December 24, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=444yg_umVsw] Navigate holiday boozing with this dietitian’s guide to wine and champagne. Watch the video here. I have one party trick, and it’s that I can saber a bottle of champagne. I learned how to do it a couple of years ago on a Facebook Live segment for the lifestyle site I was working for at the time, and ever since have liked to mention it on any possible occasion. Well, it looks like this year I’m about to saber a lot of bottles this year, because according to registered dietitian and You Versus Food host Tracey Lockwood Beckerman, RD, the health benefits of champagne make it the best choice to sip on this holiday season. Obviously champagne is a type of wine, and thus offers similar heart health benefits. But Beckerman says that champagne’s carbonation promotes slow imbibing, meaning you will consume less alcohol and absorb alcohol into your bloodstream at a slower rate. “This is better for your health, since too much alcohol in your bloodstream at once can be dangerous,” Beckerman says. (For health reasons and also for sending texts you shouldn’t reasons.) However, it’s important to note that alcohol, regardless of what kind you choose, should be consumed in moderation. “Drinking more than the suggested amount of one glass of wine a day can lead to liver damage, kidney damage, and a slew of other issues,” Beckerman says. Watch the video above to learn more about the health
Year: 2019
The truth about Indigenous wellness, from a Native American perspective
December 24, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC A few weeks ago, I had a very interesting conversation with a popular wellness influencer who has a six-figure following. She asked a question, and I replied. Here’s a piece of the email I wrote to her: I saw your story on Instagram asking for Indigenous people to email you with information about our spiritual practices. I’m sure you’re already getting a number of not-so-happy messages from Native people who are offended by your question. I ask that you have patience with this—our community tends to get very defensive (rightfully so) about our spirituality, which up until the 1970s was illegal in the United States. Not many people know that. Many of us grew up facing racism and discrimination for practicing our culture and simply being Indigenous. It hurts to see our traditions, that our ancestors died and fought for, now become a trend that others are demanding to be a part of. These practices are sacred and special to us because they helped our people thrive for thousands of years and subsequently survive several brutal generations of genocide and colonialism. These practices keep us strong as we continue to deal with historical trauma. When Native people express to you that they are hurt by the exploitation of their spiritual practices, please believe them. Our communities have seen so much pain. We have been mocked, brutalized, infantilized, dehumanized, and ignored. The last thing we need is to be harassed for knowledge when it
I’m a dermatologist, and this is what I want you to know about spot-treating hormonal acne
December 24, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Acne’s certainly not easy to deal with, but trying to fight hormonal acne makes dealing with whiteheads feel like child’s play. That’s because your hormones are involved (obviously), which means that the skin-care products you use are only one part of the acne-fighting equation. Even though other factors should be taken into account, like what you’re eating, a lot of acne sufferers wonder if you can spot treat hormonal acne just as you can with other breakouts… so we asked a dermatologist for the lowdown. The good news: “You can spot treat hormonal breakouts with an over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide gel to help dry them out,” says Morgan Rabach, MD, board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of LM Medical. “Sometimes using an over-the-counter wash with salicylic acid can also be super helpful.” Besides those two acne-quashing superstars, she also recommends turning to retinols (of course), and alpha and beta hydroxy acids to stimulate cell turnover and keep your pores free of gunk as the hormonal zits clear up. Even if you use one or a mix of these ingredients, know that the breakouts won’t go away as easily as other forms of acne because hormonal acne is deeper below the skin’s surface. “Whiteheads are a much more superficial type of acne flare-up, and are more likely to be treated by topical treatments alone,” says Dr. Rabach. “Whiteheads and blackheads are most responsive to retinols.” And her overall top suggestion for fully fighting hormonal zits is an
Want to work out but just… can’t even? These 10 videos get your blood pumping in less than 10 minutes
