May 09, 2019 at 11:28AM by CWC The perfect pair of kicks can start a revolution. However, the opposite can lead to your downfall. If your toes feel like they’re being suffocated, or your heals are popping out with every step, you’ve probably got the wrong shoe size. On Thursday, Nike announced the impending summer launch of Nike Fit, a new feature of the company’s mobile app that scans your feet to determine the best size shoe in every pair of Nike sneakers. Michael Martin, vice president of Nike direct products, growth and innovation, says the new tricked-out app addresses a common problem. “For [Nike] shoes bought online, 27 percent of them are returned because of bad fit,” he tells Well+Good, noting that the figure likely falls short of estimating the number of runners, walkers, weightlifters, and everyday athletes going about their daily lives without perfect companions for their feet. Why? It doesn’t account for those who can’t be bothered to return the shoes, or those who stick it out with a pair they’ve mistaken for their sole-mate. “People are so accustomed to their shoes fitting one way or another that they’re just sort of resigned to the fact,” he says. Nike’s app seeks to remedy that. While a specific launch date has yet to be announced, we’re putting our foot down now—we will no longer wear shoes that don’t fit us! Period! The end! Not only is it plain uncomfortable to feel out of sync with your own sneaks,
Month: May 2019
Could “magic mushrooms” follow in the footsteps of cannabis on the road to legalization?
May 09, 2019 at 11:02AM by CWC In some states, it’s not even legal to sell lattes laced with CBD. Meanwhile, in parts of Colorado, they’ve moved on to decriminalizing “magic mushrooms” known to cause hallucinations. On Tuesday, residents of Denver narrowly voted to make possession and consumption of psilocybin mushrooms “the lowest law enforcement priority.” (The mushrooms remain illegal, however, and it will still be a felony to sell them.) Given how rapidly opinions and laws are changing surrounding cannabis, this new move from Denver raises the question if magic mushrooms are slated to get the marijuana treatment. The medical community is split on the safety of psilocybin mushrooms. Some experts point to true health benefits of these substances, including helping with anxiety and depression, chronic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome. Conversely, consumption can lead to psychotic episodes or engagement in potentially reckless behavior. Many questions about psilocybin mushrooms remain in part because the medical community—and the U.S. government—has been unwilling to study them and other psychedelic compounds. Therefore, growing interest comes from independent research organizations, like Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), The Beckley Foundation, and the Heffter Research Institute. (The soap company Dr. Bronner contributes to MAPS’ research, although its latest donation is intended for research into MDMA, another psychedelic drug, and mental health issues.) American citizens hold conflicting views on psychedelic mushrooms, too. As Time pointed out, 53 percent of respondents to a 2017 YouGov survey said they support medical research of psychedelic drugs, yet a
Top healthy chefs reveal how to make the gluten-free, vegan chocolate chip cookies of your dreams
May 09, 2019 at 11:00AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_20aY1mGxg] Have you ever tried to make a better-for-you version of your favorite treat? Things can go awry even when you follow a recipe to a T, and swapping out ingredients can end in disaster. That’s why we’re launching Alt-Baking Bootcamp, Well+Good’s newest video series aiming to help you remake your favorite classic treats with a healthier spin. While the foundation of classic baking is butter, eggs, and flour, chefs Mia Rigden and Jenny Dorsey are here to prove that you can rehab most of your favorite desserts to suit your health and dietary needs—without compromising on flavor. Their first challenge? Chocolate chip cookies. “Whether you’re trying to eat a little healthier, you’re vegan, or you have some dietary restrictions this recipe is for you,” says Rigden, who is also the founder of RASA, a nutrition and lifestyle coaching brand. (And because they’re egg-free, you can eat the dough!) However, baking is a particular science—which makes swapping ingredients a bit of a challenge. Here’s how Dorsey and Rigden made a chocolate chip cookie that’s completely vegan and gluten-free: 1. Use a “flax egg” instead of actual eggs The first pillar of baking: eggs. “Eggs are used as a binding agent in cookies,” Rigden says. But obviously they’re a no-go if you’re vegan or have an egg allergy. That’s why she suggests using flax eggs instead—basically a mixture of flax seeds and water that mimics the binding properties of eggs in baked goods. One flax
