April 17, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Brussels sprouts are unequivocally my favorite vegetable. As I’m writing this, I had some as a snack. One of my favorite breakfasts is this amazing pesto/Brussels sprouts/egg dish at my favorite neighborhood cafe. But how did I get here? I used to hate—nay, abhor—Brussels sprouts as a kid. Along with mushrooms, asparagus, and tomatoes. Now, three out of four of those I count among my favorite foods. In a more adult sense, the first time I tried wine I hated it. Those words seem impossible to me now. (Give my your most tannin-y red, please and thank you.) As a Pisces, I am well aware that there is a fine line between love and hate—but why do tastes change, especially when it comes to flavors we used to detest? All humans are born with specific food preferences It all goes back to our fundamental biology. “We are born with a sweet tooth, preferring sweet taste,” says David A. Levitsky, PhD, a professor of nutrition and psychology at Cornell University. He says this is to help us recognize our mother’s milk. A few months after birth, we develop a taste for salty foods—which experts believe is because salty foods generally have essential nutrients like potassium and sodium. We’re also born disliking bitter tastes. “There are some clearly defined genetic determinants of taste, but mostly they define our reactions of very bitter tastes,” Dr. Levitsky says. “Bitter taste usually signals a potentially dangerous substance. That
Day: April 17, 2019
How I got over my kitchen anxiety and learned to love cooking
April 17, 2019 at 11:56AM by CWC My hatred of cooking all started with a cake. I was 12 or 13 at the time, and I got it in my head that I wanted to make a cake for my mom’s birthday. I had watched her bake a thousand times and figured I knew what I was doing. What could possibly go wrong? A lot, actually. My brother (a far superior cook, even at 15) hovered over my shoulder the entire time, making pointed comments about my technique. I tried to follow the seemingly basic recipe in front of me, but was so panicky and nervous—What if the cake is bad? What if Mom hates it? I’m going to ruin her birthday!—that I kept making mistakes. My fatal flaw: using bread flour instead of regular flour, resulting in a dry, inedible mess topped with a hodgepodge of over-sweetened frosting and stale, hideously-colored sprinkles. Each bite turned to dust in your mouth. It was truly revolting. This might not seem like a big deal. So you made a crappy cake when you were 12. So what? But that experience haunted me long after the fossilized confection was tossed into the garbage can. Every time I stepped into the kitchen to do anything beyond grabbing a bowl of cereal or some ice cream, the embarrassment of the entire experience came flooding back to me. My confidence at doing anything cooking-related was completely shot. And for years afterwards, I simply refused to cook at
What we’re all getting wrong about child’s pose—and how to fix it
April 17, 2019 at 11:55AM by CWC Sit on your knees, lower your forehead to your mat, walk your finger tips forward and send your weight into your heels. Voilà, you’re in child’s pose. The magic of this asana is in its simplicity, which is why I always feel so dumb when I can’t do it right. No matter how hard I press, my butt kind of just hovers above my heels. And all that pushing diminishes the bliss. Turns out, you can make a tiny tweak to really sink into balasana. Stop worrying about it. We push ourselves in so many areas of our lives, and child’s pose is about reaping the benefits of the work you’ve already done. Positioning your body in this manner is an intentional call for rest, reflection, and relaxation. “We always say child’s pose hips to heels and it doesn’t have to be that,” says Beth Cooke, celebrity yoga instructor at Sky Ting. “I grew up as a dancer and still when I made it to my yoga mat I was still super uncomfortable in the shapes because I was constantly thinking I wasn’t doing it right. Isn’t it so much cooler if you can just pay attention to what feels good and what doesn’t?” Cooke says the inability to sit on your heels is often due to injury, tight hips, a tight low back, or tight calves, among other causes. With time and practice, you’ll be able to sit further back. Finding the
Dermatologists want you to start using this springtime ingredient right this minute
