August 23, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC Breathing exercises, essential oils, and even spending ten minutes petting a furry friend can all help lessen the physiological effects of stress. Something else that can work in your favor: snacking—if you choose the right type of foods. According to food mindfulness expert Geneen Roth, when someone is stressed, they tend to gravitate toward sugary, carb-loaded snacks because, simply put, they’re more pleasurable than noshing on veggies, and when you’re stressed, you want something comforting. Traditional comfort foods (oh hey, mac and cheese) aren’t necessarily bad, but registered dietitian Brynn McDowell, RD says there are lots of other healthy options that still hit that pleasure point—while providing additional benefits to your body to combat the effects of stress. Rounded up here are seven science-backed foods that reduce stress: ad_intervals[‘417902_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘417902_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); 1. Avocado Why it’s good for stress: What can’t avocado do, honestly? Avocado is high in fiber, which can help control blood sugar—preventing the spikes and crashes that can affect one’s mood and anxiety—and is rich in brain-supporting nutrients. “The avocado is rich in B vitamins which play a role in nerve and brain cell functioning,” McDowell says. How to eat it: Avocado toast, of course. “This trendy food deserves all its popularity in my opinion, especially as a good option to grab when you are stressed,” McDowell says. “The whole grain bread will help stabilize blood sugar levels and the fiber [in the
Day: August 23, 2019
Throw your hands way, way up for an instant cardio boost while you’re strength training
August 23, 2019 at 09:52PM by CWC Cardio and strength training are often placed in two separate boxes. (Even at the gym, the free weights tend to be approximately 1,000 leagues away from the treads, spin bikes, and ellipticals.) However, the two fitness modalities don’t have to be two separate entities in your #sweatlife. The trainers at New York City’s tough-as-nails fitness studio [solidcore] shared one small (but mighty) tweak that will give any strength training move a cardio edge. No machine required. During a class on Friday morning, [solidcore] trainer Maria Makaila told one of Well+Good’s fitness editors that simply raising your hands over your head is a near instant way to send your heart racing in the best way. And um, wow—what a game-changer. “Raising your hands above your head causes your heart to work harder to move blood up,” explains Jo Gomez, ACSM, [solidcore]’s director of training. “This will cause a slight increase in your heart rate.” At the same time, she explains that elevating your hands challenges your balance and forces you to engage your core to stay stable. So really, it’s a win, win, win. ad_intervals[‘418059_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘418059_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Obviously, this hack won’t work when you’re performing something like a plank or a pull-up. (Although, if you can perform these moves without your hands…please share your secrets.) Instead, try raising both your hands for moves like lunges. Gomez tells me that her personal favorite time to
Does This Kind Of Sun Exposure Harm Your Skin The Most?
August 23, 2019 at 10:00AM A new study shows which type of UV radiation is the worst for your skin—and how sun damages it in the first place. Continue Reading… Author Gretchen Lidicker, M.S. | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
Virgo Season Is Here & It’s Time To Declutter + 7 Ways To Do Just That
August 23, 2019 at 08:24PM Down-to-earth Virgo is the zodiac’s realist. Continue Reading… Author The AstroTwins | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
Avoid the midday crash with a high-fiber smoothie featuring…zucchini
August 23, 2019 at 08:10PM by CWC If the idea of sitting down to a well-rounded breakfast each morning before work is enough to make you laugh (Next you’ll be asking if I have time to read the newspaper!), a smoothie might seem like the perfect on-the-go option. What’s better for an over-scheduled young professional than a commute-friendly meal? I don’t know, maybe something that won’t leave you ravenous and hangry an hour later? “The sugar content—regardless if it’s from fruit or not—can easily climb up to 50 grams of sugar in some smoothies,” Well+Good Council member McKel Kooienga, RD and founder of Nutrition Stripped, recently posted on Instagram. “For some people and scenarios, that may work really well for their body, but for others, it may be too much at one serving without properly balancing it with protein, fiber, vegetables (like greens), and healthy fats.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by by McKel Kooienga, MS, RD, LDN (@nutritionstripped) on Aug 7, 2019 at 5:05am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js For a more balanced blend (re: one that won’t sound you soaring on a sugar high only to crash later), Kooienga recommends swapping your smoothie’s typical frozen bananas for zucchini. “Zucchinis have a very neutral taste, add fiber, [and] give smoothies a great creamy texture,” she says. “[They] also add nutrients like potassium, manganese, vitamin C, and vitamin A.” ad_intervals[‘417863_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘417863_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Bonus: “They’re super easy to freeze—meaning less
The top 10 under $10 clean skin-care buys you can get at the drugstore
August 23, 2019 at 07:39PM by CWC Treating yourself to great, clean skin care does not—I repeat, does not—have to mean emptying your wallet for the sake of the cause. In fact, you can get a radiant face, by way of ingredients that don’t belong on a “hazardous waste” list, for less than the cost of a Sweetgreen salad. Don’t believe me? In addition to all of the amazing drugstore products that are already out there, Walmart just launched a skin-care line of its own. It’s called “Earth to Skin” in which everything is under $10… and the products look really, really good. The 28 products use power-packed, all-natural ingredients like watermelon, green tea, and avocado to help with all kinds of skin concerns. And it got us thinking about all of the other under-$10 skin-care products you can already buy at the drugstore. Spoiler alert: There are a whole lot of them. Scroll through to shop the top-10 editor-approved under-$10 beauty buys. Your digital skin-care cart has never felt more affordable. ad_intervals[‘417888_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘417888_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Photo: Thayers Thayer’s Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Toner ($9) There’s a reason why this all-natural toner is consistently a best-seller on Amazon. It’s made with rose petals and aloe, and the ingredient combo tightens pores, controls the production of oil, and locks in moisture—all while protecting your skin from free radicals. Photo: Simple Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes ($6) Facial cleansing wipes often get a bad rap
