April 29, 2019 at 05:57AM by CWC Want it your way? If you stick to a plant-based diet, Burger King is ready to make that happen. According to USA Today, after a successful test-run in St. Louis, Burger King is gearing up to add the vegan Impossible Burger to its menus nationwide. (PSA: Just because you don’t eat meat doesn’t mean you want your food options to be relegated to the salad menu.) “The Impossible Whopper test in St. Louis went exceedingly well and as a result there are plans to extend testing into additional markets in the very near future,” the burger chain said in a statement to USA Today. This is simple supply and demand, friends. While the Impossible Burger’s new ubiquity is a clear sign plant-based eating is well on its way to becoming uber mainstream, the question becomes: Is the vegan patty really healthy? When we asked registered dietitian Joan Salge Blake, RDN, she felt lukewarm about its nutrition quality due to its high saturated fat content (14 grams). “A lot of these plant-based burgers are getting a lot of press, but I would prefer for people to find an alternative with less saturated fat,” she says. Besides being high in saturated fat, condiments like ketchup and mustard can be sneaky sources of added sugar. Dana Perls, a senior food and agriculture campaigner for the environmental advocacy group Friends of the Earth, also points out that the Impossible Burger has yet to be approved by the Food
Category: 2019 Health
How to tell yams and sweet potatoes apart—because you know you’ve been wondering
April 29, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Whether you like ’em baked and topped with butter, popped in the toaster and served with avocado on top, or in a big bowl of chili, sweet potatoes have become quite the trendy veggie. (Watch your back, cauliflower.) You’d think buying the tuber would be pretty straight forward. But if you’ve sought them out at the grocery store, you’ve likely come in contact with a common conundrum: seeing them right next to their cousin, the yam. You might not have even noticed the difference. After all, they do look very similar. Which raises an interesting question: what is the difference between sweet potatoes and yams, anyways? Registered dietitian Jessica Cording, RD sees people mixing the two up a lot. “Often what people think are yams are actually sweet potatoes,” she says. Visually, she explains that yams are lighter in color and have a light brown, scaly outside. “The flesh is actually whiter,” she says. As for sweet potatoes, Cording points out that there many different types of sweet potatoes and they can range from the brown on the outside, orange on the inside tubers that are most popular, brown on the outside and purple on the inside, and even red on the outside and white on the inside, also known as Japanese sweet potatoes. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zYQBK7Nq18] How they compare nutritionally Nutritionally, Cording says yams and sweet potatoes—in all their various types—are pretty similar. “Both are starchy vegetables that are good sources of potassium
7 beachy destinations that just might be the next Tulum
April 29, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC A few years ago, Tulum may well have been the only beachy spot to visit with all your on-trend, wellness-loving friends, but now, the secret’s out: Tulum has lost part of its charm. Overcrowded, built-up, and plagued by stinky seaweed washing ashore and a failing infrastructure, it’s not exactly the quiet, quirky paradise it used to be. And while the locale may not be dead, per the Cut’s take, it also may not be as high on your hit list of must-visit destinations as it once was. But that hardly means you need to kiss away your dream of a secluded beach getaway. Below find seven alternatives to the Mexican outpost (and where to stay while there)—each with some of the relaxing, eco-chic vibes Tulum once promised. Bonus: They’re all a quick(ish) plane ride away. Check out 7 beachy destinations that just might be the next Tulum. Isla Holbox; Photo: Getty Images/zstockphotos 1. Isla Holbox, Mexico This spot, a little north of Tulum on the Yucatán Peninsula (about a two-hour drive from Cancún), may be the next big Mexican beach destination, but for now, it’s still a quiet alternative to more touristy spots. Soak up the sun on secluded stretches of beach, and shop alongside locals at daily fruit-and-vegetable markets. The area is protected as part of the Yum Balam Preserve, which has helped to shield it from massive-resort developments. Stay in one of the 24 rooms at the Hotel Casa Las Tortugas
Think veggies are causing your bloat? A holistic health coach weighs in
