July 27, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC Every morning when my alarm goes off at 5:45 a.m., I curse out loud. All I want to do is stay snuggled up in a cozy little cocoon, and the last thing I can fathom is walking the three blocks to 305 Fitness and spending an hour twerking to Lizzo (though I do love you, Lizzo). But after a few minutes of mental prep, I crawl out of bed, pour myself a jug of coffee, and—reluctantly—do just that. I’ve been subscribing to this exact morning routine for the past year, and as much as it absolutely sucks (seeing the world before 6 a.m., especially in the winter, is freaking dark, you guys), I’ve never felt stronger or more committed to an exercise regimen. According to new research, there’s a scientific reason as to why. Researchers from The Miriam Hospital at the Brown Alpert Medical School, found that consistency in workout timing is the key to weight management and staying fit. In other words, you’re more likely to be successful if you’re working out at the same time every day instead of mixing things up. ad_intervals[‘410384_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410384_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); According to the International Business Times, the study asked 375 people to fill out a questionnaire about their exercise habits. They found that 68 percent of participants worked out at the same time, and about half of them preferred to do so in the early morning (to me,
Category: 2019 Health
7 ways to use your air fryer to make a healthy, satisfying summer dinner
July 27, 2019 at 09:00AM by CWC Even if cooking is your jam, it’s normal to not exactly feel like heating up the kitchen to get something on the table in the middle of a heat wave. But, hey, a girl’s still gotta eat, right? Especially if you also need to feed an entire household. Fortunately, the air fryer‘s got your back. The kitchen tool of the moment can help save time, cook proteins and veggies without causing a kitchen meltdown (literally), and can even make a next-level dessert. Intrigued? Rounded up here are seven healthy summer dishes all putting the air fryer to good use. Scroll down to see 7 summer dishes you can make using your air fryer. Photo: Just The Woods 1. Healthy air fryer vegetables There is so much amazing produce in season during summer, but it’s easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to prepping them for dinner. (Stir fry again? Oh joy!) Switch it up with the air fryer, which gives them a crispy texture as if you roasted them in the oven…without dealing with the heat of an actual oven. Top it off with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and garlic for added flavor. ad_intervals[‘410143_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410143_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Photo: Healthy Delicious 2. Lemon-garlic shrimp What makes this meal so ideal for summer is how refreshing it tastes—lemon zest can be magic when it comes to brightening up a dish. Unlike shrimp that’s
This just in: Your favorite summer skin savior is the key to treating dry hair, too
July 27, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC Whenever the skin on my face is red and angry, I slap on an aloe vera mask to calm it the F down. It’s the same remedy I turn to when my diligence in applying (and reapplying) my SPF slips and I get a sunburn (aloe vera mists FTW). So basically, aloe vera is your skin’s soothing, nurturing best friend—the grandmother to your piggy bank, so to speak. And I didn’t realize this, but it works that same healing, moisturizing magic on your hair, too…. something my strands could definitely use in the midst of all this heat and sun and ocean, etc etc. The secret was revealed to me by my colorist, Marta Baran, yesterday at Whiteroom, a (super chic) salon in Brooklyn. She mentioned it casually—but once she said it, I felt like I had stumbled upon a golden ticket of beauty knowledge… especially considering the state that my hair’s going to be come Labor Day (not to mention post-coloring it). “Aloe vera is the gold standard for moisture and healing for sunburnt skin, so it makes sense that the same be said for your hair,” says Bartan. “A product that contains aloe has the ability to rehydrate hair without the added weight you would get from an oil, which makes it perfect for clients with finer hair.” (AKA me.) ad_intervals[‘411223_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘411223_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Her absolute must-have aloe vera hair product? Christophe Robin’s Hydrating
UPF clothing can actually be cute, and the proof is in these 9 pieces
July 27, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC The other week, I was explaining to a date that I write about beauty for the internet. At one point during the conversation he asked me for my biggest skincare tip. My response: “Wear sunscreen. Every single day. Even if it’s cloudy.” This is paraphrasing the advice I’ve gotten from every dermatologist I’ve ever interviewed for a story. And though that date and I never went out again, I like to think he’s out there in the world slathering on SPF 50 every morning, thinking about the beautiful woman who gave him this life-changing advice. Even as someone who is heavily committed to sun protection and has had a healthy fear of the sun drilled into her from a young age, I never really considered donning UPF clothing. In part because, well, so much of it is woefully ugly. But! UPF clothing has gotten a makeover in recent years, and now there are options that are cute. And not like, cute for UPF clothing, but actually cute. Wow, we really can have it all. ad_intervals[‘408664_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408664_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); “UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor, which is the rating given to the clothing to indicate how effectively the fabric is blocking the UV rays,” explains Dr. Ellen Marmur, Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Dermatology at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Especially with the latest concerns about sunscreen chemicals (which are
