February 15, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC Here in the States, beef, chicken, pork, and cheese are often staples of Mexican foods eaten at home and at restaurants. Think: tacos al pastor, chicken tinga, carnitas…yum. However, none of those foods really work anymore for people trying to shift to a more plant-based diet. But the truth is, traditional Mexican food is inherently plant-based, which makes the cuisine particularly suited for vegetarian and vegan eaters. Corn, avocado, tomatoes, beans, and rice are all core ingredients in most Mexican dishes. Besides being nutrient-rich, these ingredients are also sustainable and inexpensive, a triple win. All of this is to say: cooking up plant-based, Mexican food is easier than you think. Plus, depending on your interpretation of a plant-based diet (from eating a little meat and cheese to eating no animal products at all), there are tons of tasty dishes that will fit the bill. However, it can be hard to reimagine your favorite Mexican dishes sans meat without just defaulting to another meal of rice and beans. To give you some cooking inspiration, check out these 10 delicious vegetarian Mexican recipes. Whether you’re craving tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, or another classic dish, you’re sure to find your new favorite go-to recipe here. Keep reading for some tasty vegetarian Mexican recipes to try at home: Photo: Minimalist Baker 1. Quinoa taco meat While there are some great alt-meat products out there, you can also make your own beef substitute at home using quinoa. As when making
Month: February 2020
Flip your crunches upside down to work your core in an entirely new way
February 15, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC If you’ve spent most of your adult life lamenting that high school math would never have any real life applications (see you literally never, calculus), we’ve finally found a place to put all that info you learned about angles in geometry to good use: Your core routine. By tweaking the angles of your body when you’re doing crunches and sit-ups, you’re able to totally change the muscles that the moves are working. Case in point: Extending your ab workout beyond the usual 180 degrees has some major body benefits. Regular crunches—aka the kind you do with your back and feet on the floor—work your rectus abdominis (your “six-pack muscle”), internal and external obliques, hip flexors, and quadriceps. But when you take away the back support—by positioning yourself on a raised surface or platform, for instance—and allow your upper body to get below your lower body, you’re able to get even deeper into the muscles in your core. (If you’re a real pro you can quite literally go upside down, by using a boxing bag or some such to get into position.) “When you perform a crunch from an over-extended position you may be able to tap into your innermost abdominal muscles,” says Obé Fitness trainer Tiffani Robbins. “Additionally, you will be turning on the muscles in your lower back, which are an important component of your core and are often a more difficult group of muscles to work correctly.” Since you’re starting with your back
This is exactly happens when you wash your hair too often
February 15, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC There are those who can’t let a day go by without washing their hair, and those who get by with only washing once a week… or longer. If you’re one of those daily washers, you probably already know it’s not the best move for your hair. But what exactly happens when you scrub your hair every day? According to Kristina Tabb, celebrity hair expert and co-owner of Tabb & Sparks Salon in Santa Monica, washing your hair day after day might seem like it’s helping, but it’s not. “Simply put, overwashing can result in extra oil in your hair. When you train your hair to be washed every day, your oil glands adjust to producing more oil to compensate for the loss of oils that the shampoo is stripping. Even if you’re more oily, you’re also drying out the hair strand,” she says. “The goal is to train your oil glands to not over-produce oil, and staying consistent with your shampoo regimen is the only way to do that.” According to Tabb, the goal is washing your hair every three to four days. “That might sound unachievable or crazy, but it’s important to go through a period of retraining your hair and oil production for overall hair and scalp health. It will be worth it,” she says. But if you’re not ready to give up your once-a-day hair washing schedule yet, there are some things you can do to help prevent damage to
I took a stretching class from a former professional gymnast—this is what I learned
February 15, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC In the fitness recovery world, there are plenty of studios you can hit up to have someone professionally stretch your muscles out (think Stretch*d in New York City or StretchLab in Los Angeles). Also on the rise? Stretching classes that give you group instruction for stretching your body from head to toe. When I walk into an SM Stretching class at Energi in NYC, I expect to spend the full hour on a mat folding my body into various restorative positions, like I’m used to doing in yoga. Instead, I’m immediately moving between jumping jacks, squats, crunches, and other moves—all accentuated with a resistance band—to get my blood pumping. “We start with a 15-minute workout before stretching so that you get your muscles warm,” says founder Samira Mustafaeva. “Otherwise you can hurt yourself.” She’s right: Stretching cold muscles is not the right move, y’all. Once I’m nice and warm, it’s time to get loose. Mustafaeva takes the class through pretty classic stretches—think frog pose, straight-leg hamstring stretch, and half-splits—some of which you do with a partner or with her assistance (she pushed me almost into a full split). But what’s very, very different about this stretching class and the stretching I do on my own time is the length that we hold the poses. “Each stretch is held for one minute at least, but a lot are held for two or three minutes,” says Mustafaeva, noting that this length of time allows your body to
How natural caffeine compares to synthetic caffeine, according to health experts
February 15, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC Almost everyone is familiar with the effects of caffeine from coffee, tea, and chocolate. While these natural caffeine sources are super well-known, synthetic caffeine, made from chemicals and added to some “energy-boosting” drinks, isn’t talked about as much. Curious about the difference? “Synthetic caffeine is produced from urea and chloroacetic acid while natural caffeine is extracted from plant products,” says Gabrielle McGrath, RD, the the in-house dietitian for Lexi’s Clean Living. Urea is a compound made of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen and is considered non-toxic by the Food and Drug Administration. However, if you’re vegan, it’s important to know that urea is typically sourced from animals. While the sourcing is different, nutrition expert Katie Boyd, MS, says at a chemical level, synthetic caffeine and natural caffeine are almost identical. Since they’re so similar at a structural level, you may be wondering why brands would even use synthetic caffeine in the first place. The major reason according to McGrath is that it’s cheaper. She adds that the most common places you’ll find synthetic caffeine are in sodas and energy drinks, and while synthetic caffeine itself may not be toxic, it’s often used alongside sugars and additives that are directly linked to poor health. Now the big question: Can your body tell the difference between the two? Both Boyd and McGrath say there’s one major difference in how the body responds: Synthetic caffeine is absorbed in the body quicker and can have more powerful effects.
Amazon reviewers and Redditors love this $9 face mask, but derms have another opinion
February 15, 2020 at 03:00AM by CWC The Internet loves a good masking moment, and no mask has achieved cult-fave status quite like Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay ($9). The mix-it-yourself solution is lauded for its ability to unclog pores, and the before-and-after photos Redditors have shared of it clearing away their acne are truly unbelievable. But according to board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, you might want to think twice before slathering it all over your face—particularly during dry skin season. “I think it can be great for someone who has oily skin, but this time of year you really don’t want to overdo it because of the winter air,” she says. “It’s bad for dry skin.” Clay works by drawing out toxins and clearing and tightening pores, which can be a little too intense for skin that’s dry to begin with. Even if you are oily-complected, Dr. Gohara still says you should use the mask sparingly, especially if you’ve already got a lot of other drying ingredients, like exfoliating acids and retinol, in your routine. While clearing away excess oil with these things is usually a good thing, if you clear away too much of it your skin will start to dry out. Then, your body will start overproducing sebum to make up for the discrepancy, and you’ll wind up with skin that feels dry, oily, and just plain uncomfortable all at the same time. Because of this, Dr. Gohara recommends using the mask once a month at most.
Holy basil can low-key help your body handle stress better—here’s how
February 15, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC If you like to geek out on herbs—which at Well+Good HQ, is definitely considered an acceptable pastime—you might already be familiar with adaptogens. Adaptogens are herbs that, when taken regularly, can help bring balance to the body and help it better handle stress. Some, like reishi and ashwagandha, certainly get their fair share of buzz, but others fly under the radar. The Ayurvedic herb holy basil, also known as tulsi, definitely falls into the latter camp. When it comes to holy basil benefits, there are some major ones to know about. But first, let’s get something straight: holy basil is not the same as the basil you likely already have in your pantry. “Holy basil and basil are different plants, and even within the holy basil family, there are different types of holy basil,” says herbalist, holistic health coach, and Supernatural founder Rachelle Robinett. While both plants are members of the mint family, basil plants are deep green and tastes slightly spicy. But holy basil, Robinett says, are slightly sweet. “Some holy basil plants are black and red, other holy basil plants are black and green, but it’s a really beautiful plant and has some amazing benefits,” she adds. Now that you know what it is, let’s get into what exactly the holy basil benefits are. Holy basil benefits: are they really worth it? 1. Holy basil helps the body deal with stress An attribute of all adaptogens, Robinett says holy basil can
The best acne treatments at Ulta all cost less than $30
February 15, 2020 at 12:30AM by CWC Every dermatologist will tell you shouldn’t pop your pimples. But sometimes the angry ones refuse to be ignored. Some bleed. Some even grow hair. But no matter what, they all need to GTFO. From salicylic acid to benzoyl peroxide and niacinamide, there are tons of acne fighting-ingredients. Ulta has a ton of acne treatments to choose from, so you’re never stuck without the proper tools. The best part? Many of the best-sellers are under $30. These are the best acne treatments available at Ulta 1. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, $17 This cult-favorite is one of the most beloved acne spot treatments. It’s made with quick-drying ingredients like salicylic acid, calamine, and others to shrink whiteheads while you sleep without irritating your skin. 2. THE ORDINARY NIACINAMIDE 10% + ZINC 1%, $6 The Ordinary is known for having the most affordable, yet effective serums on the market. Niacinamide helps lighten dark spots and calm inflammation while zinc aids in wound healing. 3. Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief, $20 Pimples can’t stand a chance against this powerful spot treatment. It contains a double dose of benzoyl peroxide to target acne-causing bacteria, and allantoin to moisturize and soothe the skin. 4. Urban Skin Rx Clear Skin Cleansing Bar, $15 This cleansing bar is daily cleanser, mask, and exfoliator in one. Just wet your face, rub the treatment into your skin, and allow the lather to sit or one to two minutes, and then rinse. It’s full of anti-bacterial
How to be *fully satisfied* tonight—and every night
February 14, 2020 at 11:30PM by CWC Alisa Vitti—pioneer of female biohacking, Johns Hopkins alum, women’s hormone health expert, and founder of the period-positive platform FLO Living—is sharing more from her latest book, In the FLO. It’s full of radical, groundbreaking information meant to help women understand and reconnect with their unique biological rhythm, just as nature intended. This book shows how mainstream health plans, self-care routines, fitness regimens, time management schedules, and even the power morning concept are all founded on a system that only optimizes male biology, and leaves out the specialized and cyclical needs of women. In this piece, the Well+Good Council member shares how to have better sex more consistently by understanding the infradian rhythm: a long-ignored biological rhythm that, when properly cared for, can help you restore energy, reduce brain fog, and thrive overall. If you’re a woman and you’re reading this, chances are that your sex life isn’t as good as it could be. In a 2015 survey by Healthy Women, 60 percent of women said just that. It’s not just a matter of quantity of sex (though a 2017 study found that Americans are having less sex than they did 10 years ago). It’s a matter of quality. Every day, I hear about unfulfilling sex from the women who come to me for hormonal help. They’ll say, “Last week, I had sex and it was fireworks. This week, it’s flat. Maybe there’s something wrong with me.” We often internalize these different experiences as
658 women died from pregnancy-related causes in 2018. Most of them were Black
February 14, 2020 at 09:30PM by CWC Every year in the United States, nearly 700 women die of pregnancy-related complications. For every one of those deaths, approximately 100 more almost die. Maternal mortality—death during pregnancy or within 42 days after delivery—is the sixth most common cause of death among American women ages 25 years to 34 years old. Within those disturbing statistics lies even worse ones. Black women are 2.5 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues than white women, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) newly-released 2020 maternal mortality report, which found maternal mortality rates of 37.1 vs. 14.7 deaths per 100,000 live births in Black vs. white women in 2018 (the most recent data available). That means that of the 658 women who died of pregnancy-related causes in 2018, most of them were Black women. This report is not the first time that the CDC has noted alarmingly high rates of pregnancy-related death among black women. A 2019 CDC report analyzing data from 2007 to 2016 found Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women had significantly more pregnancy-related deaths than any other racial group. “Disparities persisted over time and across age groups, and were present even in states with the lowest pregnancy-related mortality ratios and among groups with higher levels of education,” says David Goodman, MD, team lead of the Maternal Mortality Prevention Team at the CDC. Up until 2020, however, rates were estimated, because some states had no way to officially report if a