March 17, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC For me, the idea of going to couples therapy conjures an image similar to that of the opening scene of the 2019 film Marriage Story—that is, two people either crying or yelling at one another in the presence of a professional who’s trying to restore a state of health to their troubled relationship. That’s not how it has to be, though. Rather, couples therapy can be used as a tool for relationship training, or maintaining the integrity of healthy and in tact happy partnerships. That’s exactly the purpose of the Relish app. Relish worked with relationship scientists to build its algorithm to provide an alternative to seeing a real-life couples therapist. “We use scientific measures to assess your current level of satisfaction and how secure you are, and take into account your attachment style and your relationship dynamic,” says founder and CEO of the app, Lesley Eccles. Eccles adds that your relationship is no different than your physical health: Both need regular work in order to stay in tip-top shape, so even if you’re in a totally fulfilling and healthy partnership, maintenance work is key. “You need to exercise to get your body into shape, and once it’s in shape, you want to continue exercising to stay healthy,” she says. “Relationships are the same, and Relish helps you to be mindful of your relationship every single day—that’s the secret to long-term relationship health.” Your relationship is no different than your physical health: both
Month: March 2020
Is seltzer just as hydrating as plain H20?
March 17, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC There’s a legit reason why many people prefer seltzer. The happy fizz of carbonation makes drinking water a heck of a lot more exciting. Sure, there are times when all you want is a big glass of still water to chug, like after a hard workout, but if you want something to casually sip on while you’re working from home, cracking a can of LaCroix can be so much more satisfying than putting a glass under the faucet and chugging. Which raises an important question: Does seltzer hydrate you? First, it’s important to know exactly what we’re talking about when it comes to what’s in your glass. According to Nutritious Life founder and registered dietitian Keri Glassman, RD, many people use the terms “seltzer” and “club soda” interchangeably, but there’s one major difference that affects how hydrating each one is. “Seltzer is just carbonated water. Club soda often has sodium added to carbonated water which is how it differs from seltzer,” says Glassman. Both beverages are hydrating—sodium or not, you’re still drinking water—but the sodium content is definitely still something to pay attention to and can work for or against you in terms of your nutritional needs. “If you are lacking sodium, the club soda may actually help hydrate you,” says Glassman. “But if you have adequate sodium in your diet, then club soda will be simply as hydrating as drinking seltzer or water.” People tend to avoid sodium when they can, but
FYI: Your orgasm is the best, easiest, and quickest sleep hack there is
March 17, 2020 at 01:00PM by CWC Considering that the sleep-tech industry is slated to be worth $27 billion by 2025, up from from $9 billion in 2018, it’s clear that many people are looking for new and innovative ways to optimize their REM routines. Think: smart mattresses, thoughtful pillows, snooze-tracking wearables, breathing robots, and beyond. And while I enjoy testing that technology as much my other tired compatriots, it’s time we talk about a hack that’s been available since the beginning of time: masturbation. Because despite their shared connection of being bedroom activities, orgasm and sleep are a power couple that isn’t discussed often enough for being a solid strategy to improve your snooze time. “When you have an orgasm, you release a cocktail of hormones that helps you feel relaxed and sleep better,” says Rebecca Alvarez Story, sexologist and founder of Bloomi. “Think of this cocktail as the body’s natural sleep remedy.” So what’s in this feel-good magical sleep piña colada? A few stand-out ingredients are endorphins, vasopressin, oxytocin (the cuddle hormone), norepinephrine, and serotonin. “First, endorphins, the body’s natural pain-killing hormones, activate the body’s opiate receptors which make you feel happier and more relaxed,” Story says. “Then hormones like vasopressin and oxytocin counteract stress hormones and help you fall asleep faster. Norepinephrine and serotonin help your body get into a flow of REM sleep cycles to help you stay asleep.” Beyond those neurotransmitters at play that connect orgasm and sleep quality, there are other biological reasons to prioritize sexual satisfaction as a
3 ways body language can help you fake it till you make it on days when you feel blah
