May 03, 2019 at 07:51AM by CWC Sure, your Instant Pot has most of your meals covered, but when it comes to snack time, the air fryer takes the healthy cooking crown. The device transforms foods traditionally coated in not-so healthy oils—like onion rings and fries—and creates the crispy texture using air instead. What a time to be alive, right? Another snack you can perfect with the air fryer: kale chips. Instead of waiting 30 minutes for them to bake in the oven (which, who has time for that when you’re hangry), the brilliant Mike and Steph Le at I Am A Food Blog had the genius idea to just throw your prepped kale in the air fryer for five minutes, and voilà! Kale chips. Put them in a Ziploc bag to bring on a long hike, layer them in your sandwich like you did with Doritos or Lays when you were a kid, dip them in a spicy, low-sugar condiment… This is one recipe you’ll keep coming back to. Here’s a run-down of the ingredients you need: kale (duh), a mere half tablespoon of oil or cooking spray, and salt and pepper for seasoning. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can throw in more spices to add flavor. Paprika, turmeric, nutritional yeast…anything goes. Head to the I Am A Food Blog site to see the step-by-step process for this easy recipe. And hey, after you give it a try, share your thoughts in Well+Good’s new Cook With Us Facebook group!
Category: 2019 Health
Exactly what motivates you to shine in life, according to your Myers-Briggs personality type
May 03, 2019 at 07:42AM by CWC What helps you get up in the morning, informs your every decision, and is basically perpetuating force that shapes how you operate in the world? Seems like a loaded question, huh? Well, that’s because it is, and, unsurprisingly, the answer is different for everyone. While one person might be motivated by truth, for another person, the potential relationship-compromising effects of harsh realities might be nothing short of horrifying. To get insight into your own below-the-surface motivating factor, look no further than your Myers-Briggs personality type to help you figure it out. (Don’t know what your MBTI is? Read this first!) Check out what motivates you most in life, according to your Myers-Briggs personality type. Graphic by Well+Good Creative ISFJ: Values You, ISFJ, have strong family values and easily prioritize based on what you think is right and important. For instance, you’d never miss a close friend’s wedding, no matter how much travel is required or expenses are incurred. You also always stand by family, even if you don’t totally agree with them. Just be careful to check in with yourself every once in a while, and forget what the outside world thinks. Sometimes it’s okay to abandon what you think you “should” do in favor of what you want to do. Otherwise, resentment can build up. ESFJ: Others ESFJs just want to serve and be liked by their closest friends—and that’s okay. You absolutely love making others happy, and often do things that
Stop sleeping on these 5 eating habits that can help you get more ZZZs at night
May 03, 2019 at 06:47AM by CWC If you’re having trouble sleeping, you’ve probably tried everything: no tech before bed, changing your bedroom lighting, noshing on some sleep-inducing snacks, the whole nine yards. However, functional medicine doctor Mark Hyman, MD says it’s worth giving your eating habits some thought, too. “Your brain chemistry and hormones are controlled by what you eat, and learning how to eat in a way that regulates those things is really key so that your energy is even,” Dr. Hyman said at a recent Well+Good TALKS event celebrating the launch of the Well+Good Cookbook. (Which, BTW, includes a whole chapter on how to eat for better sleep.) What exactly are some ways to better optimize your eating habits for sleep? Here, Dr. Hyman and integrative medicine doctor Marvin Singh, MD share their tips. 1. Eat the majority of your food earlier in the day, not at night. If you’re in the habit of eating lightly in the morning and afternoon and then whipping up a big meal for dinner, Dr. Hyman says you may want to re-evaluate how you’re distributing your food intake. Overloading your stomach at night means your digestive system has to work hard at breaking down food when the body should be resting. Dr. Singh adds that if possible, you want to avoid eating two to three hours before you go to bed for this very reason. “We want the digestive system to rest and clear out so that it can clean up
4 ways to style your leggings, because TBH, who wants to wear anything else?
