July 23, 2019 at 12:40PM by CWC All throughout the day, there are certain things I try to keep at the top of my mind for the sake of my health: Drink water, have good posture, and take breaks to look at photos of my puppy. All equally important. But the one I consistently have trouble doing is… not sitting or walking around as if I’m Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. (He’s a big-time sloucher, in case you forgot.) Besides putting a Post-it note in front of my face reminding me to put my shoulders back and my chin up, I’m looking for some legit advice on making sure I am a properly upright being. So I went straight to the source: a chiropractor, aka the guy who deals with the fallout of having bad posture way too often. We could all use these tips, because our spine goes through the ringer thanks to sitting at a desk all day. Keep scrolling for the three worst things you can do for your posture, according to a chiropractor. ad_intervals[‘410193_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410193_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); 1. Stare at screens Chances are you’ve heard of “tech neck,” because it’s essentially an epidemic these days—just count how many people you almost run into on the street because they’re staring down at their phones. “Most people who spend 10 hours a day on their computer at work do it again as soon as they get home—very few people shut it off,” says
Category: 2019 Health
Is ginger the new turmeric? This RD thinks so
July 23, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPlmYyQo5Jc] If I were to compare the world’s various superfoods to the Spice Girls members (because why not), I’d say that ginger is to turmeric what Ginger (Spice) was to Posh: a just-as-talented, oft-overlooked member of the team. And given that the Spice Girls got a reunion tour in 2019, we’re here to say that ginger deserves some renewed attention as well. In the latest episode of Well+Good’s series You Versus Food, Tracy Lockwood-Beckerman, RD, argues that while ginger isn’t as buzzy as her it-girl cousin turmeric, the many benefits offered by the traditional remedy (which has over five thousand years of experience on its resume) make it a worthy part of anyone’s wellness arsenal. ad_intervals[‘409856_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409856_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); The biggest benefit of ginger: like turmeric, the plant is proven to help fight inflammation. “Studies have shown ginger to be effective in decreasing inflammation, swelling, and pain, thanks to a compound called gingerol,” Beckerman says. “Gingerol is a bio-active compound in ginger which has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant affects.” This is a pretty great perk, considering how long-term inflammation is associated with serious health issues like allergies, skin conditions, and chronic disease. Beckerman adds that research has also shown that ginger can help fight nausea. Good to know before your next car trip. But skip the ginger ale, Beckerman says, if you’re looking for a queasiness cure—it doesn’t contain enough ginger to have the
We found the survey psychologists use to determine if you’re a narcissist
July 23, 2019 at 11:35AM by CWC Once in a blue moon (or, in this case, a Mercury retrograde), paranoia creeps up on me and I start to wonder, “Am I narcissistic without knowing it?” After all, Draco Malfoy would probably scoff at such an accusation. Same, same with other literary narcissists like Tom Buchanan, Patrick Bateman, and Dorian Gray. I’m not making obnoxiously self-important statements (“My father will hear about this!”), but it’s still a concern of mine. So, for the sake of self-discovery, I took the quiz psychologists use to determine if a given patient is, indeed, an IRL narcissist. There’s no singular dead-giveaway that you possess this particular trait of the “dark triad.” Instead, psychologists use the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ), an 18 question framework created by professors to reveal your true colors. NARQ measures narcissism based on two positively correlated dimensions: admiration and rivalry. In narcissists, these two qualities show up differently than they do in an average person. The quiz separates true narcissists from those who just, like, really want to be famous. ad_intervals[‘410090_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410090_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Using a scale of one through six, you’ll decide how much you agree with the 18 given statements (e.g., “I am great”; “I secretly take pleasure in the failure of my rivals”; and (LOL) “Most people are somehow losers”). Then, use some fourth-grade math class to calculate the mean (your total score divided by 18). The closer
The best hair, makeup, and skin-care tips from true American beauty icons
