April 03, 2019 at 12:58PM by CWC Why am I not getting stronger? I’ve groaned the same question at least three times a week over the past few months to friends, coworkers, trainers, and anyone else who would listen. I’d muscled through 92 workouts over the course of 90 days thanks to an intense dedication to my 2019 fitness resolution, and simply could not understand why my body felt—and looked—exactly the same as it did on January 1. My suspicions were confirmed when I took a mobility test with Under Armour, and the results I received after a series of one-legged squats, push-ups, and wall sits were…startling. Not only was I not getting stronger, but my body was a complete mess—I scored a 46.44 on the Fusionetics Movement Efficiency Test, which fell into the “poor” range. As someone who prides herself on working out every day, this felt like a pretty major blow. What the hell was going on with my muscles? The answer came in the form of a question from Dan McDonogh, Under Armour’s Senior Manager of Performance Training: “Well, are you recovering properly?” My response was a resounding: “No.” Over the course of those 90 days, I had taken only a handful of days off, and made up for few mornings I slept through my alarm by doubling up on the weekend. I was overworking my body without giving it time to recover, and it was effecting my performance and ability to build muscle. I’ve read—and even written
Category: 2019 Health
The ingredient to keep your eye on that helps with estrogen-deficient skin
April 03, 2019 at 10:49AM by CWC Remember puberty, when we suddenly woke up one morning with a face slicked with grease and breakouts that didn’t seem to stop for like five years? It was the worst. As most of us learned the hard way at some point between the ages of 10 and 17, the hormone-skin connection is no joke, and that’s a lesson that keeps on expressing itself, up until menopause. Menopause—which hits most women at some point between the ages of 45 and 55 (though some symptoms can start as early as your 30s)—is associated with changing hormone levels in your body, particularly estrogen. While many of us are familiar with the common side effects, like hot flashes and an MIA period, the shift can also have a pretty major impact on skin. Namely, it dries it the hell out—or it does the exact opposite of what happened during puberty. According to a 2013 study, post-menopausal estrogen deficiency results in a lackadaisical complexion and more rapid aging. Similarly, a separate set of researchers found that women experienced a 30 percent loss of collagen in the first five years after entering menopause, which shows up as skin that isn’t as tight as it used to be. Traditionally, doctors have solved for this by recommending that patients try estrogen pills and patches to help even things out. But in addition to adding estrogen into your skin, that also introduces estrogen into the rest of your body, which may not
This registered dietitian crowns peanut butter as the best nut butter of them all
April 03, 2019 at 09:35AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsASWf_1AG0] We love a good nut butter. And while almond and cashew butter have taken center stage (even sunflower seeds have joined the game) it’s sometimes nice to get back to our roots: peanut butter. Since making appearances in our childhood PB&Js, the protein-packed spread has become a healthy-eating staple. It tastes so good, you might begin to question whether or not it’s actually good for you. Worry not—in the newest episode of You Versus Food, Well+Good’s YouTube series breaking down the buzziest food and drink trends, top dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, confirms that the yummy spread has tons of nutritional benefits. “Peanut butter is made of peanuts and peanuts are pretty healthy,” says Beckerman. “So just like that perfect match you found on Tinder, peanuts have an optimal profile— a nutritional profile, that is.” What are the benefits of peanut butter? Peanuts are full of fiber, monounsaturated fats (aka the good kind), antioxidants and protein, says Beckerman. Here’s the full benefit breakdown: 1. They’re high in protein. While almonds ultimately have more fiber, and cashews have more healthy fats, Beckerman says peanuts take the cake when it comes to protein—seven grams per 1-ounce serving. 2. They’re rich in folate. Folate is of course important for fetal development, but Beckerman says the nutrient is also important for helping your body make more red blood cells. 3. Peanuts are good for your heart. Peanuts have lots of monounsaturated fats, Beckerman says, which have been associated
In a major move toward inclusivity, Target creates affordable “sensory-friendly” furniture
