January 15, 2019 at 12:06PM by CWC It’s hard out here for an introvert. At work, at school, with friends, and even around immediate family, the world seems designed to recognize and reward the things that don’t come naturally to people who identify as introverts—and overlook, or even dismiss outright, the things that do. (Did anybody else’s parents ever stress about the fact that you preferred reading Nancy Drew in your room to playing with your fellow tiny humans? Just me? Cool.) “In our society, there seems to be an emphasis on the idea of ‘get out there and show what you’ve got,’ rather than ‘stay in and develop what you’ve got,’” says Laurie Helgoe, Ph.D., a psychologist, associate professor of behavioral sciences at the Ross University School of Medicine, and author of Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength. That can make it tough for introverts, who tend to focus on what’s happening internally instead of on their external surroundings, to find their niche. But what does it mean to be an introvert? Well, it’s complicated. Generally, introverts are energized from time alone rather than social time and are more focused on what’s happening internally (thoughts and feelings) instead of their external surroundings and what others are doing. This tendency to hold back and stay in makes many people dismiss introverts as “aloof,” “reserved,” or “shy.” But not all introverts are shy, and not all extroverts are outgoing. “Shyness refers to social reticence, while introversion refers
Category: 2019 Health
Here’s why high-fiber diets are all the rage—and how to beat the bloat
January 15, 2019 at 12:05PM by CWC Another week, another new study touting the benefits of a high-fiber diet. Fiber may not be the sexiest nutrient, but with all its superpowers—from lowering inflammation to boosting metabolism—it certainly proves itself as of the most vital when it comes to keeping your body in top form. The World Health Organization recently published the findings of a study that suggests increased fiber intake is linked to reduced risk for stroke, heart disease, breast cancer, and diabetes. Pretty major! According to the study, the target is about 25 to 29 grams of fiber a day. But there’s a common roadblock that confronts people trying to include more fiber in their diets: bloating. Whether you up your fiber in the form of grain bowls or salads, bloat can be counted on to rear its ugly head. It’s a complaint fiber queen and The F-Factor Diet founder Tanya Zuckerbrot, RD, is all too familiar with. Fortunately, she has plenty of tips. “If you’re not used to eating a lot of fiber, add it in slowly,” she says. “Think of fiber like a sponge in your gut. It swells up, and too much too fast can lead to distress and bloating. By adding a little bit each day, you can build up tolerance to more fiber. Any potential bloating or distress goes away once your digestive tract adapts to the recommended amount of fiber.” To combat bloat, you’ll need to drink plenty of water, shooting for three liters each
The key to keeping your winter coat from turning into a petri dish post sweat sesh
January 15, 2019 at 11:41AM by CWC During a super-sweaty workout, gym clothes can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and mildew. (That might sound dramatic and icky, but it’s true.) And when you’re trying to avoid the cost of dry cleaning your winter coat (or washing it yourself on the regular), this poses a problem: how to keep your jacket from turning into a petri dish after, say, a hot yoga class. The solution to this particular post-workout winter issue? A third piece made out of moisture-wicking fabric (technical fibers that pull sweat from the body to the garment’s surface and help it evaporate faster than a Tabata workout). Ideally said garment also contains antimicrobial or anti-odor properties (which destroy the growth of odor-causing bacteria). Take Microban, for example. Outdoor Voices uses fleece treated with antimicrobial technology to help the fabric dry faster and control odor because, as the company’s founder Tyler Haney puts it: “After all that endorphinning, the last thing you need is to feel uncomfortable.” These types of technical fabrics are designed for heavy perspiration during high-intensity activities, but adding such a layer between your workout clothes and winter jacket will help keep it dry and create a barrier between it and bacteria. Bigger brands from Nike, Alo, and Lululemon, as well as niche labels like Nagnata, LNDR, and Live The Process, have sporty zip-ups, cozy crews, and hoodies on lock. But it’s also possible to now find transitional, sweat-wicking designs that look downright cool off-duty made from the performance
I went on a “recovery retreat” and it changed the way I feel about going hard at the gym