July 23, 2019 at 11:33AM by CWC Ah, America. Birthplace of chocolate chip cookies and some of the best damn beauty gurus in the industry (and also, Lizzo). In honor of Well+Good’s American Beauty Week, we tapped some of our favorite makeup artists, hairstylists, and skin-care pros in the States to share the most important beauty tip in their arsenal. Think: Makeup tips from Michelle Obama‘s, Beyoncé’s, and Meghan Markle’s makeup artists, skin-care secrets from the founders of some of our favorite brands, and hairstyling hacks from the hands behind some of our favorite red carpet looks of all time. Scroll through to find out what they had to say, and get ready to add a whole lot of new tips to your own American beauty routines. Hair Dry shampoo is a Godsend: “I’m in love with dry shampoo—it’s definitely my number one beauty tip! For my girls with bangs, I love recommending they use Dove Foam Dry Shampoo ($5) because of how you can apply it. With just a dollop, you can rub it in directly at the root to absorb oils that your face naturally secretes. Foam is definitely ideal for bangs because when using a traditional dry shampoo, you need the powders and starches to dry in the air for that millisecond before it hits your scalp. With a foam format, you can apply directly and not have to worry about spraying it over the rest of your face.” – Dove Celebrity Stylist Mark Townsend ad_intervals[‘409079_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function
13 tips to commit to a gym routine when you’d rather be any place else
July 23, 2019 at 09:16AM by CWC Depending on who you ask, it takes between two weeks and 28 days to form a habit that feels like second nature. While that may not seem like a lot of time in theory, in the gym, it can feel like it lasts for a lifetime (speaking from personal experience here). To help you make your way through those 28 sweaty habit-making days ahead, below you’ll find tips from some of the industry’s top fitness instructors. From treating your workouts like board meetings and always having an empowering beat at the ready to bringing a friend along for the ride, these tips will help you refocus your health and wellness intentions to make those habits stick. Keep on scrolling for more intel. How to stick with your gym routine 1. Schedule early morning workouts: “I love to set a time to go early in the day that gives me enough time to get home, get ready, and go about my day with the rest of my plans,” says Rumble Boxing trainer Vicki Chimenti. “I work very well off of a schedule, so if I know there are brunch plans at noon, or I have to work all day, I set a time before that all happens, get it out of the way, and go on with my day.” ad_intervals[‘399514_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399514_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); 2. Workout with a friend: “Having an accountability partner is everything when it
7 brain foods a neuroscientist wants you to eat every day
July 23, 2019 at 08:55AM by CWC When I reach for my fork and chow down, rarely (um, never) do I consider which parts of my body I’m about to nourish. My tastebuds take the wheel and I barely acknowledge that all my organs—from my skin to my liver—are reacting to the macronutrients I’ve put on my plate. Lisa Mosconi, PhD, neuroscientist and author of Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power, argues that when it comes to eating well, the organ you use to think should be top priority. “As a society, we are comfortable with the idea that we feed our bodies, and much less aware that we’re feeding our brains too,” she says. “Parts of the foods we eat will end up being the very fabric of our brains.” Brain-focused nourishment writ large has been on the rise in the wide world of wellness. Nutritional psychiatry has invited the foods we eat to be part of the larger conversation around mental health. And research, including Dr. Mosconi’s, reveals why: What we eat directly affects our cognition. ad_intervals[‘409909_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409909_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); “Put simply: Everything in the brain that isn’t made by the brain itself is ‘imported’ from the food we eat.” —neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi, PhD “To function best, the brain requires around 45 nutrients that are as distinct as the molecules, cells, and tissues they shape. The brain, being radically efficient, makes many of these nutrients itself,
Fitness tech is becoming laser targeted towards recovery
July 23, 2019 at 08:04AM by CWC Remember when the word “recovery” made you think of athletes nursing an injury on the bench? Yeah, me too—but only barely. Because recently, recovery’s been on the tip of workout enthusiasts’ tongues. In tandem with stretching and cool downs—entire studios and sections of the big box gyms are now dedicated to helping us to reap the benefits of a workout, while also getting us back on our feet. So move over, arm day, take it easy leg day…recovery day is here for your job. In Well+Good’s reveal of our 2019 wellness trends, we looked into our crystal ball, and predicted that cortisol-conscious workouts—ones that prioritize lower-impact fitness with an eye on keeping your body from becoming too stressed out—would become the norm. They have, and now fitness tech has become laser-targeted towards recovery, too. Here’s what’s up with that. What’s been going on in the world of fitness technology If you think about it, fitness tech used to be a very different landscape that aimed to push you farther, make you work harder, and train you smarter than ever before. “I would say that when the Nike Fuelband came out in 2012, it really brought on a sensor movement,” says Anthony Katz, founder of Hyperice. “Everyone was trying to put a sensor in everything, like wearables that tracked steps or heart rate or things like that.” ad_intervals[‘408855_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘408855_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); As the trackability of
