February 05, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC Have you met anyone who claims their favorite food—or vegetable, for that matter—is a turnip? Chances aren’t great. After all, its historic backstory is that it was once a “get off the stage” tomato equivalent of Roman times, and Michelle Obama’s iconic Vine asking people to “turnip for what?” can only do so much image rehab. But it’s time for the humble turnip to earn its bragging rights—and place on our tables. The hearty, winter veg has two parts: the white and purple bulb, and the green leaves. It’s actually a cruciferous vegetable, in the same vein of green leafy staples like kale, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower—making it one of the healthiest foods you could eat, if only you gave it a chance. Yes, eating turnips may seem like the vegetable equivalent of joining the Mathletes, but rest assured: the limits do not exist when it comes to turnip’s health benefits. We asked a few experts for the specifics. What are turnip health benefits, anyways? 1. It is high in inflammation-fighting compounds “Cruciferous vegetables are some of the healthiest foods, since they contain many antioxidants, as well as compounds known as glucosinolates,” says registered dietitian Whitney English, RDN. Antioxidants, of course, combat inflammation and other damage caused by free radicals in the body. As for glucosinolates, they have been linked to a lower risk of cancer, and support healthy cell production. 2. It’s good for your gut One cup of cubed raw turnips
Month: February 2020
4 reasons to switch to organic linens, because your bed deserves nice things, too
February 05, 2020 at 10:00AM by CWC When you’re on the hunt for a new sweater, do you opt for the scratchy, will-rip-in-six-months option, or the soft, durable, goes-with-everything one? The latter, of course. So, why in the world would you want to outfit your bed (the place you spend a third of your life) and bathroom with anything but high-quality, organic linens? Danielle Dorn, creative director for Under the Canopy, exclusively at Bed Bath and Beyond, totally agrees. “We’re constantly wrapping ourselves in comfortable, cozy layers throughout the colder months, so putting thought into what those layers are made of is more important than ever,” Dorn says. “From throw blankets to quilted coverlets, Under the Canopy features breathable organic cotton that’s perfect for layering in the winter or on its own in the summer.” Did we just find the indoor solve to transitional weather? From helping you snooze to supporting your sustainability efforts, get ready: You’re going to want to give your home a linen refresh after this (we won’t blame you). Keep scrolling for 4 more reasons to make the switch to organic linens. A sustainable move Switching to organic bedding goes beyond wanting to feel snug while you’re tucked away to sleep. It comes in handy for your eco-friendly living initiatives, too. “You’d never know by looking at it, but mattresses can be made with harmful toxins like formaldehyde,” Dorn says. “That’s why investing responsibly in a safer and cleaner alternative is so important.” Under the Canopy’s
This combo workout move burns your triceps *and* sets your lower abs on fire
February 05, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC Who doesn’t love a good two-in-one exercise? Doubling up definitely brings on the heat in the moment, but it really pays off in the end. You save time and get great results in the process. While there are plenty of different combination exercises that will make you work up a sweat in record time (hello, burpees!), nothing quite brings on the burn like a skull crusher jackknife workout combo. Both of these exercises are already challenging when done solo. Skull crushers are a strength-training staple for building up your triceps, and jackknifes zone in on your core, targeting both your upper and lower abs in a way that no crunch could ever. So it’s no surprise that when one of our editors recently did a skull crusher jackknife combo in a group fitness class, she was sore in the best way. If you want to light up your triceps and core during your next workout, here’s exactly how to do a skull crusher jackknife combo like a pro. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIFoqyowV88] How to do a skull crusher jackknife workout combo Lie on your back on a mat. Hold a dumbbell straight above your body with your legs straight up toward the ceiling. Slowly lower your legs and arms at the same time. Your legs will hover above the mat, and your arms will stop right above your head. Slowly bring your arms and legs back to the starting position, pause, and lift your upper