This easy fitness tracker hack will make sure you’re actually getting *all* those steps in
August 23, 2019 at 07:25PM by CWC It’s easy to become thigh-crampingly fanatical about counting your steps. Despite the naysayers who claim there’s no science behind the 10,000-steps-a-day-for-health benchmark, there’s something satisfying about hitting that milestone. It’s like a shiny badge that says, “Even if I skipped SoulCycle today, I have proven to the universe that I did more than sit at my desk for nine hours and watch Buffy in bed for another four hours.” But what’s devastating is learning, like I did today, that your fitness tracking device—your sophisticated and expensive device—might not be giving you an accurate read on your step habits. Like, really, you had one job. While wearable step counters, like your smartwatch or Fitbit, are more accurate than your garden variety iPhone app, slapping something on your wrist can capture weird gestures and mistake it for steps. Well, get this: One easy way to make step count more accurate is by switching your device to your non-dominant hand. Seriously! ad_intervals[‘417893_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘417893_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); So why does it matter which hand you use? Chances are that you’re using your dominant hand more often, whether it’s to write your daily to-do list, scramble through your purse for one particular lip balm, chop vegetables for a meal-prepped lunch that will live and die in your refrigerator… you know. But because fitness trackers are neurotic creatures, all that movement can be misinterpreted as steps, and that’s aggravating. You can’t do the
How mentally tough are you? There’s now a 10-question quiz for that
August 23, 2019 at 06:54PM by CWC Now that I’ve kicked off my training for the New York Marathon, my desire for the elusive skill known as “mental toughness” has reached an all-time-high. Oxford Reference defines the trait—nay, superpower, really— as “a quality of mind or intellect characterized by, among other things, a refusal to be intimidated, a determination to finish a contest even when things are going badly, and an ability to control emotions and remain highly focused when under the pressure of intense competition.” Obviously, it’s an invaluable trait on race day, but it also goes a long way at the office and, like, when you’re waiting in line for coffee. And now, you can take a 10-question quiz to determine how much mental fortitude you already possess. In the past, the quiz, known as the 48-Item Mental Toughness Questionnaire (or MTQ-48), had been shortened to 18 questions (making it the MTQ-18). This week, a research team led by Neil Dagnall, PhD, of the University of Manchester confirmed that a new, 10-question version can accurately pinpoint a person’s mental toughness, reports Psychology Today. In short, you can now litmus test your mental flexing faster than you can fill out the forms at the DMV. ad_intervals[‘417879_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘417879_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Each MTQ version asks the participants to respond to “I” statements (like, “I generally feel in control”) that correspond with what are known as the “4Cs.” This model was designed by Peter Clough,
8 top trainers name their favorite triceps exercises—and there’s not a dip in sight
August 23, 2019 at 05:24PM by CWC Can we get a show of hands from those who despise triceps exercises? Oh, cool, everyone? Out of all the different ways you can work out your arms, there’s really no burn like a triceps burn. But there’s no need to continue doing dips day after day to work the back of your arms, and your favorite trainers have proof. I asked a crew of exercise pros to share their favorite moves for tight, toned tris, and they more than delivered. Whether you’re doing a round of skull crushers or using nothing but a jumprope, read on for the triceps exercises that will leave your arm muscles sore until further notice—and will keep you from getting bored on upper body day. 1. Dumbbell pushups into skull crushers “I like this combination because it starts with a big muscle group working to total fatigue. Then, after your arms feel like noodles, we move right into the triceps skull crushers, which are a safe way to set the triceps on fire.” —Ashley Borden, celebrity personal trainer ad_intervals[‘417544_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘417544_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); How to do dumbbell pushups: Use a pair of dumbbells that are 15 lbs. or heavier for your grip. The heavier dumbbells have thicker handles, which are easier on your hands. Place the dumbbells on the floor vertically, a little closer than your shoulder width. Angle the top of the dumbbells inward about five degrees. Grip
These are the best healthy salads to order at Chotp’d, according to a dietitian
August 23, 2019 at 04:58PM by CWC You’ve already scored a healthy win just by making Chopt’d your lunch or dinner destination; anything greens or grains-based is loaded with fiber. But just like at any other restaurant, if you ascribe to a specific eating plan, there are certain factors to consider when making your pick. If you’re keto, for example, some veggies (like corn) are too high in carbs to technically be “allowed” as part of the diet. And if you’re vegan, you might have to make some substitutions when it comes to the protein in your bowl and be extra conscious when choosing the dressing. That’s where this handy little cheat sheet comes in. Here, registered dietitian Karen Collins, RD, gives her recs on the best Chop’t salads for three majorly popular eating plans: ketogenic, vegan, and Mediterranean diet. Even if your dietary habits don’t fall into one of those three buckets, you can still use her advice to craft a nutrient-dense, super healthy meal for yourself. ad_intervals[‘416576_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘416576_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Ketogenic diet Menu picks: Kale Caesar; Mexican Caesar What an RD says: While there are several salads on the menu full of keto staples like chicken, eggs, and avocado, Collins says both the classic kale Caesar and the Mexican Caesar (which has a spicier dressing, jalepeno peppers, cotija cheese instead of Parmesan, and tortilla chips instead of croutons) are her top picks. The kale Caesar has 12 grams of