May 03, 2019 at 06:45AM by CWC By a show of hands, who loves the feeling of hanging out in workout leggings on the weekend, whether you’ve worked out or not? Guessing that all the hands are shooting up right about now. Okay, by another show of hands, who rocks those same leggings come Monday at the office? Thinking that hands are hesitantly resting in laps right about now. I, like many of you probably, have harbored a deeply engrained fear of wearing leggings in scenarios that don’t involve the following: working out, pretending I’m on my way to work out, grocery shopping, or ordering an iced matcha latte with oat milk (yep, I’m that girl) To be honest, it wasn’t until very recently I started embracing the idea of styling my leggings outside the above mentioned activities—likely because I couldn’t find my favorite pair of skinny jeans one rushed morning—and the last minute improvisation had me hooked. So in honor of May’s fickle warm one day, cold the next weather, here are four easy outfits to recreate yourself, the next time you just need a little extra spandex in your stride en route to the office. Photo: Getty/ Plume Creative 1. Leggings + a sweater and boots This outfit started with the boots, which I think is the perfect way to revamp how you look at your leggings. Paired with an oversized oxford shirt underneath a slouchy sweater, the leggings have just the right proportions going on so you don’t
All you need to peel a mango is a glass, a knife, and a dream
May 03, 2019 at 06:36AM by CWC It’s hard not to love mangoes. They’re delightfully sweet, juicy as ever, and just as delicious in a smoothie as they are sliced with a pinch of salt. But they’re a pain in the butt to cut and peel. I mean, who wants to spend 20 minutes wrestling with a piece of fruit? Not surprisingly, I’m not the only one who has issues cutting and peeling mangoes. On a Reddit thread, mango lovers discussed the issue and how to make the process easier, and one method stands out: using a glass. According to Melissa Bailey, the blogger behind Hungry Food Love, peeling can be tricky because of the fruit’s odd shape and your inability to properly grip it. But when using a glass, it becomes a breeze. Learning how to peel a mango involved just a few easy steps. First cut the sides of the mango off, making sure you don’t hit the flat center pit. Then grip a glass with one hand and press the edge of the mango slice against the rim with the other. The mango slides into the glass, and the peel easily separates on the outside. After you’re done with each side, grab a knife and cut into slices. While there are other mango-cutting techniques too, this is by far the easiest and quickest way. If only I would have known about it years ago. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGOgM6yo-E0] Now that you know how to peel a mango, here’s how
The *exact* right amount of soap to use in the shower, according to a dermatologist
May 03, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC From what I’ve learned over the years, there are two camps when it comes to how much shower product to wash yourself with: The conservative, and the extra. I fall into the former camp, and my boyfriend is in the latter—which causes drama in the bathroom because it means having to refresh our supply of body wash way more often than I personally think we should. In the pursuit of being right (so sue me), I sought the advice of dermatologists to see what the professional-recommended amount of shower product is. The good news (at least, for me): A “less is more” approach is the smart way to go. “Use [enough body wash] until there’s good, visible lather over the body,” says Robert Anolik, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “The amount is a variable based on the size of your body.” For a more specific, measurable amount though, he suggests a shot glass full of your body product—”Just like the volume of sunscreen you should put on your body when headed to the beach.” Connecticut-based dermatologist Mona Gohara also errs on the conservative side when it comes to your head-to-toe cleansing regimen. When using a body wash or foam, she suggests using only “enough to fill your palm.” If you’re working with a bar of soap, though, it’s probably easiest to just follow Dr. Anolik’s advice of using enough to lather with. Whichever way you go though, if you’re following
How a cult skin-care product launched beauty’s buzziest category
May 02, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC I remember the first time I swiped on Biologique Recherche P50 ($67) toner as part of my beauty regimen. After regular use, my skin became brighter and my pimples became fewer. I can take it or leave it with regular toners, but the ones spiked with acids like P50? They are what skin-care dreams are made of. As a result, this cult-fave product has become a staple in zillions of beauty fanatics’ cabinets, and a whole lot of other beauty brands have taken note, meaning that there has been an explosion of acid toners onto skin-care shelves as of late. The magic’s in the acid. Chemically exfoliating your skin, when done correctly, has the potential to keep dead skin cells away, your pores gunk-free, and your face looking bright and radiant. So packing some trusty chemical exfoliating acids into a toner—the step that comes between your cleansing and your serums—makes the products that are layered on after work even more effectively. “Exfoliating acid-based toners are a smart method of removing dead skin cells and sloughing the superficial layers of the skin,” says Rachel Nazarian, MD, a dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group. “Regular use can improve the texture of the skin and diminish hyperpigmentation and dark spots caused by ultraviolet radiation and pollution.” The other perk? “They offer a secondary level of cleaning that may not be achieved by basic cleansers for those who may need deeper removal of debris, such as people who wear