April 28, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC Meet Wellness Collective, our new, immersive curriculum with Athleta that hooks you up with actionable advice from the smartest experts and brand founders in wellness right now. Get the goods at our monthly event series in New York City plus our online one-month wellness plans. Here, holistic wellness coach Mia Ridgen answers your most-pressing questions about plant-rich diets. Let’s be real: When you boost your intake of brightly colored fruits and hydrating veggies, you expect all good things—like radiant skin, day-to-night energy, and general good vibes. The one thing you don’t expect? GI issues. But when we asked you for your questions about eating more plants, it became clear that some of you feel bloated and uncomfortable after that kale caesar. To find out the truth around the issue—can plants actually stress out your gut?—we asked holistic health coach and RASA founder Mia Ridgen for her thoughts and advice for avoiding blah feelings. Scroll down for the holistic health coach’s tips to avoid gut issues when upping your veggie intake. Photo: Getty Images/Hinterhaus Productions 1. Keep a food journal Filling your fridge with the full color spectrum of produce deserves all the grown-up points—but if you’re experiencing gassiness or bloating you may want to show some restraint at the farmers’ market. While Ridgen works with her clients to make their way to eat 20 different vegetables weekly (“herbs and different lettuces count too”), trying new-to-you produce along the way, she urges them to experiment. “It’s a process, take
Why the ancient Gaelic fertility holiday of Beltane could trigger serious female rage this year
April 28, 2019 at 12:19PM by CWC What is Beltane? The ancient Gaelic holiday is all about the rise of the feminine—and its astrological cross-currents this year could have you, ahem, on *edge*. (Especially since we’re already living through an epic mad-as-hell era.) Never fear, astrologer Jennifer Racioppi is here with her best guidance on how to make this all work for you, for a cosmically kickass week. On May 1, we celebrate Beltane. Beltane, a Gaelic holiday, honors the transition from a time of seasonal feminine when there are limited foods available to harvest, into a cycle of tremendous fertility and growth. Beltane invites play, freedom, fun, and festivity. The transition from barren land into one of fervent growth symbolically represents the rise of the feminine. Astrologically speaking though, as we step into May we do so with Mercury, which rules communication, in a challenging position, asking you to look at the shadow of growth too. This year’s cross-quarter holiday of Beltane invites you to release pent-up feminine anger. Primal screams are not only allowed, often they are downright justified. Mercury in Aries makes an abrupt and challenging square to the retrograde planet’s Saturn and Pluto, further highlighting the need to examine how you are showing up for yourself (and others) so you can release that which isn’t working. Mercury conjoins Eris, a dwarf planet of discord, suggesting that in addition to fun, the cross-quarter holiday of Beltane also invites you to release pent-up feminine anger, too. With so
6 healthy benefits of pears that will win you over
April 28, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC When I was younger, eating baked pears for dessert felt fancier than any fruit pie or cookie. And when the holidays rolled around and someone sent a box of Comice pears wrapped in gold foil? Talk about luxury. Aside from special occasions, pears are just as worthy of your diet as apples, a fellow pome fruit. Comparisons often fly and while one grocery mainstay (cough, apples) tends to overshadow the other, the high-fiber, heart-healthy pear can stand on its own both in taste and nutritional value. Here are some benefits of pears that will have you saying “A pear a day keeps the doctor away” at first bite. What are the biggest pear benefits? Bosc, Bartlett, Red Anjou, oh my! Does it matter which kind you go for? Generally, the nutrients will be similar from pear to pear, but antioxidants are a bit different. Shapiro says you’ll get various antioxidants if you eat a red pear versus a green one, so don’t be afraid to mix it up. And no matter what kind of pear you go for, they all have the following health benefits: 1. Pears are a great source of fiber. Newsflash: Most of us are dropping the ball when it comes to consuming enough fiber, and we can use a fruit that will help us (and our insides) along. One medium pear (about the size of your fist), contains about six grams of fiber, or nearly a quarter of the
Dear derms: Are my blackheads considered acne, or what?
April 28, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC Lots of uninvited things can spring up on your face at any given time. In my personal facial real estate, I’ve had whiteheads, cystic acne, hormonal breakouts, a lady mustache, hyperpigmentation spots, and a stray chin hair or two (#blessup). The good thing is that I can identify these intruders so I can then quash them before they take over my face. Well, all of them except for one: blackheads. I consider blackheads to be the most confounding skin situation, mainly because I’m not sure what the heck they are. Since whiteheads are a type of breakout, are blackheads acne too? Do you treat them like acne or stick with those nose strips to pull everything off your face? Where do they come from? Clearly I have a lot of questions about these elusive suckers, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. So, I asked a dermatologist to help—excuse the pun— clear things up: “Basically, blackheads are a precursor of acne,” Shirley Chi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in California, tells me. “It means that the pores are clogged and that debris is blocking the opening to the surface of the skin, which is a set-up for bacteria such as P. Acnes to grow.” Since they’re the step right before getting acne, Dr. Dennis Gross, a New York dermatologist and founder of Dennis Gross Skincare, says they do classify as a form of it. “Blackheads are the first step in the chain of events
Asking for a friend: Is anilingus safe…and, like, sanitary?
