January 11, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC Like pretty much everything in your early teens—your first crush, your first period, your first bra purchase—navigating your first skin-care routine can be particularly confusing. It’s as if all of a sudden, your hormones have all teamed up and decided to hit you with a one-two punch of oily skin and acne, and you’ve got to figure out how to deal. My own personal introduction to skin care came at the ripe age of 13 by way of a mail-order skin-care kit that Jessica Simpson swore cleared up her acne. In other words, I had no idea what I was doing. Allow me to make things easier for future generations of skin-concerned teenagers. Besides helping deal with whatever skin concerns are looming from hyperactive sebaceous glands (damn you, adolescent acne), the products we use as teenagers actually help set up our skin for later on in life. “Think of your youthful skin as the foundation that your skin starts from as cell turnover slows down after the age of 30,” says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. “When you are young, your cellular machinery is functioning optimally so you want to enhance that activity the best you can.” In other words, taking care of your skin the right way early in life means you won’t be making up for lost time when wrinkles and age spots set in down the road. While we grownups can’t exactly do anything about, say, the plastic beads we
Day: January 11, 2020
West African foods offer delicious variety and flavor to plant-based eaters
January 11, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC Given that the U.S. has long been a melting pot of cultures, other countries’ traditions have always been a big part of what’s considered to be “American” cuisine. If you’re an adventurous eater, you likely already have Indian, Thai, and sushi on a regular basis and are on an endless hunt to expand your palate. The latest place inspiring healthy eaters’ plates: West Africa. On Pinterest, searches for West African recipes saw a 311 percent growth in 2019—pretty major. West African cuisine was also included in Whole Foods’ wellness trends for 2020. “We’re seeing more people gravitate toward the flavors of West Africa right now partly because of big, bold ingredients like chilies, ginger, and lemongrass that create a vibrant base for many healthful, plant-based dishes,” says Chris Manca, a local forager for the Northeast region at Whole Foods Market. Of course, people in West Africa—a region in northwest Africa consisting of 16 countries, including Nigeria and Ghana—have been enjoying and perfecting their cuisine for far longer. But as these foods become more widely available in the U.S., you can expect to seem them become a bigger part of the American culinary conversation. Why West African food has a place on every healthy eater’s plate If you’re looking for healthy meal inspo, West African food is definitely worth your attention; the cuisine is primarily plant-based and vegetables are typically the star of the plate. According to Nigerian food blogger Funke Koleosho, yams, plantains,
Why a sexologist says right now is the best time to reset your sex goals
January 11, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC Now that we’re back in the ’20s it’s the perfect time to embrace bob haircuts, gin cocktails, hot jazz, and hotter sex. Maybe not at the same time, you might be more of a whiskey person, but if nothing else the wild adventures in pleasure part should get a big reprise. New Year, New Decade, and new sex goals. And you’re more likely to make those goals now when you’re fueled with that shiny new energy. “Realistically anytime is a good time to spark up your sex life,” says Alicia Sinclair, certified sexologist and creator of the Le Wand Massager. “However, since so many folks see the New Year as a marker to make change, it’s a fantastic time to amp up your sex life. Since most of us feel naturally inclined to ring in a new year with positive life changes, the momentum is already supporting change and primed for new resolutions — like the sex life you’ve been dreaming of during those holiday food comas.” From a psychological standpoint, this phenomenon is referred to as The Fresh Start Effect. With the Fresh Start Effect, highlighting landmarks like birthdays, anniversaries, and yes, a new year reprograms the brain to think aspirationally. You get a clean slate that motivates you to act and leaves room for new ideas and innovations. And even though (or maybe because) resolutions tend to swan dive as the year goes on, you might as well get started setting up and
Strengthen your body from head to toe with landmine exercises
January 11, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC If you’re into lifting weights, you’ll never be short on options to get your sweat sesh in. There are dumbbells, weight machines, medicine balls, barbells, kettlebells, the list goes on (and on). One unsung hero that can take your training up a notch? Landmine exercises. If you’re unfamiliar, this form of strength training involves using one side of a barbell with the other resting on the ground to work your strength. “Landmine exercises are single-arm barbell exercises,” says Nicholas Poulin, trainer, founder and CEO of Poulin Health and Wellness. “These are movements that can be done with a landmine machine or by placing one end of the barbell in the corner of a room where it’s stabilized by the two walls forming a right angle and bolstered with a heavy dumbbell.” Basically, you’re using one end of a barbell while the other is on the ground as a pivot point. “The freestanding end is used to do the exercises and can rotate freely through any plane of movement,” says Katie Kollath, trainer and founder and co-owner of Barpath Fitness. Landmine exercises switch up your training and get you doing more lateral movements, which more realistically mimic real life (shout out: functional fitness). “Using landmine movements can bring about a change of stimulus, introducing variety and helping increase benefits from training,” says Kollath. “It’s a great way for people, especially those with injuries, to perform compound movements.” Plus, she points out that it’s an
The psychological benefit of having 1 statement accessory to get you through winter
January 11, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC At the beginning of every winter, I break out my ethically made alpaca hat that makes me feel like the princess of the North Pole, and my entire social circle gets pumped up about it. It’s a fluffy, cream-colored circlet, and my friends know that if we’re going out and I’m wearing my winter statement piece, together we’ll be fielding about 40,000 “great hat!” compliments in the hours to come. And it’s precisely because of my big alpaca energy that I’m a big believer that all people should have a signature accessory for when the season shifts to the colder months. Let me explain: I’ve rotated between many signature pieces, but it’s always mattered to me to have an accessory or two that feels Definitively Me. This alpaca hat, though, was never intended to make a statement; I received it as a gift six years ago and initially thought it was too extra, even for me. But it changed my mind as soon as I put it atop my head and realized it hit all the hallmarks of winter coziness: comfort, warmth, and a neutral-enough color to match everything. So the hat stayed on, and the compliments rolled in. The strong positive reaction has led me to a strange conclusion: I don’t think I love the hat as much as other people love the hat. I mainly love it because it excites everyone else. I even have a script ready for when someone