5 questions to ask yourself when you have no idea what you want to do with the rest of your life
July 27, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC This super-fun existential question of what to do when you don’t know what to do with your life is something that many of us of experience at some point (or points). Maybe you find your current career path to be unfulfilling, or you hear the gentle siren of “grad school, grad school” calling to you. Doubting your life choices and wondering whether you should go back to the drawing board is a big, scary, and totally common thing. And, more good news: You don’t have to tackle the conundrum alone. That’s a truth I know all too well: At age 20, I wasn’t invited back to the fashion design program in which I was enrolled in Philadelphia, because I earned D+ in flat pattern over the summer. Despite my unease about the future (okay, let’s call a spade a spade—I couldn’t stop crying), I had already done enough self-reflection to brainstorm a wobbly Plan B, C, and D. And, one day at a bus stop, I helped myself to explaining these plans to a complete stranger. ad_intervals[‘407071_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407071_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); “I could try to fight to stay in the program, which at this point sounds exhausting; I could switch my major to textile design…” I mused, ticking off the options on my fingers. “Or I could leave the school in shame, go to community college for a year, and maybe get into journalism.” After
The 6 best essential oils for Rapunzel-level hair growth
July 27, 2019 at 02:01AM by CWC I’m a big fan of essential oils. Any time you enter my apartment, you’ll probably catch a whiff of eucalyptus—my mood-booster and stress-reliever. And when I have tension in my neck or a headache after a long day of staring at my computer screen, you better believe I reach for my trusty bottle of peppermint oil to provide some relief from that tingling cooling sensation. One place I never thought to put my essential oils, though, is in my hair. Aside from helping with stress relief and muscle pain, essential oils are also great for upping your energy, getting rid of a pesky annoying cough that won’t seem to go away, and even combating toothaches. Yeah, seriously—the uses are endless. While you can use plenty of different oils in your hair—from argan to coconut—a handful of different essential oils are especially impressive in their ability to help you grow it out. “Essential oils are an effective choice to improve hair growth,” says certified aromatherapist Caroline Schroeder. “Extracted from natural aromatic plant parts, they’re composed of a wide range of unique medical components. Every essential oil comes with versatile properties that can benefit one’s health physically and emotionally.” ad_intervals[‘406614_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘406614_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Instead of relying on expensive products that promise growth with a long list of not-so-reputable (and sometimes questionable) ingredients, get Rapunzel-worthy lengths the natural way with these expert-backed essential oil solutions. These are
What’s the deal with those gums in all of my favorite non-dairy foods?
July 26, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC As a health and food writer, I interview dietitians, nutritionists, and doctors virtually every day, picking their brains on what’s healthy and what isn’t. Regardless of the eating plan or food trend of the moment, there’s one piece of advice they repeat over and over again: “Buy products where you recognize everything on the ingredients list.” It sounds simple enough: If a food is branded as healthy but has an ingredients list 20 lines deep, full of terms that I’ve never heard of, I’m going to put it back on the shelf. But a lot of the products I gravitate towards—alternative milks, dairy-free ice-creams, gluten-free pastas—often have a very simple label, except for one ingredient that leaves me scratching my head: gums. Whether it’s xanthan gum, guar gum, or locust bean gum, they’re ingredients I see popping up again and again, often on an otherwise very easy to understand ingredients list. ad_intervals[‘410812_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410812_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); “Different gums are used for different things,” registered dietitian Kim Morton, RD, tells me. “Most are binding and thickening agents that help products, like sauces or alternative milks, get thicker.” Morton adds that while some gums may cause digestive problems in some people, all of them are widely considered safe and approved by the Food and Drug Administration. To gain a bit more knowledge about the most popular gums used in healthy foods and drinks, I had Morton walk
Have we really been eating apples wrong this whole time?
