March 27, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC Ever since K-beauty made its way to the U.S., the phrase has become synonymous with the idea of a 10-step skin-care routine. But, uh, there’s one problem: Korean women don’t actually swear by the 10-step rule. The term was actually coined by Charlotte Cho, founder of Soko Glam and Then I Met You, in a 2013 interview which subsequently went viral in the beauty community. But apparently, it was sort of—kind of—taken out of context. When I met with Cho earlier to chat all things K-beauty, she explained that the term was intended to be more of an educational tool than an actual commandment. Her intention, she explained, was to help skin-care connoisseurs educate themselves about Korean products they may have not yet been familiar with, like essences and sheet masks. “The essence of the Korean 10-step skin-care routine is not about using 10 steps every morning and night—think about [it] as a great educational tool about the different steps and what they do,” she says. “After you’ve done the 10 steps, then you know what each step does and how it impacts your skin. If I’m not really concerned about acne, I could take out one of the steps, but if I’m really concerned about wrinkles I will invest in another step. It’s really just a buffet of ingredients and products that you can incorporate into the health of your skin.” And, she confirmed, the myth is not true: “Not all Korean women
Category: 2019 Health
This belly dance teacher is making me fall in love with my (very soft) abs
March 27, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC For those of us whose size fluctuates in certain years, certain seasons, or certain weeks of the month (AKA pretty much everyone), the feeling in your body is palpable. And that’s not always a bad thing. Waking up with some super-size cleavage or a bum that’s bloomed into a badonk can feel powerful in a “cover girl, put the bass in your walk” kind of way. And thanks to women like Rihanna (who reinforces this idea by extolling “the pleasure of a fluctuating body type“), it’s easier than ever—even in our weight-obsessed society—to enjoy the ups as well as the downs. At least, it is for me. One stalwart caveat to this embrace of my body’s natural ebbs and flows, though, is my abs. Or rather, the soft layer of flesh that insulates them, hiding the theoretical six pack I’m convinced is just waiting to come out. It’s the one part of my body I haven’t stopped monitoring, even after I threw out my scale a couple of years ago. I keep a tape measure handy to check my waist size on a regular basis, only in part because I know waistline expansion is correlated with heart disease, cancer, and more. It’s also an attempt to impose order on the out-of-control feeling of a jiggly belly: creating unexpected “rolls” when I move, spilling over the top of my jeans, and making its presence known (“Look at me!”) in dresses and skirts that are
Can’t decide where to go on summer vacation? Let Astrocartography be your guide
March 27, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Some people feel like they need a vacation when they get home from vacation. But what about the decision fatigue that plagues globetrotters on the front end of the planning game? After all, it’s exhausting to simply choose a travel destination in the first place. To soak in the hot springs of San Miguel de Allende or swim with the pigs in the Bahamas? Northern lights or southern lights? (Champagne problems, I know.) But recently, I learned about an astrology discipline that’s speaking to my own indecisive, wanderlusty soul: astrogeography, which, as astrologer Dara Dubinet explains it, is “the astrology of place.” Put simply, astrologers believe different places on Earth hold different planetary energies for each person, based on where and when they were born. The intel can provide insight into the best and worst places for you to live and travel, energetically speaking. So, if you, say, studied abroad in Melbourne, Australia, and felt a new rush of confidence there, it could be because that city lies on your sun line. (“Lines” are latitude lines that correspond with the major celestial bodies, and they’re different for everyone depending on that person’s natal astrology chart.) Or, conversely, if you recently moved to New York City and you’ve felt overworked and weighed down ever since, it could be because the Big Apple’s on a Saturn line for you. “Any time we’re thinking of relocating, traveling, holding a retreat, or having a wedding, it’s good to
PSA: Your kombucha probably has alcohol in it
