March 09, 2020 at 11:00PM by CWC Take it from the people who continually live to be 100: Working out—even in small increments—is one of the keys to living a healthy life. As longevity becomes more and more talked about, we’re all looking for ways to live longer and better. “Your workouts should depend on your individual fitness goals and levels, and really not your age,” says Martin Ridley, physical therapist at True Whole Care. This is especially the case if you’ve been diligent about your fitness routine throughout your life, he says, since you won’t be starting from scratch. “Maintain 30 to 40 minutes of movement, whether it’s biking, walking, swimming, strength training, or stretching,” says Ridley. That said, certain activities can get harder with age. “You can’t do everything at the same capacity that you used to, and the longer you don’t use muscles, the more they shut down,” says Will Torres, trainer and founder of New York City-based movement studio Willspace. And so, there are certain elements that trainers say are especially beneficial when you’re in your 60s and beyond for ultimate mobility and strength. Keep scrolling for expert-approved tips for a healthy fitness program. 5 rules to follow for a healthy senior exercise routine 1. Prioritize spinal health: The spine endures a lot over the course of our lives, so keep it top of mind when working out. The best way to do this, according to Torres? Hang. “Hanging is very important to develop grip strength, to
Day: March 9, 2020
Exactly how many consecutive days you’ll feel sleepy thanks to Daylight Saving Time, according to a sleep doctor
March 09, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC Waking up in a panic has kind of become a mainstay for me, but waking up late in a panic? That could only mean the arrival of Daylight Savings Time. Your most chipper friends will talk about how lovely it is to spring forward. For the rest of us with already-wonky sleep schedules, losing a whole hour makes for some serious Daylight Savings Time sleep problems. Why does this happen, and dear God, when will it end? “Any time you change the body’s circadian clock even by something seemingly as small as an hour, it really throws off all the hormones and cellular clocks in your body,” says sleep expert Shelby Harris, PsyD, author of The Women’s Guide to Overcoming Insomnia. “Our biological clocks are so well set that even an hour’s difference in light exposure can create changes in the body, making for greater sleepiness in the morning and insomnia at bedtime at the Daylight Savings change. We see major spikes in car accidents and hear attacks in the first few days after the time change, and it can often take upwards of five to seven days to adjust fully to the new time, light, and clocks.” Okay, by next Monday I’ll be able to get out of bed without Daylight Savings Time sleep problems. Chill. But is there any way to expedite this process? “In the coming few weeks, get as much daylight as you can—especially given that so many of us are stuck indoors nowadays due to
Got tight hips? Here’s why trainers want you to be doing CAR stretches every day
March 09, 2020 at 09:00PM by CWC If you sit at a desk all day, you’re inevitably going to feel it in your hips. While your usual stretch and foam-rolling routines can go a long way in eliminating some of that uncomfortable tightness, they’ve got their limitations. And that’s where CAR stretches come in to save the day. CAR stands for “controlled articular rotation,” and these types of stretches are a recovery technique that require you to move a joint through its full range of motion to help loosen it up. While they can be applied to a number of different body parts, they’re particularly useful when it comes to your hips, since hip flexion range of motion can suffer terribly from tightness. “Due to our sedentary lifestyles with hours spent in a seated position, our hip flexors can get adaptively tight from the lack of use, and hip CARs can help to open up these stuck ranges of movement when used consistently,” says Gold’s Gym Senior Director of Fitness, Andy Coggan. Stretching alone isn’t enough to open up your joint, which is why regularly adding slow, controlled rotations to your routine can help. “With CARs, you take the joints through your largest range of motion with control and tension, working to increase your range of motion and resiliency,” says Melissa Boyd, Head Trainer at Tempo. These stretches are different from your usual static stretches, in which you lengthen a muscle and hold it for a certain amount of time
Derms tell us if ‘For All Skin Types’ products are too good to be true
March 09, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC Skin-care routines have reached peak customization. With companies like The Ordinary and The Inkey List releasing pure active ingredient serums, it’s now easier than ever to play beauty chemist and curate your own regimen. But there are still tons of all-skin-type products. Are they legit? Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Manhattan, says yes. “Products that are designated for all skin types are typically made up of ingredients that are gentle enough for sensitive skin but yet effective to be used by majority of people who use it,” says. Dr. Garshick. “Although it is always good to consider your individual skin type, there are various products that can be tolerated by all skin types.” If you have any particular skin issues, Rebecca Baxt, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey, says your better off using products that are a bit more targeted. For example, “if you are acne- or rosacea-prone, an all-skin-type products might make it worse. It’s best to stick to oil-free, noncomedogenic, fragrance-free products for those skin types generally speaking. It can be different for each individual patient,” she says. Dr. Garshick says some products are better than others to buy in an all-skin-types formula. “Often gentle cleansers are a great option for all skin types,” she says. She likes the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser ($10) and Dove White Beauty Bar ($4). “Even those with oily skin can benefit from a gentle cleanser as part of their regimen, as you never want to dry out the skin too much.”
