April 05, 2019 at 07:03AM by CWC Ever feel just not on the same page as your your parents or adult children when it comes to beliefs about relationship progression? Having to “break the news” of plans to cohabitate with an S.O. to parents who would rather their kiddo be “married and settled down” is a common story, these days. While in this scenario, everyone essentially wants the same thing—a happy, committed, stabile situation—the image of what it looks like includes different features depending on the generation you belong to. Now, not only are people meeting in different ways than in, say, the ’70s (hello, online dating), but according to new research, entire phases of a relationship are totally different. The paradigm of meet, start dating, get married, move in together, and maybe have a few kids, is totally passé. A recently published survey called, “How Couples Meet and Stay Together,” published by Stanford University, included more than 3,500 people who entered relationships between the ’70s and 2010s. It sought to establish patterns on how couples met, how long it took before things turned romantic, when or if they started living together, got married, or reached partnership status. And according to the results, times, they are a-changin’. For example, in the 1970s after four years of dating, 74 percent of couples were married (or had a partnership status), and 2 percent were unmarried and living together. In the 2010s after four years of dating, on the other hand, 44 percent
Category: 2019 Health
The best fruit-spiked skin care to target just about every single concern
April 05, 2019 at 06:27AM by CWC These days, I have to do a double take when I open my skin-care cabinet to make sure I’m not actually opening a refrigerator. From apples to citrus to strawberries to pineapples, there are enough fruit-based actives in my current product arsenal to rival the Sunday farmer’s market. And for good reason: Fruits, in general, are packed with antioxidants, which means slathering them onto your skin offers a whole slew of benefits, including pollution protection and anti-aging. Plus, since many of nature’s candies tend to be packed with water, they also happen to extra-hydrating, too. We all know that we need our daily serving of fruits (and veggies) in our diets, and our skin-care routines deserve the same treatment for optimal health. But instead of choosing just one ingredient to add to your arsenal, why not turn it into a full-on fruit salad? Here, we’ve got all the luminance-boosting products to help you do it. Banana This skin care is bananas, b-a-n-a…you get the idea. “Since bananas are power packed with essential vitamins such as B3, B5, B6 and vitamin C, they produce fabulous results in keeping the skin healthy and fresh,” says dermatologist Karen Hammerman, MD, of Schweiger Dermatology Group in Garden City, New York. “The vitamin A in bananas helps to restore skins moisture and treat dullness, dryness and damages skin.” Because they’re made up of 75 percent water, they make great hydrators for dry skin. Shop banana skin-care products
The biggest indicator of your personality type is definitely whether you make your bed each day
April 05, 2019 at 06:19AM by CWC One of the best deceptions of my post-adolescence involves smoothing out my sheets before a guest comes over in order to create a sleep sanctuary (one that will, in all likelihood, be demolished after they leave). There’s a reason for that—making your bed gives the illusion of put-togetherness; it’s solid proof that you’re Living Your Best Life. A recent study (“study,” really) is speaking to the differences between bed-makers and non-bed-makers, and the results are…well, I only feel slightly attacked. In a survey conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by Sleepopolis, 2,000 Americans divulged their personal habits (including their music, TV, and alarm clock preferences), as well as whether they regularly make the bed in the morning (or not). It found that bed-makers are “adventurous, confident, sociable, and high-maintenance,” while non-bed-makers are “shy, moody, curious, and sarcastic.” Uh, what do you mean, moody? It goes on to say that bed-makers are bright-eyed morning people who have sex just a liiiittle bit more than non-bed-makers (three times a week versus two). They have better quality of sleep and more time in the day to get s***t done during the day because they wake up a whopping 16 minutes earlier. Yeah, because they don’t hit snooze 500 times like most bed-makers (guilty). Historically speaking, being a bed-maker is emblematic of major prospects. When researching for her book on happiness, Gretchen Rubin revealed that bed-making was consistently brought up in conversations about mood-boosting life changes. Historically speaking, though, being a
What’s *really* in your go-to CBD product? Here’s how to know for sure
