April 30, 2019 at 02:41PM by CWC Skunk medicine is on its way for May—and it’s all about self-confidence (not smelliness, phew). With this spirit animal (the ultimate IDGAF icon), radiating swagger will be easier than ever, says “RockStar Shaman” Alyson Charles. Here’s her full slate of predictions for the month—plus advice on making skunk energy work for you. Last month started to take us on a new ride, exposing ways and opportunities for us to lift up and truly live into our new. And the beautiful thing is, that was just the beginning! As we enter into May, we can expect our soul to communicate and unite with us even more. With an energetic activation happening on a cellular level, those of you who are energy-sensitive will most likely begin to feel in a much more heightened way what is “off,” what is a “yes”—as well as when a practice you are doing is really integrating within you, and when a connection with a person is really deep and ancient. In a nutshell, we are becoming much more highly attuned to what is a match and what is a mismatch and we will feel it within our beings in newer, stronger, clearer, more profound ways. These activations began for me about a month ago, and I can tell you they are so incredibly communicative and spot-on! It is truly something to invite in and embrace. On a more earthly tip, one of the messages that channeled in was for you
Month: April 2019
A gynecologist says to stop wearing thongs, STAT, for the sake of your vagina’s health
April 30, 2019 at 01:16PM by CWC I’m gonna be real with you: I don’t pay one ounce of attention to the underwear that I’m wearing. When I’m shuffling to get dressed in the morning, I grab whatever raggedy-ass (… literally) pair I have in my drawer. Which means the only qualification I have for my undies is that they’re clean (and that if they are ripped, hole-y, period-stained, or a thong, it doesn’t matter). Well, according to gynecologists, there are certain underwear breeds that are best suited for the health of your vagina (and the hole-y type isn’t exactly one of them). Thongs are out: “Thongs may look and feel sexier compared to everyday underwear, but their anatomically unfriendly design makes it easier for harmful bacteria of the colon to find their way into the vagina and bladder, increasing the risk of infection,” says Sherry A. Ross, MD, an OB/GYN, women’s health expert, and author of She-ology. Materials like nylon, polyester, and spandex also aren’t so ideal, unless the crotch area has a cotton lining “which is more vagina-friendly,” she says. Those are fine for workouts though: “They’re comfortable, non-absorbent, and flexible,” says Dr. Ross. (Just remember to change out of them the second you’re done sweating it out.) The most vagina-safe underwear of all, though? Cotton (yes, your mom was right). “Underwear for everyday use should fit the vagina comfortably and ideally be made of cotton,” she says. And you want it to cover your entire nether-region. “Comfortably
Power-training should be a staple in your workout just like strength and cardio
April 30, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC I judge whether or not I’m getting a good workout by a number of things: how much I’m sweating, how out of breath I am, or how sore I am the next day. During the sweat sesh, I’m also measuring how much weight I’m able to lift, and, if I’m running, how many miles I can log. But I’ve never ever thought about how much power I’m exerting—which is apparently an important factor to consider. Power, as I’m learning, is essentially a way-underrated measurement when it comes to exercise. “Power is the ability to do the same operation explosively, which means rapidly,” says Vince Sant, lead trainer and co-founder of V Shred. “It’s best visualized by how much energy you can compress into a minuscule amount of time while performing a fitness move.” In other words, power is “the ability to exert maximum force in the shortest amount of time,” explains Gerren Liles, a fitness trainer and instructor with Mirror. How (and why, exactly) should you be incorporating and measuring power in your own fitness regimen? I asked pros for the juice. The importance of power Power sounds like it’s the same thing as strength, but Sant points out that the two are different things in fitness. “Power is often confused with strength,” he says. “Strength is the capacity your muscles have to lift, pull, or push a certain amount of weight.” The power factor comes in handy IRL, though, in a slightly
The easiest way to get that new-shoe feeling (without spending $$$) is to snazz up the laces
April 30, 2019 at 12:38PM by CWC Now that sneakers are part of the dress code for pretty much every occasion—first dates included—I rarely wear anything without a cushy rubber sole anymore. The only downside to this, IMO, is that when I’m alternating between the same Nike Air Force Ones and Huaraches on repeat, I get bored with my footwear options a lot faster. Thankfully, just as I was about to drop a paycheck to freshen up my collection, one of my co-workers suggested a brilliant (and cheap!) hack for beating sneaker ennui: Invest in some new laces. “Laces are a fun and easy way to customize your own kicks,” confirms Kirta Carroll, vice president of marketing at women’s activewear retailer Six:02. “They’re a quick way to add some color or embellishment to an everyday pair.” Lucky for us, it’s a good time to veer away from basic black or white laces: Colored, patterned, and textured styles are pretty much everywhere right now, so you’ve got no shortage of options. (Etsy is a particularly rich gold mine for sneaker shoelaces, FYI.) For less than $10, in most cases, you can completely change up the look of your kicks—and it’s a no-risk makeover, because you can just swap the laces back if you don’t like the end result. “There are no rules for picking laces—just pick the ones you feel like best express your style,” says Carroll. “If you’re willing to change them out often, grab a few. But if the