Rounded shoulders are a thing of the past with these strength training moves
May 09, 2019 at 10:41AM by CWC Have you ever found yourself looking in the mirror post-sweat sesh, wondering why, after committing to regular workouts, you still can’t seem to undo the damage of the desk job? While many classes tout themselves as having plenty of upper body strengtheners and shoulder openers, it could be that you’re not exploring the right exercises to combat the 9-to-5. Since we know that’s the ultimate goal, we reached out to some of the industry’s top trainers to help remedy the sitch…and quick. “Isolated shoulder exercises are really great for injury prevention, training and improving imbalances through solely targeting the direct muscle group,” says celebrity trainer Dara Hart. “However, adding a few compound moves to work your whole body, training with a focus of balance and stability, can be especially beneficial overall.” Whether you’re looking to make a sweat sesh of your shoulder strengthening routine or not, Hart wants you to keep one very important tip in mind: “Before any training, make sure to do at least one minute of light cardio, abdominal work, and dynamic stretching to get the blood flowing and body ready—this will prevent injury,” she says. Keep scrolling for eight body movements that you can incorporate into one all-encompassing shoulder-centric workout or pick and choose to add into your regular full-body regimen. Banded shoulder rotation To warm up your shoulders, Hart says to start with this easy-but-effective movement. “Grab a super light resistance band and hold arms at a 90
Tracy Anderson reveals why her “silent” workout classes are so effective
May 09, 2019 at 10:34AM by CWC I had some idea of what to expect when I walked into my first-ever class at the Tracy Anderson Method on the Upper East Side. I knew that the room would be hot, the music would be loud, and the moves would be h-a-r-d. One thing I totally didn’t expect, though, was for Anderson to be totally silent throughout her 50 minutes of instruction. And let me tell you: It was a totally new type of experience. Instead of leading her classes using verbal cues, Anderson instead chooses to instruct using only her body. And this, she says, is for good reason. “Through some of the research I did, I found that when you open up more neural pathways in your brain and make more connections to your body, you burn more calories, you create a more balanced body, and you have a much less chance of getting injured,” Anderson tells me over the phone the morning after I (barely) survived a class she hosted in honor of her new partnership with supplements brand MitOq. “When your head is actually in the game, you become more physically available, so then you also process stress better, [and] you’re more in tune with yourself.” While she doesn’t talk at all during any of her classes (whether they’re online or IRL), she does give students breakdowns of her routines ahead of time, which she refers to as the “rehearsal.” That way, when they get into the “performance” (AKA the
Give Yourself The Gift Of A Decluttered Home That Lasts
May 09, 2019 at 10:12AM A story from a mom to other moms on the one thing that transformed her motherhood. Continue Reading… Author Caroline Muggia | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
Here’s the recipe for Sweetgreen’s healthy beet hummus
May 09, 2019 at 08:12AM by CWC Let’s be real: Almost everything on Sweetgreen‘s core menu of salads and bowls is healthy. But if I could only pick one option to order for the rest of my life, it’s pretty hard to beat the seasonal superfood bowl, loaded with avocado, beet hummus, roasted sweet potatoes, black lentils, shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, toasted buckwheat, organic spinach, shredded kale, and lemon ginger turmeric vinaigrette. That’s a lot of pure plant-based goodness! And now you can make the best part of the wholesome mix right in your own kitchen. The real star of the superfood bowl is its bright pink beet hummus. While it’s super rare for restaurants share secret recipes, Sweetgreen spilled the beans on Instagram, allowing you to recreate the “magenta magic.” Here’s exactly how to make beet hummus at home: View this post on Instagram All eyes on you @ Beet Hummus 😍Head to our story to get this season’s magenta magic recipe straight from our Culver City Lab. A post shared by sweetgreen (@sweetgreen) on May 8, 2019 at 9:55am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Sweetgreen’s beet hummus Ingredients 1/2 tsp cumin 1 1/4 tsp kosher salt 1/8 tsp ground black pepper 1 1/4 tsp chopped jalapeño 1/2 Tbsp garlic, smashed 1/4 tsp lemon zest 2 1/2 Tbsp tahini 2 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 Tbsp chickpea liquid 2 1/2 cups canned chickpeas 2/3 cup roasted beets, roughly chopped Directions 1. Measure out dry
