December 31, 2019 at 09:00PM by CWC When you think of the most Googled recipe of 2019, what comes to mind? Well, if a perfectly crisp cauliflower crust, creamy pasta dish, or mouth-watering dessert came to mind, you’re wrong. It was actually shepherd’s pie. Yep, the bland-looking dish packed with minced meat, gravy, and mashed potatoes. If you’re a bit surprised… me too. But clearly people are really into their shepherd’s pie! I’d really like to one-up those many searches with a healthier, prettier, and completely vegan vegan shepherd’s pie that’s loaded with plant-based protein. And leave it to Ella Mills, the plant-based cookbook author behind Deliciously Ella, to do just that with her take on the traditional recipe that uses sweet potatoes and black beans, leaving you energized after devouring the dish rather than weighed down. “This is my favorite Shepherd’s pie recipe, and it’s such a crowd-pleaser.” —Ella Mills of Deliciously Ella “This is my favorite Shepherd’s pie recipe, and it’s such a crowd-pleaser,” she wrote on her website. “The beans are sautéed with red onion, garlic, maple, coriander, lime juice, spring onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes until they’re soft and full of flavor. Then they’re baked under a layer of sweet potato mash.” Vegan shepherd’s pie takes more of a time commitment than something like pasta, but the finished product is impressive. Between the wholesome ingredients, herbs and spices, and many protein- and fiber-filled plants, this recipe is 100 percent worth the hype. For the full recipe, head
Year: 2019
The one product a dermatologist won’t get on an airplane without
December 31, 2019 at 07:30PM by CWC Airplane cabins are notorious for sucking all the moisture out of your skin, leading to dryness, breakouts, and other woes you definitely don’t want to deal with after arriving to your final destination. The lack of humidity in the cabin wreaks havoc without proper airplane skin-care products. “Cabin air is often less than 20 percent humidity, whereas at home, humidity is 30 percent or more,” says Gretchen Frieling, MD, a board-certified dermatopathologist. “That means that skin will lack moisture and dry out faster.” While there are plenty of ways you can help combat the issue—like in-flight masking (looks weird, works amazing), post-flight exfoliation, drinking tons of water, and “staying away from drinks that dehydrate the skin, such as alcohol,” Dr. Frieling says—one of the quickest and easiest tactics is having a hydrating facial mist on hand. Photo: Tatcha “To keep my face hydrated, I love my Tatcha Dewy Skin Mist Mini,” says Dr. Frieling. “It has natural oils, algae, hyaluronic acid, and is appropriate for every skin type. It’s also non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and cruelty-free. Bonus: You can even use it on hair to give it extra sheen.” To keep your skin moisturized, Dr. Frieling recommends shaking the mist gently and spritzing it on your face two to three times from about six inches away. “When inflight, use it anytime your face feels dry, or upon landing when you want to look and feel refreshed,” she says. You can also use it before applying
Food nutrition labels are getting a big makeover in 2020—here’s what the changes mean for your health
December 31, 2019 at 07:00PM by CWC Walking the aisles of your fave grocery store isn’t all that different from treasure hunting: You have to shift through a fair share of junk to find gems that are both nutritious and delicious. Most healthy eaters know that if you only pay attention to the front of the package, you’re likely to end up with fools’ gold thanks to clever marketing disguised as healthy claims. The real treasure is revealed by reading the nutrition label and ingredients list on the back of the package. Most of us are pretty familiar at this point with what that nutrition label looks like. But in 2020, you’ll notice that it looks a bit different, thanks to a requirement from the Food and Drug Administration three years ago that is finally going into effect. As of January 1, 2020, all food and (non-alcoholic) drink manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual sales are required to have nutrition panels reflecting the new changes. (Manufacturers with less than $10 million in annual food sales have until January 1, 2021 to comply.) This is the first time the label is being changed since 1993 (!!), and you possibly have already seen some brands update their packaging to reflect the new requirements. There are 10 total changes between the old nutrition panels and new the new ones, including three biggies that really stand out: total calories are in a bigger font and serving size requirements have changed, added sugar
I’m a massage therapist, and this pre-bed bodywork melts tension for better sleep
