March 13, 2020 at 11:00PM by CWC Among a love of peaches and unrepentant worrying, my grandmother and I have one big thing in common: a singular chin hair. She’s a sneaky one (the hair, not my grandma). She pops up every now and then, and who knows how long she’ll grow before I notice. And sometimes, plucking can lead to ingrown hairs. What exactly are you supposed to do with an ingrown chin hair? Shani Francis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and hair-loss specialist based in Illinois, says chin hairs, for most, tend to be thicker, more mature hairs, and can be more difficult to remove. She says there are many ways to remove chin hairs, and that one or two ingrowns, especially after extensive hair removal, is par for the course. “Single chin hair removal is possible at home,” says Dr. Francis, “If you develop multiple inflamed hairs simultaneously or what a more permanent solution, it would be better to consult a board-certified dermatologist.” Rebecca Baxt, MD, a New Jersey-based board-certified dermatologist, explains that ingrown hairs happen when your hair grows back into your skin and gets stuck, which can cause inflammation, redness, and swelling. This happens more commonly with curly hairs. If you’re prone to getting ingrown chin hair, Dr. Francis says you can use a warm towel to open your pores before hair removal, or an ice or cold compress after shaving to close the pores and minimize follicle re-entry. Dr. Baxt says it’s best to avoid mechanical forms
Day: March 13, 2020
Know the difference between cleaning and disinfecting your home—and how often you should be doing each
March 13, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC I would say that I’m a pretty conscientious cleaner. I’m a bit of a germaphobe, and dedicate a decent amount of time to keeping my home clean and tidy. But with COVID-19, I want to make sure I’m doing everything right. Apparently, cleaning and disinfecting aren’t the same thing, and to remove and kill and remove germs, you need to do both. “Disinfectants don’t work if there’s a visibly dirty surface,” says Karen Hoffmann, RN, immediate past president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). “It’s always recommended to clean and then disinfect surfaces if they’re visibly dirty.” Cleaning, explains Hoffman, refers to removing dirt off of surfaces. “Embedded in dirt is lots of different germs and viruses, even fungi, so cleaning alone won’t kill germs,” she says. “But, we’re going to use elbow grease to remove them, literally decreasing the number of germs that’s on a surface. Disinfecting, on the other hand, actually kills germs.” If no one in your home has COVID-19, you don’t need to go overboard. Current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention call for regular cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces like tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, and sinks. If someone in your home has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the CDC recommends cleaning and disinfecting those surfaces daily. To complete both steps, “You should look to see if a surface and visibly dirty. If it’s visibly dirty
The unique stressor your sign deals with the best, according to a psychological astrologer
March 13, 2020 at 09:00PM by CWC As reasons for stress and anxiety mount, we could likely all do with a little expansion of our stress management toolkits. (Sometimes meditation and CBD supplements just aren’t enough.) To help us grow our abilities to mediate cortisol-spiking events, psychological astrologer Jennifer Freed, PhD, recommends we take notes on how other members of the zodiac deal with stress. Below, Dr. Freed gives each sign credit for where they shine in stress management while pointing out how the rest of us can learn from these varied strengths. How stress management style varies by sign (and what we can learn from each), according to a psychological astrologer Aries “Aries is the most courageous and physically protective of all the signs,” says Dr. Freed. “Also, the Aries I know can do things like run in front of a car or something to stop it from hitting a child. They can lift things off of people when buildings or things have fallen. They’re very physically courageous.” From this sign, Dr. Freed says we can all learn how to be bold in protecting the vulnerable. “We can also learn that the strong and able body is always going to help us in any kind of crisis or emergency, so we should keep our bodies very physically strong and dependable,” she says. Taurus This member of the zodiac is essentially the eye of a storm. “Taurus has the ability at its best to remain calm and centered in the face
The 1 thing everyone can do to be healthier *and* more sustainable, according to a celebrity chef
