February 05, 2019 at 12:28PM by CWC Over the last few years, cannabis has (slowly) started going through a transformation as it becomes destigmatized and increasingly legalized around the country. There’s more information, research, and interest in it than ever before, and one of the buzziest aspects of the booming cannabis industry is a compound it contains called cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD. The phytocannabinoid, which was discovered in 1940, can be found in many plants but is most commonly extracted these days from cannabis and hemp. We’re still in the early stages of understanding the full potential, side effects, and benefits of CBD. Or, as J. H. Atkinson, MD, of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at the University of California, San Diego, told us earlier this year: “There is very little data from rigorous scientific research on the therapeutic effects of CBD.” That said, Dr. Atkinson did go on to say that some of the early research does show that CBD could be beneficial in treating anxiety. Still, finding out what’s real and what’s false about CBD oil and anxiety can be difficult. To clear up some of the confusion, I spoke to Brooke Alpert, RD, a holistic cannabis practitioner, and Cayla Rosenblum, a healthcare informatics specialist at PotBotics, on the topic to see what experts know (and don’t) about the cannabidiol and mental health. The first thing they both tell me is that should you have anxiety, you should always speak to a qualified medical and mental health professional before incorporating new
Month: February 2019
Women’s Brains Stay Sharper Longer Than Men’s, New Study Finds
February 05, 2019 at 12:26PM In the battle of the sexes, women may just have their male counterparts beat when it comes to brain health. A recent study found that women’s brains age much more slowly than men’s, accounting for about a 3.8 year difference. Continue Reading… Author Elizabeth Gerson | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Why you don’t want to have a basic vagina
February 05, 2019 at 12:02PM by CWC I didn’t realize this, but it’s important to be mindful of the pH of your vagina. The nether-regions get showered (or bathed), then shoved into undies all day, and, of course, at some point summer (or the gym) comes around and there’s the matter of sweat. All of these factors—along with plenty of others—are impacting the pH balance of your vagina. The pH scale runs from 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic) and FWIW, you want the region to fall somewhere between 3.8 and 4.1. So, just like you care for the pH balance of your skin, so too, do some say that it’s important to take special care in regards to your vagina. “Your vaginal pH matters because it can have an impact on a woman’s overall health,” explains Manon Pilon, author, renowned skin-care educator, and founder and formula of Biofemme by Nelly De Vuyst. That’s because it impacts the flora that can survive, which are important for overall vaginal health. “When your vagina’s pH is unbalanced, you’re having an issue with your vaginal microbiome,” says Lo Bosworth, founder of Love Wellness. “Low numbers of good bacteria can lead to yeast infections, or an overgrowth of bad bacteria known as bacterial vaginosis. Good bacteria creates an acidic pH that helps to protect against infection and irritation.” That good bacteria is maintained by lactobacilli (the friendly lot), according to Omnia Samra-Latif Estafan, MD, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist. “The lactobacilli create a barrier system that prevents
9 immunity-boosting recipes that show flu season who’s boss
February 05, 2019 at 11:15AM by CWC At this point in the year, it often feels like flu season is endless—like, when does the torment stop? Unfortunately, the virus is only getting started. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports flu activity is strong and will continue for weeks, and that’s not good. So far, there have been 11.4 million flu illnesses, 5.4 million doctor visits, and 136,000 hospitalizations. Those stats are more than enough to convince me to look up some immunity-boosting recipes. Beyond getting the flu shot, fighting a persistent virus requires focusing on what you’re eating. “Eating the rainbow with a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats benefits immune health, and certain nutrients are especially great at keeping your immune system healthy,” says Amy Gorin, MS, RDN. “Vitamin C keeps the immune system strong and may reduce the length and severity of symptoms of the common cold, and vitamin D helps your immune cells fight off bacteria and viruses that make their way into the body. Zinc is also important for the development of some of the cells that are in charge of defending your body against toxins or foreign substances that threaten your immunity.” So, what are you waiting for? When you #EatTheRainbow, the flu won’t even stand a chance. Try these immunity-boosting recipes to help you stay healthy all season long Photo: Unsplash/Jose Soriano 1. Turmeric and lemon green smoothie Two prime immunity-boosting ingredients to add into your green smoothie
Conquer laundry day by folding your T-shirts like they do in U.S. Army
February 05, 2019 at 10:51AM by CWC If you ask me, laundry day is, hands-down, the lowlight of the week. I can think of no fewer than 5,000 things I’d rather do. Nonetheless, each Sunday I find myself trapped in the basement of my apartment buidling, separating my whites and delicates. I’ll admit that a sense of accomplishment washes over me once the detergent has been shelved and all my leggings have been cleaned in preparation for a week of workouts. Learning how to fold T-shirts correctly is key to winning laundry day. And now that I’ve mastered a genius, Army-approved method, I’m certain I’ll feel more fulfilled the next time I rejuvenate my wardrobe. As you’ll see in the video, the “ranger roll” is a technique that turns a shirt into something resembling a tightly-wrapped burrito. The YouTuber’s method, derived from basic training in the U.S. armed forces, is strangely satisfying to watch (like when Dr. Pimple Popper faces off with a whitehead but not gross). How to fold T-shirts, the Army-approved way. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so93nqxZLjM?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281] Step 1: Spread the shirt out on a flat surface, front side facing up. Step 2: Fold the bottom part of the T-shirt upward about three inches (like you would a beanie). Smooth out the corners and make sure your fold is straight all the way around. Step 3: Take one side and fold it over the center. Fold the sleeve over as well. Step 4: Repeat on the opposite side. You should be left with a six-inch wide shirt that’s ready to be
Talk about your beauty routine the way French girls do to make it feel so. much. better.