December 31, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC Next to my bed, there are three different bottles of CBD tinctures, two types of sleep-inducing gummies, some lavender essential oil, plus an eye mask and a pair of ear plugs. In other words, I have tried everything—including sleep apps, meditation, putting my phone in another room, and good old fashioned counting sheep—in pursuit of better sleep. One method worth adding to the arsenal that won’t take up any added space on the nightstand? A cranial sacral massage for sleep, which pros say can help you drift off to dreamland more easily. Cranial sacral massage, which can be done on your own or at the hands of a massage therapist, is a “non-invasive hands-on therapy that aims to enhance the body’s [own ability] to help relieve pain and dysfunction,” says Jelena Capkunovic, licensed massage and cranial sacral therapist at Exhale Spa, explaining that the method uses gentle, small touches to manipulate the joints and soft tissues in the skull and spine. “The therapist is trying to affect the pressure and circulation, or ‘balance the flow,’ of cerebrospinal fluids.” This helps the areas that frequently get tense as stress occurs throughout the day (the neck, shoulders, and head) to relax and return to a point of normalcy so you can sleep better at night. Small studies have found that cranial sacral therapy, was helpful in treating chronic neck pain, and while more research needs to be done to prove it an ironclad solution, many
The new class of lip glosses are just as hydrating as your go-to lip balm
December 31, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC We’re thankfully living during a time when most-every product in our makeup bags is skin-friendly. We have skin care-foundation hybrids, lipstick with skin-boosting ingredients, lip-to-cheek palettes spiked with serum-worthy ingredients, and at last, a hydrating lip oil gloss that’s packed with good-for-skin ingredients, while giving lips a shellac of pigment. “Lip oils tend to be more nourishing than traditional lip glosses since skin-care ingredients are in the formula versus traditional glosses where shine is the main goal,” says Jeannie Vincent, a Boston-based makeup artist. “These new options also tend to be less sticky, which is a nice alternative, since regular lip gloss has a pretty gluey reputation.” She points to the new-ish Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss, which has hyaluronic acid that works to “draw hydration back into the skin” and the Tower 28 Lip Gloss, which uses “various oils to moisturize like apricot, castor, raspberry, and avocado.” That said, if you go with a colorless option, she recommends topping your gloss with a waxy balm to seal in moisture because “an oil alone generally isn’t enough for the lips—you might lick it off or it will disappear after a while.” Her fave? Drugstore staple Moroccan Magic Rose Lip Salve ($4). As someone who ditched lip gloss after middle school, I’m a born-again shine fan, because these lip glosses douse my lips in hydration that is much needed this time of year. Keeps scrolling for the ones to grab next. Kosas Wet Lip
How to push yourself from your comfort zone, according to your Myers-Briggs personality
December 31, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC We all face personal challenges that make us feel deeply uncomfortable, and if these issues, habits, and traits go unidentified and unaddressed, they stand to stunt our emotional growth. Each Myers-Briggs type has its own unique pain points and areas for improvement. (Yep, even ENTPs, ESTPs, and ESFPs, who tend to act like they have none at all.) So, it’s certainly worth introspecting about your personality background as a strategy for pinpointing the most effective way to get out of your comfort zone. And, what better time than now to create new goals and eliminate the road blocks holding you back? So check out how to get out of your comfort zone based on your personality type. (Don’t know what your MBTI is? Read this first!) Below, find the best way to get out of your comfort zone, according to your Myers-Briggs personality type. Graphic: Well+Good Creative ISFJ: Ask for what you want You’re sensitive to being ignored or not heard, which often means you avoid speaking up for what you really want—whether it’s a raise at work, a change to your home life, or a commitment. Get out of your comfort zone and use your voice. You have a lot to say and a right to ask. ESFJ: Put yourself first You are comfortable putting the needs of others in front of your own. So, figure out what you need before investing more externally: Are you focusing so much on your friends
Smartphones are introducing tech that makes the world more accessible for people with disabilities
December 31, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC It’s easy to throw shade at smartphones for all the ways they suck us in, burn us out, and keep us up at night. But let’s not forget that our constant computerized companions have many qualities worth celebrating, too. For starters, they’re helping to make life easier for people with disabilities. This year alone, tech companies have introduced several groundbreaking accessibility settings that help blind, deaf, and cognitively and physically disabled people interact more seamlessly with the world around them. This is a big deal given that, in America alone, one in four people is living with a disability that impacts “major life activities,” according to the CDC. “People with disabilities need the same things from their phones as those without: affordability, reliability, usability, value, functionality,” says Salimah LaForce, senior policy analyst at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Center for Advanced Communication Policy. LaForce and her colleagues are currently collecting data on 2019 smartphone accessibility as a follow-up to a 2017 study published earlier this year. The results have been encouraging, as there are a growing number of accessibility features on devices that help those with many different disabilities. “Some were specifically designed to improve access by people with disabilities, such as screen readers, screen contrast, and font size customization for those with vision and print disabilities, and captions so that people who are hard of hearing can access video content,” says LaForce. “Other features may not have been designed specifically for people
