May 24, 2019 at 09:33AM by CWC Every once in a while, when I’m in the passionate throws of Tetris Blitz, I get an ad for one of those brain games. You know, the apps that say if you’re able to make a bunch of words out of six letters, it’ll strengthen your memory tenfold. I’ve always been skeptic ’cause I figure, like, opening a book might be better swiping my screen, and that pause isn’t unfounded. According to a recent report by MarketWatch, consumers have spent over $1.9 billion on digital brain health and neurotechnology—but evidence as to whether they actually work is a little, um, lacking. While certain speed-of-processing cognitive training can lower risk of dementia, trying to fight the good fight against cognitive decline takes more than an app. Aside from brain games, we’ve got a pretty good idea as to what might help you stay sharp as a tack. Dig into some mind sharpening food Loading up on fiber, for example, helps boost protective proteins in the brain, and you can get your fill from red cabbage or cauliflower. (As if you needed another reason to make buffalo cauliflower or cauliflower parmesan bites!) And here’s some great news for fans of fungus: mushrooms have powerful antioxidants and one recent study shows that there’s a link between mushroom lovers and a decreased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. And with the arrival of barbecue season, keep in mind that grass-fed organic red meat helps improve cognitive function,
Category: 2019 Health
Trader Joe’s new sparkling ACV drink lets you reap the benefits *without* the sour taste
May 24, 2019 at 09:08AM by CWC I vividly remember the first time I tried taking a shot of apple cider vinegar in my quest to be super healthy. (Keyword: Tried.) I spit it out into the sink, wondering why I expected sour vinegar to go down smoothly. I’ve yet to give ACV another chance, but a new beverage from Trader Joe’s might change my mind. The healthy grocer just added Organic Sparkling Apple Cider Drinking Vinegar to its shelves, allowing you to reap the benefits of ACV without having to drink it straight. At 30 calories and 5 grams of sugar a bottle, it’s better for you than traditional summer drinks—plus, it contains probiotics and could help give your gut health a boost. Something your favorite spritz probably can’t do. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Trader Joe’s List (@traderjoeslist) on May 22, 2019 at 12:33pm PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js The ingredients list isn’t available just yet, but the debut flavor offers hints of strawberry and basil. It’s organic, refreshing, and lets you get in on the ACV trend in a much more enjoyable way. Here are 10 healthy uses for apple cider vinegar you should know about. Then, take a look at six apple cider vinegar-based beauty products that can totally transform your look. Continue Reading… Author Tehrene Firman | Well and Good Selected by iversue
How to make cold brew coffee at home, because damn that stuff is expensive
May 24, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC Ahh, coffee. There’s nothing like the intoxicating aroma of a warm cup of joe first thing in the morning (not the mention the much-needed energy boost it provides). At least, until summer rolls around and you switch over to the delight that is cold brew coffee. “Cold brew has a richness and smoothness of flavor you just don’t get from refrigerating brewed coffee,” says Jordan G. Hardin, the director of food and beverage for cult-favorite LA coffee spot Alfred. “Since the beans are never heated, the infusion is much gentler, and you get a less acidic and sweeter coffee. I promise you’ll taste the difference.” The best thing about cold brew coffee though (especially for us lazy folks) is that it’s super easy to make at home, and for way less than the $5 per cup you’d pay at your local coffee shop. You can even make a big batch to last you all week. Here, Hardin breaks down how to make cold brew coffee at home. What do you need to make cold brew? Good news: You don’t need a ton of fancy shmancy supplies to make cold brew coffee at home. Consider this your list of essentials, courtesy of Hardin: coffee beans of your choice coffee grinder (optional) fine mesh strainer filter large jar or other vessel cold water Cool, so how do you make cold brew coffee at home? 1. Grind your coffee. Any type of coffee will work but
How to make cold brew coffee at home, because damn that stuff is expensive