April 05, 2019 at 05:02AM by CWC A few months ago, I got a package in the mail from a new CBD brand called Populum. When I opened the box, I was surprised to see that a product wasn’t the only thing inside—there was also a mega-lengthy list of lab results for the bottle of hemp oil I held in my hands. It looked exactly like the printout you get when you have bloodwork done at the doctor, except instead of, say, vitamin D and hormone levels, this one was testing for heavy metals, industrial chemicals, microbes and mold toxins, and even the levels of CBD and other cannabinoids in the product. Until that point, I’d never actually thought about what was in the CBD products I’d been test-driving on a near daily basis. But as someone with an irrational fear of conventionally-grown kale, I was shook—are contaminants really that big of a problem on the CBD market? According to Anna Symonds, director of education at Oregon cannabis farm East Fork Cultivars, there actually are several toxins that can potentially make their way into CBD products, starting on the farm. “All cannabis plants, including hemp, are bioaccumulators,” says Symonds, who runs East Fork Cultivars’ CBD Certified program. “That means they will pull any existing contaminants out of the soil and into the plant—things like heavy metals and pesticide and petrochemical residues. And if the grower is using pesticides, those can also remain in the plant.” To be clear, the produce we
What it *really* means if your muscles aren’t sore after a workout
April 05, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC There are a couple of things I love about being done with a workout. Number one is that I’m riding high on endorphins. And two is that I get to feel that uber-satisfying accomplishment of having sore muscles. I mean, yeah it sucks when going up stairs hurts and my legs feel really heavy—but it also makes me feel proud, because I know that I’ve put in some good work during my sweat sesh. It’s also exactly why I get kind of mad if my muscles aren’t sore after a workout. I’m not alone, either—being sore has become fitness currency of sorts. It’s definitely misleading, though. “If you’re a high-level athlete or a seasoned gym-goer, you’re trying all sorts of things to feel soreness because it gives you that feeling that you’re accomplished,” says Rondel King, MS, an exercise physiologist at NYU Langone Sports Performance Center. “But it gets to a point where it’s not necessary to feel that soreness.” It’s not like your workout didn’t mean anything, BTW. But experts note that muscle soreness does not necessarily equate a good workout. “If you’re not sore after a workout, it doesn’t mean that you didn’t workout,” says Chase Weber, a celebrity trainer. (I mean, of course.) “Soreness just means you worked a muscle that hasn’t been worked in a while, or that the muscle didn’t have enough endurance. It could also be sore or more tender than normal because it was a different
Trader Joe’s Teeny Tiny avocados are the secret to never watching half your avo rot again
April 05, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Being a plant mom has nothing on bringing home a batch of avocados. My indoor jungle is still #thriving with hardly any maintenance, but avos, on the other hand, need to be constantly babied. Because the second you blink, they go from hard and unripe to completely rotten. There is a solution, though. You just have to get the mini version. If you venture into Trader Joe’s, you might notice the healthy grocer’s Teeny Tiny Avocados are back. While the full-size versions are hard to eat before they go bad, these little cuties are half the size. And it’s the exact amount you need for your avocado toast, with nothing left over to turn brown in the fridge—not to mention the easiest way to get your healthy fat fix on the go, as the single-serve option can fit right in your purse. Photo: Trader Joe’s While the mini avocados, which range from $2.69 to $2.99 for a six-pack, seem like a special variety, Men’s Health says they’re regular ol’ California Haas avocados—just ones that didn’t reach their full sizes due to poor weather conditions. Because of that, you can expect the same taste, texture, and nutritional punch you know and love. Each is 160 calories and contains 15 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber, and 3 grams of protein. So instead of quitting your job to become a full-time avocado babysitter, maybe just grab a couple of these pint-size bags instead. Trader
Bethany C. Meyers wants you to embrace the whole journey to finding your identity
April 05, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Bethany C. Meyers, LGBTQ+ activist and founder of inclusive fitness company b.cm, is learning how to embrace every step of their journey to finding their most authentic identity. In early March, Meyers posted an Instagram from when they were 19 years old, living in a small Missouri town, and not yet aware of being queer. In the caption, they shared a message with their former self: “Start exploring, educating, experiencing. Don’t be afraid to start living as your true self. Be less afraid of what people may think. Be honest about what you truly believe. Learn what truly makes you smile on the inside. And live. Because you have a really beautiful, free life ahead.” Below, in their own words, Meyers explains how to reach for the freedom that’s just on the other side of your preconceived notions of self. And how to value every aspect of the person you’ve been—and are still yet to become. Below, Bethany C. Meyers reflects on the freedom gained from learning how to accept their whole journey. View this post on Instagram Yep that’s me. 19 years old. Summer before I moved to chicago. A cheerleader. Extra tan because I didn’t believe in sunscreen in those days, and yes, i can get dark. I would have never dreamed of short hair back then, even though only a few years later I chopped it all off for my first time. Not a clue I was queer, which is
