March 19, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC Who here has ever tried to take a work call in a busy coffee shop or a cramped apartment with roommates? The slightest bit of noise is wildly distracting, and you feel like a jerk when you say, “I’m sorry, I missed what you just said,” for the 37th time. What you need, my friend, is a quality pair of noise cancelling headphones. Noise cancelling headphones don’t have to be big and bulky—there are so many sleek, foldable versions that won’t ruin your look. And if headphones aren’t your jam, there are some pretty amazing noise-cancelling earbuds on the market. Best noise-cancelling headphones 1. SONY WH-1000XM3 HEADPHONES, $275 These silver Sony headphones with gold accents make noise cancelling headphones extra special. This pair is bluetooth compatible, and has a built-in rechargeable battery with a 30-hour lifespan. The foldable design with swivel earcups make this pair super easy to store and tote around. 2. BOSE HEADPHONES 700, $399 Bose makes super sleek headphones with 11 levels of noise cancellation, meaning you can eliminate as much or as little noise as you’d like. It’s also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can get up to 20 hours of wireless battery life. 3. MARSHALL MID A.N.C. HEADPHONES, $198 Covered in a textured black vinyl, and emblazoned with a brass-colored Marshall logo, these headphones are reminiscent of a retro speaker stack. They actively filter out ambient noise, and if your device supports Bluetooth aptX, you
Month: March 2020
Your head weighs ‘as much as a bowling ball’—these 4 stretches help you use that weight to ease neck pain
March 19, 2020 at 09:00PM by CWC You might have heard that your head weighs about as much as a bowling ball. In reality, there’s some pretty complicated math involved in determining exactly how much weight your neck is carting around on a daily basis. What we all share in common, however, is that we need stretches for neck tension in our lives. Like, yesterday. Keren Day, DC, a chiropractor and professional stretcher at Racked stretching studio in New York City, says that we’re all pretty well equipped to deal with the massive ordeal of, um… having a head. The problem arises when we continually turn to unnatural types of movements. “Our bodies were designed to hold our head’s structure. The issues start with all of the unnatural postures that put repetitive stress on our bodies. Activities like looking down on our phones and computers all day increase the stress and pressure on your neck,” says Dr. Day. Over time, text neck and other bad posture habits put us at risk for chronic neck pain, tension headaches, and even discomfort in the shoulder area. So in this brave new world in which so many of us spend typing away (and jutting our heads so far forward), Dr. Day says you should bookmark a few stretches to move through when your noggin’ feels like weight that is just too much of a burden to bear. 4 stretches for neck tension that use the weight of your head as a counterbalance 1. The chair forward
These 5 healthy foods are totally safe to keep in the pantry instead of the fridge
March 19, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC Just like that we’ve all got plenty of time to cook more at home. (Be careful what you wish for, right?) Because we’re living in such uncertain times, it’s a good idea to stock up on food, but being prepared presents another problem: figuring out where to put everything. With a lack of space, it’s a good idea to know the foods that don’t need to be refrigerated—as well as the foods that probably do. It’s a very American mindset to stick the majority of a grocery haul in the refrigerator (you won’t find Europeans putting eggs or bread in there), and while some foods definitely require a consistently chilly atmosphere, chances are that you can utilize your space outside the fridge more than you may think. 5 healthy foods that don’t need to be refrigerated 1. nut butters Whether your go-to is peanut, almond, or something more unexpected, Salzman and Cotter both say all nut butters can be safely stored in the pantry or on the counter. “I actually find that my nut butters don’t dry out as quickly when I store them outside the fridge,” says certified nutritionist and Nourishing Superfood Bowls author Lindsay Cotter, CN. (That said, once opened, nut butters will stay fresh twice as long in the fridge, says Allison Scheinfeld, RD, a Brooklyn-based registered dietitian. But they’ll still be good for months in the pantry.) 2. non-dairy milk If you’re stocking up on items meant to last
Does dairy really cause inflammation? It’s complicated