May 24, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC Ahh, coffee. There’s nothing like the intoxicating aroma of a warm cup of joe first thing in the morning (not the mention the much-needed energy boost it provides). At least, until summer rolls around and you switch over to the delight that is cold brew coffee. “Cold brew has a richness and smoothness of flavor you just don’t get from refrigerating brewed coffee,” says Jordan G. Hardin, the director of food and beverage for cult-favorite LA coffee spot Alfred. “Since the beans are never heated, the infusion is much gentler, and you get a less acidic and sweeter coffee. I promise you’ll taste the difference.” The best thing about cold brew coffee though (especially for us lazy folks) is that it’s super easy to make at home, and for way less than the $5 per cup you’d pay at your local coffee shop. You can even make a big batch to last you all week. Here, Hardin breaks down how to make cold brew coffee at home. What do you need to make cold brew? Good news: You don’t need a ton of fancy shmancy supplies to make cold brew coffee at home. Consider this your list of essentials, courtesy of Hardin: coffee beans of your choice coffee grinder (optional) fine mesh strainer filter large jar or other vessel cold water Cool, so how do you make cold brew coffee at home? 1. Grind your coffee. Any type of coffee will work but
No matter where body acne pops up, here’s how dermatologists send it packing
May 24, 2019 at 07:49AM by CWC Summer is almost here, which means walking around with your entire body coated in sweat will happen as frequently as influencers posting photos on top of swan floats. And with all that sweat inevitably comes body acne. Just like with your face, a combination of oil and grime on top of your skin can cause breakouts pretty much anywhere on your body—from your chest to your arms and legs to your butt. “Facial and body acne share several similarities, and can both be driven by overactive oil glands, delayed sloughing of dead skin cells and colonization with P acnes bacteria,” says Dr. Marla Diakow, MD of Schweiger Dermatology Group in Garden City, New York. But, she says, there’s one major difference. “Acne-like bumps on the body are more often from folliculitis, which is triggered by inflammation of the hair follicles.” As anyone who’s ever dealt with acne on their faces probably knows, there’s rarely just one thing causing it—chances are, it’s a combination of a few different factors coming together for a perfect storm. First, let’s break it down at a biological level. Part of the reason acne develops in general is because of excess oil secreted by our sebaceous glands, and there happen to be more of those glands on our chests and backs, which is why breakouts in those areas tend to be so common. “They love the oily environment, and our immune system works hard to fight against them, which causes
No matter where body acne pops up, here’s how dermatologists send it packing
May 24, 2019 at 07:49AM by CWC Summer is almost here, which means walking around with your entire body coated in sweat will happen as frequently as influencers posting photos on top of swan floats. And with all that sweat inevitably comes body acne. Just like with your face, a combination of oil and grime on top of your skin can cause breakouts pretty much anywhere on your body—from your chest to your arms and legs to your butt. “Facial and body acne share several similarities, and can both be driven by overactive oil glands, delayed sloughing of dead skin cells and colonization with P acnes bacteria,” says Dr. Marla Diakow, MD of Schweiger Dermatology Group in Garden City, New York. But, she says, there’s one major difference. “Acne-like bumps on the body are more often from folliculitis, which is triggered by inflammation of the hair follicles.” As anyone who’s ever dealt with acne on their faces probably knows, there’s rarely just one thing causing it—chances are, it’s a combination of a few different factors coming together for a perfect storm. First, let’s break it down at a biological level. Part of the reason acne develops in general is because of excess oil secreted by our sebaceous glands, and there happen to be more of those glands on our chests and backs, which is why breakouts in those areas tend to be so common. “They love the oily environment, and our immune system works hard to fight against them, which causes
This is exactly why you always lose arguments—plus, 3 ways to change it
May 24, 2019 at 07:32AM by CWC When you get into an argument, you’re clearly trying to get across a certain point. And if you’re being totally honest, you’d probably love nothing more than to “win” that fight and prove your conflict companion wrong. There are a few ways to react to arguments, and while none of them are wrong, per se, there’s one course of action in particular that’s likely to torpedo any odds of you winning the verbal altercation: losing your cool. “People will often remember how you say something more than what you say,” says counselor David Klow, LMFT, author of You Are Not Crazy: Letters From Your Therapist. “The way in which you communicate your message makes a difference: If you get angry during an argument, the point you’re trying to make will often get lost.” Furthermore, yelling, screaming, and losing control of your emotions during an argument instantly makes you seem subordinate to the person with whom you’re in confrontation, clinical psychologist John Mayer, PhD, author of Family Fit: Find Your Balance in Life. “If you get angry during an argument, the point you’re trying to make will often get lost.” —David Klow, LMFT Ultimately, losing your cool isn’t the most healthy way to respond to any conflict, says clinical psychologist Ramani Durvasula, PhD, author of Should I Stay or Should I Go?. And the reason for that goes beyond the matter of who’s going to win the argument at hand. “People get worked up in a sympathetic, nervous-system
