April 09, 2019 at 12:39PM by CWC In the not-so distant past, if you felt like a certain food was causing digestive issues (say you got, ahem, gassy every time you ate dairy), your options were either to: A. Cut said food out of your life and see if you feel better. B. Go to your doctor for testing. (And unless you’re flat out allergic, chances are they’ll make you do an elimination diet anyway.) Thankfully, there is now an Option C: at-home testing. While having access to a good gastroenterologist is invaluable, there’s a lot of detective work you can do yourself thanks to a wide variety of high-tech, gut-focused tests that you can do in the comfort of your own home. But the proliferation of options makes choosing what to try a bit confusing. Should you hold your nose and go for a stool test? Prick your finger and mail in a blood sample? Or is a breath test the way to go? “The first question you have to ask yourself is, ‘What am I looking for?,’” says double board certified functional integrative doctor Bindiya Gandhi, MD, who is based in Atlanta, Georgia. With this in mind, she offers up her insight here—along with the makers of a few trending at-home tests—to better understand your options. Option 1: Breath test Used for: FODMAP issues If someone is experiencing gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea on a regular basis, it’s not uncommon for their doctor to put them on a low-FODMAP
Year: 2019
Your guide to using a pendulum, the crystal that can help you make decisions
April 09, 2019 at 12:23PM by CWC When I was younger, I used to love turning to different props and methods that could give me a yes or no answer (I’m very indecisive). Magic eight balls were my jam, and I always played “eeny, meeny, miny, moe” to choose between various options. Stuff like that. The adult, more wellness-y and official version of these things? Pendulums. Once I heard about these contraptions, I had to get my hands on one and find out how to use a pendulum so that I could resolve my biggest (and most mundane) quandaries. You’ll know you’re working with one when you see a triangular-looking gemstone connected to a chain. “A pendulum is a tool that is used to connect to your higher self and ‘source’ by asking questions to help guide, clarify, and raise your awareness,” says Kelsey Patel, reiki master and wellness guru. “The pendulum itself is simply a small object attached to the end of a string, and can be made out of wood, crystal, gemstone, glass, or metal.” It’s not something you should use to help make every single decision of your life—but it can be useful in certain situations. According to Patel, it’s a very personal practice. “A pendulum can be used in various scenarios where you just want to gain a little more clarity, connection, and a better understanding of something,” she says. “You can ask the pendulum questions about life, love, health, career, money—whether simple or complex.” So
Cosmic experts, should I be reading my horoscope in the morning or at night?
April 09, 2019 at 12:18PM by CWC Every evening at 9 p.m. on the dot I receive a (cosmic!) push notification from my home screen astrology app. By that time I’ve mostly relinquished any notion that I can “control” my day, leading me to wonder: What’s the point of rehashing the past 12 hours through an astrological lens? Dear universe, should I be reading my horoscope in the morning instead of at night? Authors of Astrology for Wellness Amy Zerner and Monte Farber say that, in short, yes—downloading your universe-sanctioned schedule is an activity best enjoyed with a your morning cup of coffee. “Lots of decisions we make before going to sleep end up either being forgotten, or overwhelmed, by the many things that come rushing at us when we awake,” says Farber. “Reading an accurate, well-written horoscope in the morning can be a ‘forewarned is forearmed’ experience.” “Reading an accurate, well-written horoscope in the morning can be a ‘forewarned is forearmed’ experience.” Even though the two says it’s ideal consume all that intel before you dive head-first into your to-do list, you might find it helpful to revisit it later. Especially on days when you feel like Murphy’s Law was in full effect. “My essays are not only predictive in nature, but they give each person who reads them something to actually do to make a difficult day better, and maximize the benefits of a bad day,” Farber says. As is the case with many a wellness practice though,
This Lentil Salad Is Packed With Heart-Healthy Ingredients