March 17, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC I type this with fingers that have half-polished, half-unpolished nails, extending from hands that are covered in ink smears. So no, I, for one, am not feeling gorgeous today. We all have days like that, and sometimes our energy is affected as a result. That can be rough in effect because most of us surely want to attract positive people. And that’s exactly where the body language of attraction can help. The body language of attraction isn’t simply about looking good—it’s about feeling good. It’s about being able to project how absolutely beautiful you are inside and out, even when you’re wearing a $2 accidental crop top you bought on impulse at Forever 21 (never again). So using the body language of attraction, you’ll be able to essentially fake it till you make it on an off day. And using the following three actionable tips from Patti Wood, body language expert and author of Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma, you indeed will be able to create an instant aura of attraction and feel great as a result. To use the body language of attraction as a tool for picking yourself up on blah-feeling days, try the following 3 tips. 1. Think UP! Wood terms “UP” as a way to to describe all upward posture, movements, and facial expressions. Think: head held up, gestures with upward motions, and maybe even getting wild with a smile. The idea is that when we’re
The cheap, shelf-stable food that will help keep constipation at bay, according to an RD
March 17, 2020 at 11:00AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBDrCgS7E2k] Facing some constipation? Here’s why an RD swears behind the same remedy that your grandma does. Anyone who has ever been constipated can attest that it is incredibly not fun. There are really no upsides to constipation, except that, well, you’ll be able to make your toilet paper rations last longer. (Gotta laugh to keep from crying, right?) Jokes and apocalypse talk aside, if you’re constipated, you probably want to get pooping right away. Luckily, there are foods that can help. First off, how can you tell if you’re actually constipated? On our latest episode of You Versus Food, registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, breaks it down. “Constipation is defined as having fewer than three bowel movements per week, and when you do they are hard, dry, and small,” she says. People can also experience other fun side-effects like cramping, abdominal pressure, lack of appetite, and nausea, she says. A lot of things can cause constipation, like dehydration, not eating enough fiber, traveling, changes in routine, and stress. (Well, most of us can rule out traveling as a cause for the time being, at least.) There are quite a few things that can help. But one of the easiest, and cheapest options is making like an octogenarian and eating a serving of prunes. “The oldest trick in the book is to eat some prunes when you need some help in the bathroom,” Beckerman says. (Tell Grandma: prunes do help constipation.)
An RD and a natural makeup artist got real about supplements—here’s what happened
March 17, 2020 at 10:00AM by CWC https://content.jwplatform.com/players/koK9rn7d-AjgxWzQ7.js It’s easy to believe that your Instagram role model for learning about all things wellness (we all have one) must have every aspect of their own health nailed down, right? But, even natural makeup artist Alexandria Gilléo—whose inside-out wellness motto inspires her to share the many (many, many) ways she lives out this philosophy with her followers—has areas of her routine that could use some work. “I feel like I have a pretty good fitness and wellness routine,” Gilléo says. “I always get my eight hours of sleep. I have a great meditation practice. I would say I eat 80 percent plant-based foods.” While all of these ladder up to her overarching healthy-living philosophy, her hectic, always-on-set schedule left her looking for some backup. Yes, even the wellness experts have to call in the pros sometimes. Yes, even the wellness experts have to call in the pros sometimes. That’s why Gilléo joined forces with Nature’s Way® to sync up with Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, and founder of Real Nutrition, for advice on the types of supplements she should integrate into her life in order to keep her health on point. Gilléo knows she’s vitamin B-12 deficient, so that was a no-brainer suggestion for keeping her cellular energy up.* Plus, because of her mostly plant-based diet, Shapiro had some suggestions for filling that nutritional gap. “Because you don’t eat fish, I would recommend that you get your omega-3s from a supplement in order
These 8 activewear pieces prove sustainable fashion can be functional *and* stylish
March 17, 2020 at 09:30AM by CWC When it comes to living more sustainably, you know the drill: bring your reusable water bottle everywhere, recycle plastics when you can’t avoid them, and say no to straws. But dressing sustainably? That’s a little tougher to tackle, especially when it comes to activewear. You’re totally here for making sustainable choices, but you still want activewear that looks stylish on the way to the studio and performs during your sweatiest workouts—because is there anything worse than leggings that constantly fall down? For inspo in curating an activewear collection that supports your fitness goals and the planet, we picked eight sustainable pieces from Athleta that will help you get your sweat on while keeping the Earth in mind. Each piece uses eco-conscious fabrics, and in typical athleisure fashion, they’re all super comfy, and perfect for outdoor adventures, sweaty workouts, or a day of lounging. Scroll down for the 8 sustainable activewear pieces to add to your closet. Expedition Short, $59 The most important quality in active shorts: a waistband that will keep them from riding up or falling down mid-run. This lightweight pair—made from 100-percent recycled nylon—slips on easily thanks to a stretchy waistband, but the drawstring keeps you from having to hike them up constantly while you’re logging your miles. Bonus feature: three functional (read: not just for looks) pockets. Sometimes you really can have it all. Organic Daily Crop Tie Dye Tee, $49 Odds are, you could use another basic tee. But instead of