April 17, 2019 at 11:45AM by CWC Yeah, yeah. April showers “bring May flowers.” But in my opinion, the fourth month of the year is special for another reason entirely. The warmer weather provides the ideal excuse to remix the contents of your beauty cabinet. Since you’re already sporting SPF all year round (right?), we asked dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, to share the winner for a fresh spring beauty routine. Because of the stronger UV light during this glorious time of year, the dermatologist recommends doubling up on Vitamin C by applying it in the morning and come nightfall. “An antioxidant helps protect skin against free radical assaults by neutralizing oxidative stress that can cause cell damage,” explains Dendy Engelman, MD, another dermatologist in New York City. “In the springtime we are spending more time in the sun with more exposure to free radicals. It’s the perfect time to add vitamin C to the regimen.” “An antioxidant helps protect skin against free radical assaults by neutralizing oxidative stress that can cause cell damage.” Amazing as this antioxidant may be, however, Dr. Gohara warns that those with skin conditions like rosacea or eczema should consult their doctor before heading to sephora.com to stock up on the serum. Same goes for those with acne, who should stick to applying the antioxidant only once a day, according to Dr. Engelman. “Too much vitamin C can be irritating and cause acne breakouts in certain skin types, so it’s best to just stick to one topical
Researchers May Have Found A Way To Reverse Memory Loss
April 17, 2019 at 11:00AM And the results are honestly miraculous. Continue Reading… Author Ray Bass | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
5 extraordinary egg salad recipes that don’t use an entire jar of mayonnaise
April 17, 2019 at 09:54AM by CWC You might not know what you’re having for dinner tonight, but I can tell you what you’re having next week. Egg salad. If dying eggs—which you can do easily with turmeric and matcha—is a yearly tradition at your house, chances are having egg salad has become somewhat of a tradition, too. Hey, even though your sandwich may be tinted green, you don’t want all that perfectly good protein to go to waste, right? But here’s the thing: Sometimes egg salad recipes are downright dull. And it often isn’t very healthy either. (It requires how much mayo?) This year, try switching things up with a healthy, upgraded egg salad recipes. These are so delicious that eating your leftovers will be—dare I say—a religious experience. 5 healthy egg salad recipes without all the mayo Photo: Nutrition Stripped 1. Savory and spicy egg salad If you want your egg salad with a little kick to it, Well+Good Wellness Council member McKel Hill, RDN‘s recipe will hit just the spot. Made with horseradish, dijon mustard, fresh dill, and fresh chives it has a robust flavor profile. Oh, and there’s only two tablespoons of mayonnaise in the whole recipe. Photo: hummusapien 2. Avocado chickpea egg salad Leftovers + avocado = a creamy, healthy fat bomb for your toast. Besides the eggs, chickpeas also serve as a good protein source in this bite, ensuring you won’t be reaching in your Easter basket for candy an hour later. It’s also
Everything you actually need to know about vegan beauty
April 17, 2019 at 09:32AM by CWC Whenever I hear the word “vegan,” my mind immediately goes to food. I picture fields of vegetables, fridges full of alt-milk, and almond butter galore (excuse me as I start drooling). But veganism applies to what we use on our skin as well—there’s a huge slice of skin-care and makeup products that apply the same animal-friendly principles to beauty, and it’s important to know about this arm of the industry. More so than in the food world, vegan beauty is often misinterpreted—particularly when compared to “clean” beauty, which is a totally different thing altogether. In part, this is because there are tons of different beauty distinctions out there from EcoCert to cruelty-free to vegan itself. So to clear up the confusion, here’s what the pros want you to know about it. The 411: What *is* vegan beauty? Kinda like with food, vegan beauty means that the product has zero animal-based ingredients inside it. “Vegan means that a product does not use animal-derived ingredients, and it should mean that the product has not been tested on animals,” says Sarah Villafranco, MD, doctor and founder of Osmia Organics. Examples of these kinds of ingredients (that are not vegan) include beeswax, honey, lanolin, and different types of milk. “Vegan claims should also include the processing of ingredients, which should not involve animal-derived elements,” she explains. “Sugar, for example, is sometimes processed using charred bone, which would render the ingredient non-vegan.” Michelle Connolly, director of merchandising and planning
5 inner thigh workouts that are out-of-this-world effective