Why Sarah Michelle Gellar says dessert is an important part of her ‘holistic’ wellness approach
July 23, 2019 at 07:15AM by CWC In the wellness industry, few things are less cool than dessert. Oat milk? Yes. Cauliflower everything? Also, yes. But when it comes to dessert (or anything having to do with sugar) most people would rather do naked hot yoga in Times Square at high noon than own up to the fact that they even eat dessert, much less enjoy it. Which is why I was so pleasantly surprised to hear ’90s icon and Foodstirs co-founder Sarah Michelle Gellar wax poetic about the merits of dessert in a recent interview. “I love dessert, I’m not afraid to love dessert,” she says. “I think we all should have beautiful, sweet things. I’ve never believed in cutting all that out.” She could have said vampires are real and I would have been less surprised. This isn’t a new thing with the actor, either—she says that has always been a part of her overall approach to food. “Obviously I’m known for being athletic, but I’ve always indulged in dessert,” she says. “I would rather have one good, delicious bite of whatever that sweet thing is than a junk-filled trendy version of the opposite. It’s all part of the overall holistic approach to how I take care of my body.” ad_intervals[‘409825_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409825_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); “I would rather have one good, delicious bite of whatever that sweet thing is than a junk-filled trendy version of the opposite. It’s all part
Save your bucks: Derms say these are the biggest beauty scams worth avoiding
July 23, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC If I had a nickel for every time I told my friends not to waste their money on X, Y, or Z expensive skin-care product, I’d be well on my way to becoming a Kylie Jenner-level billionaire. With a capital B. Because let me let you in on one of beauty’s best kept secrets: More money does not equal better products. “Pricey products don’t always translate into effectiveness,” says New York-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. “In fact, many drugstore brands may perform better than expensive ones, since you may be paying for the packaging rather than what is inside.” While there are certainly some things that are worth investing in (I dare you to try and get me to give up the $166 Vitamin C serum I use every morning), there are others that are not, under any circumstances, worth spending a single penny on for the sake of your skin. Take heed: 1. Jade rollers: I love, love, love my jade roller. It helps me relax my jaw (thanks, chronic TMJ) and feels like a true luxury experience every time I use it—especially when I put it in the freezer. But as fantastic as jade rollers are for making you believe you’ve magically transported yourself to a spa, they admittedly don’t do a whole lot for your actual skin. “They definitely make for a good photo op, but the benefits of diligently rolling your face are going to be minimal to zero from
Here’s what happened when a hypnotism skeptic tried a self-hypnosis app
July 23, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC “I make myself comfortable, close my eyes, and calmly breathe in…and out.” “Um, what the actual eff is going on?” I wonder before ripping my headphones from my ears. I was deep into my self hypnosis session using the HypnoBox app—a platform for hypnotizing yourself through a variety of programs or “boxes”—but not deep enough to drown out the sights and sounds of Brooklyn. Even as a hypnotism skeptic, I was intrigued upon learning about the platform, because the boxes cover such a broad selection of targeted options like, “Self Worth,” “Nutrition,” and “Lucid Dreams.” Upon first blush, it seemed that there are few issues you can’t treat by using the app, so I really wanted it to work for me. Here’s how it works: Within those boxes are sessions that send you in and out of a trance while providing “suggestions,” which, ideally lead you to react involuntarily as the hypnotist walks you through different instructions and scenarios. ad_intervals[‘407582_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407582_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); And while many people (at least in my personal life) eye-roll at the potential validity of hypnosis as a real, helpful treatment, in actuality, it’s a regularly called upon tool for retraining the brain and focusing on the subconscious. Why does that matter? Well, according to neuroscientists, our subconscious mind accounts for, oh, you know, just about approximately 95 percent of our cognitive functioning. So, yeah, learning to tap into that