This woman is reframing the post-pregnancy body conversation—and we’re so here for it
April 04, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC Start Googling “post-pregnancy…” and the top suggestions for completing your search are belly, workout, and diet—i.e. all searches focusing on ways to change your body after having a baby. If you believe the internet, post-pregnancy body confidence is not a thing. But according to Lisa Ann Jersey—a Nevada-based stay-at-home mom who works part-time teaching life skills to newly released prison inmates (yeah, she’s a badass)—mothers should be feeling more self confident, not less, after pregnancy. She would know. She’s been fielding uncomfortable comments on her 48 DDD chest since she was a little girl, but having two little girls of her own is what finally helped her fully step into her confidence. “I tried really hard to wear my busty nature as a badge of honor.” “For quite some time—until I had children probably—I tried really hard to wear my busty nature as a badge of honor,” Jersey says. “I sort of linked it to my identity in a way.” Motherhood, though, has readjusted how she defines her identity and has helped her develop a deep sense of self love that isn’t dependent on what others have to say about her. To help you unearth that kind of self-esteem, we’re teaming up with Target to share the personal journeys of inspiring women and the better body-image lessons they’ve learned along the way. Keep reading for 4 powerful post-pregnancy body image truths that mothers and non-moms need to hear. 1. Tune out the haters
This is what a week of workouts should look like if you want to optimize your gut health
April 04, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC Like your bestie who makes you laugh until you cry, you’d do anything for your gut. But even if you’re down to pop a probiotic in the morning, sip kombucha in the afternoon, and avoid certain inflammatory foods at dinner, you might be missing a major part of the all-day gut-health equation. Check out this stat: “A recent study, in which participants worked out for 30 minutes, three days a week, for six weeks straight, showed that many participants experienced an increase in certain microbes in the gut that help reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases as well as type II diabetes,” says Nora Minno, RD and Daily Burn trainer. The trick is, you need to do the right type of exercise to grab those endorphins with a side of gut-healthy benefits—otherwise you could actually end up hurting your microbiome situation more than helping it. Confused? To figure out where, exactly, the right exercise balance is, we teamed up with RenewLife®—makers of the cult-favorite women’s probiotic supplement—and asked two gut pros for simple strategies for optimizing your digestion with exercise. After all, keeping your gut happy and balanced (ahem, daily probiotics) helps you reap the feel-good benefits. Keep reading for 3 tips for how to exercise for digestive health from gut health pros. Photo: Unsplash/Brooke Cagle 1. Opt for low intensity and low impact work If gut health is one of your top wellness goals or if you’re dealing with GI issues, mix easy-on-the-body modalities
The little-known Instagram tweak that’s basically a double-tap for your mental health
April 04, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC In a definitive ranking of habits that most benefit my mental health, scrolling through Instagram would come in dead last. I can’t recall a time I actually felt joy post-appsturbation, and yet, the social media platform’s built-in activity monitor tells me I spend an average of 32 minutes each day idly liking handstand videos, quasi-inspirational quotes, and color-coordinated stacks of books. My digital relationship is far from perfect, but lately, I’ve found one small way to reclaim the habit for myself: interacting with the ads rather than swiping past them at warp speed. I know, I know—sounds bananas. But I have a thesis statement and everything, so please allow me to present my unofficial TED Talk about reclaiming targeted ads to bolster digital autonomy. By now, you’ve probably noticed that Instagram’s new M.O. involves placing an ad between every two or three posts on your feed. According to The New York Times, the platform first announced its plans to commercialize feeds back in 2015, but based on my personal non-scientific experience, the promos have hit an all time high in just the last few months. I mean, I can’t even read about my favorite foodstagramer’s buckwheat waffle recipe without also having earrings, a crystal-shaped water bottle, and hair-growth vitamins clogging up my scroll. So a few week’s ago, when Instagram’s algorithm dared to slide a $1200 gym bag (something I personally have never dreamed of affording) into my social check-in, I decided on