December 24, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC The “no days off” mentality of Instagram can make you feel like you need to clock 60-minute workouts on a daily basis, but that just isn’t the case. As the people living in the Blue Zones (the world’s longevity hotspots) have proven, the best exercise fits into your schedule effortlessly. Which is why some of the best YouTube workout videos are 10 minutes or less. Whether you prefer to squeeze your express sweat in before, after, or during work, we’ve got a YouTube video lined up to help you feel sweaty, refreshed, and ready to take on whatever’s up next. 10 of the best YouTube workout videos that require less than 10 minutes [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFu_jqhOT3w] Beginner dance cardio, 8 minutes and 49 seconds Dancing is seriously good for your mental health. By the end of this short video, you’ll have a dance in your back pocket for all those nights in the club. Or when you’re just, you know, bopping around in your bedroom with a hairbrush. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9F5Bi47Zbg] Muay thai shadow boxing, 6 minutes and 3 seconds If you’re feeling a little punchy, muay thai’s a great way to funnel your energy. This beginner workout requires no bag. Just make sure you have plenty of space for flailing your limbs. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4YQeowk9JE] heart-opening yoga flow, 9 minutes and 16 seconds When you ready to work out the kinks in your body that come courtesy of your desk chair, a heart-centric yoga sequence
The 10 best longevity tips we learned this year for living a longer, healthier life
December 24, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC If you’re ready to make some changes in 2020, we’ve rounded up the best longevity tips we’ve learned in the past year. Whether it’s adding more chili peppers to your diet, taking enough steps every day, or spending quality time with the people you love, these are the easiest ways to give yourself a fighting chance at a long healthy life. The 10 best longevity tips to carry you into 2020 and beyond 1. Eat *all* the chili peppers You might want to bring some spice to your life. A study found eating chili peppers was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, for the people who ate chili peppers regularly, the all-cause mortality risk was 23 percent lower than those who didn’t. Upping your intake can be as easy as sprinkling red pepper flakes or chili powder into your food. 2. Do your best to stay positive Past research has shown being an optimist contributes to “11 to 15 percent longer life span, on average, and to greater odds of achieving ‘exceptional longevity.” (Aka, in this case, living to 85 years old or longer.) While it’s hard to stay positive all the time, making it your mission to cut down on pessimistic thinking can do you good. 3. Take at least 4,400 steps a day Taking 10,000 steps a day is kind of the gold standard in terms of health, but that’s not always going to happen. So rest
Water is 1,000 times denser than air—here’s how to use it to intensify your workouts
December 23, 2019 at 11:05PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL9te9J60zY] Ready to learn all about aqua cycling? Watch the video. What if you could combine the low-impact benefits of swimming with the cardio you get from hopping on a spin bike? Well, with aqua cycling, you totally can. The most recent episode of Well+Good’s YouTube show What the Wellness features director of creative development Ella Dove trying a submerged spin session for better lymphatic health. According to Esther Gauthier, founder of AQUA Studios in NYC, water is about 1,000 times denser than air. The density of liquid means aqua cycling acts as a full-body massage for your lymphatic system (which is in charge of collecting your body’s excess liquid and filtering out cellular waste, bacteria, and pathogens). Throughout the workout, Dove petals in place, stretches, and even does a round of high knees in the pool. She leaves feeling “like Gumby.” Hey, I guess if you spend enough time pedaling through the extra weight of the water, moving on land is a cinch. Watch the whole video to learn even more about the underwater workout. So… will swimming in the ocean while you’re on your period actually attract sharks? Here’s your answer. Plus, the gross reason why your eyes get itchy in swimming pools. Continue Reading… Author Kells McPhillips | Well and Good Selected by CWC
5 delicious high-fiber recipes you can make in an Instant Pot
December 23, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC Fiber makes you feel and look good. It keeps your gut healthy, makes you poop regularly, and keeps your blood sugar and cholesterol in check—not to mention keeps healthy your skin, hair, and nails. And if you’re wondering how to add more to your diet, it’s as easy as grabbing your Instant Pot. Whether you’re in the mood for cozy chili or oats, there are some healthy high-fiber recipes you can whip up in record time. These are the best Instant Pot recipes to help you increase your fiber intake. The best high-fiber recipes to make in your Instant Pot Photo: Detoxinista 1. Instant Pot spaghetti squash When it comes to pasta alternatives, spaghetti squash is the high-fiber option you should be eating regularly, as it contains 2 hearty grams per cup. Plus, you can make it in your Instant Pot in only seven minutes. Photo: Pinch of Yum 2. Instant pot pumpkin walnut chili Between the black beans and walnuts in this dish, you’ll be loading up on fiber, healthy fats, and plenty of vitamins and minerals. Black beans contain 6 grams of fiber per 1/2 cup. Photo: Rainbow Plant Life 3. Indian spiced black beluga lentils There’s 11 grams of fiber (and 9 grams of protein) per 1/4 cup of black beluga lentils, so it’s safe to say you’ll be good to go after one bowl of this dish. Photo: Cozy Peach Kitchen 4. Instant Pot vegan cream of broccoli soup This creamy