I wore a chic vibrator ring in public so I could experience pleasure…anywhere
December 31, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC This fall, a number of my friends were gifted engagement rings in celebration of lifelong love and commitment. As a super-single person, that was simply not in the cards for me, so I decided to buy myself a different kind of ring in celebration of self love. Or more accurately, solo lovin’. That’s right: While my pals were getting fitted for their wedding bands, I got a ring perfectly fit for public play: the Palma by Unbound, a ring that doubles as a vibrator. Two inches long, a centimeter wide, and plated in gold, the Palma, which launched in 2019, looks like your average statement ring. But press the button on the underbelly of this functional jewelry item, and it transforms into a bullet vibrator. (And, don’t worry, you won’t turn it on by accident—promise). View this post on Instagram MEET PALMA. The ultimate piece of statement jewelry. Palma is a multi-speed, waterproof vibrator ring with 3 speeds and two customizable modes. Put the power of your pleasure in your own hands. Palma is made with surgical grade stainless steel and available in silver and electroplated 14k gold. Shop now for $128 via link in bio! Models: @drizzythekitty @the_meli_show; photog: @savannarruedy; MUA: @jackgreenermakeup; stylist: @meganmcdearman; set: @c.f.x.x; hair: @stylebysergio #HeyPalma A post shared by Unbound (@unboundbabes) on Apr 9, 2019 at 1:04pm PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js While most bullet vibrators only offer one or maybe two intensity settings, the Palma caters to gals who like
These are the immune-supporting ingredients a naturopathic doctor always keeps on hand
December 31, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC If it seems like everyone you know starts calling out of work as soon as the temperature drops, you’re not imagining it. Turns out, it’s not a coincidence that it can feel like your immune system needs additional support to keep it running in tip-top shape this time of year. According to Erin Stokes, ND, registered naturopathic doctor and MegaFood® medical director, your immune system undergoes additional stress during the winter months. But since you can’t control the seasons (if only), there are several things you can do to help maintain a healthy immune response.* “There are times when we all need extra immune support, and we experience added stressors during the cold winter months,” Stokes says. “When the temperature starts to drop it’s important to make sure your immune system doesn’t.” To help you feel your best, Stokes recommends stocking up on immune-supporting ingredients—whether they’re real-food ingredients in your fridge or found in supplements like MegaFood, which uses real food grown by trusted, IRL farmers plus added nutrients to create premium supplements. Scroll down to learn more about the four immune-supporting ingredients to keep on deck. Vitamin C The king of immune-supporting ingredients is everyone’s go-to, but according to data from the CDC, 15 million people still have low levels of vitamin C in their blood. Increasing these levels is important because vitamin C supports healthy immune function by accumulating in certain immune cells that help make up our body’s ‘defensive team,’”
Here’s everything a top dietitian wants you to know before jumping on the Whole30 bandwagon
December 31, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG3ZrLFYxL8] Is Whole30 really worth the hype? Here’s what a dietitian says. As far as January resolutions go (if you’re into that type of thing), Whole30 is certainly one of the most common things healthy eaters turn to. But the 30-day plan, which urges people to focus on eating whole foods and cutting out refined sugar, grains, legumes, and dairy, isn’t easy to stick to. But many who see it through swear by its benefits…once they’ve shut up about how hard it was, of course. So is the Whole30 worth it? In the latest episode of You Versus Food, registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, doesn’t hold back on the eating plan. “Whole30 has gained popularity because it’s marketed as a way of life or a way to learn how to eat, rather than a way to diet,” Beckerman says. Certainly sounds appealing. However, it comes with a temporary nutritional price. “By completely eliminating grains and legumes, you are missing out on essential nutrients such as iron, folate, fiber, healthy carbs, and B vitamins,” she says. Beckerman also says that there is no medical research on Whole30, so while anecdotally you may hear from your friends (or influencers) how great it is, more research still needs to be done to confirm its benefits. The truth is, Whole30 isn’t all good or all bad. Watch the episode above to see Beckerman sound off on more pros and cons, and find out her verdict on