April 03, 2019 at 09:22AM by CWC Whether it’s beauty brands providing a wider range of complexion shades for their makeup or bras being available in 70 different sizes, more and more companies are making moves toward inclusivity. And the latest to listen to customers’ needs is Target, with its affordable new line of “sensory-friendly” furniture. Anytime you’re strolling through the kids’ section of a store, you’ll be hit with products that are overly bright, loud, and flashy. For some children, that’s not a problem. But for others—including those with autism, ADHD, and other conditions—those designs can cause sensory sensitivity. Depending on their degree of sensitivity, they can experience strong reactions to highly stimulating items, sometimes resulting in explosive reactions, says The Center for Parenting Education. To ensure every child is able to have a sensory-friendly experience both at the store and at home, Target released 20 items as part of its Pillowfort brand specially designed based on customers’ stories and feedback, all between $20 and $100. There are rocking chairs for kids who like to move around when sitting; floor cushions for those who like the feeling of soft fabric and different textures; foam-filled crash pads to jump, roll, and relax on; hideaway tents for quiet time; and even weighted blankets to help provide a feeling of calm—something adults use, too, because sensory overload knows no age. Speaking of, even though these products are meant for kids, I just have one question: Is it socially acceptable for grown-ups to
How to set the right intention while saging your home
April 03, 2019 at 09:20AM by CWC Ever since I became more serious about my wellness game, I’ve incorporated more into my life than just avocados and workouts. Like, you can now find me lighting palo santo to chill out at the end of a day, tucking crystals under my pillow for different vibes and intentions, and imbibing adaptogens like it’s my job. (I mean, it is.) But if there’s one wellness ritual I do that I’m a little unsure of, it’s saging, which is derived from the sacred Native American practice of smudging. “Saging is the act of wafting the smoke of white sage around yourself, your home, and your belongings to cleanse the energy,” explains Deborah Hanekamp, AKA Mama Medicine, a seeress and energy healer in New York City. “Smudging is the act of wafting the smoke of various dried herbs like palo santo, or even a cinnamon stick, around your home, yourself, and your belongings for various different spiritual reasons, like blessing, or protection.” “It’s common to feel a sense of peace and light after saging yourself.” —Deborah Hanekamp You’ll want to try saging when you or the space you’re in needs to be cleansed and emptied out of past energy. “Sage not only cleanses the spirit, but it also purifies the air around you,” she adds. “It’s common to feel a sense of peace and light after saging yourself.” Saging is good to do around times of change. “I think it’s great to do around the
Boost workplace happiness with humor—but only the Ellen DeGeneres kind
April 03, 2019 at 08:58AM by CWC The first few months I spent at my big-girl, full-time job, I was terrified about letting my sense of humor loose on any coworkers. I’d been previously indoctrinated into believing a desk is a space for serious business emails (Sincerely, Official Member of the Workforce) and torturous mental obstacle courses (read: spreadsheets). While there’s certainly space in my day-to-day for that kind of stuff, research suggests cracking up with colleagues deserves some on-the-clock time, too. Especially LOLs of the variety that poke fun at yourself. “A good laugh can be refreshing and relieve tension, which is a great advantage in the workplace,” Barbara Plester, PhD and author of Laugh Out Loud: A User’s Guide to Workplace Humor, tells Thrive. The only caveat: The type of wit you employ (ha, a work pun, get it?) really, really matters. You want your brand of funny to be about yourself—not others. Dr. Plester warns that potentially inflammatory forms of humor like teasing, sarcasm, and ridicule are a no-go in a cubicle environment. So leave your inner Joan Rivers at the door and replace her with your inner Ellen DeGeneres. “A good laugh can be refreshing and relieve tension, which is a great advantage in the workplace.” —Barbara Plester, PhD That said, there is such a thing as too much of a good sense of humor. To avoid going so overboard with the self-mockery to the extent that your lunch buddy starts to worry about your self-esteem,
9 ways to soothe red, itchy eyes from allergies, according to experts
April 03, 2019 at 08:51AM by CWC You don’t need a groundhog to tell you when spring is coming when you have seasonal allergies. The instant the weather starts getting nice and the grass starts getting greener, I experience a not-so-fun parade of symptoms: sneezing, runny nose, itchy throat, congestion, and—my least fave—red, itchy eyes. Because of how irritated my eyes get, it’s not uncommon for me to have an I-just-got-done-crying look on the most pollen-heavy days of spring. Aka not a fun look for anyone. And according to docs, there’s a simple explanation for why it affects me and other lucky allergy-ridden folks so much more than any other symptom on the list. “The eyes are the hardest area to control seasonal allergy symptoms because they’re a mucus membrane that’s outwardly exposed. The pollen can easily contact the eyes, even more easily than getting into your nose or your lungs.” says David Wertheim, MD, chair, division of allergy and immunology at ProHEALTH Care, a network of urgent-care clinics and health-care providers. Airborne pollen directly contacts the conjunctiva (the clear, thin membrane that covers the inner surface of the eyelids), Dr. Wertheim says, and “causes localized release of allergic mediators, like histamine. This is the same process that causes a runny nose and sneezing.” It doesn’t take long after contact for the problems to begin. Once those allergens hit your eyes, Richard Davidson, MD, an ophthalmologist with UCHealth, says they “cause the conjunctiva on the surface of the eye to