6 concealer myths standing between you and flawless application
February 05, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC Concealer is the most hardworking multitasker of all time. A product that can brighten under-eye circles and cover pimples? I’m sold. It’s likely one of the first beauty products you tried, and the one you turn to even on “no makeup” days. Everyone has their own tips and tricks for using concealer, and some are… better than others. Should I really make a big triangle under my eye when applying concealer? Do I put it on before, or after my foundation? And what even is baking? Fret not—we’ve tapped some experts to set the record straight. Myth #1: More is better Jeannie Vincent, a Boston-based makeup artist, says less is more, especially on maturing skin. “Instead of applying concealer all over the under eye in a windshield wiper motion, I like to only apply concealer to the very darkest and deepest points, usually closest to the nose (inner corner) and outer corner, or in the line that makes up the ‘bag’ of the eye,” she says. “If you have puffiness around the eye and apply concealer all over, it will magnify the issue instead of masking it. Only apply concealer in the deepest lines in order to make the whole area appear flatter.” Myth #2: All powders will set your concealer Applying powder to concealer can help it stay in place, but only if it’s the right kind, explains Neil Scibelli, New York City-based makeup artist. “While I do think it’s important to set
13 healthy reasons why chickpeas are a top dietitian’s favorite plant-based protein
February 04, 2020 at 11:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TCx91K8lNM] Chickpeas are officially the new cauliflower—here’s why they’re so damn healthy for you. In case you haven’t heard, chickpeas are the cauliflower of 2020. No longer just eaten on top of salads or in plain hummus, the legume has morphed into everything from pasta and chips to vegan ice cream and cookie dough. But of course just because something is popular doesn’t always mean it’s healthy—even in the world of wellness. In the latest episode of Well+Good’s video series You Versus Food, registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, shares the low-down on chickpea benefits, and if they’re really worth adding into more of your meals. (Spoiler alert: This is one trend she’s super into.) One reason why Beckerman loves this legume is because it’s a low-glycemic index food. “That means that the combo of fiber and protein helps slow carb absorption and maintain healthy blood sugar levels,” she says. By promoting even blood sugar levels (instead of spikes and crashes) throughout the day, these types of foods can help maintain energy and mood stability, too. The fiber in chickpeas—which, FYI, contain a whopping 11 grams per cup—offers up other important benefits, too. Beckerman says chickpeas are a heart-healthy food, since they’re rich in soluble fiber (the kind that helps move fatty acids and cholesterol out of the bloodstream). That fiber count makes chickpeas a gut-friendly food, too, since fiber helps keep bulk moving through the digestive tract and can feed your
The case for swapping group hangs for workouts—and why research says it’s legit
February 04, 2020 at 08:30PM 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. Not-so-breaking news: Life is busy. Between work, commuting, and the nitty gritty admin of our personal lives, it’s hard enough to make time to squeeze a workout into your jam-packed schedule, let alone spend quality time with your friends. But those social experiences shouldn’t have to take a back seat to life obligations, and science agrees. This 2010 research combined data on 308,000 people across multiple studies and found a strong correlation between deep personal relationships and increased life span, suggesting that spending time with people you trust can actually help you live a longer, healthier life. All those feelings of reward, happiness, and accomplishment science says you can get from friendship? You can get them from working out, too. Something else science agrees on? Working out is also good for your health (big shocker there). Exercise is constantly proven in scientific studies to help you lose weight, keep you healthy, boost your self-esteem, and increase your overall happiness. All those feelings of reward, happiness, and accomplishment science says you can get from friendship? You can get them
Can Finland’s 24-hour workweek *really* solve our burnout problem?