January 15, 2019 at 11:06AM by CWC Here’s my favorite part about the weekend: I have so much time to play at the gym. I can hop on the treadmill and practice my handstand on the indoor turf. I can pretend like I know what’s going on in the weight room or pop in on a 70s-style aerobics class (with truly inspired dance moves to “YMCA”) just for kicks. Since I keep my muscles guessing on Saturday and Sunday though, I place recovering extra-high on my list of priorities, and hear me on this, the tech that’s popping up nowadays for this explicit purpose is cool AF (and okay, the OG methods aren’t bad either). So in the name of research, I spent this weekend on a something I’ve deemed a “recovery retreat.” Gathering together my foam roller, lacrosse ball, and PowerDot ($299)—an electric muscle stimulating device that promises to fast-forward your recovery, and reduce soreness—in one place, I got ready to loosen up my bod from the intense activities they’re forced to go through on the reg. Case in point: To finish Friday on a sweaty note, I changed into my leggings after work and met my friend—a trainer—at the gym for an hour of strength training. Many pushups, Bulgarian split squats (the move s-t-r-a-i-g-h-t from hell), and chest presses later, my entire muscular system felt like it was running on a battery of about 5 percent. I schlepped myself home, showered, and tried to ascertain which extremity hurt the most. My quads, I thought—no
Ever get hairy zits? A derm explains what this means
January 15, 2019 at 08:38AM by CWC As someone who’s dealt with acne for half of my life, I’ve seen it manifest itself in an entertaining variety of ways. Whiteheads and blackheads are form I’m very familiar (you could even say intimate) with. I’ve also got a strong relationship with hormonal acne and all of the various cysts it rears its head with. And I’ve even seen body acne. You can’t really stump me with pimples. But then I stumbled upon a Reddit Skin-care subthread about zits with hair. Excusez-moi? “I saw something coming out of my acne—it looked like face hair. I never noticed this before, can someone advise what type of acne this is?” the user writes. Fair question. Hair growing out of zits is apparently a thing—not to be confused with moles. The interesting thing I learned, however, is that these aren’t exactly zits at all. “They’re zit doppelgängers,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Danbury, Connecticut. “It’s more of a cystic, inflammatory reaction to a hair.” If you’re experiencing this breed of “pimple,” you’ll notice it’s either an ingrown hair or that it’s particularly sharp, according to Dr. Gohara. “Something about these create an inflammatory response in the skin.” And so that gives off the illusion that you’re facing a zit that grows its own strands of hair (impressive, but no thanks). So what can you do if you don’t exactly want that on your face? The secret is to treat it with retinol (what doesn’t retinol
There are millions of yoga videos on YouTube, but these are our 5 favorite instructors
January 15, 2019 at 08:16AM by CWC If you can’t be bothered to leave the house for a yoga class, that’s cool. You don’t have to. Countless yoga videos exist online and they don’t cost a nickel. But with so many options available on the platform, it can be tricky to find the best YouTube yoga instructor—someone you want to hang with in your living room on Saturday morning. Since the dawn of YouTube, women have been killing it in the digital yoga space, with each instructor offering something a little different. Whether you’re into high-power quickie workouts that fit into a lunch break or you’re seeking all things restorative, look no further for your go-to instructor. Meet our 5 favorite yoga instructors on YouTube [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7xsYgTeM2Q?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281] 1. Adriene Mishler of Yoga with Adriene Adriene Mishler has been sharing her love of yoga on YouTube for more than six years, giving fans everything from typical flows to yoga that can help combat health issues such as acid reflux and neck pain. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6wGImCxASA?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281] 2. Briohny Smyth of Yoga with Briohny You might recognize Briohny Smyth from Alo Yoga’s YouTube videos, but about seven months ago she started posting videos to her own channel seven months ago. She offers a variety of at-home workouts, often including tips for performing some of the more complicated poses. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBIZFYNHvXA?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281] 3. Tara Stiles of Stråla Yoga It’ll take some dedication to get through Tara Stiles’ 10 years of video uploads. Whether you need a quick flow to relax after a long day
“I’m a vegan who hates salad. Here’s what I eat instead”
January 15, 2019 at 07:50AM by CWC I grew up in the Midwest, where in my experience, a meal isn’t a meal unless there’s meat. And that was my M.O. until 2016, when I watched a speech about the food industry from animal rights activist Gary Yourofsky that left me totally gut-wrenched. I decided I had to completely shift the way I ate, and went vegan at the start of 2017. Surprisingly, the meat- and cheese-less lifestyle wasn’t as hard—or as boring!—as I thought it would be. I started getting creative with my meals, falling in love with ingredients I had never even heard of before (hello, nutritional yeast) and experimenting with vegan ways to recreate my favorite foods. Because while yes, my fridge is filled with kale, I still love eating pasta, pizza, burgers, and BBQ wings. They just look a little differently than they used to. Now two years later, my go-tos are dishes that fill me up, make me feel good, and are full of ingredients that fuel and energize me throughout my day. And while I do eat a salad here and there, I’m definitely not the type of person who’s going to eat one every single day…or even once a week, for that matter. (It’s not my favorite! Don’t sue me!) Here’s exactly what you can find me munching on instead. Here’s everything I eat as a vegan, from “cheeseburgers” to pancakes. Monday Breakfast: Food for Life’s Ezekiel sprouted whole grain English muffin with peanut butter I love eating something warm right
