February 04, 2020 at 05:49PM by CWC If you’re a creature of habit (guilty), your eating routine is probably down to a scripted science: meal prep, eat, and repeat until you finally decide you’re over it. Trying new foods on the reg? Not necessarily on the menu. There’s a reason why so many people repeat the same rice, chicken, and broccoli combo, though: Routine provides a sense of control and order. And while peace of mind is an obvious “yes please,” getting creative and outside of your comfort zone could do more for you. First, a little science: Research shows that your taste buds send neurochemical signals to your brain communicating sweet, salty, sour, or umami (savory) flavors. Your taste receptors have about 10 different levels of sensitivity, which means we can taste up to 100,000 flavors (yep, there’s a whole wide world out there). At the same time, taste buds can change or diminish as you age—which means that something you previously found too intense, you suddenly might not be able to get enough of. Translation: Now is a good time to try something new. “Exploring new foods and drinks can be beneficial to your health because consuming a wide variety of nutrients from varied sources helps your body function at its best,” Juhy Ali, RD says. Speaking of richer experiences, try starting with something specific like KeVita’s delicious probiotic drinks. From Master Brew Kombucha to Sparkling Probiotic Drink, they come in tons of flavors like Mojita Lime Mint
Month: February 2020
Some of the best beauty products have notorious scents—here’s why
February 04, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC Everyone warned me before I first started using the iconic beauty product Biologique Recherche P50 ($67) that it had… a smell. As soon as I swiped the acid toner all over my face, the aroma hit my nose, and I had to remind myself that it’s a holy-grail product for a reason. I kept on slathering and in no time, I too, could see why everyone clamored for it. Now, I associate the smell with a radiant complexion and winding down at nighttime. In the beauty world, a stinky scent is no reason to be deterred, though. P50, SkinMedica TNS Serum ($281), and SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic Serum ($166), for instance, all have scents that are left of center. “I can totally understand why people would shy away from skin-care products that smell unpleasant,” says Shirley Chi, MD, a Los Angeles-based dermatologist. “But that being said, there are many reasons to work through this. Some of the most effective anti-aging treatments out there smell.” “Some of the most effective anti-aging treatments out there smell.” —Dr. Shirley Chi Angelina Umansky, star facialist and founder of Spa Radiance, agrees, noting that her spa’s top sellers are these three aforementioned beauty products “because they perform,” she tells me. “These brands formulate to give consumers results. Period.” And results are what you get when you slather on these star beauty products. For example, that TNS Serum? It’s got human-growth factor in it. “SkinMedica TNS is one of the
A physical therapist and a stretching expert explain how to tell if you’re overstretching
February 04, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC Hot yoga is perfect when you’re feeling tight, because the heat loosens your muscles, allowing you to go a bit deeper. But sometimes, you can feel a little too open. I’ve definitely had moments where I popped into a pose way too easily, and felt like I was overstretching my muscle to a length it had no business going. Co-founder of Body Evolved and physical therapist Corinne Croce, DPT, explains that the issue here is lack of control, which is something that can happen with or without heat. “Flexibility is the available length a tissue has and can be moved into,” says Croce. “Mobility is the ability to move and control the tissue throughout a range of motion. Without control over ones available range of motion/tissue length, injury risk is higher.” Austin Martinez, the director of education at StretchLab, says strength is the key to maintaining control. “There’s no point just being as flexible as s pretzel or a gymnast if you don’t have the proper strength to protect your body within that range of motion,” says Martinez, who is also a certified trainer and strength and conditioning specialist. “On the flip side there’s, no point of being, you know, the world’s biggest bodybuilder, if you can’t even put your hands behind your back.” You can be overstretched in a few different ways. “Overstretching typically means the length of the tissue is greater than ones ability to control said length,” she says. “It can also
How to get over trust issues so they don’t sour an old or new relationship
