January 17, 2020 at 11:00PM by CWC With so many options out there, it’s difficult to figure out what to have for dinner (let alone carve out the time to prepare it!), but it doesn’t need to be complicated. We spoke to five doctors about what dinners make them feel their best from the inside out. What do these healthy dinner recipes with vegetables have in common? They’re super easy to make, and you probably already have many of the ingredients you need. 5 doctor-recommended healthy dinner recipes with vegetables 1. Meat, cheese and greens The best part about dinner is that you get to play in virtually every flavor—which comes with an increase in nutritional variety. Dr. Michael P. Rogowski, PhD, senior nutrition scientist at Plexus, goes for approximately 2.5 cups of green veggies (broccoli, spinach, and asparagus are his usual favorites!), paired with a small portion of nuts and cheese, and a modest portion of meat of around four to six ounces. Dessert is a serving of frozen fruit of either bananas, pineapple, or blueberries. “It doesn’t have to be frozen,” says Dr. Rogowski. “I just like the texture of frozen fruit.” 2. Salmon and quinoa Healthcare professionals choose salmon not only for its delicious taste, but its health benefits (think: a lower risk of heart disease and lower blood pressure). “It’s the omega-3 fatty acids that are key,” says Dr. Gretchen Frieling, MD, a board-certified dermatopathologist, who pairs her salmon with quinoa, avocado, and artichokes, which all
Day: January 17, 2020
This $10 kitchen tool has 3,000 5-star reviews on Amazon—and ended my fear of cutting avocados
January 17, 2020 at 09:40PM by CWC I am no stranger to kitchen injuries—I one time sliced my finger down to the bone on a cheese grater while trying to make cauliflower rice, and I have a few other scars on my hands from various kitchen mishaps. Which is why cutting avocados strikes particular fear into my heart. Yes, I know avocado hand was a Thing we all laughed at in 2017. But the reality is that it’s horrifyingly easy to slice into your hand while trying to make avo toast or guacamole. According to an analysis of ER data from Insider, avocado-related injuries sent an average of 24 people to the hospital per day in 2018. 24! Per! Day! (Even a Well+Good staffer cut herself so deeply while preparing avocado that she recently had to have hand surgery. ) Since I only like being a statistic for things like “percentage of the population that is attracted to Adam Driver,” I decided to take a look on the internet to see if there was a safer way to cut an avocado. And I found the extremely highly-rated OXO Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer ($10). Photo: Amazon Shop now: OXO Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer At first, it seemed a little gimmicky and self-indulgent. Like, I’m going to spend $10 on a tool that serves only one purpose, and that purpose is to prepare avocados? The tool sounds like something my dad would make up to tease me about living in
How to be productive at work (all day) without that post-lunch cup of coffee
January 17, 2020 at 08:56PM by CWC If you think you’re the only one wishing you could take a nap at your desk a couple hours after you’ve finished lunch, take a look around. See all the stifled yawns and sleepy eyes? The tricky part about inviting your co-workers on an afternoon coffee run is that if you opt for another cup of joe too late in the afternoon, you might not be able to settle down once you are ready to snooze (i.e. in your bed, not at your desk). What you need when the 3 p.m. fatigue hits is an energy booster that strikes a balance between nodding off and bouncing off the walls, like Liquid I.V. Energy Multiplier. Made with matcha and guayusa, it contains the same amount of caffeine as one to to two cups of coffee, but you’ll feel a steady flow of energy and productivity without java’s trademark crash. “So many people are burned out from coffee’s spikes and crashes and the need to keep drinking it throughout the day,” says Brandin Cohen, CEO and founder of Liquid I.V. “We were really excited about making an alternative way to get the energy most people crave that would also feel good to the body.” Energy that’s actually sustainable? Okay, 2020, we see you. Scroll down to learn how you can boost energy levels all day—without overloading on coffee. Photo: Liquid I.V. Natural sources of caffeine Every latte’s BFF, matcha is touted as a healthier alternative
The unstoppable Betty White turns 98 today—these are her secrets to aging well
January 17, 2020 at 08:51PM by CWC Betty White, the queen of living your best life, is 98 years old today. But to her, age is just a number. Many of us grew up loving her on The Golden Girls, and she’s still making us laugh. Getting older in Hollywood isn’t easy, and White has done it with strength and grace. White’s career has spanned seven decades, and it shows no end in sight. Most recently, she voiced Bitey White, a toy tiger in Toy Story 4. In a 2017 interview with Katie Couric, White shared that staying busy has been key to staying happy and healthy. “Keep busy, and don’t focus everything on you—that wears out pretty fast,” she said. “It’s not hard to find things you’re interested in, but enjoy them, and indulge them and, I think that keeps you on your toes.” Research shows that being optimistic contributes to 11 to 15 percent longer life span, and to greater odds of living to the age of 85 or beyond. And White knows it. “I know it sounds corny, but I try to see the funny side and the upside, not the downside” she told Parade in a 2018 interview. “I get bored with people who complain about this or that. It’s such a waste of time.” For White, age is nothing but a number. She’s said that she was often told to lie about her age in Hollywood, but she felt she had nothing to hide. “I