This is exactly why you always lose arguments—plus, 3 ways to change it
May 24, 2019 at 07:32AM by CWC When you get into an argument, you’re clearly trying to get across a certain point. And if you’re being totally honest, you’d probably love nothing more than to “win” that fight and prove your conflict companion wrong. There are a few ways to react to arguments, and while none of them are wrong, per se, there’s one course of action in particular that’s likely to torpedo any odds of you winning the verbal altercation: losing your cool. “People will often remember how you say something more than what you say,” says counselor David Klow, LMFT, author of You Are Not Crazy: Letters From Your Therapist. “The way in which you communicate your message makes a difference: If you get angry during an argument, the point you’re trying to make will often get lost.” Furthermore, yelling, screaming, and losing control of your emotions during an argument instantly makes you seem subordinate to the person with whom you’re in confrontation, clinical psychologist John Mayer, PhD, author of Family Fit: Find Your Balance in Life. “If you get angry during an argument, the point you’re trying to make will often get lost.” —David Klow, LMFT Ultimately, losing your cool isn’t the most healthy way to respond to any conflict, says clinical psychologist Ramani Durvasula, PhD, author of Should I Stay or Should I Go?. And the reason for that goes beyond the matter of who’s going to win the argument at hand. “People get worked up in a sympathetic, nervous-system
How to make a healthy ranch dressing because, sorry, nobody wants to eat naked celery
May 24, 2019 at 06:14AM by CWC Even with an impressive spread of potato salad, chips and guac, and chili, people always seem to circle back to the classic crudités platter. Maybe it’s because they subconsciously know that they need to balance out all the other not-so healthy foods with something that actually has fiber. Or maybe they just want something with a satisfying crunch. Have you ever watched someone eat crudités? Let’s be real: The draw isn’t really the carrots and celery; it’s that creamy bowl of ranch dressing in the middle. Ranch dressing isn’t exactly healthy. The store-bought kind is loaded with sodium and hard-to-pronounce additives. But if you make it at home, the condiment is actually be pretty nutrient dense. Show Me The Yummy bloggers Trevor and Jennifer have perfected a healthy ranch dressing recipe that’s completely satisfying. The secret is making it with Greek yogurt, which is full of protein. Their recipe also calls for buttermilk, Dijon mustard, and a few key spices. Don’t be overwhelmed at the prospect of actually making something from scratch rather than giving a salad dressing bottle a few good shakes. This whole thing just takes a few minutes to whip up. Head over to Show Me The Yummy to get their healthy ranch dressing recipe. If you plan on grilling up some veggie burgers, check out these recipes. And why not throw some greens on the grill, too? Continue Reading… Author Emily Laurence | Well and Good Selected by iversue
These swimsuits will. not. fade. no matter how many dips you take this summer
May 24, 2019 at 05:43AM by CWC Shopping for bathing suits is my weakness. Spending upwards of $100 on a shred of fabric so small that it only covers the bare minimum of body parts in order for me to go out in public seems ludicrous, but what can I say? I love it. What I don’t love is that after three or four dips in the pool, my so-expensive-I-refuse-to-admit-it bikinis have faded, and thanks to the chlorine, the whites turn to yellow and the yellows turn to a weird shade of puke green. I’m meticulous about rinsing and repeating after every swim, but even still, I frequently wind up feeling like I literally threw $100 down the (pool) drain. So what’s a laps-loving swimsuit connoisseur to do? Invest in chlorine-resistant swim, which will help suits hold up for longer than you’d possibly imagine. “Chlorine resistant swimsuits are made out of either Poly/Spandex or Nylon/Xtralife Lycra fabrics, while most ‘regular’ suits are made out of Nylon/Spandex fabrics,” says Swimsuits For All design director Kristina Guilmain. “Chlorine resistant suits hold color better when exposed to chlorine-treated water. Those that are made from Xtralife Lycra also have less stretch fatigue because the stretchy yarns literally ‘resist’ the effects of chlorine exposure.” Since these durable suits will last well into next summer (and the one after that, and the one after that), not only will they save you (and me) money in the long run, but they’re also creating less waste because you’re holding