April 09, 2019 at 04:44AM It’s the perfect way to start off spring! Continue Reading… Author Caroline Muggia | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
How to slice and dice with a mandoline without losing a finger
April 09, 2019 at 10:45AM by CWC Praise the farmers’ market, it’s finally spring time! Zucchinis, carrots, onions, cabbage, beets! The produce section is bursting with freshness. (Compare that to a month ago when poking around for the few good items meant avoiding the stink eye from other shoppers.) For once, your crisper is full and all those glorious veggies are ready to chop. Right. Chop. The annoying pre-dinner time chore. This is exactly when a mandoline comes in handy, you know, if you’re willing to risk losing the tip of a few fingers in pursuit of a vibrant spring salad. Let’s be real here: mandolines are scary! But they’re a timesaver. In fact, Dez restaurant co-owner and executive chef Eden Grinshpan says it’s the single most underrated kitchen utensil—pretty high praise. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRqHUybNr4U] So, what’s the key to shaving time off your cooking prep and not your digits? How to use a mandoline safely First, make sure you’re using the mandoline on a clean, sturdy surface. That way, it’s easier to keep your movements smooth. When getting ready to slice and dice, always use the safety guard. It provides a protective layer between you and the food. Hold the mandoline with your non-dominate hand to keep it in place, while holding the produce with your other hand, which has more control. Stop before you get to the stem, which clogs up the blades, and makes cleanup more dangerous and difficult. Feel a little better about how to use a
Meet sisu, the Scandinavian concept of perseverance the world really needs to embrace
April 09, 2019 at 09:57AM by CWC When it comes to self care, Scandinavian countries have earned the world’s implicit trust. The Danes are masters of the ultra-cuddly hygge and the Swedes juggle responsibilities to strike balance as lagom experts. But given this trash-fire planet on which we’re forced to subsist, what we might really need right now is sisu. The Finnish term describes a sense of courage that’s all about putting your big-girl pants on when the last thing you want to do is put on pants (a universal #mood if I ever knew one). Sisu is all about resilience and not giving up when you are one 4:45 p.m. meeting, idiotic tweet, or Kardashian scandal away from breaking. The concept is at least a few hundred years old, but recent research, published in the International Journal of Wellbeing, is giving it new life. “Taking a close look at the concept reminds us that, as humans, not only are we all vulnerable in the face of adversity, but we share unexplored inner strength that can be accessed in adverse times,” Emilia Lahti, a doctoral student and study author say in a press release. Sounds like it might be time to give your life a healthy dose of sisu healing, huh? Here are the key the elements that help explain what sisu really means so you can apply it to your life. Extraordinary perseverance You know how every once in a while, you have a long work lunch and only
Found! Beyonce’s no-budge lip gloss is a $12 drugstore diamond
April 09, 2019 at 09:13AM by CWC When a beauty product gets the Beyoncé stamp of approval, you better believe that I take heed. And when said beauty product costs less than a tricked-out smoothie, well, the first thing I do is run out and test it for myself. At a L’Oreal Paris launch event this morning, Bey’s makeup artist, Sir John, revealed the go-to lip product he uses when he wants to give the #queen a long-lasting finish. The “best he’s ever had”? L’Oreal Rouge Signature Lightweight Matte Colored Ink ($12). “When I know I’m not going to see my client again, and I know there’s going to be no touch-up and they’re going to put something on and go, this is my jam,” he told a group of beauty editors. “I know when it hits the carpet, I know if she eats—I know it’s not going to dry, it’s not going to get crusty, and she’s going to feel good.” He shared that he recently used the shade “I Create,” a pink-y brown, on the singer when she went to accept her GLAAAD award a few weeks ago, and he was right—based on the photos, that stuff really did stay on all night. Per Bey’s recommendation, I swiped my own lips with a coat of L’Oreal Rouge, and in the words of Beyoncé herself, it was f-l-a-w-l-e-s-s. Unlike most matte glosses, it didn’t look dry or cakey on my mouth, and didn’t leave behind a single one of
How to use “The Law of Attraction” to get everything you’ve ever wanted (and more)