July 26, 2019 at 12:50PM by CWC I have a friend who eats lemon slices whole—as in, rind and all. I tease her relentlessly for it, but she might actually get the last laugh when it comes to whole-fruit consumption. According to a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, the amount of beneficial bacteria you ingest when deciding how to eat an apple increases significantly when you don’t stop short of the core and seeds. Researchers at the Graz University of Technology in Austria analyzed the bacteria content in both organic and store-bought apples and came back with some unexpected (at least, to me?) findings. For starters, both types of apples contained approximately the same amount of bacteria content; however, organic apples had more diverse and more beneficial microbes as compared to store-bought varieties. Perhaps more intriguing is the team’s finding that in both apple types, the bulk of the good bacteria were found in an apple’s seeds. This means that if you skip them, you miss out on some major digestive help. In fact, researchers concluded that tossing an apple core reduces the amount of microbes consumed from more than 100 million to a measly 10 million. ad_intervals[‘411184_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘411184_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); And while most modern-day humans can benefit from a little bacteria boost, there are certain signs that you in particular want to emulate Johnny Appleseed. Microbiome health affects everything from immunity to weight to depression (and
The 6 most creative core and butt moves you don’t know about yet (but should)
July 26, 2019 at 09:50AM by CWC Doing the same workout moves over and over (and over and over again) is like eating the same sad desk salad every day for lunch or wearing the exact same white t-shirt everywhere you go: Eventually, it’s going to get boring. Like, really boring. In fact, I am a firm believer that there is a finite number of regular ol’ crunches a human can do before they max out and never want to exercise again. With that in mind, it’s no wonder that’s there’s an entire industry built on the concept of mixing up your moves (hello, boutique fitness!) and giving people a variety of ways to get their workouts in. But now, thanks to the rise of digital fitness, you can get an entire buffet of moves brought to you in your living room. Technology like Obé and The Mirror give people the opportunity to stream a seemingly endless number of different workouts, without having to go anywhere for the sake of trying something new. “All of our trainers bring something different to the table. We have nine different class types, and that’s very purposeful because variety is important to mix it up and also keep your mind engaged,” Obé co-founder Ashley Mills said on Wednesday night during the most recent Well+Good TALK in New York City held at Made by We. “I think if you’re doing the same thing over and over again, you get bored of it, so by offering
The 1 obstacle between me and body-acceptance is my friends’ negative self-talk
July 26, 2019 at 09:28AM by CWC I have a positive relationship with my body, but cultivating it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Sure, I have my days of feeling less than stellar, like when I catch a not-cute glimpse of myself in the background of someone’s Instagram story at the gym and am like, is that what I REALLY look like? When this happens, I’ll text a friend and ask if I looked bad, because I need reassurance after accidentally subscribing to this social comparison of bodies. But generally speaking, I’m good with myself. Lately though, my self-conscious moments of weakness regarding negative self-talk about my body are more often triggered by friends than things like surprise gym footage. A few of my friends have taken to comparing their bodies to those of “skinny,” “sculpted,” “toned” celebrities and influencers, wondering how they can get a similar physique. But since social comparison of my body to others’ has never served me, I’ve removed these words and phrases from my vocabulary. Instead, I focus on how I feel in my skin. It works for me…until my friends come into the picture with their own insecurities to air. ad_intervals[‘391158_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘391158_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Social comparison can make us all feel like the Plastics in Mean Girls, cutting ourselves down in front of a mirror in Regina George’s bedroom. When this happens in my life, I feel as though I’m Cady