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Month: March 2019

2019 Health Diet

Regular old mushrooms are good for your memory—here are 5 ways to eat ’em

3 min read

March 19, 2019 at 07:01AM by CWC Mushrooms may not have the star power of, say, kale, but they’re worthy of attention. New research out of Singapore suggests that, in addition to being great for your skin and immune system, mushrooms could also be help to prevent cognitive decline. (Wow, mushrooms, way to overachieve.) And not like, fancy adaptogenic mushrooms, though those have legit benefits, too. We’re talking your run-of-the-mill, basic ‘shrooms. The study was conducted over the course of six years on 663 men and women over the age of 60. Researchers at the National University of Singapore tracked participants’ diet and lifestyle, running tests to determine cognitive abilities. They found that, compared to those who ate less than one serving (around 150 grams) of mushrooms per week, people who ate one to two servings of mushrooms per week had a 43 percent reduced risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). People with MCI have an increased risk of dementia. Those who filled their plates with more than two servings of mushrooms per week saw greater results with a 52 percent reduced risk for MCI. The study focused on golden, oyster, shiitake, white button, canned, and dried mushrooms, but researchers say it’s likely that all other mushrooms would be beneficial. It’s worth noting that the sample was relatively small, so the findings should be taken with a grain of salt. The researchers acknowledge that more work needs to be done to link mushrooms to cognitive abilities. As someone who forgets where

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2019 Health

A derm says this is how much collagen to take to make up for its loss over time

4 min read

March 19, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC Once collagen became a hot-ticket wellness item, everyone—including moi—started hoarding it in either liquid, supplement, or gummy form. On my desk as we speak, there are a total of three collagen products, including one I can slather onto my skin to stimulate the stuff topically, another to blend into my smoothie, and a third to chew for good measure. The thing is, your body already has plenty of collagen within it—it’s the main component of your bones, connective tissue, and your skin. The reason why it’s blown up as a sort of diet or vitamin staple is because that vault you have within you is constantly being subtracted from your system  (sorry). As we age—along with plenty of other factors—collagen is broken down and the production of new protein slows. So yes, we’re always making more of the stuff, but at the same time, we’re constantly depleting it as well. “Our skin cells continually make new collagen to help support the structure of the skin,” explains Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York. “After the age of 30, however, collagen production and cell turnover starts to slow down, contributing to the natural aging process. Plus, environmental exposures like UV light and pollution can also cause damage to collagen, leading to early wrinkling.” Besides that, general lifestyle factors contribute to collagen loss as well: “Diet, water intake, and sleep affect your collagen levels along with the biggest culprit being the sun,” says Louise

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2019 Health Keto

A nutritionist explains why people are so damn obsessed with MCT and coconut oils

2 min read

March 19, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdxvxtgwn4w] Let’s face it: Oil is having a moment. It’s stocked in our pantries, fridges, bathroom cabinets, and even our coffee. It’s hard to believe there was a time when our culture was afraid of it (and every other fat). With healthy fats making a major comeback, registered dietician Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, took to another episode of You Versus Food to give us the low-down of what’s really true about the health benefits in coconut oil and MCT oil. If you’re sitting here wondering what even the difference is between MCT oil vs coconut oil: MCT oil (which stands for medium-chain triglyceride) is a fatty acid composed of a 6-to-12 carbon chain. MCTs are often found in coconut oil (which contains both MCTs and other types of fatty acids) but can also stand alone. “MCT oil’s popularity has risen along with that of the keto diet, because MCT oil digests easily and goes to your liver faster, making it an attractive option for those trying to get their energy mainly from fats,” says Beckerman. However, both coconut oil and MCT oil are packed with saturated fats. One tablespoon of coconut oil has 12 grams of saturated fat (85 percent of your recommended daily consumption), she says, and MCT oil has seven grams. “In excess, it’s extremely taxing on the liver and the pancreas to constantly be digesting and metabolizing saturated fats,” Beckerman says. “Plenty of studies have shown that having a diet

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2019 Health

I tried sweat-wicking undies and they made my nether regions *very* happy

4 min read

March 19, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC I don’t put much thought into what I’m wearing during a workout. I know I’m pulling on some black leggings, socks, sneakers, and any T-shirt that happens to be lying around, but I’m not going as far as to wear workout-specific underwear. Like, I’ll work out in a thong if that’s what’s already on my body—I don’t particularly care if the underwear I’m wearing is wedgie-proof or not. But then, I was told about a new sports underwear brand called Quo Active that’s specifically meant to be worn during a workout—it’s sweat-wicking, antimicrobial, and stays put even in the most intense spurt of burpees. Given that, I figured I may as well give them a shot. After all, they’re purported to help prevent bacterial growth that happens during a burpees-then-brunch sequence. “For everyday use and light exercise, cotton underwear is best because it’s light and breathable,” says Omnia Samra Latif Estefan, MD, a board-certified OB-GYN and brand consultant for Nelly De Vuyst’s BioFemme line. “But add in a heavy workout—with the combo of sweat, heat, and friction—and that’s another story. The vulva and bottom region are filled with sweat glands, so they can sweat too. The cotton then absorbs the sweat, and the remaining moisture can increase the risk in infection.” By investing in sweat-wicking briefs, which are usually made of fabrics such as nylon and polyester, you’re nixing not only the moisture but the bacteria that comes along with it. Quo’s underwear is actually

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2019 Health Fashion

It took literally ripping my tights to realize the size I wear isn’t important

4 min read

March 19, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC I had a real SpongeBob Squarepants situation this morning when, to the tune of, “Aaahhhh! Noooooo…” I sat down on the couch and completely ripped the seat of my tights. And when I say ripped, I mean they were shredded. (Clearly, the seams had been straining for quite some time.) Also shredded, however, was my resolve to continue contorting my body to fit into too-small clothes. I’m not a waif of a woman anymore—and that’s OK. But how did I get there? Well, rest assured that I lost a lot of good hosiery on the journey to making this self-acceptance discovery. A few weeks back, I had to cut a date night with my S.O. short because the waistband of my tights was constricting my internal organs in a way that made any line of thought beyond “must. take. off. tights” impossible. This was not the first time I’d had to turn in early because my vice-like undergarments were making me sick to my stomach. “I can’t wait until spring,” I said. “Then I can stop wearing these tights that just cut me at the gut.” To that, my boyfriend shot me a weary expression. “Sweetie, is there any chance that you might be wearing the wrong size tights?” he asked, oh so gently. I was, in a word, displeased. It’s now impossible for me to recall my response verbatim, but it might have involved 360-degree head spinning, projectile green pea soup vomit, and the

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