April 09, 2019 at 08:49AM by CWC An Instagram influencer I follow recently wrote that she had “manifested” her partner. I rolled my eyes so hard at a photo of the happy couple (who were, of course, holding hands while gazing into a sunset near Los Angeles) that I’m shocked I didn’t fall off my chair. As the (sometimes) bitter single that I am, I thought, I’ll manifest you right out of my feed, and clicked “unfollow.” The idea, however, intrigued me. Can we actually learn how to use the law of attraction to call things into our lives as easily as ordering off the menu? I went on a journey across space and time (seriously, there’s a lot of physics involved) to discover which aspects of manifestation are fable and which are fact. Understanding the mechanics of an Ariana Grande-style “I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it” situation starts with teeny-tiny particles, according to Mandy Morris, author of Love: “It’s How I Manifest.” “The law of attraction comes down to an intricate system of consciousness impacting particles. This is not a ‘woo woo’ factor—it’s physics!” “The law of attraction comes down to an intricate system of consciousness impacting particles,” says Morris. “This is not a ‘woo woo’ factor—it’s physics! When someone can understand their own personal process of impacting these particles, they are then able to change how the particles react.” Grab your lunch boxes, kids, because we’re going back to your high school
Yes! It’s possible to use lighter weights and still get stronger
April 09, 2019 at 07:42AM by CWC Without a doubt, strength training is great for your body—it builds muscle, keeps your metabolism up and ticking, and lowers the risk of osteoporosis and other health conditions later in life. However, if you’re noticing chronic pain or if you find yourself more injury-prone after lifting that forty-pound barbell, you might be overdoing it, and all that good work could start to backfire. What’s more, even without a clear red flag that you’re lifting heavier than you should, there are times when picking a lighter set of weights will provide greater benefits for your fitness endeavors. Unsure of when to take it down a notch? Here’s your ultimate guide to when you should grab a pair that’s below what you’ve been lifting, according to experts. If you’re learning an exercise Even if you’ve been lifting twenty-pound dumbbells for a squat military press, if you want to try out a renegade row, it’s not a bad idea to opt for a lighter set of weights first while you’re learning the move. In fact, while learning the mechanics of a posture, you should always plan to drop the weight you’re lifting, according to Sara Mastantuono, CSCS and Equinox trainer. This allows you to build technique without distraction from added resistance. And this rings especially true when the move you’re learning works several muscle groups. “It’s important to start with lighter, more manageable weight when learning complex movements. Because these movements are multiplanar and demand multi-joint
Revive a dull complexion with derm-approved, chocolate-spiked skin care
April 09, 2019 at 07:39AM by CWC When skin-care guru Josh Rosebrook drank cocoa mixed with soy milk regularly, he noticed that his skin became noticeably brighter. “So I did some light research on cocoa and skin, and found a study that said when it’s taken internally, it stimulates blood circulation in the skin,” Rosebrook, beauty expert and founder of his eponymous line Josh Rosebrook tells me. “I thought to myself, if it does this internally, according to science, what can it do topically?” On a hunt for the ingredient to slather on his skin, he noticed there really weren’t many chocolate face masks or beauty products using readily available cocoa extract. “I figured, ‘I guess I’ll make it myself,’” says Rosebrook, who proceeded to concoct a facial mask using raw cacao from Whole Foods mixed with apple cider vinegar, essential oils, and olive oil. This was the earliest rendition of his cult-fave creation of the Cacao Antioxidant Mask ($65) that is now a staple in beauty cabinets of skin-care devotees everywhere. “Topically, the purpose is just to tone and brighten [the skin],” says Rosebrook. “Cocoa is so potent with flavonols—the antioxidants and polyphenol and the caffeine stimulate blood circulation topically, when it’s topically stimulated, it creates a redness. But that’s the blood being pulled from the dermal layer which feeds all the cells. And it’s that activation phase of skin care that’s so important and overlooked. It’s activating the skin by pulling blood through to the surface so that