February 04, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC I have to imagine there are few nine-to-five workers out there who’d oppose having one fewer day in the office per week or two fewer hours in the office per day. In other words, most people probably find the idea of working less to be appealing, whether that looks like a four-day workweek or a six-hour workday. And Finland’s newly appointed millennial prime minister Sanna Marin is aspiring to normalize both, simultaneously, Forbes reports. In her ideal future, Finnish citizens will work 24-hour workweeks so as to be able to spend more time with their loved ones, on their hobbies, and immersed in culture. While theoretically, reallocating nearly 50 percent of working hours to more soul-nourishing pursuits may sound like the antidote to widespread burnout plaguing some populations these days, in practice, would it actually help workers decompress and disconnect? Or would it more likely make little difference in a world where work follows you everywhere and diminished hours on the clock wouldn’t necessarily equate to a lightened up to-do list? It’s complicated: Why reduced hours are so tricky to implement “My guess is the [prime minister’s] thought pertains to workers who have to be at a particular location for a certain amount of time, like manufacturing, or the work is not getting done,” says Jeffrey Stanton, PhD, a data scientist who focuses on job satisfaction and workplace stress. If it is the case—that only those who work in these types of roles
The 7 golden rules of heart-healthy eating, according to cardiologists
February 04, 2020 at 07:30PM by CWC Fact: cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Want to live a long time? Protect your heart. Genetic predisposition certainly plays a role, but there’s a lot in your control—including what you put on your plate. What you eat is directly linked to your heart health. We asked three cardiologists to share the heart-healthy eating recommendations they give to everyone who walks into their offices. The cardiologist-approved golden rules for heart-healthy eating 1. Read the nutrition label This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s so easy to get lured in by clever marketing and flashy packaging that the nutrition label on foods often gets ignored. “Nutrition facts labels contain valuable information needed to help you choose food wisely,” says Aurelio Duran, MD, of the Orlando Health Heart Institute. “Calories, fat, sodium, and protein are some of the information to consider.” Avoid foods high in saturated fat and sodium, which is definitely bad news for your heart, he says. 2. avoid added sugars While you’re eyeing the nutritional label, Dr. Duran says to be conscious of added sugars, including the various pseudonyms for sugar that companies use to deceive consumers. “Added sugars increase risk for diabetes and other heart disease risk factors,” he says. “People who eat large amounts of added sugar—25 percent or more of their calories—have double the chance of dying from heart disease than those who limit their added sugar to less than 10
Training like an athlete boosts more than just your strength—here’s how
February 04, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC You may notice a subtle change in the workouts that you’re doing in fitness studios these days. Mixed in with your classic strength training and cardio intervals, there’s a high probability you’ll be doing athletic conditioning drills that you’ve only previously seen professional athletes do on ESPN (or that take you back to two-a-days training in high school #tbt). Take a look around your gym, and you’re likely to see that treadmills and ellipticals are making ways for turf, tires, and sleds. “People want to feel more like they’re training like athletes—they want to be more athletic,” says Chase Weber, a Los Angeles-based celebrity trainer. Rather than simply cranking out reps with dumbbells, with athletic training, there’s more of a focus on dynamic movements (think: lateral bounding or ladder drills), which is functional training that helps you to work in multiple planes. When a tennis star or basketball pro does this type of training, you see it in how quickly they can respond on the court, but when you do it IRL, you’ll see a host of improvements in day-to-day life that range from improving your reflexes to having more side-to-side mobility. According to Weber, sports-inspired workouts activate your fast-twitch muscle fibers, which help with power and agility. “You learn how to work with your body in a better motion. Instead of doing linear movements or working straight up and down, athletic training is more dynamic, more nimble, and more mobile, which then plays into
5 gloriously healthy, semi-homemade dinners you can have on the table in under 10 minutes
February 04, 2020 at 06:30PM by CWC Every once in a while, you may get the itch to walk on the wild side of the kitchen and—gasp—prepare a complicated recipe from scratch. You chop all your veggies to one-eighth-inch (aka a French “brunoise”), knead your own pizza dough as sweat beads on your forehead, and accidentally take out an eyebrow as you flambé. (Okay, hopefully not that last part.) Most of the time, though, it makes sense to skip the drama and opt for simple dinner recipes that cut prep time in half—and don’t equate to a HIIT workout. For those nights when you want to keep dinner on the chill side, Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, registered dietitian and host of Well+Good’s You Versus Food, is coming in clutch with five recipes that combine fresh and healthy packaged ingredients for no-mess meals that will be on the table in minutes. From Asian-inspired noodles to riffs on Italian favorites like chicken parm, these are Beckerman’s weeknight go-to’s. They’re so easy to throw together that you don’t even need a formal recipe or instructions. Just combine the ingredients and eat up. 5 simple dinner recipes that make the most out of pre-made ingredients All Graphics: Well+Good Creative Monday: Asian-style veggie noodles Nailing the perfect Asian-inspired sauce can often require using a ton of different ingredients—which doesn’t always translate into weeknight-friendly cooking. Haven’s Kitchen’s lemongrass sauce takes that off your plate—metaphorically-speaking—so you can make the entire dish in minutes. Plus, Beckerman says the water-dense zucchini noodles