The best predictor for bad skin days? Your weather app
January 17, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little head’s up when a bad skin day is about to go down? Unfortunately, asking your Magic 8-Ball isn’t the most accurate way to find out your skin’s future. But checking the weather on your phone just might do the trick. A Redditor recently shared a unique skin-care hack that utilizes any weather app. Some weather apps—like the Weather Channel app—have a “dry skin index.” Coupled with the UV index (you should be wearing SPF every day, by the way) and overall temp and humidity, you have all the intel you need to know on how to properly take care of your skin on particular days. Looks like I’m moisturizing today… So, how exactly do you use the info your weather app provides to upgrade your skin care routine? If it’s super dry out, you’ll know to slather on the moisturizer. And if the humidity is out of control, use products—like chemically exfoliating AHA/BHA cleansers and exfoliants—that will ensure the sticky, sweaty weather doesn’t make you break out. Who knows—taking a quick glance between Instagram scrolls in the morning before going about your routine might really change the game for your skin. Here’s the right way to wash your face, according to a facialist: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8F2SVbco8s] Here’s how to dry brush your winter skin in three minutes flat. Then find out the winter skin care hacks that will have you glowing. Author Tehrene Firman | Well
I’m an Olympic gymnast, and these are the 3 exercises for core strength I do on repeat
January 17, 2020 at 06:30PM by CWC Who doesn’t love watching gymnasts flip, swing, and leap their way through the Olympics? They make it look easy, but it requires some serious power to achieve such awe-inspiring feats. Whether they perform on the bars, on the floor, or on the beam, Olympic gymnasts know that doing regular exercises for core strength makes all the difference. Alisa Kano, a group rhythmic gymnast—and part of Team USA!—who competed at the 2016 Olympic Games, knows that without strong abs, her job would be pretty difficult. “The abdominal muscles are one of the most important muscle groups for a gymnast,” she says. “When we balance, jump, turn, and overextend our bodies in different positions, our core does most of the work in keeping the other body parts in the correct positions—especially when it comes to supporting our backs. It’s not only important for preventing injuries, but a necessary component in successfully executing these elements.” To maintain her impressive core strength, Kano has three go-to exercises. If you want abs like a gymnast, start with this routine. The best exercises for core strength, according to an Olympian 1. V-ups V-ups aren’t easy, but they certainly get the job done. “This exercise engages both my upper and lower body,” she says. “You can’t beat a two-in-one exercise where you’re able to work out several muscle groups at once.” How to do V-ups: Begin on your back with your knees extended and arms above head. Simultaneously bring both
Plant-based creamers are making a splash in coffees everywhere—here’s how they compare nutritionally
January 17, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC It was only inevitable that once alt-milks became nearly as commonplace as cow’s milk that a slew of other trends-within-the-trend would follow. Nut milk yogurt, “nice” cream, and plant-based butters have since risen in popularity too, and now a new iteration of dairy-free products is gaining steam: plant-based creamers. Similarly to the plethora of alt-milks now available at your local grocery store, the new-to-the-market selection of plant-based creamers spans the gamut: hemp, almonds, coconut, soy, and banana all serve as popular bases, and some, like Urby, even include extra plant-based protein sources. You may be wondering what the point of these new creamers are anyway—after all, you already have alt-milk in the fridge. It’s a valid question. Traditionally, the difference between milk and creamer was that creamer tended to be heavier (and had more fat) and include added sugar for a sweeter taste. But brands have wizened up to the fact that healthy eaters are looking for simple ingredients lists, and with added sugar mostly left out, the difference is less clear. “The difference between plant-based milk and plant-based creamers is that the creamers are more concentrated,” says registered dietitian Marla Heller, RD, author of The DASH Diet Mediterranean Solution, among other books. While most alt-milks are primarily made of water—with the concentration of the actual nut or other primary ingredient being quite low—Heller says creamers are thicker and less watery. That makes the ingredients they do use pretty darn important. That said, she
How to know if you need to strengthen or stretch your hip flexors—because, ouch!