What it really means to have “chemistry,” according to the science of love
May 09, 2019 at 07:43AM by CWC In eighth grade, I got home from school one day and told my mom that I had “friction” with a boy in my class. She laughed in my 13-year-old face and said, “You mean, chemistry?!” That is indeed what I meant. But to this day, I still don’t understand the chemical factors that go into feeling physically and emotionally pulled toward another person. What’s the science of attraction? And what does it mean to have chemistry anyway? The science of why people get together isn’t a perfect one, notes Harvard University’s blog Science in the News. But there are chemical components to the sexual chemistry equation. And I’m not talking about iodine (I), livermorium (Lv), yttrium (Y), oxygen (O), and uranium (U). (Get it? “I love you?” I made a chemistry joke!) I’m talking about hormones. In a simple graphic, created by Tito Adhikary, the categories of love, lust, and attraction are paired with the hormones that contribute to each. So sexy, right? Learn the science of attraction with 3 equations that dictate sexual chemistry Lust = Testosterone + Estrogen The hypothalamus of your brain stimulates the production of both testosterone and estrogen—the sex hormones of the body that make you want to get it on with the person you desire. Whether your sex is male or female, your body possesses both of these chemicals. Love = Dopamine + Norepinephrine – Serotonin Our brains release dopamine as a reward when we do something
Reformation’s first shoe collection makes kitten heels sexy, and I’m not mad about it
May 09, 2019 at 07:01AM by CWC There is really no easy way to say this, so I’ll just spit it out: Reformation has made kitten heels sexy. I know. The brain explosion emoji pretty sums up my mood RN. If you had told me two months ago—nay, two weeks ago—that I would be using “kitten heels” and “sexy” in the same sentence without the slightest hint of irony, I would’ve had some very strong opinions, but here we are. 2019 is a ride, isn’t it? The kitten heels, which are making me question everything I thought a knew about myself (even more so than 30 minutes ago when I batted other fans in the Jonas Brothers Happiness Begins tour pre-sale), are part of Reformation’s newly launched shoe collection. The collection launches with 11 styles, including espadrilles, flats, and high heels. “We wanted Ref Shoes to feel like an extension of our clothing so the designs are inspired by the feminine and vintage silhouettes that we love so much,” Yael Aflalo, Reformation founder and CEO, says. Playing perfectly into Reformation’s aesthetic, the shoes are sexy while also being sustainable. On average they save 52 percent CO2 emissions, 70 percent water, and 65 percent waste compared to most other shoes in the US. “Since starting Reformation in 2009, we’ve definitely seen a shift in the fashion industry’s approach to sustainability,” Aflalo says. That said, when it comes to footwear, she believes more work needed to be done, which made it difficult to
These are the very best meal kits to match your specific eating habits
May 09, 2019 at 06:41AM by CWC How do you answer the eternal question: Whats for dinner? We’re all in search of the best way to simplify our nightly routines. But if you didn’t spend your Sunday prepping meals for the week, filling Tupperware after Tupperware with protein, veggies, and grains, good luck rummaging through your fridge for something to throw together. If you seek rave reviews from everyone around the table (and consistent satisfaction at dinnertime), it’s worth exploring the wide variety of meal kits meant to save time while adding flavor to your life. These days, signing up for meal kits means you’re freed from the decision making that surrounds mealtime, and you don’t even need to go to the grocery store to get the ingredients. In the U.S., meal kit delivery services has exploded to a $10 billion industry. But the rapid growth has created a new problem. There are so many to choose from that it’s hard to make a choice. Reviewing all the different meal kits out there, it’s clear that there isn’t a singular perfect option; the “best” meal kit is the one that works best for you and your family. Is saving money on groceries the goal? Do you live in a household with one or more dietary restrictions? Or picky eaters? Is the issue a lack of time? Whatever you’re looking for, there’s a meal kit delivery service that’s right for you. Here’s how to choose the best meal kits based on