April 28, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC Salad tossing. Rimming. Ass eating. Kissing the (chocolate) starfish. Almond joying. Booty jobbing. Motorbutting. The very fact that there are so many nicknames for anilingus—which, at its most basic, involves some M-to-B action—points to a cultural curiosity around oral anal sex. Carrie Bradshaw declared in an episode of Sex and the City, “The ass is now on the menu.” And since then, other pop-culture faves, like Girls, Broad City, and Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” video, have made sure that no matter the season, a tossed salad can always be (ahem) ordered. According to Evan Goldstein, MD, CEO and founder of Bespoke Surgical, a sexual-wellness company specializing in anal-related health, sex acts involving the booty (and anilingus in particular) is becoming increasingly common. “I’m noticing that the younger demographic is much more open to sexual exploration of this part of the body,” he says. As one Reddit user puts it, “eating ass and avocado—it’s the millennial diet.” While there isn’t super-recent data to back up that observation, one 2008 study of 1,400 heterosexual men found that within 30 days, 24 percent had performed anilingus on their female partners, and 15 percent had received it. And, TBH, these numbers are surprisingly low considering the volume of memes (we see you, Barstool) and pop-culture references surrounding the practice. So while ass eating may be pretty mainstream in certain facets of media, IRL, people seem to be a bit more hesitant. My friends, for instance, have questions about how
The best workouts for every type of stress—period
April 28, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC As Elle Woods once wisely said, “Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy, and happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.” Less dramatic translation? Working out is great for relieving stress. Whether you’re going for a walk around the block or doing 50 burpees in a row at the hands of an intense bootcamp instructor, movement of any kind really does help you to chill out and boost your mood. A 2013 study called the beneficial effects of exercise to be “indisputable,” which I can confirm to be true. Certain types of physical activity help to raise your serotonin levels, which, in turn, boosts your mood. So, see? Exercise really does make you happy. Yet, as those of us living as part of the burnout generation know too well, not all types of stress are created equal. There’s the general stress you feel on a daily basis when you’re being run down at work, there’s frustration, which can make you want to throw a punch or two, and then, of course, there’s that “nervous energy” you feel ahead of a big event that makes you sweat through your shirt. No matter what kind of stress you’re experiencing, exercise can help—and to maximize your time, I’ve rounded up the best workouts for every type of stress. For ongoing stress: Assisted stretching If your life has got you in a constant stress cycle (work! chores! relationships! adulting!), relieving some of the tension in your
How to choose the right shade of wellness-studio white paint for your walls
April 27, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC In my never-ending quest to chill the eff out, I’m forever trying to make my tiny home feel a little more like my favorite wellness spaces—think pothos plants by every window, faux sheepskins draped over the chairs, and as many cream-colored elements as possible, from the sofa to the shelving to the walls. (Yes, I have pets, which means I basically keep the stain remover and lint roller markets afloat.) White walls are especially key to this aesthetic, IMO. When executed correctly, they can make an entire space feel brighter, more open, and more tranquil. But it’s definitely possible to do them the wrong way, as I discovered at a house I lived in a few years ago. Initially, I was drawn in by the sharp contrast between the ultra-white walls and the dark hardwood floors, but once I moved in and had mirrors installed, I realized the shade of white was way too bright—like, it made me look as washed-out as a Victorian-era child with cholera. So when I started thinking about painting my current kitchen cabinets to match my oat milk, I turned to Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St. Peter, co-founders of the General Store lifestyle boutiques in San Francisco and Los Angeles. As evidenced in their new book, Abode: Thoughtful Living With Less, clean white surfaces are an integral part of their design signature, along with natural materials, vintage furnishings, and hand-made curios. “Serena’s unofficial mantra is: The only option