January 17, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC The hip flexors are one of those regions in the body that you never notice until they’re epically sore. Most of the time, pain eeks into the creases of the hips after a particular grueling core workout or in the aftermath of a long run. Given that the hip flexors are a set of muscles, however, it can be confusing to know whether you should strengthen or stretch (i.e whether they’re weak or just tight) them to help alleviate your soreness. First, an anatomy lesson: Your hip flexors connect the top of the femur to the lower back, hips, and groin, and play a pretty big role in how you move each and every day. “The main purpose of the hip flexors is to stabilize the core,” says fitness pro Katrina Pilkington, NASM-CPT. “They also are integral in the function of movement throughout walking and running.” Because most of us are living out our days as desk zombies, Pilkington says that we tend to make the sitch worse. “Remaining in a seated position for the majority of the day can cause the hip flexors to be tight—and your hip flexors will remain weak if they aren’t strengthened during exercise,” she says. The TL;DR is that everyone with a day job (You! And you! And you!) could stand to strengthen and stretch their hip flexors. If you want to know which to prioritize, Pilkington and trainer Prentiss Rhodes, NASM-CPT, are about to give you the
8 skin-care products you can get from Ulta for under $20 from this new UK-based brand
January 17, 2020 at 04:17PM by CWC In case you haven’t heard yet, 2020 is the year of skin care—especially affordable skin care that still leaves your face as hydrated and radiant as the expensive stuff. Riding in on this new year, all-things-skin-care trend is Dr.Organic®, a UK-based skin-care brand that’s already won several European beauty awards for its products featuring select organic ingredients that are free of parabens, silicones, and phthalates, while also delivering the effortless glow this year promised you—just without the hefty price tag. Newsflash: Ulta carries the line, which means you’ll never have to shell out more than 25 bucks to get your hands—err, face—on these goodies. To help save you time on what exactly you should be adding to cart, we’ve rounded up eight Dr.Organic® must-haves to shop now. Keep reading for 8 products made with select organic and naturally sourced ingredients you can snag from Ulta now—all for under $20. Aloe Vera Hydrating Moisture Cream, $16 Winter weather leaving your skin dry and irritated? Soothe and hydrate with this ultra moisturizing cream that’s infused with organic aloe vera along with calendula and sweet almond oil to generously nourish. Tea Tree Purifying Face Scrub, $16 Help balance your oily skin—with oil. In this case, clarifying tea tree oil, which takes a starring role in this scrub to help gently exfoliate your skin without clogging your pores or leaving behind annoying irritation. Aloe Vera Hydrating Face Wash, $10 Just looking at this bottle, you can feel
Exactly how to adjust your budget after getting a raise to avoid ‘lifestyle creep’
January 17, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC So, since you finally got that well-deserved pay raise, you can ignore all the guidelines you previously followed about how to budget efficiently, right? Depending on the size of your raise you theoretically can buy that Peloton and trade in your 10-year-old car for a newer, sleeker, pricier model without thinking twice about it. But while splurging on impulse buys and increasing your recurring expenses after getting a fatter paycheck might be tempting, if long-term financial health is your goal, there are savvier ways to manage a monthly increase in cash flow. “The biggest mistake people make when they get a raise is spending it all,” says Bola Sokunbi, certified financial education instructor and CEO of Clever Girl Finance. Sometimes, this takes the form of a one-time splurge—like, say, booking a $5,000 vacation as a reward for your $5,000 annual raise. Or, what Sokunbi calls “lifestyle creep.” “As people earn more money, they increase their costs of living because they’re upgrading to [more expensive] things, like a car or a house,” she says. “They put themselves into the position where, despite the extra money they’re earning, their debt and savings percentage stays the same.” “As people earn more money, they increase their costs of living. Despite the extra money they’re earning, their debt and savings percentage stays the same.” —Bola Sokunbi, CEO of Clever Girl Finance Of course, says Sokunbi, there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to celebrate a job well done, as