OK, TMI: Why do I cry when I poop, even if nothing hurts?
March 09, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC Let’s get right down to it: Have you ever gone to the bathroom and found yourself squeezing out more than poop? Like, all of a sudden you’re crying a little bit, but nothing hurts and so you have no idea why there are actual tears streaming out of your eyeballs? I hadn’t heard of this before, but this phenomenon is actually not that rare—there are entire Reddit threads devoted to the topic. (Yes, I read a lot of them for research for this piece.) Armed with some preliminary knowledge of poop crying, I set out to find an expert who could answer my most pressing questions. One of the joys of my job is sending out multiple professional emails with the subject line “Why do people cry when they poop?” (Cue JD and Turk.) “For many people, the tears are not from pain but the increase in intra-abdominal pressure to help your rectum squeeze out stool,” says gastroenterologist Niket Sonpal, MD. Intra-abdominal pressure, also known as IAP, refers to the natural state of pressure within the abdomen; it fluctuates throughout the day depending on your breathing pattern and other factors. When you’re squeezing out a poop, the pressure builds in your abdomen to help move things through your system. “That combined increase in pressure in the abdomen also happens in your skull, and a few tears [can] squeeze out,” says Dr. Sonpal. Talk about that mind-gut connection. Naturally, I was flush (ha) with
The 6 best-selling foundations from the country’s busiest drugstore—and not one is over $20
March 09, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC Hot tip: The drugstore is one of the best places to buy your beauty products. Once you waltz past the holiday-themed candy and greeting cards, you’ll find yourself surrounded by really, really good skin-care and makeup finds. And nowhere is that more true than CVS, which is the busiest drugstore in the country. Considering that the store’s makeup shelves are stacked high with options, we asked for the best foundations at CVS, and we’re happy to report that not one of these options is over $20. In the golden age of skin care and makeup, it’s truly easier than ever to buy foundation at the drugstore. Not only are options wallet friendly, but as of October, you can now swatch foundations before buying them so that you’re getting the perfect match for your skin. And so, without further ado, here are the year-to-date best-selling foundations at CVS. 1. L’Oréal Paris True Match Foundation, $12 Photo: L’Oreal Paris This super-blendable option from L’Oréal Paris holds the rank as number one at CVS. It’s creamy, has light-to-buildable coverage, and comes in 45 shades so that you can truly find your—ahem—true match. It gets bonus points for having SPF in it. 2. Revlon ColorStay Foundation, $15 Photo: Revlon If you’re into a matte or satin finish, this Revlon option fits the bill. It’s long-lasting, and you can pick one based on your skin concerns—there’s one for combination/oily complexions and one for normal/dry complexions, as well. 3. Maybelline
The Myers-Briggs breakdown of the 3 remaining 2020 presidential hopefuls
March 09, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC Have you ever thought about how the unique personality of each potential 2020 presidential winner would impact their approach to the country’s highest office? Regardless of the personal similarities and differences of each hopeful (candidate or incumbent), it’s obvious that a bold, impulsive leader like President Donald Trump would run the country differently than a passionate idealist like Senator Bernie Sanders. That’s how the Myers-Briggs personality of each possible president comes into play. Although the only way to formally validate a person’s true Myers-Briggs type is by taking the official MBTI test, we’ve broken down the type of each presidential hopeful using a detailed analysis of their cognitive functions. Using this intel, it’s helpful to see how each operates in the world. (Haven’t learned about the eight Myers-Briggs cognitive functions yet? You’re in luck: Here’s a full guide.) So, curious how a President Joe Biden, for instance, might compare to a President Trump? Let’s detail their similarities and differences below, according to their cognitive function stacks (a.k.a. the order in which each person uses their personal functions). The answers may just surprise you. Biden, Sanders, Trump MBTI breakdown: Find out how each potential 2020 presidential election winner stacks up. Joe Biden: ESFP Se: Former Vice President Biden’s history in politics is marked by resourcefulness and personableness, which are both key traits of extroverted sensors (Se). During his long tenure as an elected official, he’s been able to work across party lines and win