March 13, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqKoZgAGjMQ] Ever wondered what celeb chef Katie Lee loves to eat first thing in the a.m.? Get all of her wellness tips here. Let’s be honest: Healthy eating can feel way complicated sometimes. There are so many different eating plans out there (veganism! keto! Paleo! Mediterranean!), so many different products to try, and so much conflicting advice that makes eating in a healthy way for your body confusing. Sometimes, you just don’t want to take a zillion supplements while chugging matcha infused with the latest superfood powder while you bask in the light of your pink Himalayan salt lamp. But most health experts can agree that for most people, going back to the basics of healthy eating is the most important. On the latest episode of The Avocado Show, we sat down with Katie Lee, chef and co-host of Food Network’s The Kitchen. And she reminded us that eating healthy (and sustainably) doesn’t have to be overly complicated thanks to her number one tip: eat more fruits and vegetables. This tip is health canon for a reason. Fruits and veggies are usually packed with vitamins, fiber, and anti-inflammatory nutrients that help our bodies stay healthy. Eating a vegetarian diet has been shown to increase good bacteria in the gut, and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. And researchers have found that vegetables have the least impact on the environment, with fruit following close behind. While you don’t have to
The only post-work stretches you need to call it a day on tension
March 13, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC I’m not sure what genius dreamed up the brilliant idea that we should all sit at our desks for one-third of each day to get paid, but that’s the world where most of us live. The resulting tightness from text neck and rolly chair hips means we need to unwind in more ways than one right after work—and that’s where stretches for relaxing really come in. Chalk it up to the recovery revolution, but now many have learned the benefits of taking time to flop down on your living room and move through a quick yoga sequence. It’s like hitting the restart button on your day—even as the sun sets. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself. Here are 2 videos full of relaxing stretches to do after work [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-_d5hkoIj8] Post-work Flow 1: yoga for flexibility Reclined hand-to-toe: Start lying down with your strap in hand. Bring one leg out straight in front of you, and extended the other straight up, catching it with the yoga strap and pulling it towards your head. Flex your feet so that they’re perpendicular to the mat. Send your foot out to the side until you feel your hips start to lift. Then twist your air-extended leg over the one that’s flat to feel the stretch in the outer leg. Switch legs and repeat on your opposite side. Cat-cow: Move into tabletop pose. Alternate between cat pose and cow pose. Push against the ground to pull the
This is how your go-to gyms and studios are changing operations during the Covid-19 pandemic
March 13, 2020 at 06:39PM by CWC With rising concerns surrounding Covid-19, fitness studios are doing their part to prevent the community spread of the disease. On March 4, we urged brick and mortars to loosen their cancellation fees to encourage sick people to stay home and keep those in attendance safe from the virus. To their credit, many of them have heeded the call—and then some. Now, brick-and-mortars are taking things one step further and changing their policies, with many of them altering the formats of their classes and some temporarily closing their doors. “The gym is up there in terms of places where you would have the highest risk for the spread of the Coronavirus—it’s not number one, but it’s definitely in the top five,” says Jason Tetro, microbiologist and author of The Germ Files. He points to people breathing hard, in close proximity to one another, as the main reason behind it. According to the CDC, Covid-19 is mainly spread from person-to-person, “between people who are in close contact (within about six feet) of one another, through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.” These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people nearby, or possibly be inhaled into their lungs. It may also be possible that the disease is spread when someone touches a surface with the virus on it and then touches their mouth or nose, which means you might be able to pick it up from an infected mat or piece
Women’s health has never been a focus in sports, Mary Cain wants to change that
March 13, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC “By second grade, I was the fastest in my class. By third grade, I was the fastest in the grade. From there, it was just onwards and upwards,” says Mary Cain, 1500-meter finalist in the 2013 World Championships, three-time world junior champion, and one of Well+Good’s 2020 Changemakers. Last year, in a New York Times opinion piece, Cain spoke out against the harmful coaching practices used by Alberto Salazar, her trainer at Nike’s Oregon Project. At the end of her time there in 2016, she left the program, no longer one of the fastest runners in America, but dangerously thin, injured, and longing to fall back in love with the sport she once loved. Now, Cain says she’s determined to reinvent the world of women’s sports so that the pursuit of being the fastest doesn’t come at the high price of compromised mental and physical health. “The reason my story really blew up is because it wasn’t just my story,” says Cain. “It was something that a woman in her 40s could understand. It was a story that a 12-year-old girl could understand.” It’s true: In the wake of Cain going public in the Times piece, athletes at every level have responded with a resounding: Me, too. Olympians Amy Begley and Kara Goucher shared similar stories on social media, and Cain says that high school and college track athletes have flooded her inbox with accounts mirroring her struggles with amenorrhea, RED-S: missed periods and
