February 18, 2020 at 10:00AM by CWC In the age of “if you didn’t Instagram your workout, did it really count?” fitness can feel like an all-or-nothing proposition—but it shouldn’t. Together with Michelob ULTRA—the next-level light beer that wants to take the stress out of staying fit—we’re exploring ways to be active that you’ll actually enjoy. Because being healthy doesn’t require fitness to be your whole life, just one (fun) part of it. The ideal workout buddy is someone who supports you unconditionally, who always looks on the bright side, and who knows how to lift you up, especially when the going gets tough. They even lick your face when you hit a fitness milestone—wait, what? Let’s face it: We all know dogs make everything better. But what you might not know is that owning a dog has health benefits that stretch way beyond feeling limitless love and happiness. So when we teamed up with Michelob ULTRA—the light beer that’s all about finding the joy in wellness—it only seemed right that we unpack the wellness benefits of having a four-legged fit-friend. Because if there’s anything better than the feeling of completing a great workout, it’s spending time with your dog. Keep reading for the science-approved health benefits of owning a dog, plus a pup-friendly workout to do with your four-legged friend. Doctor doggo They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but according to research, it turns out that Fido might help, too. Findings from the CDC suggest that pets can
Month: February 2020
Why one of the best things you can do for sore legs is… go for a walk
February 18, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC If your legs are really sore, you’d think that the smartest thing to do would be to sit down and take a load off so that they can have time to heal. While that certainly feels great every now and then, trainers actually recommend that you get up and move around by walking to relieve muscle soreness. No kidding. Though having sore legs after a killer lower body workout can mean that it’s harder to move, putting one foot in front of the other will help get rid of that heavy feeling. “Walking is very important immediately after leg training and during recovery days,” says Branko Teodorovic, a Flexit master trainer. “It might seem uncomfortable to start walking, but as we warm up, there is more blood being circulated into the legs, and after 10 to 15 minutes it’ll feel much more pleasant.” Basically, the movement shakes your legs out and helps relieve the tightness that just accumulated from your workout, and it has a host of other benefits. “Walking gets more oxygen transported into your legs versus than when you’re lying down or sitting,” says Teodorovic. “It transports all the nutrients necessary to ‘feed’ the muscles in your legs and to replenish glycogen, our muscle energy. Plus, walking breaks up lactic acid buildup so that your muscles are more prepped for your next training session.” Don’t worry: To reap these benefits, it’s not like you have to go all-out with a hardcore power-walking
Can your gut bacteria impact your…personality?
February 17, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC The mind-gut connection is one of the biggest topics in wellness right now. Research has shown us that there’s a connection between the amount of good bacteria in the gut and how happy, depressed, or anxious someone feels. There’s also growing research showing a link between gut health and cognitive function, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. But the idea that what you eat—and the type of bacteria living in your gut—can affect your personality? Now that’s new. Is how outgoing someone is or how someone acts in social situations really connected to what’s going on in their gut? According to a new study, it’s possible. Published in the Human Microbiome Journal, stool samples were collected from 655 people for bacterial analysis. The participants also answered extensive questions about their socio-demographics, diet, health and lifestyle habits, and behavior traits. The researchers then compared the results to see if there were patterns between the types of gut bacteria present in the stool and behavior. What the researchers found was that different types of bacteria were associated with different behavioral traits. “There’s quite a lot of evidence of how the gut can affect stress, anxiety, and depression, but I was really interested on doing a human study to see if there was a link between the gut and personality traits,” says study author Katerina Johnson, PhD, as to her initial goal of the study. What she found was that people with a thriving microbiome—full of lots
7 haircare products that will help stretch the time until your next cut and color