March 27, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhBOp_Fo_oM] Gut health is in right now, and we get it. Your gut microbiome impacts your immune system, mood, and overall wellbeing. Probiotics aren’t just what your dad takes to stay regular—they’re also the key part of your it-girl’s favorite drink: kombucha. But one thing people often don’t talk about with kombucha is that they can have a decent amount of kombucha in them. Thankfully, registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, spilled the tea on kombucha in our newest episode of You vs. Food, Well+Good’s video series dissecting nutrition trends. Basically, most kombucha naturally has some amount of alcohol in it because it’s fermented (in this case, tea fermented with a special bacteria-yeast cocktail called scoby). “The amount of alcohol in kombucha varies according to the fermentation process,” Beckerman says, “and may be between one and three percent alcohol.” That may not sound like much but she notes that some light beers are just four percent alcohol. (So it might not be the best choice for expectant moms.) Some kombuchas (like Kevita) have less than 0.5 percent alcohol (the minimum threshold for an alcoholic drink), so not all hope is lost if you are not drinking any booze. Aside from the alcohol content, Beckerman says that kombucha has lots of potential antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer benefits. However, there is a catch: Most of these studies were done on animals, meaning those health perks have yet to be confirmed in humans. But that’s no
Flip flops are an abomination and no one can convince me otherwise
March 26, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC I was minding my own business and doing some online shopping when, out of nowhere, I stumbled upon a fashion edit of…flip flops. It is too early in the morning for this, I thought to myself. (Okay, it was 3 p.m., but it’s never a good time to discover that flip flops may be coming back in style.) Fashion is apparently ready to make flip flops happen: Brands like Isabel Marant, Zimmermann, and Proenza Schouler—brands that I generally like—have these monstrosities in their spring lineups. And Vogue is telling me I should “give this silhouette of the past a second chance.” No thanks. Hard pass. When I’ve shared this hot take/correct opinion with others, they’ve asked if this applies to all sandals and slides. And no, it does not. For the purposes of this discussion, I’m talking about thong flip flops, which take the ugly shoe trend (one I can otherwise totally get behind) way, way too far. As I write this at a coffee shop, multiple people surrounding me are wearing thong sandals. Admittedly, I live in Venice (the Los Angeles variety), which is basically the last place you should live if you want to avoid people wearing flip flops. A couple of them have slid their flip flops off, and are now barefoot. In public. The noise flip flops make is a death knell for my libido. It’s like every uncomfortable encounter I’ve ever had with another human turned into sound.
Seitan is the devilishly-healthy vegetarian meat alternative we’re all sleeping on
March 26, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC Real talk: Even the most devoted vegans or vegetarians might find themselves craving something “meaty” from time to time. And while alt-meat options have honestly never been better, sometimes it’s really easy to get into a food rut when you have more limited dietary options than most. (I mean, there’s only so much tofu a person can eat before getting sick of it, right?) Enter seitan (pronounced say-tan)—a plant-based protein option that’s often used as a fake meat dupe. “Seitan in a relatively new term for a centuries’ old plant-based protein made from wheat protein, aka wheat gluten,” says Maggie Moon, MS, RD, and author of The MIND Diet. It’s been a staple in Asian diets for years, Moon says, and it has been historically popular among Buddhists, since they’re often vegetarians. “It’s different from tofu and tempeh because it is not made from soy, making it a great alternative for vegans and vegetarians with a soy allergy,” adds Maggie Michalczyk, MS, RD. Cool…so is seitan good for you? In a word, yes. “Seitan contains more protein than most other vegan protein sources,” says Michalczyk. For example, 100 grams of seitan has around 22 grams of protein, while an equivalent amount of firm tofu has only 7 grams. However, seitan isn’t a complete protein—it lacks the amino acids lysine and threonine, says Michalczyk. As with other incomplete vegetarian protein sources, she suggests pairing seitan with other foods like beans to make sure you’re getting enough
Trust your gut and skip the big salad before working out
March 26, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC As someone who works out almost every single day, I’m well-aware of how to make sure I’m ready to get my sweat on. The most important thing? Being properly fueled. I’m one of those people who just can’t work out on an empty stomach. I’ll feel too weak! But in terms of what I snack on pre-sweat sesh, that’s taken some experimenting to figure out. It was only recently that I came across a shocking revelation: Despite being generally nutritious, salads are actually not the best pre-workout option. Every time I’ve eaten a salad shortly before a workout, I instantly regret it—my stomach feels crampy and bloated and all-around uncomfortable. I asked a nutritionist about it, and she confirmed my feelings. “Salad is A) raw, which means it’s hard to digest before a workout,” says Gabriela Peacock, clinical nutritionist and founder of GP Nutrition. “B) It doesn’t include protein that’s important for your blood sugar balance and muscle recovery.” Unless you’re adding protein in some other form, that is. Because salad can be so complex—not to mention filled with fibrous leafy veggies—they take a lot of time and energy for your body to digest. “Salad takes anything between 45 and 90 minutes to be digested, depending on the type of leaf and vegetables used,” says Peacock. “Also, by the word ‘salad’ one could mean lettuce with some protein, which would take much longer to be broken down—two to three hours, approximately.” Try to run