The secret nutty sauce recipe a doctor uses to make plant-based meals ’10 times better’
January 11, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC When you have a good sauce on hand, it’s really all you need to take your meal from good to great. And it’s especially helpful if you’re eating a plant-based diet. That’s why one doctor has a go-to secret recipe for a nutty sauce she uses almost every day. Casey Means, MD, a Portland-based doctor and nutrition expert, recently shared one of her all-time favorite healthy cooking tips on Instagram: Whipping up a creamy nut- and seed-based sauce that makes vegan and plant-based meals “instantly 10 times better.” Using a base of any combo of nuts and seeds (her go-to is sunflower seeds and flaxseeds) combined with a splash of ACV, garlic, and a little tamari and chili powder leaves you with a dairy-free sauce that can be used on nearly any plant-based dish. It also provides some major health benefits. “For many of my patients trying to improve their diets and move away from inflammatory foods, kicking the dairy habit is the biggest hurdle,” says Dr. Means. “One of my favorite tips to ease this transition away from dairy is to substitute creamy, rich sauces made from nuts and seeds, which are extremely simple and quick to make in a high-powered blender, and can be tailored to any thickness or flavor. These sauces contain a number of health-promoting compounds, like omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, micronutrients, and phytochemicals.” Using the sauce is also a great way to add satiating fats to your dishes
Whoa, whoa! Should I be mixing my skin care products to use less and save money?
January 11, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC You might apply your skin-care products like you’re icing a cake: layer by layer. But dermatologists say that if you’re doing so with active ingredients, you’re likely wasting a ton of your favorite formulas (and a lot of money)—but there’s a pretty easy fix when you’re trying to figure out how to make skin-care products last longer. First, identify the actives in your routine. “Active ingredients are those that have a therapeutic effect in the skin, either to improve skin tone, texture, wrinkles, or even acne,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. Actives include ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, and glycolic acid. “The actives are the ingredients that get the job done, as opposed to the inactives which are ingredients that make up the base formula.” And because they’re so potent and powerful, it’s easy to overdo it. If you do feel more comfortable applying one layer at a time, Dr. Zeichner recommends following a new protocol. “I typically recommend using one green pea-sized amount of your product containing active ingredients for the entire face. Spread a tiny bit on the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead then rub in and connect the dots,” says Dr. Zeichner. Alternatively, you can also combine your active ingredients, says Tiffany Masterson, Well+Good Changemaker and founder of Drunk Elephant. Just make sure not to combine products that work against each other. (If you can, it’s best to consult
These are the Trader Joe’s snacks nutritionists buy for themselves
January 11, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC Trader Joe’s inspires a kind of unbridled devotion. There are entire Instagram accounts devoted to scouting the newest product launches. My stocking may have been filled with nothing but Everything But The Bagel seasoning this past Christmas. Even my dad, a grump, was delighted by their inexpensive Trader Joe’s snacks when I forced him to take me there during my last trip back home. He bought eight bags of dried fruit that fateful day. I think I converted him. It can be easy to lose yourself among the array of appealing foods lining the hallowed halls of a Trader Joe’s store. Between the kale gnocchi, dark chocolate almond butter bites, and Cruciferous Crunch, welp, better just buy everything to save time instead of making decisions, right? If only my wallet would allow. Since you already know the best salads to buy at TJ’s and the definitive ranking of all the alt-pastas the retailer sells, let’s talk about Trader Joe’s snacks, baby. I asked three nutritionists to share their favorites. Nutritionists love these Trader Joe’s snacks 1. JERK STYLE PLANTAIN CHIPS “These sweet and savory chips provide the perfect combo of fiber, flavor, and crunch to satisfy those midday munchies,” says Whitney English Tabaie, RDN. (Can confirm, these are delicious.) 2. RANCH SEASONED CRISPY CHICKPEAS “These savory little bites provide a major boost of fiber and plant-protein with the added bonus of tasting like Cool Ranch Doritos,” says Tabaie. 3. JUST A HANDFUL OF
This fitness app is putting personal training into the palm of your hand for only $15
January 11, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC Personal training hasn’t ever been all that accessible (unless, perhaps, you’re Kim K). Because of this, most of us have to schlep it to boutique fitness classes or rely on digital offerings to work up a sweat. But as of late, at-home workouts have been blurring the lines between boutique-level quality and accessibility, and you can bet that streaming services are going to do the very same for personal training. One company that’s out front? Openfit. While there have certainly been advancements in at-home personal training—the digital fitness platform Mirror, for example, recently introduced the option for $40 training sessions on their $1,495 device—none has, until now, made it truly accessible for everyone. The digital fitness app Openfit is looking to democratize access to a personal trainer. On its streaming service, workouts are led by an instructor who can give you everything an IRL personal trainer would—form adjustments, motivation, you name it. All you do is allow the app access to your camera (this is optional), so that it’s focused on you as you workout. This way, the trainer watches you in real time so they know exactly how to coach you through the exercises. It costs about $15 per month, or $100 annually, and all you need is your phone to participate. “Our goal with Openfit Live is to democratize the [boutique fitness class] experience and make it possible for everyone to benefit from accountability, community, and results that come from having a