February 05, 2019 at 10:10AM by CWC If your essential beauty products had job titles, retinol would be the cell-turnover specialist, hyaluronic acid the SVP of hydration, and vitamin C the brightening executive. It might well feel natural to value skin-care staples in terms of the results they give your complexion, but at Well+Good’s most recent TALK in New York City, New York Times beauty columnist and author of Skin Deep Bee Shapiro suggested viewing your skin-care routine through an à la Française lens. Meaning, rather than putting all the emphasis on the effects of your lotions and potions (très American), consider how they make you feel in the process of using them. “I have this French girlfriend who’s so into beauty,” Shapiro tells the audience. “When we talk about products, her descriptions are always like, ‘Oh, it feels so good. It makes me feel relaxed. I use it like a massage before I go to sleep.’” Meanwhile in the US—where we all basically have “achieve! achieve! achieve!” tattooed onto our brains—many of us tend to equate a product’s worth with what it can accomplish. But why not enjoy the actual lathering, slathering process instead? “We’re so result-driven that even during self care, we’re like, ‘Oh! Gotta achieve something.’ Maybe you just like that oil because it feels really good.” —Bee Shapiro, New York Times beauty columnist and author of Skin Deep “We’re so result-driven that even during self care, we’re like, ‘Oh! Gotta achieve something,’” Shapiro adds. “Maybe you just like that oil because it feels
6 date night outfits Marie Kondo would approve
February 05, 2019 at 10:07AM by CWC As a typical New Yorker with a strong desire to expand her closet, but the sinking reality that my apartment space just won’t allow for it (or my budget for that matter), there’s one question that, in one way or another, I’ve been asking myself a lot thus far into 2019 and that’s: WWMKD? (What would Marie Kondo do?) What would Marie Kondo do about this extreme weather? What would Marie Kondo do about (another) government shutdown? What would Marie Kondo do with Ariana Grande’s jewelry collection? And while this story isn’t necessarily here to answer any of the above burning questions (although we should still look for their answers!), it does get me wondering how the Tidy Queen herself approaches something a bit more tangible and up her alley, like Valentine’s Day. Regardless of how you celebrate (or don’t celebrate), I think we can all agree, Valentine’s Day comes with its own fair share of consumerism baggage—a quick walk into any local CVS will confirm this, with a never-ending variety of stuffed animals that play ting-y sounding renditions of “My Girl,” “You Sexy Thing,” and, my favorite left-field option, Toto’s “Africa.” Of course, once you factor in candy or flowers, dinner reservations, and possibly a gift that isn’t of the stuffed animal variety, Valentine’s Day starts to resemble a collection of things veering into the “no longer sparking joy” pile. Throw in a pink sequin cocktail dress that doesn’t quite fold well using the
The 8 Healthiest Fermented Foods To Reduce Inflammation & Boost Your Mood
February 05, 2019 at 10:15AM Get your daily dose of probiotics here! Continue Reading… Author Heather Mayer Irvine | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
More than a gut feeling: New research links your microbiome with depression
February 05, 2019 at 09:05AM by CWC An oft repeated phrase within the wellness community, “your gut is your second brain” takes on a new level of meaning with research now suggesting a real link between the two indispensable systems. Last year, a study linked injections of a particular bacterium, Mycobacterium vaccae, to reduced levels of stress in rats. This study led to greater understanding of the relationship between postpartum depression and the gastrointestinal tract. With new research published yesterday in the journal Nature Microbiology, scientists have found preliminary evidence linking low levels of certain gut bacteria to depression, reports The Guardian. By studying the feces of 1,000 people enrolled in the Flemish Gut Flora Project, researchers in Belgium set out to understand the relationship between the gut and mental health. Here’s the SparkNotes version of their findings: Two bugs found in the gut, Faecalibacterium and Coprococcus, were found more frequently in those who reported good mental health; those with depression had a lower average amount of Coprococcus and Dialister bacteria—regardless of whether or not they were on medication. Keep in mind that the study doesn’t prove a gut-brain connection when it comes to mental health. However, lead researcher Jeroen Raes says follow-up studies do suggest that there’s at least a conversation going on between the two, with the help of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin (both of which are crucial for a healthy mental state). “We studied whether gut bacteria in general would have a means to talk to the nervous system, by analyzing their DNA,” Raes told The Guardian. “We found that many
You’ve Totally Overlooked This Online Beauty Mecca—But It’s a Skin-Care Goldmine
February 05, 2019 at 07:28AM by CWC One of my 2019 goals is to revamp my skin-care lineup, because, if I’m being honest, it’s a little bare-boned at the moment. But when I scroll through endorsements of new miracle products every time I open Instagram, it’s pretty much impossible to know which ones I can really trust, right? Actually, wrong. Dermstore, a dermatologist-founded beauty marketplace, is the expert-curated skin-care shopping experience I didn’t know I needed. Basically, it cuts through the clutter to create a high-quality edit of indie brands (plus stuff I thought I could only get recommended by an MD) so that everyone from beauty mavens to newbies like me can easily find exactly what they need. “Our skin is a window to our inner health and wellness,” says Ashley Magovern, MD, Dermstore’s medical director. “There really is no shortcut to youthful-looking skin other than through a healthy mind and body.” That’s why Dermstore stocks products across the spectrum from professional-strength formulas (otherwise only available at a dermatologist’s office) to natural beauty gems and general wellness-supporting essentials. Talk about a haul. In addition to helping me buff up my nightly face routine (AKA actually stick with one), Dermstore has interviews with skin-care experts and a treasure trove of reviews to help me parse, parcel, and add to my probably-way-too-big shopping cart. Keep reading for 3 ways Dermstore helped me upgrade my beauty-shopping experience—plus my fave products you can snag right now. 1. You can save with the rewards program (and it’s actually