Score these cult-fave French beauty products at stateside drugstores, stat
April 03, 2019 at 08:11AM by CWC When I finally got to visit France for the first time a couple of years ago, the first thing I did was hit up a drugstore to scope out the all-hailed Parisian beauty treasures that are always gossiped and raved about here in the U.S. I wasn’t let down—in my shopping cart went all of the foreign skin-care gems I could get my hands on. Ever since I’ve been back, though, I’ve dreamt about the French goodies that I didn’t get to buy. There are so many amazing brands and products across the pond, but I can only make it to Paris like… you know, once every few years, if that. The good news, though? French beauty products are now trickling into drugstores. Seriously. You no longer have to save up for a flight in order to score French drugstore cult-favorite skin-care products, thanks to American megastores like Target, Costco, Walmart, and CVS. Which means that as you go to refill a prescription or pick up some toilet paper, you can also drop into the beauty aisle for some Parisian beauty superstars. Let me prove it to you—keep scrolling for the French drugstore products you can get at U.S. drugstores. Photo: Avene Avene Rich Compensating Cream, $35 at Walgreens There’s nothing so French as Avène, a Parisian drugstore staple known for using thermal spring water to soothe even the most sensitive of skin types. This cream is super hydrating and helps to restore your
Not to worry—here’s everything you need to know about dealing with anxiety attacks
April 03, 2019 at 08:05AM by CWC “Let it go, let it go. Can’t hold it back anymore.” Okay, to most wide-eyed children, Elsa from Disney’s Frozen is just this super-cool, kind of complicated snow queen with a great singing voice and a killer side braid. But if you really boil it down, the character is oh-so-relatable to the adult set, too. Think about it: She spends most of her life hiding from the outside world. She’s so worried about what might happen that she secludes herself from all of it. Beyond withdrawing from her family and friends, she avoids her problems instead of accepting or dealing with them. And not to get all clinical, but might it be possible that Elsa was suffering from some pretty intense anxiety while she was refusing to build a snowman with sweet Anna? Sure, it’s a cheeky comparison, but in today’s ever-busy, always-working, rise-and-grind #hustleculture, all people are practically wired for anxiety. We may not have to worry about dudes trying to steal our castles and family fortune (probably), but the demands of life today are no joke, whether you’re a successful CEO, an analyst by day and yoga instructor by night, or a living-paycheck-to-paycheck recent grad trying to figure out WTF to do next. So, in the event your worries ever percolate into anxiety-attack territory, here’s what to do. Anxiety attacks: 101 First things first, generalized anxiety is something many people experience from time to time. It’s a feeling of nervousness or
Trader Joe’s dehydrated strawberries are our healthy dessert secret weapon
April 03, 2019 at 08:01AM by CWC Photo: Atria Books Confession: I am not a “fruit for dessert” person. Don’t get me wrong, I *want* to be. I always crave something sweet after dinner and know a handful of luscious berries is healthier than a scoop of dairy-free Ben & Jerry’s. But I’ve bought vibrant bundles of fruit only for them to go bad in the back of my crisper too many times. So I was intrigued when Well+Good’s co-founder Melisse Gelula let me in on a healthy evening fruity snack that won’t go bad as quickly, making it less of a commitment: dehydrated strawberries. Apparently they were all the rage on Well+Good’s latest retreat in Austin, Texas, hosted by psychiatrist and a farmer Drew Ramsey, MD and Yoga For Bad People founder Heather Lilleston. One night, the intimate group of retreat goers—who were basically all BFFs just a few days into the retreat—were all gathered around the kitchen for a cooking demo hosted by author and Kale & Caramel creator Lily Diamond. She was serving up a strawberry chia pudding, starring, yes, dehydrated strawberries. (Apparently the Trader Joe’s kind are her fave, BTW.) “Freeze-dried strawberries deliver a potent dose of sweet-tart berry flavor and nearly neon pink hue, offering all the potency of the fruit sans water,” Diamond says. “Crushed, you can add freeze-dried berry powder to smoothies, juices, yogurt, hot cereal, baked goods, and so much more. Whole, the crunchy delights are perfect in granola, cereal, and other dry