February 15, 2019 at 11:34AM by CWC I began taking fish oil a few years ago, around the time I started Crossfit. Not the pills, mind you—straight-up shots of fish oil. Because…omega-3s! Fighting inflammation! I didn’t really understand why I was drinking “lemon”-flavored fish juice every morning. I just had the general knowledge that omega-3s were good for you. Which is problematic when you’re deep in the wellness scene like me. I could give you a laundry list of the benefits of turmeric, but if you asked me about omega-3 benefits I’d be all um, they’re good for your brain? Then I’d quickly change the subject to something I know more about, like the latest docu-series about murderers or the best dog accounts to follow on Instagram. “There are over 22,000 scientific articles proving the total body and brain health benefits of omega-3s,” says William Sears, MD, author of The Omega-3 Effect. But in my defense…most of them are difficult to understand. To get into the nitty-gritty of the real omega-3 benefits, I turned to the experts. Here’s what they had to say. 1. They’re really, really good for your brain Boom, I got this one right. “The brain is 60-70 percent fat,” Dr. Sears says. And of this fat, he says that omega-3s are the most important. “Getting enough omega-3’s is critical for helping depression and other emotional disorders,” board-certified internist Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, adds. A recent study indicated that omega-3s can help reduce clinical anxiety. And a 2017 review
Year: 2019
NightFood ice cream promises sweet dreams with the power of magnesium
February 15, 2019 at 10:14AM by CWC You know the rules. If you want a good night’s sleep, you can’t eat sugary sweets right before you hit the sheets. Even munching on a little dark chocolate could keep you awake. When I first heard about a magnesium ice cream that promised a good night’s sleep, I was skeptical. But it contains a blend of ingredients that might knock you out until morning. Later this month, NightFood slides into the freezer aisle with an impressive collection of low-calorie and low-sugar ice creams. But the inclusion of magnesium in the brand’s products is causing a stir. According to the company, the ice cream recipes were formulated by sleep and nutrition experts. “Nightfood delivers seriously delicious nighttime ice cream that’s both sleep expert and cravemonster approved,” boasts the brand’s website. Cleverly named flavors include After Dinner Mint Chip, Full Moon Vanilla, Cherry Eclipse, Cold Brew Decaf, Cookies and Dreams, Midnight Chocolate, Milk and Cookie Dough, and Bed and Breakfast (maple ice cream with waffle chunks). Unlike other sweet treats, NightFood’s ice cream doesn’t contain any caffeine and only uses natural sweeteners. If you look at the ingredient’s list of the products, you’ll also notice a mineral blend that includes magnesium, calcium, and zinc—three things that have been shown to improve sleep. You’ll get a solid amount, too: Cooking Light reports you only need a half cup of the ice cream to meet 10 percent of your daily magnesium needs. You don’t have to wait for NightFood to be stocked at your
The astrological significance of Katy Perry’s spectacularly unique engagement ring
February 15, 2019 at 08:51AM by CWC Well, someone had an epic Valentine’s Day yesterday and her name is Katy Perry. The singer just announced her engagement to Orlando Bloom on Instagram. That they’ve finally taken their relationship (very) public is nice, but the ruby red rock in Katy Perry’s engagement ring is what got our attention. A flower-shaped ring with diamond petals, the jewel is an unusual choice for an engagement ring. “The center stone appears to be an oval-shaped ruby,” jewelry expert and gemologist Grant Mobley tells People. And it turns out the hue has a lot of significance. “The deep magenta essence in Katy’s diamond resonates with the power of the high heart. Not just the emotional security of light pink—like a soothing rose quartz—but the transmutational aspects of love,” says Luke Simon, co-founder of Maha Rose Center for Healing. “Diamond is a product of pressure that turns carbon into bling. The fact that this one turned a deep magenta is rare and shows that Orlando sees Katy’s unique and powerful heart and can support what makes her so special.” View this post on Instagram full bloom A post shared by KATY PERRY (@katyperry) on Feb 15, 2019 at 2:07am PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js Heather Askinosie, leading crystal expert and co-founder of Energy Muse, explains that each finger is aligned with the energy of a specific planet. Your ring finger is paired with Venus. That position combined with the qualities of her ring speak even more to their strong connection. “When
