July 12, 2019 at 10:38AM by CWC Throw a (virtual) stone on the internet, and you’ll hit dozens of stories from influencers and health writers about the evils of sugar and how their lives changed when they cut it out completely. Hell, even J.Lo and A-Rod went sugar-free for 10 days earlier in the year. Pretty much every health expert agrees on the fact that sugar in excess can be majorly problematic for health. It’s been linked to inflammation, unhealthy weight gain, and an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. Sugar consumption also has a surprising link to the body’s stress response and anxiety levels. Generally, most of us could stand to eat less sugar—which is why sugar “detoxes” and other ways to cut down on sugar intake seem like a good idea. But is it ever a good idea to cut out literally all forms of sugar from your diet? We asked some experts to get their take. Is there anything good at all about sugar? In order to answer this question, it helps to understand a bit more about how sugar works. There are two types of sugars: simple sugars, which are naturally occurring and become carbohydrates (like those found vegetables, fruits, and grains), and refined sugars, which come from the sugar cane plant and are used to make processed and sweetened foods, like baked goods, cereals, and white flour products, says Brigitte Zeitlin, MPH, RD, CDN. ad_intervals[‘407617_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407617_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); }
Month: July 2019
I’m an introvert—how do I make space for ‘me time’ after moving in together?
July 12, 2019 at 10:24AM by CWC Sitting front row at a comedy show, my boyfriend and I became the target of one comedian’s crowd work. He went through his routine couple questions, including if we were planning on moving in together anytime soon. We shook our heads no so fast that the comedian was shocked. “You’ve been together three years, why not?” Logistics aside (my boyfriend works in Atlanta, and I’m in New York City) we’re young, and no where near ready to give up our beloved “me time.” And as an introvert, the idea of waking up every day to another person in my space sounds equal parts glorious and awful. But, I know countless couples make it work, introverts included. So for when I’m ready, what’s the secret to making it work? The key is communicating your expectations and boundaries before move-in day, says Joyce Marter, a licensed psychotherapist and founder of counseling center Urban Balance. If having alone time in your home is a must, tell your partner that. ad_intervals[‘407386_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407386_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); “Sometimes this can be touchy, because sometimes people might feel a little rejected, and not understand your need for alone time,” Marter says. “Provide some reassurance and let them know that you love them, and you care about them, and of course, you enjoy your time with them. But just part of who you are, is that you need this time and space to
A healthy(ish) weekend in Napa and Sonoma, the twin valleys of wine and wellness
July 12, 2019 at 09:55AM by CWC Located just an hour north of San Francisco and home to more than 100 premium wineries and award-winning olive producers, it’s no wonder Sonoma Valley sees millions of visitors every year. Same goes for its sister region, Napa Valley, where more than 400 wineries await. Together, the two valleys form part of California’s lauded wine country, an oenophile’s dream come true that has become nearly synonymous with “bachelorette party,” “honeymoon,” and “R&R escape.” And while food and drink are surely some of the area’s most prized offerings, there is still plenty for health enthusiasts to do, taste, and see—ensuring the weekend is met with equal parts wellness and wine. Here are some of the best ways to unwind and recharge in one of America’s most beloved destinations. Where to Sleep LEDSON HOTEL Situated directly on Sonoma Square, this luxe property was built by fifth generation Sonoma farmer and winemaker Steve Ledson, who also designed the Ledson Winery—a 16,000-square-foot “castle” located 14 miles from town. The hotel features six rooms (each one named for a different member of the Ledson), and while each 400-square-foot space has a personality of its own, they all share the same high caliber comforts, from imported glass chandeliers and wood-carved ceilings to plush oriental rugs and luxury bedding. After a long day of activities, curl up by the fireplace at lobby level Zina Lounge, or watch the sun set from the venue’s ample sidewalk seating. ad_intervals[‘406849_div-gpt-ad-6934292-3’] = setInterval(function ()
Well+Good TALKS: Voices From The Front Lines of the Fitness Revolution