I ate pancakes every day for a week and didn’t fall into a carb coma—here’s how
March 17, 2020 at 09:00AM by CWC Growing up, Saturdays meant one thing: pancakes. The smell percolating throughout the house as soon as I emerged from my dream state was the only wake-up call I’ve ever actually looked forward to. But, following the inevitable devouring of pancakes, I would be stuck to the couch until the post-feast haze dissipated—something my childhood self didn’t know was a sugar-slash-carb crash (or, in more scientific terms, the spike and fall of insulin thanks to my syrup-drenched short stack). Now that I’m in charge of making my own breakfast in the morning, I typically choose options that don’t send me right back to bed or cause me digestive discomfort, which is usually brought on by glutenous grains. That generally means a couple of hard-boiled eggs or yogurt—not a warm stack of pancakes. Made with no added sugar, dairy, or gluten, they’re everything my pancake-loving heart wants, minus the stomachache or productivity spiral. However, my hankering for these sweet, buttery pieces of heaven never left, so when I heard about Purely Elizabeth’s new gluten-free and grain-free pancakes, I didn’t need any convincing to try them. Made with no added sugar, dairy, or gluten, they’re everything my pancake-loving heart wanted, minus the stomachache and productivity spiral. “The Purely Elizabeth Grain-Free Protein Pancake Mix is made with alternative flours like almond and tigernut flour that are packed with nutritional benefits to keep you full longer throughout your day,” says Elizabeth Stein, CEO and founder of Purely Elizabeth.
The best self-soothing technique for each zodiac sign, according to a psychological astrologer
March 17, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC The world is experiencing a pandemic, local establishments are closing left and right, nobody can find hand sanitizer or milk, and you are constantly dehydrated. The last one actually just might be me, but you get it: Real Life is cancelled for the moment. At this point, all you can do (aside from washing your hands) is seek out self-soothing techniques that will bring you down to Earth… at least for a minute. Luckily we have some ideas that are not only star-sanctioned but psychologist-approved. I had a very centering conversation with Jennifer Freed, PhD, a psychological astrologer and author of Use Your Planets Wisely, and she had healing words of advice for each sun sign. In order to Keep Calm and Quarantine On, here are a few mindset, rituals, and self-soothing techniques that every member of the zodiac wheel can embrace. Aries Aries is ruled by fiery Mars, the planet most likely to focus on the physical body and red hot anger. For Aries babies, you want to be able to channel your rage by allowing room for your chosen fitness routine. “For Aries, it’s important to keep expelling the anger, the irritation, and the frustrations through exercise,” says Dr. Freed. “And since we’re in quarantine, that means push ups. Jumping jacks, anything you can do at home.” It’ll ease the pain of not being at Barry’s Bootcamp for a few weeks. Taurus “It’s really important that you stay grounded, because you can get
COVID-19: You should be washing your hands more, but does that go for showering too?
March 17, 2020 at 01:30AM by CWC “Wash your hands for 20 seconds” has been one of the most valuable—and pressing—pieces of advice as COVID-19 makes its way globally, and has made its way into our daily life. (Other great advice? “Isolate yourself” and “for the love of all things good and pure, stop touching your face”). Thanks to the CDC, we know that soap and water kills the virus, which is an important part of stopping it from spreading. But as we’ve all rushed to rub our hands raw over the last few weeks, the question remains: Should we be showering more often and more carefully, too? According to pros, the answer is, “not really.” Because COVID-19 is a respiratory virus, which means it comes from your mouth and lungs, the biggest concern comes from the transfer of droplets—which are more likely to hang out on your hands than other parts of your body. “If there’s any area on your body that you tend to have respiratory droplets go onto other than your hands, you might want to focus on scrubbing that a little bit more, but other than that there doesn’t need to be a lot of focus on cleanliness and soaping,” says Jason Tetro, a microbiologist and author of The Germ Files. “So, if you’ve got bare arms and are sneezing into your elbow, you might want to scrub your elbow. But you don’t need to scrub the bottoms of your feet any more than you usually would.” However,