If every damn thing annoys you, here’s how to be more patient
February 15, 2019 at 08:21AM by CWC From the slow, simmering frustration that builds with being on hold with a customer service representative for 30 minutes to the quick snap at your barista when she takes longer than usual to make your oat milk latte, chances are that everyone has wondered how to be more patient every now and then. Kelly Davis, director of peer advocacy, supports, and services for Mental Health America explains that as technology advances and constant reachability can deprive us of time to rest and reset. “Even in the workplace, we’re expected to be available 24-hours a day. Now, your boss is in your pocket, your friends are in your pocket, and it’s really easy to have those expectations go both ways,” she says. “You feel the stress of other people being impatient with you, wanting you to immediately respond to things, and then you’re also expecting people to immediately respond to your needs, even if it’s not consciously.” Besides making even the nicest people irritable, the increasing inability to tolerate delay or a wrench in the plan can have some negative effects on your health, too. “Impatience creates stress, and stress has tremendous health implications,” says Jordana Jacobs, a NYC-based licensed clinical psychologist. “When we’re under stress, it causes chronic low inflammation in the body.” And, of course, inflammation’s the culprit behind a laundry list of problems that span everything from acne to gut to digestion issues. No thanks. So in this world that expects instant gratification all
We fully support your late-night cravings for fast food with 8 better-for-you knockoffs
February 15, 2019 at 08:20AM by CWC Some days I’m perfectly content eating a bunch of veggies, but when all I want is the familiar comfort of my favorite fast foods I find myself in a pickle. A new study finds that eating such “ultra-processed foods” loaded with salt, sugar, oil, and other additives (including flavor and color enhancers) could shorten your lifespan. And I know from experience that the aftermath of giving in to the drive-through will be a stomach ache at the least. Fortunately, making healthier fast foods at home has never been easier. As great as they taste, Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme, McDonald’s Big Mac, KFC’s Popcorn Nuggets, and other fast foods are not great for you. To satisfy my cravings for fast food, I head to the grocery store and gather what I need to make healthier versions right at home. I promise they’re just as finger lickin’ good. Skip the ultra-processed foods by eating 8 fast food favorites made with healthier ingredients Photo: Pinch of Yum 1. Crunchwrap Supreme, Taco Bell This Crunchwrap Supreme doesn’t need to be loaded with beef and cheese to taste amazing. You’ll find ingredients like sofritas tofu, tangy marinated cabbage, black beans, and cashew queso. Photo: The Curious Chickpea 2. Sausage ‘N Egg McMuffin, McDonald‘s Believe it or not, this ultra-savory McMuffin is filled with an egg patty made of chickpea flour and tofu. The sausage patty is made of tempeh. Photo: Where You Get Your Protein 3. Hamburger, In-N-Out These copycat In-N-Out burgers use protein-packed black bean patties and
Never forget about your leftovers again with these RD-approved fridge organization tips
February 15, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC Thanks to Marie Kondo’s Netflix show—who knew watching someone tidy up other people’s junk was so satisfying?—the chores typically left for spring cleaning are being tackled now. Closets full of leggings, junk drawers…no mess is safe. And that brings us to the fridge. Even if you’re the type of person who occasionally posts fridge shelfies, there are still some organization tricks worth learning to avoid both food waste and a cluttered fridge. Because honestly…who among us hasn’t forgotten about that half-opened carton of yogurt, or the celery from December that’s now mostly a puddle of brown liquid in the crisper? Enter executive chef and registered dietitian Jessica Swift, RD, better known as Chef Jess. Because she works in a commercial kitchen, she’s privy to the best way to organize the fridge that allows for quick cooking *and* food safety. And because she’s a health-conscious RD, she also knows how to make the set up one that leads to the best food choices possible. Let’s take it shelf by shelf. Keep reading to see exactly how to organize your fridge for optimal freshness and health: Illustration by Well+Good Creative Top shelf It doesn’t take growing up watching MTV Cribs to know that the top shelf is where most people stash their drinks. But Swift says this shelf—which is where the eyes go first—is the best place for leftovers and anything else you want to use up quickly. “If you have something in your fridge
