December 04, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC These days, you’d be hard-pressed to scroll on Instagram without seeing someone eating something delicious, or wearing something cozy, or jet-setting somewhere exotic, all in the name of #selfcare, a term that’s been hashtagged 21.3 million times on Instagram (and counting). But the concept far pre-dates the fall of 2016, which is when Google searches for it picked up steam and the idea metamorphosed into a full-blown lifestyle philosophy of prioritizing the self in the name of health. Decades earlier, Slate reports, self care was used to describe a form of political resistance that involved looking inward in the midst of external chaos. Usage saw peaks in the ’60s and ’70s during the women’s liberation and civil rights movements. Its 2016 resurgence makes sense, then, given its ascent alongside that year’s presidential election, the results of which left many Americans feeling stressed and looking for avenues to feel better. “Self care is knowing yourself and knowing that at different times and different seasons and parts of your life, you will need support differently,” says wellness expert and reiki master Kelsey Patel. And while the original definition of self care—care for your body, mind, and spirit—still holds true in its modern iteration, there is a component of it that’s new to this decade. Now, the internal reflection that facilitates caring for oneself often comes to fruition with the assistance of products and brands—or, as coined in a 2011 episode of Parks and Recreation, the “treat
Day: December 4, 2019
Doctors successfully brought a dead heart *back to life*
December 04, 2019 at 10:28PM by CWC On a given day, up to 114,000 people await a transplant in the United States, and the heart is one of most in-demand organs. On Sunday, a heart transplant team at Duke University became the first in the U.S. to bring a heart from a deceased donor back to life—and transplant it into a living recipient. In a process called donation after circulatory death (DCD heart warm perfusion), an artificial circulatory machine pumps warm, oxygenated blood through the heart once removed from the donor, effectively reviving the organ. This process gives surgeons up to 12 hours to transport the organ to the recipient—a notable increase from the previous 4- to 6-hour window of viability. “This surgery marks the first time in the U.S. that a heart utilized for transplantation was derived from a non-brain dead donor,” explains Brian Lima, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Northwell Health via email. “Until recently, hearts could never be used in these instances because waiting until ‘cardiac death’ could damage the viability of the heart. But thanks to the advent of ex-vivo heart perfusion (so-called heart-in-a-box) technology, that heart could be resuscitated on a perfusion apparatus and assessed for viability.” On average, 20 people die every day waiting for organs in the United States, according to the American Transplant Foundation. Duke is currently one of just five medical centers in the United States carrying out DCD heart transplantation in clinical trials, but Dr. Lima says widespread adaptation of the
Redditors can’t get enough of these 5 beauty brands, and neither can dermatologists
December 04, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC Whenever I’ve got a beauty question, Reddit’s SkincareAddiction thread is the first place I turn. That’s because chances are, someone on there has had the same question, and dozens (sometimes hundreds) of people have given his or her two cents on what the answer is. The thread is the number one most popular beauty community on the platform—for good reason—and I as a beauty editor trust their intel a whole lot. Suffice to say, when the Reddit community recommends a product, you best believe it’s worth listening to… their crowd-sourced 4-1-1 on all things skin related is legit, to say the least. Need proof? Reddit just released its 2019 trends, and the five most talk-about beauty brands are among our own—and our dermatologists’—all-time favorites. In fact, we’ve spent this year talking about many of the same products as our favorite Reddit community has, which goes to show how on the nose they are. The best part of the top brands? The majority of them are available at the drugstore. Below, the five top beauty brands of 2019 that Redditors couldn’t get enough of, and our picks for the best products to buy from each. Top beauty brands of 2019: 1. Cerave Photo: Cerave Cerave Daily Moisturizing Cream, $19 Drugstore go-to Cerave cinched the top spot for Reddit’s most talked-about beauty brand of 2019, and for good reason. According to derms, Cerave Moisturizing Cream (which clocks in at an ultra-affordable $19 for a giant
Dictionary.com’s ominous word of the year should inspire us to take 2020 by storm
