tighten). “Adding on extra high-tech