January 10, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC One of my happiest memories takes place in February, which is hilarious because February is a frigid, dark, gray month. It was a winter wedding weekend at mountain resort, where the snow is somehow always fresh and you can ice-skate safely on the river. The marriage didn’t last, but the memories of log beds with plaid blankets and hot chocolates by the fireplace will keep me emotionally snuggled forever. To describe it succinctly, it was pure koselig. If that word feels foreign, that’s because it literally is. Koselig is a concept from Norway that embraces this ski-lodge-vacation-with-your-loved-ones type of energy. It doesn’t translate smoothly, but the best English equivalent is “cozy.” Let me guess what you’re thinking now: Koselig sounds a lot like that tough-to-pronounce Danish concept of hygge. If so, you’re right again because, well, it kind of is Norway’s version of hygge. Koselig and hygge are both rooted in the belief that there’s nothing better than coziness. But where hygge life emphasizes JOMO and a love of solitude with the likes of Netflix binges and weighted blankets, koselig calls upon a more adventurous spirit and social desire. “Embracing this idea of leaning into the winter and finding positive ways to enjoy it can lead us to feel less alone, more positive, and closer to those who we care about.” —Jennifer Silvershein, LCSW While there’s no wrong way to practice self care, we tend to trust Scandinavian countries when it comes to joy: Norway, after all, landed
Day: January 10, 2020
The 7 pantry staples you’re not storing in the refrigerator—but definitely should
January 10, 2020 at 09:30PM by CWC Perishable items—like fruit, veggies, eggs, and milk—go in the fridge of course. And everything else is packed into the pantry. But prepare to be shook, because everything you know about food storage and pantry items is about to change. A lot of the healthy staples you currently store in your pantry—like nuts and matcha—should actually be in the fridge in order to keep them fresh and nutritious. So what to refrigerate, and what not to refrigerate? We asked chefs and nutritionists to name the pantry items you might want to move to your refrigerator. The pantry items that should be stored in your refrigerator 1. Nuts and seeds Nuts and seeds are pretty much always found in the pantry. But by storing them in the fridge, they’ll last way longer. “The biggest reason to store dry goods in the refrigerator is to prevent the oils in nuts and seeds from turning rancid,” says Emily Brekke, executive chef at Mint Kitchen. Storing them in airtight containers like Mason jars instead of the bags they come in is helpful, too. 2. Nut butter It’s not just nuts that do better in the fridge—it’s also their respective butters. “Once opened, nut butters will be fine at room temperature in a cabinet for a few months, but if you want to maximize their life, they will stay twice as long in the fridge,” says Allison Scheinfeld, RD, a Brooklyn-based registered dietitian. “This is especially true for natural
This retinol oil has completely transformed how bright and even my skin looks
January 10, 2020 at 09:00PM by CWC When my hormonal acne wouldn’t budge, I had to end my love affair with facial oils as I figured out a game plan for clear skin. This saddened me, because although facial oils are luxe, nourishing ways to hydrate and feed your skin, lots of dermatologists advise against acneic skin types using oil-based beauty products. Now that my breakouts have been under control for a little over a year (praise be), I’m in a committed relationship with one particular facial oil: the Mara Beauty Algae Retinol Oil ($120). I’ll admit I was scared to slather an oil onto my temperamental skin after such a long break, but felt hopeful about this one since it is packed with so many of the top skin-boosting ingredients out there (retinol and algae, for starters). Plus, when this Mara Beauty creation launched right before the new year in 2019, it quickly garnered one five-star review after another on every beauty retail website out there. And so, after one week of nightly use, I became attached—or devoted, really—to the retinol… because it was transforming my skin into the glowiest and brightest that it’s ever been, and I now refuse to live without it. Photo: Mara Beauty Shop now: Mara Beauty Algae Retinol Oil ($120) I was first intrigued by this oil because it’s riding the wave of the algae in skin care trend—an ocean-derived ingredient that retains moisture and is filled with skin-friendly nutrients and minerals, and has
Scientists say these 5 healthy habits extend your healthspan by 10 years
January 10, 2020 at 07:45PM by CWC As humans strive to live longer and healthier lives, longevity experts are on a mission to prolong not only your lifespan, but to increase the number of years you’ll live free of debilitating disease. Scientists at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health assembled an international research team to discover how healthy lifestyle habits you adopt now can extend your healthspan by up to 10 years. The study, published in The British Medical Journal on January 8, looked specifically at years lived without diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer. Researchers examined self-reported data collected every other year since 1980 from nearly 175,000 healthcare professionals age 30 to 75. They found that people over 50 who had never smoked, maintained a healthy weight, ate a healthy diet, exercised regularly, and drank only a moderate amount of alcohol lived about 84 healthy years—a full decade longer than those who did not. “In many ways, these health behaviors are interconnected,” says XinQi Dong, MD, a gerontologist and director of Rutger University’s Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research. “This study enables people to better quantify the years added. The message is laudable.” While the study suggests practicing all five of these habits provides maximum benefits, Ross Arena, PhD, a physical therapist researching rehabilitation and prevention says adoption of just one can be helpful. “What are you willing to do? Can you go for a walk a couple times per week? Something is better than
Yale’s ultra-popular ‘Science of Well-Being’ course opens enrollment today—and it’s 100% free
January 10, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC With all it has to offer, it might come as a surprise to you that one of the most popular courses at Yale University focuses on teaching students to be happier. If you’re not enrolled at the Ivy League institution, you can still take the Yale happiness class for free, right on your computer. Psychology and the Good Life is the most popular course in Yale’s 318-year-old history, reports The New York Times. In fact, regular enrollment is so high, it had to be moved to Woolsey Hall, which usually hosts symphony performances. The demand for the course basically proves that college students— especially those at schools known for academic rigor—are prioritizing wellness. The online equivalent of the course, “The Science of Well-Being,” opens enrollment today. Once you’ve made an account online, you’ll have access to all the course materials without dropping thousands of dollars you would to walk the halls of the esteemed university. If you do want to make things official though, you can order a $49 certificate of completion to hang over your desk. “The Science of Well-Being” opens enrollment today. Once you’ve made an account online, you’ll have access to all the course materials without dropping the thousands of dollars that you would to walk the halls of the esteemed institution. “The purpose of the course is to not only learn what psychological research says about what makes us happy but also to put those strategies into practice,” reads the syllabus.