Apparently no one knows what a vulva is—so we made this reproductive-themed glossary for your reference
May 02, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC Here’s a non sequitur to trot out at your next party: According to dictionary.com, searches for “vulva” are up 817 percent in 2019. Which, what? How do we not know what this is by now? If you’re a person with a vagina, we think it’s incredibly important that you know your bits like the back of your hand—especially since your reproductive system (of which the vulva is a part!) has huge implications for your overall health and well-being. So with the help of Carolyn DeLucia, MD, FACOG, resident OB/GYN at VSPOT in New York City, we’re here to walk you through the ABCs of your nether regions. So sit back, relax, and remember this female reproductive system anatomy for good. Check out this diagram of the female reproductive system, and then read on for the full definitions of everything you’ve got going on ~down there~. Photo: W+G Creative Anus When you call someone a butthole…well, you’re really calling them an anus. It’s the opening to the rectum and large intestine where solid waste comes out, and is separated from the vagina by a centimeters-long strip of skin called the perineum. (It can also be a place to incorporate into foreplay and beyond.) Cervix The cervix is the mouth of the uterus, says Dr. DeLucia, acting as a canal between the vagina and the rest of the uterus. Semen passes through here during unprotected sex in order to potentially fertilize a mature egg in the
How to get the perfect photo without asking a million strangers for help
May 02, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC I’m fresh off a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, and though I drank two butterbeers at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and loved The Simpsons Ride, my biggest takeaway is this: People need help when it comes to getting the perfect photo. I witnessed so many groups and families smile in front of any random stranger who agreed to snap the shot only to look at the results on their screen with disappointment, too embarrassed to ask for a redo. Yep, deep as we are in this selfie-obsessed era of mass photo-taking, it seems no one knows how to master the ever-so-simple point-and-shoot method. But turns out the secret to getting that Instagram money shot isn’t tap, tap, tapping on your iPhone screen a zillion times, but rather holding down the camera button…like, once. To get the picture you really want, your best bet is using the Burst Mode function, according to Kiersten Rich of The Blonde Abroad. To use it, simply hold down the photo button on your iPhone with intent. And, big emphasis on “with intent” here, because if you’re me, you’ve probably only used Burst Mode accidentally. When road-testing this picture-taking hack on my own device, it took a minute to even find where my portfolio of photos selects from my Burst were lurking. But eventually I hit “select,” and voilà! There they were, ready to be hand-picked by moi. And that’s the beauty of the tip: With Burst
Underwire? I don’t know her. This bra is my B cups’ new BFF
May 02, 2019 at 11:52AM by CWC Last night, I did the unthinkable and slept in my bra. Anyone with boobs is intimately familiar with the irresistible compulsion to tear off your bra Hulk-style by 8 p.m. at the latest. But not this time. Not since the invention of memory foam mattresses has human flesh felt so held, so completely snug. Underwire? I don’t know her anymore, thanks to my discovery of the world’s most comfortable bra. Chantelle’s Soft Stretch Padded V-Neck Bra Top ($54) is wireless, clasp-less, and has all the function of a sports bra with the soft caress of a bralette. The garment also eschews the ultra-utilitarian aesthetic of many other options out there that don’t feel like—well—cages. At the risk of sounding like a 4 a.m. infomercial, the 18-hour period I’ve owned this bra has changed my outlook on what my chest deserves to feel. Quite frankly, I think I’ve found my B cups’ one true pairing. When I slid Chantelle’s design over my head yesterday afternoon in Well+Good’s bathroom (what? I couldn’t wait!), I said to myself quietly: “Oh, we are sleeping in this tonight!” As a current graduate school student who sometimes doesn’t crawl into bed until midnight on week days, the idea of not having to remove my bra before escaping beneath the covers felt like a beautiful, beautiful luxury. Although this is only secondary to comfort in my opinion, the bra also looks perfectly normal under my shirt. I’m totally incognito. I left