July 12, 2019 at 09:38AM by CWC Streaming studio classes. Next-gen home tech. Cult-fave instructors. It’s all arrived—but what does the new dawn of fitness mean for you and your workout routine? At the next Well+Good TALK, we’ll hear from fitness innovators at the top of the game on how your sweat sessions are getting an upgrade, and where the fitness revolution is heading next. Get ready to sweat—better. EVENT DETAILS Wednesday, July 24, 2019 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Location: Made by We | 902 Broadway, New York, NY 10010 THE PANEL Zoe Weiner | Associate Beauty + Fitness Editor, Well+Good Zoe’s survived a three-month SLT challenge and sampled so many at-home workouts that her apartment should probably start charging a gym membership fee—all for the sake of making fitness feel accessible, and more importantly, welcoming, to W+G readers. Zoe has a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia. Brynn Putnam | Founder + CEO, MIRROR With more than a decade of experience in the fitness industry, Brynn used her deep expertise to found MIRROR, a fitness technology company that brings the boutique studio experience in-home. A Harvard graduate and former New York City Ballet dancer and creator of the Refine Method—dubbed “Best New Workout” by New York magazine—Brynn is at the forefront of fitness innovation. Ashley Mills | Co-Founder + Co-CEO, obé fitness Ashley is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of obé fitness. Prior to starting obé, Ashley led the lifestyle talent department at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and was responsible
From Alo to Zella, get these 9 cult-fave activewear buys for way less at the Nordstrom anniversary sale
July 12, 2019 at 09:18AM by CWC Having cute workout gear in your closet makes it that much more fun to hit the gym. (Yes, motivation can come in the form of chic, sweat-wicking leggings when it comes to making an early morning class.) But athleisure isn’t exactly cheap. Shelling out $99 for a pair of leggings can be rough. The key, of course, to saving money is to shop during sales—and boy is Nordstrom delivering today. Ever walk into a store, head straight to the sales rack in the back, and find…nothing? That’s not happening today. Nordstrom’s anniversary sale—which kicked off Friday—has cult-favorites from Alo and Outdoor Voices to Nike and Zella all majorly marked down. Rounded up here are nine stand-outs, which are sure to go quick. Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Buy Now Outdoor Voices Athena Crop Top $23 Buy Now Zella Live In Racerback Bra $25 to $49 Buy Now Sweaty Betty Stamina Sports Bra $30 Buy Now Alo Cover Tank $36 Buy Now Nike Sportswear Essential Crop Top $25 Buy Now New Balance Transform Two-Ways Performance Tank $21 Buy Now Outdoor Voices 7/8 Springs Leggings $43 Buy Now Nike Sportswear Air Fleece Jogger Pants $33 Buy Now Zella Live In High Waist Crop Leggings $33 Stay ahead of the fashion curve by getting to know these seven new activewear brands and these eight sustainable brands. ad_intervals[‘407627_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407627_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Continue Reading… Author Emily Laurence | Well
7 Simple Shifts for Your Healthiest, Most Balanced Summer
July 12, 2019 What better time to revamp your routine? Continue Reading… Author Annie Daly | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
Wanna naturally lighten your hair? Grab a lemon (but there’s a catch)
July 12, 2019 at 07:55AM by CWC In high school, the name of the game was to use Sun-in, AKA that hair spray that somehow magically lightens your strands a shade or two as the summer months pass by. These days, as a grown-up, I’ve been looking for tips on how to naturally lighten hair that are more, well, modern. The method I’m seeing everywhere? Squeezing some lemon juice onto your strands, which has some backing by pros in the beauty biz…to an extent. “Lemons have citric acid and this can lighten hair,” says Shiva Rose, a DIY beauty expert, founder of Shiva Rose Beauty, and author of Whole Beauty. The way it works is that the sun opens your hair cuticles. “If you place a lemon on your hair and then go into the sun, the heat of the sun will work to open the cuticle,” says Gina Rivera, hair artist, creator of By Gina, and owner of Phenix Salon Suites. And once the lemon juice enters the cuticle, it acts to break down the color in hair, which ultimately lightens it. A-ha. ad_intervals[‘354122_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘354122_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); On a more scientific level, Dominic Burg, PhD, a chief scientist, hair biologist, and trichologist at Evolis Professional says that the chemical and structural changes from lemon juice in your hair speeds up the destruction of melanin pigments in the hair by UV radiation in sunlight. “UV radiation breaks apart the bonds in