There are actually 4 types of introverts, and each has its own social strength
March 13, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC Here’s a fun fact to pepper in at your next dinner party: Not all introverts are the same. Sure, we may share similarities, like feeling drained by social events and parties, but given that there are actually four specific types of introverts, we clearly have our own differences, as well. Generally what sets us apart are the guiding reasons for what makes us introverted in the first place. We came to understand those reasons better as a result of the STAR model of introversion that psychologist and researcher Jonathan Cheek, PhD, developed in 2011 to explain the four introversion subgroups: social introversion, thinking introversion, anxious introversion, and restrained introversion. Each archetype is separated by varying motivations, pitfalls, and ability to thrive in social situations. Below, get a better understanding about what separates each of the four types of introverts. 1. Social introvert The thought of a social introvert conjures someone who is really big on embracing JOMO as a lifestyle choice. This person isn’t necessarily shy, per se, they just prioritize alone time or streamlined social interactions. Social introverts tend to enjoy intimate gatherings above raging parties and one-on-one coffee catchups to bottomless brunches with a huge group. “Social introverts prefer a small group setting and alone time. This can be a strength, as the well-grounded social introvert is often a quiet ‘rock’ in gatherings.” —psychologist Carla Marie Manly, PhD “The social introvert tends to prefer a small group setting and alone time,”
The top 3 myths about immunity that doctors want you to stop believing ASAP
March 13, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC Having a healthy immune system ready to fight off any nasty germs that come in its path is a top concern for people now more than ever. We are living in a world where washing your hands is being talked about even more than that wild The Bachelor finale. (Still can’t get over Hannah Ann tearing Peter apart, TBH.) With immunity on everyone’s minds—and social feeds—doctors are being confronted with lots of questions from their patients about how to boost their immune system, and have encountered many misconceptions in the process. First, a little PSA: When it comes to anything health-related, it’s essential to get your facts from trusted medical experts, not from randos on your Instagram feed. To help set the record straight, Arielle Levitan, MD, the co-founder of Vous Vitamin and author of The Vitamin Solution, and Erika Schwartz, MD, the founder of integrative medicine practice Evolved Science, correct the common misconceptions about immunity they hear on a regular basis. 3 immune system facts and myths everyone should know Myth 1: If I don’t get regular vaccines Like as the flu shot, I will build natural immunity Despite being backed by decades of very solid science, vaccines have become…controversial. Many people who avoid vaccines claim that they can naturally build their immunity on their own. But that strategy comes with a fair share of risks. “If you don’t take vaccines, you will build immunity but only by getting sick—and in certain cases,
This simple kale salad will actually fill you up—and takes just 20 minutes to make
March 13, 2020 at 03:30PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXvGEkr2XEs] Tossing a bag of greens in your cart is an automatic part of your weekly grocery shop. Another mainstay of your meal-prep routine? Throwing away that same bag of greens after letting it sit untouched in the bottom of your fridge all week. In the spirit of Kroger’s Zero Hunger Zero Waste initiative (and to help you clean out your refrigerator before letting your produce go to waste), senior food and health editor Jessie Van Amburg teamed up with cookbook author and recipe developer Rachel Mansfield on the latest episode of Cook with Us to show you how to turn your neglected greens into a filling, nutritious, and delicious meal. Van Amburg challenges Mansfield to make a healthy, vegetarian dinner in 30 minutes or less using three ingredients you’ve likely had left over before: sprouted grain bread, kale, and tahini. This salad proves that you can still make a healthy dinner even when your fridge is nearly bare. Proving that you can still make a healthy dinner even when your fridge is nearly bare (sorry, takeout), Mansfield pulls together a recipe from her cookbook Just the Good Stuff using the challenge ingredients, all of which you can get from Kroger. “I love when a store is stocked up with all of the goods I need to fuel my family and myself,” Mansfield says. “Kroger has so many healthy and organic options to keep on hand at such affordable prices.” And with