February 04, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC Trust is like a mirror. Depending on how badly it’s broken, you can fix it to an extent, but you’re always going to at least see cracks in the reflection. Sure, I’m paraphrasing Beyoncé and Lady Gaga from the “Telephone” video here, but the sentiment rings still extremely true. When someone shatters your trust in a relationship that’s new or old, it can really smash your emotional looking glass and make seeing anything clearly a tough challenge to overcome, no matter how diligently you try. And if you notice your fixation on those cracks hurting your current relationship—even if your issues are deeply rooted and have nothing directly to do with your current relationship—you might be wondering how to get over trust issues. But before diving into that huge emotional undertaking of mental and emotional strength, awareness, and work, know that building trust isn’t easy. It requires a lot of time, commitment, and, most importantly, vulnerability. You are holding your heart in your hands, offering it to someone else, and essentially saying, “Here is this gushy, sensitive organ of mine—please don’t mess with it.” So when someone cheats on you or breaks up with you or commits to any other action that leads you to feel like you made a grave mistake in opening up your heart and world, it’s as if the universe is gaslighting you. And that’s tough to get over. “It can be a long road to rebuild that trust,”
The best workout for you to try, based on your Myers-Briggs type
February 04, 2020 at 01:00PM by CWC If you’re someone who simply doesn’t like to work out, have you ever considered that perhaps you haven’t tried the modality that really does it for you? And even if you do like a solid sweat sesh, you might not be fully aware of other fitness options that really rev you up. That’s might be because there are so many different kinds of exercise these days that are practically as disparate and unique as our personalities. Whether you prefer efficiency (like an ESFP), routine (like an ISFJ), or novelty (like an ENFP), there’s a workout out there for you. Below, learn what you should try next, based on your Myers-Briggs personality type, which takes into account what you value when you move. (Don’t know what your MBTI is? Read this first!) Check out the best kinds of exercise for you to try, according to your Myers-Briggs type. W+G Creative ISFJ: Running ISFJs are creatures of habit, but high-achievers nonetheless. Running is the perfect exercise for you, because it allows you to master and perfect your technique while also improving your endurance. You may even enjoy running the same paths again and again, so you can tune out the world as you get into shape. ESFJ: Barre Your attention to detail is natural, so why not bring that into your fitness routine? Barre’s precision-training method will tone muscles at the micro level, which you can incorporate into your already super-active lifestyle. Setting aside regular
This is the one supplement every woman should be taking, according to a naturopathic doctor
February 04, 2020 at 10:30AM by CWC Ever walked down a supplement aisle at a health food store and felt completely overwhelmed? Same, same. But it turns out you can give your health a boost without transforming your vitamin cabinet into an equally overwhelming replica of said health food store. According to Erin Stokes, ND, registered naturopathic doctor and MegaFood® medical director, finding supplements that are specifically beneficial to women is a great place to start when you want to be sure what you’re taking will actually help with your needs. “Women have specific health needs that are different from men, and a gender-specific multivitamin can address those unique needs,” Stokes says. Given that modern food’s nutrient density has declined over the last few decades, Stokes says a multi could benefit virtually anyone—but it’s important to know what to look for in a multivitamin. If you do decide to go that route, Stokes recommends a gender- and age-specific vitamin formula. MegaFood—which pairs vitamins and minerals with real food to create premium supplements—is your one-stop-shop for a multivitamin that suits your lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for a tablet, soft chew, or a powder that dissolves into your favorite smoothie, taking your daily multi just got way less complicated. Scroll down for Stokes’ notes on what to look for in a multivitamin and the ingredients you don’t want to miss out on. Iron One main difference between women and men? Women need to replenish the iron they lose during their periods
Hitting a plateau on your healthy meal prep? These better-for-you swaps will put you back on track
February 04, 2020 at 10:00AM by CWC When you hit a fitness plateau, the easy fix is trying a new class or lifting heavier weights in your next gym sesh. But when your motivation to meal prep starts to wilt like your third-day salads, it can be tough to find the inspiration to stick with the healthy-eating commitment you made at the beginning of January. One trick that has full RD approval? Instead of opting for salads all day, every day (because, boring), keep your tastebuds from yawning by making foods you actually like—but with a few healthier ingredient swaps to make them a total nutritional win. Keep your tastebuds from yawning by making foods you actually like—with a few healthier ingredient swaps. If you’re not sure what constitutes a healthy swap other than subbing white rice for cauliflower rice, the new OptUP app will be your new back-pocket partner in crime the next time you hit the grocery store. The nutrition-scoring tool ranks food from one to 100 and provides better-for-you suggestions personalized to your tastes. It’s basically like having your own personal dietitian riding around in your cart with you. “Many of us dive in too quickly when committing to a new nutrition goal,” says Ashley Martinez, MFN, RDN, LD, culinary dietitian at Kroger Health. “Instead of making drastic changes in your eating pattern, OptUP demonstrates how to make small, yet realistic shifts in your food selections, and encourages you to gradually select higher-scoring products over time on