Doctors are researching a new treatment for endometriosis pain: Botox
July 12, 2019 at 07:20AM by CWC Endometriosis is painful condition that affects 176 million people worldwide, according to the Journal of Endometriosis. It happens when tissue similar to that which forms the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterine cavity. In a very small pilot study, scientists at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) may have found a surprising way to offer relief for chronic pelvic discomfort: Botox injections. Pain associated with endometriosis often persists even after the growths have been treated with hormonal surgery and therapy. In the placebo-controlled clinical trial, researchers looked at women who’d undergone surgery and were taking hormones to suppress menses (the blood discharged from the uterus during menstruation). Those whose pain persisted after treatment were given either an injection of botulinum toxin (aka Botox) or saline. A month later, the 13 participants chose to receive the injection of botulinum toxin on a monthly basis for at least four months—and the results were pretty remarkable. For all subjects, fewer to no muscle spasms occurred during their follow up treatment, and 11 out of the 13 said their pain was mild or gone entirely. Plus, more than half of the participants reduced their use of pain medication. ad_intervals[‘407605_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407605_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Botox works by blocking the nerve signals so that the muscles in the injected area cannot contract. While past research on the toxin has indicated that it could help women experiencing chronic
The key to perfect planks and mountain climbers? These 2-second wrist stretches
July 12, 2019 at 06:43AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2wRdiCx1W8] Watch how wrists are affecting your workouts in Charlee Atkins’ latest video, here. Looking at any roster of fitness classes, you’ll likely see a number of buzzy target muscles listed out. “Abs and ass!” “Lower body burn!” “Arm attack!” are a few that come to mind. In all my years of working out, never have I ever seen a workout meant to specifically target wrists… which is interesting because they’re actually the basis of pretty much every other fitness move you’re ever going to do. Planks, push-ups, bicep curls, kettlebell swings… you get the picture. Having strong, mobile wrists is a critical factor in any fitness routine, and particularly in two of the most popular fitness moves, which come up in pretty much every workout ever: the plank and the mountain climber. If your wrists are weak, the angle between your arm and hand will be all wonky, which means you 1) won’t be getting the most out of your workout and 2) could potentially hurt yourself. You can always modify the moves, either by adding a dumbbell under your hands (so you’re holding onto the weight instead of placing your palms flat on the floor), or roll up your mat under your hands to add some cushioning and take a little pressure off of the wrists. ad_intervals[‘407593_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407593_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Your best bet, though, is to take some time to actually
Love change or hate it? The way you answer is a huge indicator of your personality type
July 12, 2019 at 06:07AM by CWC One thing that makes me an absolute delight to hang with is my paralyzing fear of change. I panic when a meeting gets pushed back. I mourn when one of my go-to local bars gets abducted by a Starbucks. The other day I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding for the millionth time and and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 for the first time. Still love the original, will never not hate the sequel. (Granted, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is a huge mess with an unclear protagonist; like, for the love of film, pick a plot line and stick to it.) Clearly, I’m set in my ways to an extent and take comfort in sameness, but why is it that some people harbor this resistance to change while others thrive in newness? “Tolerance for risk and change are personality traits that are partially genetic,” says therapist Aimee Daramus, PsyD. “The five-factor model of personality…tells us that openness to new experience is a genetic trait. Everybody inherits a tendency to be more open or to prefer more stability. Life experience shapes how extreme that trait becomes.” ad_intervals[‘404714_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404714_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Waitaminute, so genetics is a big reason some of us cling to our resistance to change like nobody’s business? Wild. Still, Dr. Daramus says it’s important to note that how, exactly, being open to new experiences guides us. The Openess trait is