How to clean reusable tote bags—because you put your groceries in there
March 09, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC I’ve been using the same canvas grocery bag for years. And after unloading a recent grocery haul, I peered into the bottom of the bag to find—you guessed it—filth! To make sure that my freshly produce isn’t arriving home grimy, I consulted two experts about just how to clean canvas tote bags (and how often you really need to). Jason Tetro, microbiologist and author of The Germ Files says that there’s one condition in which you should wash your reusable grocery tote ASAP: if it gets wet. “Unless your bags have a wax coating, they will be able to absorb water and usually that also includes microbes,” he says. “Most water sources are not worrisome, but if you happen to be packing raw meats or produce, then you need to be aware of the potential for bacterial growth and also virus spread.” If chicken juice or beef blood seeps into your tote, don’t let it sit and fester too long. “Keeping your bags clean is as important as your clothing,” says Katie Brown, owner of Rytina Fine Cleaners in Sacramento. “If you are toting home your meat, fish, and dairy products and you find a leak and a spill wash immediately.” As for how often? “It really depends on how badly the bags are soiled. If they are always dry and clean, it’s probably not all that necessary. But as soon as they get wet, you want to be sure you are giving them
How to read your astrological chart using just your hand, according to a palm reader
March 09, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC The ethos of palm reading is that the secrets of our personality are right in front of us, at literal arm’s length. A similar ethos governs astrology (but less literally, unless, of course, your hand is on your phone, ready to open your Co-Star app). And while you might think that conceptual guiding premise is the extent of what these two disciplines have in common, get ready to be surprised. Palm reading in astrology is definitely a thing (you might even think of it as “hand astrology” or “handoscopes”). It’s reflected primarily through the language of astrological elements, with fire hands, air hands, water hands, and Earth hands. As a refresher about the astrological elements or the triplicities, they determine someone’s basic temperament. The fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, and they’re adventurous and action-oriented. Air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius, and they’re highly intellectual with a brain that works a mile a minute. Water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces, and they’re intuitive and even psychic. And Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, and are, unsurprisingly, grounded. “Our hands represent one of the four elements, just like astrology, Earth, air, fire, water,” says palm reader Helene Saucedo, author of Handful of Stars: A Palmistry Guidebook and Hand-Printing Kit. “And the way that you tell the elements of a hand is by the proportion of the palm to the fingers.” “Our hands represent one of the four elements, just like
5 yogurt benefits that will inspire you to make it a regular in your breakfast rotation
March 09, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC While the world of healthy eating can be divisive (and confusing!) at times, there are a few universal true-isms that nearly every expert can agree upon. One, that everyone should be eating more fiber. Two, that food should be joyful, not restrictive. And three, the major (and underrated) benefits of super simple foods like yogurt. “Yogurt is the fermented food produced by culturing cream, milk, or both with a characterizing bacterial culture that contains lactic acid-producing bacteria,” says Maya Feller, RD, of Maya Feller Nutrition. For most people, it’s about as cool as going to prom with your cousin. But health experts can’t get enough of it because of the food’s very legit benefits, from its impressive nutritional profile to the fact that it can be used in so many versatile ways. Keep reading to learn about the different types of yogurt, the benefits of eating it, tips on choosing the best one, and creative ideas to incorporate it in your everyday food rotation. First things first: what is the difference between yogurts? The types of yogurts available are about as abundant as boutique fitness classes. There’s whipped, drinkable, and skyr, to name a few, that come in either plain and flavored versions and varying amounts of milk fat. Despite the wide variety, though, yogurts tend to fall into three common categories: regular yogurt, Greek yogurt, and non-dairy yogurt. Here’s how they broadly compare. Regular yogurt: Regular yogurt is usually made with cow’s milk, which