6 cauliflower benefits that prove the veggie deserves to be more than just a pizza crust
February 04, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC There is perhaps no one on Earth who has enjoyed more of a makeover than the cauliflower. Once a sad side dish, the humble cruciferous vegetable started from the bottom to become one of the defining foods of the past decade. Through the magic of cooking and food processing, it can be transformed into nearly any kind of food your heart desires, from pizza crust, gnocchi, parmesan bites, grilled cheese, gluten-free enchiladas, and tater tots. In short, it seems to be the blank slate of our collective food dreams. But unlike some buzzy “healthy” foods (cough coconut oil), cauliflower is not all hype and no payoff. It packs a punch when it comes to its nutritional benefits, which only further solidifies its reputation as one of the best healthy foods you can eat. Keep reading to learn about cauliflower benefits, plus tips on how to incorporate it into your diet. What are the most important cauliflower benefits for nutrition and health? 1. It’s super Filling Ever enjoyed a healthy meal only to feel hungry again a couple of hours later? Well, despite not being calorically dense, cauli won’t do you like that. “Cauliflower is high in fiber,” says Paulette Lambert, RD, lead dietitian at the California Health & Longevity Institute, located at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village. Just one cup of chopped, raw cauliflower offers up two grams of fiber. So there’s no need to scramble for a midday snack to hold you
How to care for your aloe plant and make it really thrive all year long
February 04, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC Aloe plants are an easy way to add greenery to your home. Many people even keep an aloe plant to treat minor burns or cuts. Just break off a piece of one of the long, juicy leaves and apply the gel to your skin. More than just beautiful, having aloe on hand is super helpful—but only for as long as you can keep it alive. Luckily, the plant can thrive inside without needing much care. “I have a little like a six-inch aloe in a cute little terra cotta pot,” says Bethany Mieth, co-owner of Oasis Plant Shop in Dallas. “It’s super easy to keep a plant inside of your home, you just have to find that right window.” How to care for your aloe plant Find the right variety There are tons of different kinds of aloe plants. Like, tons. The most popular by far is the aloe vera, but because they’re all in the same family, care instructions are relatively consistent across variations. But with so many different types of aloe, Jesse Waldman, director of marketing and e-commerce at Pistils Nursery in Portland, Oregon, says you’ll want to find the one that fits your wants and needs. “I have this variety of aloe in my house that is eight feet tall,” he says. “There’s also little aloes that are gonna stay super small in your little pot.” If you want one with medicinal or cosmetic usage, Waldman suggests choosing aloe vera or
The books, documentaries, and podcasts recommended by 3 nutrition experts
February 04, 2020 at 12:30AM by CWC If you’re always reading up on ways to get plant-based protein, or shop more sustainably, it’s because you, like us, love to learn. We’re constantly turning to experts to learn more. And while they know so much about their craft, they also turn to nutrition books, podcasts, and documentaries for new information and inspiration. At at a recent Well+Good event, one of the attendees asked our panel of food experts to share their recommendations for sources they turn to when they’re hungry to learn more. We’ve got their answers below. Podcasts FOOD HEAVEN MADE EASY Hosted by Wendy Lopez, RD and Jessica Jones, RD, this podcast is a favorite of fellow registered dietitian Maya Feller, RD. “Wendy and Jess have a number of guests on who share information on everything from nutrition to self-care, embracing inclusivity, and diversity,” Feller says. DIET STARTS TOMORROW Registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, host of Well+Good’s YouTube series You Versus Food, says this podcast by Betches “is a must to help you sift through the noise surrounding health and wellness. They bring on real professionals, like registered dietitians and doctors, to help set the record straight.” HOW I BUILT THIS “Guy Raz interviews the CEOs of an array of companies, but spotlights major food and health brands as well,” says Beckerman. “The guests share insight into their journey to success, which offers hope and inspiration.” Books CULTIVATING FOOD JUSTICE ($34) Haile Thomas, a 19-year-old international speaker, health activist, and