February 17, 2020 at 09:00PM by CWC Tired of seemingly-incessant haircuts and coloring appointments? We feel you. Whether you’re incredibly busy or simply trying to grow your hair out, frequent salon trips, as lovely as they are, can begin to feel like quite the nuisance. (Not to mention a money suck.) That’s why it helps to have your shower and vanity stocked with haircare products that help stretch the time between bookings. Not only do these beauty buys help maintain the health and appearance of your hair, but they save you money in the long run, since using them means tacking a couple extra weeks onto the duration between appointments. Intrigued? We thought you might be. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best haircare products that will help lengthen the life of your cut and color. You’re welcome in advance. 1. TRUHAIR Whipped Moisturizing Nano-Encapsulated Cream Conditioner, $26 Photo: Courtesy If dry, brittle strands are cause for concern between your cuts, it’s time to swap out your regular conditioner with this formula. It’s made with ceramides and vitamin E, not to mention keratin, wheat, soy, and corn proteins, to hydrate and strengthen hair. And, the stronger and more moisturized the ends, the longer you can go between trims. 2. Davines The Renaissance Circle Hair Mask, $10 Photo: Courtesy If your hair feels progressively duller and drier the longer you go between salon sessions, it’s time to add this extreme reparative mask to your hair routine. Where nourishing babassu
Chickpea pasta at a restaurant near you? Banza CEO Brian Rudolph wants to make it happen
February 17, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC In the almost six years since Brian Rudolph co-founded chickpea pasta line Banza in 2014 with his brother Scott, the company has: entered more than 12,000 stores, expanded its produce line to include vegan mac-and-cheese, lasagna noodles, and chickpea rice, and now plans to expand beyond the supermarket space into the food service industry. (Think: the pasta version of Beyond Meat.) Given the brand’s track record, there’s little doubt Banza will not only reach these new heights, it’ll exceed them in ways consumers can’t see coming—all of which is exactly why Rudolph was named a Well+Good 2020 Changemaker. Here, Rudolph talks to Well+Good about why the brand’s mission of reach and accessibility is so important to him and their pie-in-the-sky dreams. W+G: People are passionate about Banza products, to say the least. How do you decide, “Okay, this is what we’re going to make next”? Rudolph: We listen to the consumers really closely. People have been reaching out to us and asking about lasagna noodles pretty much since we launched. Same with the plant-based mac-and-cheese. Ever since we came out with our original mac-and-cheese, the top comment on Instagram was asking for us to make it 100 percent plant-based. It was a very clear request, but it took us a while to get it exactly right. How long does it take for something to go from idea to finished product? It depends on the product. With the chickpea rice, that was actually pretty
The $29 top-selling moisturizer at Sephora that derms won’t stop talking about
February 17, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC The best thing about shopping for skin care on Sephora.com is all of the different ways you can peruse the products. You can sort them by their type, by which skin concern they’re meant to treat, and can even browse through the best-sellers in each category. But I’m going to let you in on a little beauty-insider secret: The “top-rated” section is the best way to suss out the skin-care products that are worth investing in. People aren’t simply buying these products, after all. They’re so enthusiastic about them, that they’re leaving reviews for others to buy them as well. And every once in a while, you can find a gem that is effective and affordable, like Innisfree Orchid Youth-Enriched Gel Cream ($29). The moisturizer has earned itself more than 2,000 “loves,” landing among the retailers’ highest rated moisturizers. It’s made with Jeju green soybean-derived hyaluronic acid, plus the brand’s proprietary skin-protecting orchid elixir, which are meant to firm and hydrate skin while also protecting it from environmental stressors. The texture is a jelly that’s thick, but not at all sticky. Reviewers swear that it “doesn’t make your skin feel greasy,” even if you’re naturally oily or combination-complected, while those with dry skin say that it soaks in quickly to leave them feeling smooth and soft. Photo: Innisfree Users aren’t the only ones who have given this particular product a stamp of approval: Dermatologists love it too. “This is a nice, basic moisturizer,”
The 5 best wellness retreats for Black women
February 17, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC It’s hard to pin down the exact moment in a Black woman’s life when she may begin to feel the weight of the world on her shoulders. For some of us it happens seemingly in childhood, while for others it might strike much later, like when entering the workforce. While we, Black women, are not a monolithic group, many of us do share similar experiences with the familial and societal pressures placed upon us, and because of that shared experience we recognize the power of community-minded growth. The assumption that we must take on Superwoman-like roles in a society that wasn’t built for Black women can—and often does—take a toll on us. Our need to shed the toxicity of workplace microaggressions, police brutality, and a government that continuously makes adverse decisions against our well-being is real. An overarching issue is that while Black women exhibit high rates of depression, we are also not likely to have adequate mental health care. The rise of so many WOC-led communities, like Sad Girls Club and Black Girl In Om, does provide hope that we at the beginning stages of a collective healing journey. And it’s completely necessary, because, simply put, Black women deserve a break. These are the five best wellness retreats for Black women. 1. The Colored Girl’s Imara Retreat View this post on Instagram Forever #mood… realizing all things are connected & walking fully in our #power. #IMARA2019 A post shared