The very smallest thing 22 people do for self care
January 15, 2019 at 07:30AM by CWC Many evenings before bed, I dim the lights, light a candle, and listen to lullaby-esque instrumental versions of Red Hot Chili Peppers songs by a group called Rockabye Baby! (They also produce baby-friendly bedtime renditions of everything from David Bowie and Beyoncé to Hamilton.) For me, listening to familiar songs that replace pounding drums and a shredding guitar with a gentle xylophone and the occasional slide whistle is self care. In that vein, a self-care routine doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming or really require any serious life changes. The most important feature of it is to simply exist. And often, it’s the very simple, very personalized things we do that have the biggest impact on our sense of well-being—especially if we take the time to recognize the benefits. Need some inspo for your own routine? I asked 22 busy people, “What’s the smallest thing you do for self care?” Here are there answers. 22 small acts of self care that make a huge difference in happiness. Photo: Getty Images/PhotoAltoFrederic-Cirou 1. Rewatching content “I watch movies I’ve seen before, or episodes of television shows that I’ve seen before. I’m often spiraling down a dark and seemingly endless well of unknowing, and so I find it really calming to watch something knowing exactly what awaits.” —Hanif Abdurraqib, poetry editor at Muzzle Magazine and author of They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us 2. Making perfect soft-boiled eggs “I use my egg machine to soft-boil
Does reading spark joy for you? Thousands of books are now available to download for free
January 15, 2019 at 07:22AM by CWC Any bookworm understands the struggle of storing hundreds—if not thousands—of their favorite stories. Unless you’re #blessed with a Beauty and the Beast-style library, books spend their lives on closet shelves, in cabinets, under the bed—basically anywhere you can squeeze them until the next reread. But if reading sparks joy for you, there’s a new way to keep your favorite book close and still maintain an organized (Marie Kondo-approved) home. Thousands of books were just added to the public domain, meaning you can download them to your e-reader free of charge. According to Motherboard, books—as well as movies and songs—that were published between 1923 and 1977 remain under copyright for 95 years. As of January 1, works from 1923 are available, including plenty of noteworthy classics by Robert Frost, Virginia Woolf, Winston S. Churchill, E. E. Cummings, and Agatha Christie. One of the most impressive digital libraries, HathiTrust offers more than 50,000 books from 1923 alone. You can also download from Read Print, The Literature Network, and Authorama. And if you’re not into classics, don’t worry: Just borrow digital copies of newer e-books and audiobooks straight from your local public library. Technology is a pretty great thing, huh? By storing some books on your e-reader, you’ll be able to enjoy your beloved hobby from anywhere while at the same time keeping the clutter at bay. You can now use your Kindle in the bathtub. Or, find out if “night shift” modes on your electronics really help you sleep better.
Exclusive: Briogeo is getting into the wellness game with an essential oil drop
January 15, 2019 at 06:59AM by CWC It’s happening: Clean hair-care brand Briogeo is segueing into the wellness category in an effort to bring a more comprehensive selection of non-toxic goodies to your beauty arsenal. Known already for their game-changing shampoos, conditioners, and hairstyling treatments that are concocted using only good-for-you ingredients, the brand is now offering an organic, multi-functional carrier and essential oil to round out your regimen. B. Well, Briogeo’s new line, launches today at Sephora and on Briogeo’s website with two products—a castor oil ($26) and an Australian tea tree oil ($32). Both are meant to be used all over: for your skin, your hair, and your body. “Briogeo has always been an ingredient-conscious brand and has aimed to create clean and highly effective products—it’s really a lifestyle story that we’ve been telling, but through the lens of hair care,” says Nancy Twine, the brand’s founder and CEO. “We know personal care and wellness is a lot more than just hair care, so the idea of creating B. Well was to allow us to really take our ingredient methodology and apply to other really important wellness products.” “We know personal care and wellness is a lot more than just hair care, so the idea of creating B. Well was to allow us to really take our ingredient methodology and apply to other really important wellness products.” —Nancy Twine And with that, she came up with two cold-pressed oils that allow her to “tip toe” into the category—and Twine