Can practicing yoga make you nicer? I have some thoughts
February 15, 2019 at 07:43AM by CWC I was such an Oscar the Grouch before yoga class the other day. Not only was I was not looking forward to it, I also was consumed with a sense of dread about having to move through my flow. But once I was on my mat and a few asanas down, the anger melted away, and I was immersed in my practice. Sixty minutes later, when I was leaving the studio, a sense of peace washed over me, and it occurred to me that yoga might actually make me a nicer person…and I’m not alone. “Yoga is everything to my mood,” says Kyle Miller, yogi pro and co-founder of Los Angeles’s Love Yoga space. “Practicing gives me the time and space to pay attention inward, to recalibrate myself, and to be selfish in a good way. It’s taught me everything about human nature and the fleeting nature of moods and feelings, and that ultimately everyone has the same desires and fears. This soothes me and helps me when my mood is slipping from my control.” “[Yoga] soothes me and helps me when my mood is slipping from my control.” —Kyle Miller Of course, after any workout, you feel that rush of endorphins (and thanks to Reese Witherspoon I know that endorphins make you happy). But that’s not quite the extent of it with yoga, because it’s a holistically mindful experience. “Yoga involves not just movement, but it also really focuses on mindfulness and breath,” says Eudene Harry, MD,
I tried Mandy Moore’s CBD hack for making high heels more comfortable
February 15, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC The phrase “beauty is pain” has been drilled into my brain ever since my mom took me to get my first eyebrow wax at age 12. But as a full-fledged adult, the idea of suffering for beauty just feels straight-up silly to me. Because…why? I’ve got plenty of other things in my life I need to suffer through, without adding anything beauty-related to the list. With that in mind, I am constantly looking for ways to make elements of my routine less painful—whether it’s cutting down my skin-care sessions to 1-minute, or skipping out on shampooing for, like, a week on end. While I’ve more or less gotten my beauty regimen down to an art, I’m still struggling a bit on the fashion front. And one thing I’ve never been able to figure out is how to comfortably wear high heels. In fact, most of the (really cute and really expensive) stilettos that I own wind up relegated to the back of my closet, because it’s just not worth it to me to suffer through hours upon hours of foot-related hell for the sake of completing an outfit. Which makes me sad! So recently, when I read that celebs prime their feet with CBD to make their own well-heeled lives more bearable, I knew I had to give it a try. As someone who already uses CBD for the sake of sleep and anxiety, I was excited at the prospect of finding yet another use
Yes, it’s really possible to drink *too* much water during a workout
February 15, 2019 at 06:49AM by CWC The importance of staying hydrated—especially when you’re working out—cannot be understated. While it’s not uncommon to see people carrying around gallon jugs of water at the gym, it is in fact possible to overdose on water. Unfortunately, what happens when you drink too much water during a workout isn’t commonly discussed. If you didn’t know already, you can definitely have too much of a good thing. Hyponatremia, or water intoxication, is a condition that occurs when the body holds onto too much water, diluting the blood supply’s sodium levels. Typically caused by drinking an extreme amount of water in a short period of time, hyponatremia is common and potentially fatal. While your age, certain medical conditions, and medications can increase your risk, it can also be induced by exercise. A study conducted in 2002 by doctors from Harvard University, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that 13 percent of Boston Marathon runners experienced some form of hyponatremia. “It was initially seen most often in elite endurance athletes, like triathletes and ultra-marathoners. More recently, it has been described in football players and other active people,” says orthopedic surgeon David Geier, MD. “It usually develops from drinking more fluid than the amount of water you lose in sweat, urine, or breathing.” Dr. Geier, a sports medicine specialist and the author of That’s Gotta Hurt: The Injuries That Changed Sports Forever, says the condition is especially common in athletes preparing for a race who drink too much water
Dull, Ashy Skin? Try These 9 Expert-Approved Tricks To Get Your Glow Back Fast
February 15, 2019 at 05:16AM Repeat after us: hydrate, exfoliate, meditate. Continue Reading… Author Stephanie Eckelkamp | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue