February 28, 2020 at 01:00PM by CWC Pisces (February 18 to March 20) are the psychics of the zodiac wheel, who tend to give more than they receive. When they do receive, though, it isn’t always to a positive effect. I lived with a Pisces for four years, and thanks to our close proximity and her strong sense of empathy, she caught a lot of my bad moods. Even when we were happy together and her natural state of being (funny, personable) was in tact, she was able to sense when something was really, really wrong. And she’s hardly the only empathetic Pisces of the world with super-psychic tendencies. So to better understand what makes these twin fish tick, below, learn about Pisces personality traits. Then get clear on how those traits translate to careers in which they thrive and types of people with whom they best connect. Key Pisces personality traits Mystical Pisces’ personality traits are generally linked to their ruler Neptune, the planet of spirituality. They’re the empaths of the cosmos, profoundly intuitive and psychic. Their strength is in their ability to feel deeply and be tuned in to others in a way that nobody else can can touch. “Because of this, they make great chameleons who can get along with a wide variety of people and find a way to flow with whatever life brings to them,” says astrologer Rachel Lang. “They are gracefully resilient and adaptable.” “Pisces make great chameleons who can get along with a wide variety
Month: February 2020
How to wash wool the right way, without shrinking your favorite sweater to doll size
February 28, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC When the temperature drops to hygge-optimal lows, but you’re forced to brave the cold for, you know, work and life, there’s really no better ally than a warm and cozy wool sweater. But, said sweater is almost certainly unwashable, which is an assertion I’ve made based on my personal experiences from trying, along with those of my peers. But, I recently learned two glorious tidbits about the matter while trying to learn (again) how to wash wool the right way: 1. It’s possible, and 2. It doesn’t require a trip to the dry cleaner. “Washing at home is actually better for wool knits compared to dry cleaning, which uses harsh chemicals that can damage the fabric over time,” says Gwen Whiting, co-founder of The Laundress. “You can and should wash knits like wool, cashmere, and blends from home to preserve the natural fibers of your garment.” “Washing at home is actually better for wool knits compared to dry cleaning, which uses harsh chemicals that can damage the fabric over time.” —Gwen Whiting, co-founder of The Laundress I’m not suggesting that the care instructions on your favorite garment are lying to you, per se, but there’s certainly a difference between dry-clean only and “dry-clean only.” That’s because it’s a little-known dirty secret of dirty laundry that you can probably at least hand-wash your delicate garments that boast that ill-fated tag. Still, wool is certainly a finicky fabric. According to the National Cleaning Association, putting wool in the dryer reverts
How to find the supplement to help your gut issues (based on what might be causing them)
February 28, 2020 at 10:00AM by CWC If you have digestive challenges (and over 60 million people do), calming your gut can feel like a never-ending process of trial and error, but that could be because you’re looking at the wrong symptoms. For example, when you’re dealing with constant brain fog and lack of energy (on top of any tummy troubles), it can seem counterintuitive that what you really need to address is your gut health—instead of just opting for an extra shot of espresso. “People have that tendency to look for a quick fix [for their gut issues] instead of getting to the root cause, which takes a little more time and effort,” says Audrey Ross, naturopathic doctor and senior national educator at Country Life Vitamins. The truth is, the gut plays a role in almost every area of your health (more on that below), so tackling other health concerns before your digestive woes is basically like slapping a bandaid on a problem without figuring out what’s causing it. Tackling other health concerns before your digestive woes is basically like slapping on a bandaid. That philosophy is what led Country Life Vitamins to developing its Gut Connection supplements for gut health, which combine digestion-supporting prebiotics with other herbs to address your specific needs—so you can finally get to the bottom of your digestive issues once and for all.* All you have to do is take a moment to think critically about your diet, lifestyle, and any symptoms that indicate you’re anything
I’m a pharmacist and this is the number 1 misconception people have about cold and flu season
February 28, 2020 at 03:00AM by CWC Every year during cold and flu season, Edith Mirzaian, PharmD, the associate professor of clinical pharmacy at the University of Southern California, finds herself setting the record straight—a lot. There are certain myths about colds and flus that never seem to go away, sticking around way longer than the actual viruses themselves. Of all the misconceptions Mirzaian hears year after year, there’s one in particular she’s confronted with day in and day out: Not knowing the difference between cold and flu. “Often someone will say that they have the flu when actually it’s a bad cold,” she says. It’s easy to confuse the two: After all, they’re both viruses. But Mirzaian says it’s important to know the difference because of one major aspect of prevention. What is the difference between cold and flu? Though they are both viruses, Mirzaian says there are some key differences between cold and flu, starting with the symptoms. “A cold comes on more gradually in the span of five to seven days, where you’ll start feeling the symptoms of the flu in a matter of hours,” she says. If you’re getting a cold, Mirzaian says the symptoms typically start with waking up with a scratchy throat or your head feeling heavy. The next day you may have a runny nose and start sneezing. And by the third or fourth day, congestion may start to develop. “With the flu, people tend to experience symptoms more immediately, which typically are a
This $2 beauty staple is trending 3,000% on Amazon—here’s why derms can’t get enough of it
February 28, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC A lot of things have happened in the last 150 years: two turns of century, 28 presidents, and six Beyoncé albums, to name a few. And Vaseline has been a fixture in peoples bathrooms and beauty bags through all of it. The beauty balm was invented in 1872—which, to put it into perspective, was nine years before the advent of electricity—and has held a spot as a drugstore best-seller pretty much ever since. Even as recently as this week, sales of the mini Crème Brûleé-flavored version are up 3,000 percent on Amazon. As you might guess, there’s a good reason that it’s been so well-loved for so, so long. Dermatologists refer to Vaseline as the “Swiss Army Knife” of beauty products because of its vast number of uses. It’s made with pure petroleum jelly, an oil-based occlusive that helps seal in hydration—it’s what dry skin’s dreams are made of. “This non-irritating, barrier-sealing product is a great option for preventing chapped lips, soothing irritated skin, and even treating skin clean wounds,” board-certified dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, previously told Well+Good.“With no potential for skin allergy, it protects the skin by creating an artificial (and protective) skin barrier that holds in moisture, allowing the skin to heal.” And though it might feel greasy when you apply, it’s miraculously been shown not to clog pores, which means it can be used on oil and acne-prone skin, too. Over the years, beauty pros have schooled us in dozens of different ways
If you’re not ‘descaling’ your coffee maker, prepare to be grossed out
February 28, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC I hate to break it to you, but your coffee maker is probably pretty icky. From the outside, it looks nice and shiny sitting on your counter—but if you were to look inside, there’s a good chance you’d never want to sip your coffee ever again. According to microbiologist Jason Tetro, author of The Germ Code, if you don’t deep-clean your coffee machine, it’s going to be loaded with germs. There’s no doubt about it. “If they aren’t cleaned regularly, they quickly become gross,” he says. One survey found coffee reservoirs are one of the germiest places in a home, with 50 percent containing yeast and mold. Unfortunately, simply rinsing your machine with hot water isn’t going to cut it when it comes to cleaning. If you really want to ensure you’re cleaning the inside of the machine where mold and build-up forms, your best bet is learning how to descale a coffee maker, which removes the mineral build-up and coffee oil residue. It not only makes your coffee taste better, but also keeps your coffee maker top-notch for longer. The good news is there are products that can help you get the job done. One of the most highly-rated options on the market is the Urnex Coffee Machine Cleaning Powder ($8), which is dissolved in water then brewed like normal, allowing it to work its magic all throughout the inside of the coffee maker. You can also use something that’s already in your
Why the ‘last mile’ has the biggest environmental impact when you shop online
February 28, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC The last thing I ordered from Amazon was a big jug of Drano. Could I have gone and picked one up at the local hardware store? Yes, but I didn’t want to dedicate any more time to my clogged shower drain than was necessary. It’s nice when an order arrives two days after I click “buy now,” but also kind of scary. I know this habit has a negative impact on the environment, and according to new research, it all comes down to the order’s last mile. A study published this week in Environmental Science & Technology examined the different ways we purchase fast-moving consumer goods, like personal care and home care products that are typically low-priced, sell quickly, and purchased frequently. “The last mile part is the main phase that causes the differences between the different shopping channels,” study co-author Sadegh Shahmohammadi, an environmental scientist at Radboud University in the Netherlands, told Scientific American. Physically going to the store and picking up your items seems like the best option. Your order isn’t coming from some faraway warehouse, it’s just two miles from your house. But the store didn’t make those items—someone had to ship it to them. The difference in greenhouse gas emissions all comes down to your mode of transportation, the distance you traveled, and the number of items purchased. The study examined three primary ways of shopping, brick and mortar, brick and click, and pure play, and the greenhouse gas
