April 15, 2019 at 07:16PM Here’s what you need to know about the latest sleep research. Continue Reading… Author Caroline Muggia | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Month: April 2019
Even if fake smiling can boost my mood, I don’t ever want to be asked to do it
April 15, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC Ever heard that sage advice to “smile through the pain?” It offers the ethos of other similar platitudes like “put your big girl pants on” or “get back on the horse,” but apparently, when it comes to—wait for it—grinning and bearing it, there’s some science to support the trite saying. A recent paper published in Psychological Bulletin suggests that smiling, even if you’re faking it, will gift you a marginal, momentary mood boost. The meta-analysis of 138 studies on more than 11,000 people worldwide about facial expression and whether it influences emotions supports the notion that smiling makes people a smidge happier, while scowling and frowning makes them angrier and sadder, respectively. But, when perusing online reactions to this new finding, I saw an abundance of “Smiling is the Way to Happiness” headlines—which crystallized just one thought in my mind: Please don’t make me smile. I hate being told to smile. Anyone who’s ever fielded a catcall on their way to work (AKA a woman who breathes air) probably also hates being told to smile. We should feel how we want to feel, and internalizing emotions to turn a frown upside down tends to manifest destructive external effects. Need proof? A recent and unrelated buzzy study suggests faking a perma-smile while working in the service industry lead to boozing hard later on. Studies and their conclusions about positive micro-effects aside, I want to know if there’s really ever a time when a fake
7 benefits of asparagus that prove it’s the best spring vegetable, period
April 15, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC When we talk about superfoods, a few obvious contenders—walnuts, chia seeds, green tea, quinoa, kale—immediately come to mind. But it may be time to add one often-overlooked food to that list: asparagus. Maybe it was plopped on your plate as a kid at dinnertime (and if your parents didn’t do a good job of preparing it, forgive them!), or perhaps you started cooking it as an adult when you decided it was time to start eating more vegetables. In any case, this mighty green vegetable with its bristly, textured tops and woody stems deserves a lot more attention—because it’s actually really good for you. “Asparagus is a non-starchy vegetable that has a nice array of nutrients and fiber,” says Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN of Maya Feller Nutrition. And that’s just the beginning of its benefits. Need proof? Here are some excellent benefits of asparagus that will send you out to the grocery store for an asparagus run ASAP. Check out the 7 benefits of asparagus that make it the best spring vegetable. 1. Asparagus is loaded with Vitamin K Vitamin K isn’t a vitamin that gets a lot of attention, but the fat-soluble vitamin has some amazing health benefits. “Vitamin K is involved in preventing blood clotting and improving bone health and heart health,” says Feller. Just a cup of raw asparagus comes with 56 micrograms of vitamin K, per the USDA—over half of your recommended daily intake (90 mcg) in one
5 Women On How They Learned To Strength Train + Tips For Beginners
April 15, 2019 at 01:49PM How (and why) these five trainers started lifting weights. Continue Reading… Author Ray Bass | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Why you might want to rethink you palo santo habit
April 15, 2019 at 01:40PM by CWC The earthy aroma of palo santo makes me endlessly nostalgic. The first yoga studio I frequented in New York filled the room with its scent of resinous, citrusy woodsmoke. When I moved to a new neighborhood far from my beloved vinyasa spot, I started to burn my own. Recently, though, I learned that one of my favorite rituals might not be so good for the environment or my spirituality. A few corners of the internet have been buzzing about the sustainability of palo santo, which promises to clear the energy of a space. Rayne Oakes, a Brooklyn-based environmental scientist and author of the forthcoming book How to Make a Plant Love You and host of Plant One On Me, explains that while palo santo isn’t threatened or endangered like cheetahs, angel sharks, and grizzly bears, the massive commercial rush is a cause of concern to the communities living near the trees. “Palo santo, which is scientifically known as Gonopterodendron sarmientoi (or Bulnesia sarmientoi) is used medicinally by locals throughout its native range in the Gran Chaco boreal region, which primarily spans Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and parts of Brazil,” Oakes tells me. “The tree has recently been added to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II, which includes species that aren’t necessarily threatened with extinction, but due to a certain level of popularity in international trade, must be controlled in order to prevent becoming threatened, endangered or extinct.” On yet another list, curated by
If your feet are constantly cramping during a workout, this could be behind it