April 17, 2019 at 09:22AM by CWC Staple leg workouts typically include the traditional moves that burn out your quads, hamstrings, and calves—you know, the big guys. But, the underdog leg muscles need love too, which is why it’s high time that I find some inner thigh workouts to help me round out leg day. Inner thigh muscles are particularly important because they help with stability of the pelvis (who knew?). “The adductors are a group of five muscles: gracilis, pectineus, adductor brevis, adductor longus, and adductor magnus, and they all work to move the thigh to the midline as well as to stabilize the pelvis,” says Erika Bloom, founder of Erika Bloom Pilates. “To tone them effectively, work them in various ranges of motion to hit all five. It’s also important to remember to work them both eccentrically and concentrically, and also challenge them as stabilizers.” This part is key because pelvic stability can help to prevent all sorts of pain. “The adductors help with pelvic stability, which can be a factor in back pain, hip pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, and overall strength,” says Bloom. “It’s also important that the adductors are balanced with the other leg muscles for proper biomechanics to prevent injury, which is especially true if you’re doing exercises, like spinning, that primarily target other muscle groups.” And with that: keep scrolling for 5 inner thigh workouts to try. Photo: Erika Bloom Inner thigh lift 3-ways Start by lying on your right side with your right
Why the dramatic rise in sexually transmitted infections is a major wakeup call
April 17, 2019 at 08:47AM by CWC When was the last time you got tested for sexual transmitted infections? Ask any group of people this question and responses will vary greatly based on their relationship status, age, insurance situation, and a multitude of other factors. But given that rates of most sexually transmitted infections are skyrocketing throughout the United States, it’s more important than ever to be certain of your status. Let this sink in: According to the most recent CDC data, a record 2,295,739 cases of STIs were reported among both men and women of all ethnicities in 2017. Chlamydia diagnoses rose by nearly 7 percent from 2016 to 2017, with 1.7 million new cases recorded. Two-thirds of these cases were among men and women ages 15-24. There were 555,608 new gonorrhea cases in 2017—a massive spike of 18.6 percent from the previous year, which coincided with an alarming increase in cases of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea. Then, there’s syphilis. After dropping to all-time lows in the early 2000s, syphilis has made a remarkable comeback in recent years, rising by 10.5 percent between 2016 and 2017. Out of the new cases, over 30,000 were reported in adults—primarily gay and bisexual men—and 918 were found in newborns who contracted it from their mothers in utero. “Combined, reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis have reached the highest levels seen in more than two decades,” says Elizabeth Torrone, PhD, an epidemiologist in the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention. Oh, and let’s not forget about
This homemade cinnamon roll is the real breakfast of champions
April 17, 2019 at 07:24AM by CWC Cinnamon rolls are everything a sweet treat should be. The only problem is that the warm and cozy baked good isn’t exactly the most nutritious way to start the day. With a few adjustments, it’s completely possible to create a healthy cinnamon roll that contributes to the most important meal of the day. Typically made with white flour, loads of sugar, multiple sticks of butter, heavy cream, and cream cheese, traditional cinnamon rolls are a far cry from a hearty bowl of oatmeal. After sifting through all the so-called healthy recipes on the internet, I found one that takes the cake. Natalie Thomas, the recipe developer behind Feasting on Fruit, is a pro at creating healthier versions of desserts. And no, not just by swapping the type of flour. Thomas totally reimagines sweet treats. She was baffled by the fact that cinnamon rolls still get away with masquerading as “breakfast” after all these years. But Thomas’ cinnamon roll is oil-free, gluten-free, and vegan, without sacrificing flavor. “They have filling and frosting—two creamy, sweet, normally sugar-laden components, yet it’s still allowed before 10 am? It’s a double standard, I tell you,” she writes. “Now these cinnamon rolls can reasonably be classified as breakfast. It’s a much healthier morning meal than anything that pops out of a cardboard tube.” It might be hard to believe cinnamon rolls can still be as tasty without all the sugar, but this recipe is proof. Using vitamin-loaded sweet potatoes