December 04, 2019 at 08:30PM by CWC I’m a word person. It’s why I didn’t just like, trip and fall into journalism, so when Dictionary.com announces their word of the year, my ears are perked. Your ears should be, too. This years word is the final note of our decade, a search result that looms boldly, italicized, underlined if you’re some sort of aggressive formatting monster. It’s a word that darkly encapsulates how we question our lives, our world, and the role we play in it. The word of the year is “existential.” Existential is defined as “of or relating to existence” and “of, relating to, or characteristic of philosophical existentialism; concerned with the nature of human existence as determined by the individual’s freely made choices.” To take that a step further because I hate when definitions are self-referential, existentialism is a philosophy relating to an “individual’s unique position as a self-determining agent responsible for making meaningful, authentic choices in a universe.” This makes sense at a point in history where we have a hyper awareness of how the world is falling apart, and what our role is to keep it together. Will our sustainable food, tooth paste, and toilet paper fight the good fight against climate change? How do we convince idiot politicians to make gun control regulations so there aren’t more mass shootings than days in a year? What can be done in the way of reproductive rights, and how do we help those in states with de
This company uses flower petals to create a down alternative jacket that’s cozy and cruelty-free
December 04, 2019 at 07:30PM by CWC A vegan, sustainably-sourced down jacket is hard to come by, but Pangaia—which makes its down alternatives from seaweed fiber and wildflowers, natural dyes made from plants, and recycled materials—has a new option that ticks all the boxes. The company’s latest release, FLWRDWN, features a capsule collection of puffer jackets ($550-$750) filled with wildflowers—so you can be swaddled in spring even in the dead of winter. The technology took Pangaia 10 years of in-lab research, and the result is a fully-biodegradable garment that can stand up to inclement weather. “The wild flowers we source are from areas which contribute to habitat restoration, whilst helping to conserve a species of local butterflies,” reads the website. “This kind of regenerative agriculture results in a reduction of greenhouse gas production (12 tons of CO2 per hectare of plant material). The method also helps to preserve groundwater, as it doesn’t require irrigation.” FLWRDWN is now available for pre-order. Keep scrolling to snag a sustainable jacket with down alternatives for yourself. Vegan and sustainable jackets with down alternatives Photo: Pangaia 1. Pangaia Puffer Jacket Short in off-white, $550 Blend right in with the snow with Pangaia’s off-white jacket option. Even though their vibrant hue isn’t on display, the wildflowers used for insulation offer all the color you could ever need. Photo: Vaute Couture 2. Vaute Couture The Satin Castro in evergreen, $650 Both the inside and outside of this coat is made of sustainable materials. The down and the
Why you feel inclined to lie in therapy, according to therapists
December 04, 2019 at 07:00PM by CWC Confession: I don’t always tell my therapist the truth during our sessions together. Or rather, I omit crucial talking points in order to avoid feeling any kind of shame or perceived judgment. I’m not alone, either. A friend of mine recently told me she lies to her therapist about her condom use to avoid criticism, and, according to a much-publicized (albeit, small) 2015 study, a whopping 93 percent of patients also report lying in therapy. This can’t be productive behavior given that we’re paying these professionals to help us sort through the exact related to information we’re withholding. So, why do we do it, and how can we stop? Ways we lie in therapy For starters, says clinical psychologist Andrew Schwehm, PhD, it’s important to distinguish between the types of lies we tell. “Lies of commission are ones in which we straight-up fabricate something,” he says. “An example is if your therapist asks if you’ve ever had any suicidal thoughts and you say no even though you thought about running in front of the bus earlier that morning.” Lies of commission are less common in therapy, however, than my preferred type, omission, he says. “An example is when you run 15 minutes late to your appointment, your therapist asks why you ran late, and you say you overslept but fail to mention that you did cocaine the night before, which led to you not setting your alarm,” Dr. Schwehm says. Lies of commission
5 healthy Trader Joe’s sauces that can transform practically any meal
December 04, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC While there’s lots of debate in the healthy food world over which eating plan is best or whether alt-meats are worth adding onto our plates, there’s one thing that everyone can agree on: Trader Joe’s can do (almost) no wrong. From their cauliflower gnocchi to their spice section and even their beauty products, they deliver quality and health on practically every level. And as I’ve recently discovered, this trueism expends to their sauces, too. Sauces, of course, are a great healthy way to add flavor and nutrition to a dish without a ton of extra effort. But if you don’t have time or energy to DIY your own, store-bought options can be life-saving…if you do your label-reading carefully. There’s often a catch in the form of hidden salt, sugar, or preservatives in many pre-made sauces. Not so with these five healthy Trader Joe’s sauces. They’re all approved by a dietitian, so you know they’re legit health-wise. And given that they’re all from TJ’s, you’re in good hands taste-wise, too. Consider tonight’s dinner plans saved with these delicious picks. 1. Best salsa: Trader Joe’s Salsa Verde “You can do more than just dip chips into this salsa verde, which is why it should definitely be on your Trader Joe’s grocery list,” says Maggie Michalczyk, MS, RD. Made with simple ingredients like tomatillos, water, garlic, and salt, it’s pretty pure in terms of high-quality ingredients while staying relatively low in sodium and sugar. “Use it
