You are Here

Month: February 2019

2019 Health

Guzzling protein shakes won’t make you the Hulk, but it will do some pretty stellar things for your bod

7 min read

February 04, 2019 at 04:30AM by CWC Guzzling protein shakes brings to mind some very specific images of Hulk-like bulking from the mid ’90s. Blame those OG ads and their mega-muscly male target demo, but despite knowing how important protein is to muscles, I never learned how to supplement with it myself, and I’m not alone. One study showed that protein supplementation was a ritual that about 30 percent of women engaged in, compared with close to 70 percent of men.  So, IMHO, it’s time to uncomplicate the practice of protein supplementation for women. Like right now, thank you very much. “In the past, protein supplements have really been more targeted towards men,” says sports nutrition expert Marie Spano, MS, RD, CSCS, CSSD, even if not intentionally. With the colors on the supplement labels and the ads used to promote them, the messaging has been that: “Hey, this is for men. It helps you get bigger,” she says. But we know that’s not actually that true. “For women, protein supplements aren’t going to create bulk—we don’t have the hormones for that,” says nutritionist Lisa Kilgour. Truth be told, it’s not going to do much of anything (for anyone) unless you have a strength-training routine to accompany it. “One must lift consistently and follow a really good training program to build muscle,” confirms Spano. In fairness, over the last few years, protein companies have started to wise up to the fact that a good portion of the population kind of looks like the shrug emoji when

Read More

2019 Health Vegetarians

It’s possible to be healthy at a music festival—even if your only food option is a sad cheese sandwich

4 min read

February 04, 2019 at 04:20AM by CWC Whether you prefer twirling around to Phish at Bonnaroo or singing “thank u, next” at the top of your lungs with Ariana Grande at Coachella, you’re in good company: The festival season scene is a can’t-miss for millions of music lovers in the United States alone. For savvy concertgoers (think, more Whitney Port, less Fyre Festival ticket holders), there’s a lot more to think about pre-festival than which boho-chic outfits to pack for the experience. Maintaining a sense of wellness in that environment requires a certain amount of research and mindfulness. Sure, some venues and festivals offer activities like fitness classes, art markets, and even kid-friendly events. But, big questions remain, like what to eat, what to drink, and how to protect the ears for years of music festivals to come. Whether you’re a first-timer going to Austin City Limits or a seasoned vet heading back to Lollapalooza, easy-to-follow tips can help you have a great time without compromising your health. Eat (well), drink (water), and be healthy Festival lineups may offer a rich array of sounds from all over the world, but often the eats on offer are as basic and nutrient-lacking as they come. And if you follow specific diet plan, finding nourishment can be challenging, to say the least. Challenging, though, certainly doesn’t mean impossible. After taking in the lay of the festival land to scan all your options once you arrive at the event, holistic nutritionist Ali Shapiro suggests centering your meals

Read More

2019 Wellbeing

How To Tame Your Fight-Or-Flight Response In 3 Simple Steps

5 min read

February 04, 2019 at 12:14AM How to activate your parasympathetic nervous system by practicing awareness, breathing, and assessing the situation. Continue Reading… When was the last time a tiger chased you down? Chances are, never. But your body thinks it’s happening all the time! Even now as you’re reading this, sipping on your tea or coffee and totally safe inside your house or apartment, it’s quite possible that your body is in flight-or-fight mode. You might be thinking about the new project you got assigned at work. Doesn’t your boss know how much you already have on your plate? Or, you might be worrying about your relationship, your health, or the fact that you have way more to do this week than you can possibly manage. How will you get it all done? As your mind races through all these situations, it sends signals to your body that you’re in danger. Your body reacts. Your heart beats faster, your breath gets shallow, and digestion gets thrown off. You might wonder why this is happening and whether you’re the only one who feels like they are consistently on the verge of panic. Well, I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone. It’s your sympathetic fight-or-flight response kicking in. As a physician, ayurveda lifestyle consultant, and yoga instructor, I see patients struggling with the same thing all the time. In fact, it happens to everyone, and it’s happening in epic proportions these days in our country. The sympathetic nervous system and what you can do to tame it.

Read More

1 … 59 60 61 62 63 … 67