March 19, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC When it comes to inflammation, there are certain foods that have a clear connection to helping or hurting it. Sugar is a definite driver of inflammation, while antioxidant-rich berries are for sure in the beneficial camp. But when it comes to dairy, there’s a lot of confusion, even among healthy food experts themselves. For some people, eating dairy can wreck havoc on their bodies. The morning after pizza night, they may wake up to newly sprouted pimples. Or it may mean dealing with bloat or other digestive woes. Other people seem to have no problem with dairy, able to down a glass of milk (yes, from a cow) with absolutely no symptoms whatsoever. Because dairy seems to cause inflammatory responses in some people but not everyone, it’s tricky to know if it can be classified as an inflammatory food or not. It also shouldn’t be overlooked at dairy is full of nutritional benefits, containing calcium, vitamin D, and in the case of yogurt, probiotics. Could something so nutrient-rich really cause an inflammatory response? Here, a doctor, a nutrition expert, and a scientific researcher all give their input, based on their professional experience and research. What makes dairy so complicated According to nutrition expert Katie Boyd, there are several reasons why dairy is difficult to classify as inflammatory or not. The first reason is that unlike singular foods like sugar or berries, there are a lot of different types of dairy. It’s not unusual
Hey, it’s okay if you’re not checking everything off of your to-do list right now
March 19, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC There was a minute—a sparking, optimistic minute—when I thought I’d emerge from this national emergency with the screenplay for my pandemic-themed rom-com. That sounds terrible, but you know you thought the same thing, too. In fact, with ample time in self-isolation among the spread of COVID-19, there’s this big push that you should be tackling all those huge goals. You finally have time to write the great American novel, learn how to make stromboli, release your bedroom lo-fi pop album—whatever. And while I’m a huge fan of creativity and self-improvement, let’s be crystal clear about something here: you just have to do the bare minimum. Everything else is a bonus. “A scarcity mindset is what encourages this must have/get done mentality,” says psychotherapist Jennifer Teplin, LCSW. “Thinking that if you don’t achieve or get something immediately you’ll miss out creates anxiety and oftentimes disappointment.” I know you may not be getting that message, and that’s because of a certain strain of thinking, a virus that derives from the American obsession with being busy. We have all this “free time” encouraging us to be productive, so we’re not only supposed to use it wisely but optimize it. And that can add a lot of unnecessary worry and anxiety for people who, I don’t know, already have worry and anxiety about their entire world collapsing. You don’t need those extra negative feelings because you failed to work on that huge project, or don’t have the emotional
Meet the new generation of clay masks that don’t dry out your skin
March 19, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC If you’re a face mask fan, chances are you’ve been through this scenario: You slather on a clay mask to draw gunk out of your pores, only to have it shrivel up on your skin 10 minutes later—leaving your complexion really dry. Clay has useful benefits to your skin, though, so it’s a good thing that we’re in a new era of non-drying clay masks that give you a still-hydrated glow. “The purpose of the clay in a face mask is to draw out impurities from your skin,” says Arash Akhavan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with The Dermatology and Laser Group in New York City. “The main problem is that people with sensitive skin have classically stayed away from clay masks because of how drying they are. But we’ve definitely seen a toning down of that, and now, a lot of them are more hydrating.” With the new generation of clay masks, you get the pore-clearing benefits of the ingredient, plus moisturizing perks of your fave hydrating skin-care MVPs. “Clay is something to look for if you have combination, oily, or acne skin, or if you feel like you have a lot of congestion in your pores,” says Dr. Akhavan. “To also be hydrating, [the clay mask] have moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera, glycerin, or squalane, or it can have anti-inflammatories like chamomile extract or rosehip and other botanical oils. That way, the clay will either be less drying or less irritating, or both.”