The rise (and rise) of black leggings over the past 10 years
December 04, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC Black leggings are a nearly ubiquitous staple in women’s wardrobes today, but that hasn’t always been the case. Throughout the past decade, leggings have been a stretchy symbol of the rise of athleisure—and, by the same measure, the fall of getting “dressed up” for anything but the most formal occasions—and an increasingly massive moneymaker for brands. In the ’70s, leggings shimmied onto our fashion radar after Olivia Newton-John donned her shiny pair in Grease‘s final scene (a look that later inspired American Apparel’s ultra-popular Disco Pant), and it soon became a staple of ’80s aerobic culture and a key component of Madonna’s boundary-pushing, Like A Virgin-era style. In the aughts, women began to layer leggings under dresses, skirts, and tunics (so many tunics), sometimes accompanied by a vest and low-slung belt. By contrast, in the 2010s, leggings made from sleek technical fabrics that include mesh and seaming details have taken center stage—in recent years, often paired with a bare midriff and coordinating crop top. What would have looked out of place outside a gym not so long ago is now akin to a power suit for the wellness era. With the boundaries between work and leisure becoming blurrier by the year (a consequence, in part, of the smartphone’s ubiquity), women are demanding more comfort and performance from their everyday attire—a need that leggings, and by extension, athleisure, have promised to fill. Brands ride the leggings boom to the bank Lululemon is a pioneer in
The 3 foundational hormones everyone should know about
December 04, 2019 at 05:36PM by CWC Once upon a time, the very complex topic of hormone health got boiled down to period-induced “mood swings” and the need to cuddle with your significant other. But what are hormones? Now, we know that things aren’t so simple. The human body is home to more than 50 types of hormones, and at a recent Well+Good TALK in New York City, experts named the three everyone should know about. Speaking on the topic of hormones, Nicole Jardim, certified women’s health and functional nutrition coach; Nataki Douglas, MD, PhD, chair of the Modern Fertility Medical Advisory Board; and Nick Bitz, ND, chief scientific officer at Youtheory each named one that plays a major role. What are hormones? Experts name the foundational hormones everyone should know 1. Cortisol: The stress hormone “One of the most, or the most important one—especially for anyone who has a uterus—is cortisol,” said Jardim. “If we’re constantly in a state of stress—and most of us don’t even realize we are—that’s going to affect the hypothalamus, the pituitary [gland], and the connection that they have to your ovaries. And then, lo and behold, you end up in a situation where you’re either not ovulating anymore or ovulation is delayed. Or you may notice that your periods are becoming heavier, you have an estrogen dominance situation happening, or progesterone is dropping. So all of these symptoms come back to this regulated stress response and an overproduction of cortisol.” To actively make sure
SLT is debuting a megaformer-treadmill class that gives you planks with a side of sprinting
December 04, 2019 at 04:55PM by CWC Ask any boutique fitness connoisseur (including our three fitness editors) what the hardest workout in New York City is, and they’ll most likely tell you it’s SLT. Megaformer workouts are touted for their efficiency and results, and in a single 50-minute class, you’ll get cardio, strength, and flexibility training in one fell swoop. But for some cardio queens, the slow, controlled movements of the Pilates-inspired method aren’t fast-paced or sweaty enough. And so to make things even harder, founder Amanda Freeman decided to add treadmills into the mix. SLT Tread, which will open in New York City in January, 2020, combines the slow cardio benefits of a megaformer workout with heart-spiking sprints, the motto being: “tread fast, tone slow.” And so, in what truly sounds like the most-challenging workout of all time, you’ll spend 25 minutes working your muscles to exhaustion on the megaformer, followed by 25 minutes doing high intensity intervals on the treadmill. “While the SLT workout on its own is the perfect combination of strength training, low-impact cardio, and Pilates, we often see clients interspersing their SLT workouts with high-impact cardio workouts such as running and cycling,” says SLT founder Amanda Freeman. When most people think about “cardio,” their minds usually go to fast, sweaty workouts like running or spinning. But megaformer workouts, like the ones you’ve traditionally gotten at SLT, offer a different kind of cardio in which the slower you go the higher your heart rate spikes. With