A jump rope is the fastest way to spike heart rate—these are the 5 best you can buy
February 27, 2020 at 11:30PM by CWC If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re seriously missing out. Jumping rope is a fun yet intense way to get your heart rate up and work every muscle. The best part is that all you need is your body and your rope. Whether you’re grabbing your rope for a quick session before work or packing it for an easy workout when you’re on vacation, you’ll always have a cardio tool on hand. “From a conditioning standpoint, jumping rope probably ranks higher than running and rowing,” says Maillard Howell, owner of CrossFit Prospect Heights and founder of The Beta Way. “It’s good for speed, agility, conditioning, and endurance. It does it all.” Don’t fret if jumprope isn’t your forte. To start, watch this step-by-step guide on how to use a jump rope with superstar trainer Amanda Kloots: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3zgHI8QnqE] Feeling inspired? Shop our favorite jump ropes below. The best jump ropes to buy for an intense workout 1. RPM SPEED ROPE 3.0, $55 Complete with an anti-friction system, this rope has a smooth spin, with an efficient power transfer from the handle to the cable making it more. It works for all levels and comes with a microfiber bag for easy storage and transport. 2. AK! JUMP ROPE, $40 Kloots designed her very own jump rope. The 9M long rope is adjustable, to work for any height, and is made with a non-coil rope. It also comes with the cutest
Alicia Silverstone shares the 1 wellness practice she can’t go a day without
February 27, 2020 at 11:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY26kwxwwSM] Watch the video to learn Alicia Silverstone’s favorite wellness practices. It goes without saying that Cher Horowitz, the fictional protagonist in the iconic ‘90s hit Clueless, loves a good fashion trend. Between her yellow-plaid suit set and her cherry red mini-dress (“an Alaia!”), it’s clear that Alicia Silverstone’s character was a total style trailblazer. But what about wellness? Would Cher be equally keen on trailblazing in the health and wellness spheres as well? In the latest episode of The Avocado Show, Well+Good’s YouTube series where celebs sit down to chat over avocado dishes, Silverstone shares her take on Cher being vegan. “I think if you get Cher before she starts listening to Josh, she would be vegan because it’s trendy and very hip and very cool. But I think that she would also be vegan post-Josh for the right reasons which—not that those are bad reasons—but for the reason that it’s better for the planet, better for all the people who can’t eat because they’re not distributing food properly,” she says. “Definitely my plant-based diet—it changed my life. My motto is ‘greens, grains, beans,’ and I’m good.” —Alicia Silverstone While we can really only speculate about how Cher would and wouldn’t interact with what’s going on in wellness world of today, Silverstone personally swears by a number of healthy habits in her daily life. But, she was able to pinpoint the single wellness practice she can’t go a day without. “Definitely
The one thing a podiatrist says you should never, ever do to an ingrown toenail
February 27, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC A lot can go wrong with your feet. You can get toenail fungus from a bad pedicure, athlete’s foot from the gym shower, or—one of the most painful—an ingrown toenail from, well, a number of different things. While you might be tempted to tend to some of these issues yourself, treating yourself at home can make the issue far worse. In many cases, you should consult a podiatrist for how to fix an ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails—when the corner or side of your nail turns inward and grows into the skin—are a really common condition. The accompanying irritation and pain is what leads a lot of people to attempt an at-home treatment. “Many patients attempt to conduct ‘bathroom surgery’ on ingrown toenails, which often results in serious infections,” says Miguel Cunha, DPM, podiatrist and founder of Gotham Footcare. This involves digging into your ingrown to try and uncurl it or cut it with whatever tools you may have at home (which is something a lot of the Well+Good editorial staff admits to doing). “This causes further damage to the toe and the nail.” If you have an ingrown toenail that “only causes pain at the tip of the toe,” says Dr. Cunha, you can just clip it and then soak your foot in lukewarm water with Epsom salts. “But if a little clip on the tip isn’t enough to address the pain, and your pain is at the side or base of the