I stuck to a 9:30 p.m. bedtime on vacation—here’s the Ayurvedic reason I’m continuing the habit at home
February 17, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC Even before I arrived at the Rosewood Mayakoba resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, I knew I would be in for some excellent sleep. That’s because I was visiting to check out the property’s eight new wellness suites, which are packed with snooze-enhancing amenities such as circadian-rhythm-optimized lighting, soothing aromatherapy showers, and bedside essential oils blended by a local shaman. Just as I suspected, on the last night of my four-day trip, I ended up sleeping more deeply than I have in many months, but that accomplishment might be thanks to another reason entirely: I decided to go to sleep at 9:30 p.m. I did so at the advice of Daniel Seymour, Rosewood Mayakoba’s resident Ayurvedic practitioner. Seymour told me during a consultation that turning in between 9:30 and 10 p.m. is a simple hack that can result in higher-quality sleep, working in accordance with the Ayurvedic body clock. See, according to Ayurvedic wisdom, every person is made up of three energy signatures, or doshas. In super-simple terms, vata is airy and intellectual, pitta is fiery and action-oriented, and kapha is earthy and grounded. Most people have a dominant dosha that affects their physical and mental state in the long-term, but different doshas are also believed to be more active within us at different times of day, which dictates the Ayurvedic body clock. Kapha time is from 6 to 10 (a.m. and p.m.); pitta time is from 10 to 2 (a.m. and p.m.);
Your step-by-step guide to treating (and preventing) eyebrow dandruff
February 17, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC Your scalp can get flaky, your skin can get flaky, and even your eyebrows can get flaky once in a while. Most people have tips and tricks on hand for dealing with these flakes, but when the issue morphs into dandruff (you’ll note that small white flakes turn into flat, oily yellow ones), your solution isn’t simply to exfoliate. And if you’re dealing with a bout of eyebrow dandruff, that sentiment rings doubly true. Usually, flaking—whether it’s on the face, the scalp, or the brows—happens because of excessive dryness. But dandruff is actually caused by an oil-loving yeast. “Contrary to popular belief, dandruff isn’t caused by dry skin, but rather by a fungus… the same one that causes scalp dandruff,” says Michelle Wu, master therapist at Evertrue Microblading. “The presence of this fungus causes itchy, flaky skin.” And no one’s exactly going for the flaky look when they’re grooming their brows. What causes eyebrow dandruff Dandruff is caused by a yeast-type organism found on the scalp called pityrosporum ovale (P. ovale) or malassezia furfur (M. furfur). “These happen from the division of cells,” says trichologist Penny James of Penny James Salon. “In normal skin conditions, the stratum corneum consists of about 30 layers of closely consistent keratinized cells. When the skin has flakes over it as is the case with dandruff, there are about 10 layers badly formed, with haphazardly arranged cells that have moved from the stratum gerninativum [the deepest layer of
4 tips for dealing with the negative people in your life during Mercury retrograde
February 17, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC Like peanut butter and jelly or Batman and Robin, Mercury retrograde and issues within in your interpersonal relationships is a real iconic duo. That’s because the cosmic transit, happening three times this year, has a way of messing up so may aspects of our lives. But, exactly how does Mercury retrograde affect us, you ask? Well, since technology, travel, communication, and any combination of those big-hitters are compromised, so many components of our lives are out of sync during this time. As such, many understandably end up walking around angry, unapproachable, and downright negative, leaving the rest of us in some need of serious cosmic attitude protection from energy vampires. We all have a few of them in our lives, whether it’s a constantly complaining friend, an ex who keeps resurfacing every few months, or a toxic narcissist boss who always takes credit for your work. So, given that communication is one of the big-deal ways Mercury in retrograde affects us, how can you best deal with the negative energy during a time when we’re all especially sensitive? Well, self care and healthy boundaries are both key. To keep you positively protected, given that Mercury is in retrograde in Pisces through March 10, we got expert tips for getting through. Because everyone is going to be in their feelings for the next few weeks. How does Mercury retrograde affect us? Usually, not well—here are 4 ways to protect yourself from the negativity. 1.