Sorry but cucumbers are the best salad base of all time—and these 5 recipes back that up
April 30, 2019 at 12:32PM by CWC I feel kinda bad for cucumbers. Thanks to the world’s obsession with its famous cousin, the versatile zucchini, people are zoodling their lives away without even giving the cuke a fair shake. Well, sorry zucchinis, but cucumbers have some impressive qualities, too. And one of them is their ability to make you want to ditch the kale for a salad that’s crunchy, satisfying, and super-hydrating. Cucumbers are typically used as a salad topping, but there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be the star of the show. A large cucumber contains 2 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber, and a solid amount of vitamin C and vitamin K, magnesium, and potassium, which is known to help with bloating (something kale commonly causes). On top of that, since cucumbers are 96 percent water, eating them makes it easy to stay hydrated. To take full advantage of the many benefits of cucumbers, create some hearty salads you can devour all season long. The 5 best healthy cucumber salads Photo: The Creekside Cook 1. Jalapeño lime cucumber salad If you like a little spice in your life, this cucumber salad featuring finely-diced jalapeños is a winner. Combined with zesty lime, your taste buds are in for a treat. Photo: Simple Vegan Blog 2. Thai cucumber salad Give your cucumbers a Thai twist with this quickie salad that’s loaded with red onion, lemon juice, cayenne powder, and chopped peanuts. Photo: Simply Whisked 3. Sweet and spicy cucumber
This neglected muscle in your leg deserves tender loving care
April 30, 2019 at 11:18AM by CWC After a workout, I do my darndest to offer each major muscle group some tender loving care, ahem, TLC. While I’m a loyalist when it comes to stretching out my hammies, calves, and lower back, there are certain body parts I have a tendency to overlook (sorry, armpits). So this morning, when one of my colleagues mentioned that she’d learned a few shin stretches the night before, I immediately found myself with recovery FOMO. Should I be giving more attention to the land below my knee caps? Yoga teacher Lindsay Pirozzi of New York City’s Y7 studio confirms that shin stretches are good for both energetic and physical reasons. “The neglected shin muscle actually hosts tons of acupressure points and corresponds with energetic meridian lines, which is why it’s so important to stretch it,” she says. “The meridian line that intersects the shin muscle is the stomach meridian, which physically governs digestion and emotionally can help to regulate imbalances with anxiety and worry.” Elongating your shins on the reg can protect against shin splints, an affliction known to long-distance runners everywhere. Consistently stretching the muscle can also prevent the development of Compartment Syndrome, a rare condition where too much pressure builds below the knee. And on top of all that, the shin stretches Pirozzi recommends to combat tightness just feel good. Ready to learn a few shin stretches? Here are a yoga teacher’s top picks. Ankle pose: Start by sitting on your shins
This Is What To Do If You Notice Your Partner Seems Depressed
April 30, 2019 at 11:12AM Many couples get this wrong… Continue Reading… Author Kelly Gonsalves | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
These 20-Second Tips For A Healthy Heart Are Totally Worth It
April 30, 2019 You can do something good for your heart everyday if you’ve got a bit of downtime. Just take a look at what the science says here! Continue Reading… Author | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
What The Heck Is Beta-Glucan And Why Should I Know About It?
April 30, 2019 Can Your Favorite Oat Drink Be Part Of A Well-Balanced Diet? Let’s Find Out Continue Reading… Author | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
This super-common smoothie ingredient has a rep for bringing on rogue breakouts
April 30, 2019 at 08:32AM by CWC Once upon a breakout, after I had grown frustrated trying every single hormonal acne remedy out there, I decided to attempt the dreaded fight-acne-from-within strategy. Otherwise known as: cutting dairy, the inflammatory food that I’ve always loved so much. Le sigh. I did diligently cut the stuff—or so I thought—until the breakouts kept on coming. I was confounded… until someone pointed out to me that something in my smoothie could likely be the acne-causing culprit: whey protein. After a quick Google, I realized that my friend was right, and then dermatologists affirmed that there is, in fact, a true link between whey protein and breakouts. “Whey protein can cause or worsen acne,” says Cybele Fishman, MD, a New York-based dermatologist. I felt totally hoodwinked—although it was really my mistake, as whey protein is actually a dairy product. “Whey is a milk byproduct, and occurs when milk separates into cheese,” explains Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare. To get into more of the scientifics behind it, Dr. Patel explains that acne is caused by a range of four different factors: follicular occlusion (blockage of your pores), microbe overgrowth in the follicle (bad bacteria in the skin), sebum production or adding an edible oil to the follicle, and inflammation (but of course). “Milk hormones increase the sebum production of the follicles, and whey protein increases insulin levels in the skin, which also increases sebum production,” she says. Dr. Fishman agrees,