April 15, 2019 at 11:46AM by CWC You know the feeling—you’re in the middle of a HIIT class and your foot starts cramping up after a round of squat jumps. What gives, right? Not only is it pretty uncomfortable to have to deal with in the moment, there’s also the matter of needing to get through the rest of the workout without totally having the rest of your body overcompensate for you. And honestly, you wouldn’t be alone to question why exactly your feet cramp up in the first place. According to experts, there’s not just one blanket reason that it happens, so being well versed in its causes can help you think on your toes if the time ever arises. Here are a few reasons why it’s so common when training to get foot cramps and what you can do to get rid of it fast and get back to kicking butt in your workout. Your arches aren’t supported If you’re wearing worn-out sneakers that don’t work well for your feet and arches, you might be missing the support needed to roam around on your feet with ease. “Most cramping is from a functional problem. Usually the arch of the foot is not being supported enough and the small muscles and ligaments are being overworked,” says Dana Canuso, MD a pediatric surgeon. This causes fatigue and then cramping within the foot. No matter what type of arch you have, your shoes should have some sort of support to hold
6 AHA body exfoliants that will melt away even the most stubborn dead winter skin
April 15, 2019 at 10:46AM by CWC As spring starts to show its lovely face, I’m starting to take off my layers of clothing. And as I do so, one thing is very evident: My skin is covered with scales and flakes from the dry winter that’s behind us. You’d probably mistake me for a White Walker from Game of Thrones, which is precisely why I’m reaching for exfoliating body products immediately. More specifically, I’m piling on the AHA-infused body products, because these guys literally melt away the layers of dead skin cells that are just cozily nestling on my arms and legs. A little skin-care refresher: “AHAs—or alpha hydroxy-acids—are fruit acids that exfoliate the skin to reveal new, younger skin cells beneath,” says Purvisha Patel, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare. It’s not just a key ingredient for the skin on your face, either. Dr. Patel—well, and a plethora of beauty brands—praise its powers for your body, too, for a number of reasons. “They are good for sun spots or skin discoloration, clogged pores, acne-prone skin, and a great anti-aging ingredient,” she explains. “As you exfoliate the skin, collagen gets produced, so it helps with fine lines and wrinkles.” Or, you know, it also just literally dissolves the buildup of dead skin cells that have taken up residency on your body throughout the harsh winter months. Either way, it’s a good thing that so many skin-care brands have concocted AHA-spiked body serums and wipes and creams to
We May Be Able To Rewire Our Brain, According To New Research
April 15, 2019 at 09:00AM Here’s what this may mean for brain health long-term. Continue Reading… Author Caroline Muggia | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
How to *actually* prioritize self care (even if you feel like you don’t have time)
April 15, 2019 at 10:17AM by CWC Meet Wellness Collective, our new, immersive curriculum with Athleta that hooks you up with actionable advice from the smartest experts and brand founders in wellness right now. Get the goods at our monthly event series in New York City plus our online one-month wellness plans. Here, Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton, founder of Chillhouse, shares her four-week guide to prioritizing self care—for real. If your first thought regarding the self-care movement is, “That sounds great and all, but I literally have no time for face masks and bubble baths (and idk how anyone else does, either),” you might be in need of a self-care mindset adjustment, according to Chillhouse founder Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton. The personal-care pro believes that when people are stressed out by the thought of self care, they’re actually misunderstanding what exactly the practice is. “I think the words ‘self care’ and ‘wellness’ have become a bit muddled,” Ramirez-Fulton says. “The way I see it, self care is a daily practice that doesn’t even need to be a beauty or wellness service. […] It’s mostly defined as an act of prioritization of oneself, in whichever capacity.” “[Self care is] mostly defined as an act of prioritization of oneself.” For Ramirez, self care translates to a daily skin-care routine, three minutes of stretching, weekly manis (because of course), three to four workout classes a week, and monthly Chillhouse massages. But if you feel most at peace after sitting down to pay your bills or organizing your closet, that counts too. “Once you start thinking
The one-month guide to building a support squad through wellness—the empowering act we should all be doing but aren’t
April 15, 2019 at 10:17AM by CWC Meet Wellness Collective, our new, immersive curriculum with Athleta that hooks you up with actionable advice from the smartest experts and brand founders in wellness right now. Get the goods at our monthly event series in New York City plus our online one-month wellness plans. Here, Elisa Shankle, co-founder of HealHaus, shares her four-week guide to building a community within wellness. How many times have you zoomed right out of yoga class the second vinyasa came to an end—instead of, you know, actually socializing with the people around you? First off, no judgement—we’ve all been there. But according to Elisa Shankle, co-founder of HealHaus, a Brooklyn-based community and wellness space, it’s time to take a step outside of your comfort zone. “Your tribe pushes you beyond your limits and helps you see your edge, and sometimes we definitely need that,” she says. “Community allows for vulnerability to take place and encourages a domino effect where we activate one another to seek a higher version of ourselves.” To help you get there, we asked Shankle for a month’s worth of actionable advice to help you build your own tribe (and banish awkward outsider feelings—because you’re so not alone). Scroll down for the step-by-step guide on how to meet new people and create your support squad within your wellness sphere. Before you can start putting yourself out there, you need to look internally to see what needs you want fulfilled in a friendship and what’s been