Butt workouts gas me up, so I asked an exercise psychologist to explain why
March 26, 2019 at 01:10PM by CWC For far too long, I fell into the propagated trap of believing that adding strength training to my workout routine would make me “bulky,” “too strong,” and other labels traditionally deemed “unfeminine.” Then a friend put a pair of dumbbells in my hands and taught me how to do a front squat—and just like that—my sweat life changed for the better. Now I pair cardio with strength circuits that rotate muscle groups each workout. Lower-body days remain my favorite by far. Why? Quite frankly, butt workouts (e.g., lunges, squats, and fire hydrants) make me feel like I’m slaying nonstop. I couldn’t put my finger on why I feel a burst of self-love every time I feel my glutes engaged (honestly, even writing that down seems worthy of an LOL), so I asked Hillary Cauthen, Psy.D, of Association for Applied Sport Psychology to shed some light on the subject. According to her, my reaction is due to a combination of factors. “You are experiencing a physical reaction to the workout,” says Dr. Cauthen. “The physical benefits you gain throughout the workout are providing a chemical reaction in your brain letting you know this feels good. The endorphin rush.” That is, my body’s chemical response to the workout is seriously gassing up my perception of my derriere. “Glute-based activities may give you a boost in confidence due to how you or others, specifically women, have been socialized about the importance of body image and areas
The skin-care ingredients that hail from Mexico and add a glow to complexions
March 26, 2019 at 12:56PM by CWC The beauty spotlight has shone brightly on countries around the world. Should you love water-based beauty products, turn to French pharmacies. Perhaps you enjoy pampering yourself with 10-steps at night, in which case K-beauty principles are in order. Or maybe you want mineral-rich formulas, in which case Icelandic products are definitely your go-to. However, Mexico also happens to be richly populated with some of the best skin-boosting ingredients in the world like corn, cocoa, and tamarind. “Mexico enjoys a privileged geographical location that gives life to an incredibly rich biodiversity,” says Adriana Ruano, founder of the Mexican beauty brand Vervan. “The plants and fruits that grow from this soil were discovered by its earliest settlers, and have been experimented with through the years to promote a healthy lifestyle.” Ruano’s had experience with this firsthand. “I grew up attached to my mother and grandmother who were wonderful cooks, and it was normal to create our own preserves, clothes, and ointments,” she tells me. “That’s how I became interested in artisanal processes, to create using my hands and natural ingredients.” As such, she harvests native Mexican pants for her handcrafted skin-care line. Here, four ingredients you’ll find throughout Vervan. Maize “Maize is a source of ferulic acid that’s converted to ethyl ferulate, which has demonstrated activity to protect phospholipid membranes from UV-induced peroxidation,” says Ruano. (That essentially means it protects against free radical damage on your skin.) “It’s effective to protect your skin from redness
There’s a scientific reason why certain food textures are dealbreakers
March 26, 2019 at 12:47PM by CWC I wouldn’t call myself picky when it comes to food texture. Bring on the gooey (okra), the chewy (taffy), and the mushy (week-old bananas). I’m here for all of it. Others are more particular. In recent months, I’ve seen friends reject a smorgasbord of delicious eats—including pizza crust, eggplants, and oranges—all in the name of a weird “mouthfeel.” So I went on an internet quest of find out why, exactly, textures can make or break an otherwise palatable meal. I quickly stumbled upon food rheology—the science of finding appetizing “food structures,” the building blocks of texture. How ingredients feel in your mouth proves so consequential that those in the food industry often consult specialists, reports The Guardian. While researchers don’t yet know each and every factor that goes into affinity (of lack therof) for, say, pineapple, part of it is cultural. Westerners tend to dislike slimy delicacies, but many people raised in other parts of the world couldn’t be bothered. Even though the why is still a big question, scientists have broken successfully broken down the various texture groups. In 2011, food sensory researchers from the Understanding and Insight Group, came up with four paradigms of “mouth behavior,” according to Popular Science. So now, you can chock up your disgust for apple sauce or smoothies to the fact that you’re more of a “cruncher.” Are you a chewer, a cruncher, a sucker, or a smoosher? Learn your food texture type. Chewers: Those who love