A G.I. doc shares the best healthy foods for restoring the good bacteria in the gut
March 19, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC At this point, you’ll be hard up to come across a health expert who doesn’t preach the importance of gut health. Remember when we all thought it just had to do with digestive health? Gross as it may be to think about, there are millions of bacteria living in your gut, also called gut flora. The community of gut flora is referred to as the microbiome, and their health and functioning is connected to everything from brain health to mood and even skin irritation. (Although it’s important to note that there can be other causes of these issues as well.) The key to having a healthy microbiome is making sure the good gut bacteria (also known as probiotics) outnumbers the bad bacteria that can live alongside them in your gut. When the bad guys outnumber the good for a prolonged period of time, it can have long-term implications on overall health. Scientific research continues to find correlations between gut health and cognitive function, as well as other chronic disease. And in the short term, a gut flora imbalance can lead to persistent constipation or diarrhea, bloating, and other unpleasant gut issues. So to sum it up, keeping the gut balanced is important for both short-term and long-term health. Here, Fiber Fueled author and gastroenterologist Will Bulsiewicz, MD explains the biggest reasons why bad bacteria in the gut can start outnumbering the good. Plus, he gives his tips for restoring gut flora, bringing balance
I’m a psychologist, and these are my top 8 tips for distracting yourself from overwhelming worry
March 19, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC Now is not the time to tell someone to stop worrying; COVID-19-related news updates are troubling to many for a variety reasons—confusion about the future of jobs, childcare, the health of loved ones, personal health, and the list goes on. Still, it’s key to learn how to stop worrying about things you can’t control because that skill set will undoubtedly make getting through this crisis with your sanity intact much simpler. I, for one, should know—I worried early and had a breakdown of sorts a week ago about the repercussions this pandemic may have on my personal finances and future plans. Since then, I’ve adopted some new habits to interrupt my worry spirals: reading the news less, opening up the Duolingo app for a quick language lesson when I feel my thoughts getting hysterical, and taking walks through my neighborhood (since I live in a city where this is currently permissible and the streets are deserted). Turns out, I’m on the right track with these techniques. “Distraction is great as a first-line defense against worry,” says Elana Cairo, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist at NYC-based Alma. Below, she and clinical psychologist Aimee Daramus, PsyD, offer eight techniques you can test out ASAP for halting worry loops in their tracks. Check out those tips below. 8 ways to stop yourself from worrying about things you can’t control 1. create a library of “nourishing activities” you can lean on “[For distracting yourself from worry], any type
Use this bodyweight 60/60 workout to keep from getting antsy while WFH
March 19, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC At the end of a long day of working from home, there’s a high chance that your brain and body are filled with pent-up energy. If hours of sitting criss-cross-applesauce on your couch have you yearning to run laps around the block come quitting time, we’ve got an easy way to get some of those ants out of your (sweat) pants: Commit to moving all day long by way of the 60/60 workout plan, which basically equates to a 1-minute desk workout. It requires zero equipment, and is easy to do no matter where you are. All you have to do is get your body moving for 60 seconds, every 60 minutes. It may sound simple, but doing a one-minute desk workout at multiple intervals throughout the day can help keep your mind and muscles from getting bored. “By moving on the hour, you’re stimulating both your mind and body, which reduces anxiety and improves performance,” says Rhys Athayde, chief experience officer and founding trainer at DOGPOUND. He notes that it’s recommended to get up and take a walk every hour to stimulate blood flow (and to get those steps in!), but getting creative with how you’re moving can help kick things up a notch. “Finding alternative movements that are more challenging can help you focus on areas of your workouts you may need to improve on,” he says. So for example, if you want to be able to do 30 pushups in a
Why now is the best time to start incorporating long-game skin-care ingredients
March 19, 2020 at 01:00PM by CWC Typically, people want their skin-care products to show results immediately. While that’s fair and understandable, there are a good number of ingredients that grant your complexion amazing benefits if you just have the patience to wait as they work. What better time to start incorporating long-term skin-care ingredients in your regimen than now, when everyone’s stuck inside waiting out the effects of COVID-19? “This is a good time to use those kinds of ingredients that have an initial downtime associated with them, where you don’t necessarily want to be going out,” says Loretta Ciraldo, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr. Loretta skin care. “Some of these ingredients can [also] make you sensitive to the sun, and most of us will be spending a lot less time being exposed to it.” Besides ingredients that have some downtime, there are others that just simply take a few weeks to really show their skin-boosting benefits (like vitamin C). So, in the name of upgrading your beauty regimen as you’re social distancing, keep scrolling for the four skin-care ingredients Dr. Ciraldo recommends to start using so that we all come out of our quarantines with the best skin ever. Photo: The Ordinary Shop now: The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane, $6 1. Retinoids: First up is any retinoid, especially retinol in high concentrations, or tretinoin, the prescription strength option. A retinoid is a vitamin A derivative that has a slew of perks, from gentle exfoliation through increased