The most common ways your skin tells you to “listen up”
December 23, 2019 at 07:00PM by CWC Sadly, our pores can’t speak. But considering our skin is the largest organ of our bodies, it has plenty to tell us about our overall health and vitality. The only trick, of course, is figuring out how to listen to what it needs. As dermatologist Zain Husain, MD, FAAD explains, our skin plays a major role in the protection of our bodies from damage, infection, and disease, so it can be helpful to pay attention to skin changes that stick around for a while. While it won’t scream at you to change things, paying attention to subtle signs such as increased redness, sensitivity, dryness, and rogue breakouts could tip you off to what it needs and how to best take care of it. Ready to start paying attention to skin in a more in-depth way? Here’s how to tell what you need by looking in the mirror. Are you giving skin the moisture it needs? You likely don’t need us to remind you how vital it is to drink H2O every day. But what you might not realize is one of the main functions of our skin is to serve as a protective barrier. As Dr. Husain explains, the lipid barrier works to retain moisture and reduce trans-epidermal water loss (aka water leaving skin) in order to keep skin looking healthy and supple. When your skin is super-duper dry, cracked, or dull, it’s impaired and not able to do its job in the
A facialist shares the most genius hack for keeping skin hydrated when you’re wearing makeup
December 23, 2019 at 07:00PM by CWC By the time the clock strikes noon during the winter months, it can feel like every ounce of moisture has been sucked straight out of your face. Thanks to the combination of cold air outside and the blasting heat in your car/house/office, parched skin is pretty much a given. While most skin pros will tell you that the easiest fix for this sitch is simply to slather on some moisturizer or oil as soon as that dryness sets in, that isn’t exactly the most helpful advice when you’ve got a full face of makeup on that you don’t want to risk ruining. But, says celebrity facialist Angela Caglia, there’s an easy solution on how to hydrate skin with makeup on: the pat-pat method. According to her, it’s A-okay to put moisturizer on over your foundation—as long as you’re doing it the right way. “Pat an oil based moisturizer on top, which will protect your skin,” she says, noting that the same goes for an oil. “It doesn’t effect makeup—it will just make it softer and make lines less pronounced.” She suggests keeping the products in your purse and using them for a quick hydrating touchup for when your skin is begging for a bit more moisture. If you’re worried about this reverse layering clogging your pores (and causing breakouts), Caglia says it shouldn’t be a problem. “If you’re wearing clean makeup that won’t clog your pores [on its own], putting a moisturizer on
New Jersey becomes the third state to ban hair discrimination
December 23, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC In July 2019, California passed the Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace Act (CROWN Act), a law protecting people from hair discrimination in workplaces and schools. New York quickly followed suit. On Thursday, New Jersey became the third state to adopt the legislation. “Race-based discrimination will not be tolerated in the State of New Jersey,” Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey said in a press release. “No one should be made to feel uncomfortable or be discriminated against because of their natural hair. I am proud to sign this law in order to help ensure that all New Jersey residents can go to work, school, or participate in athletic events with dignity.” The bill accomplishes this important, historical mission by amending the current race discrimination law for “traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles.” Twelve more U.S. states are currently considering the CROWN Act. In late 2018, a referee asked high school wrestler to cut his “unnatural” hair mid-match, reports The Undefeated. The CROWN Act recognizes that hair is never just hair; it can be a vital part of identity with cultural and emotional histories braided into each strand. “While natural hair might seem like an irrelevant front in the never-ending battle against discrimination, we know that hair discrimination is too often used as a proxy for racism in ways that directly impact the success of people of color in schools, courtrooms, and board rooms,”