November 14, 2018 at 08:16AM What’s harder than giving up food for eight, 16, or even 24 hours? Asking a coffee drinker to give up their morning cup. (Or two. Or three.) But apparently that’s the deal when you’re intermittent fasting. Depending on the plan you’re following, there are often strict rules about what you can and cannot consume during a fasting period in order to enjoy the promised benefits of more energy, less brain fog, and healthy weight management. And surely, drinking something as delicious as coffee is “cheating,” right? Well, not exactly. I posed these questions to Nora Minno, RD, and to Josh Axe, a doctor of natural medicine, to get the deets. The good news: Neither expert gave coffee a hard no for anyone doing intermittent fasting—but it did come with some caveats. If you’re using IF primarily to help with weight management, Minno says straight coffee shouldn’t interfere with your goals because it has nearly zero cals (a plain cup of brewed coffee has less than 5). It also won’t take you out of ketosis (the state where your body is burning fat instead of carbs for fuel), which is great news if you’re on the keto diet and want to incorporate IF. But once you start adding in anything more caloric to your coffee, like milk or MCT oil, that’s more of a no-go. “Technically, when you’re fasting, you’re not supposed to eat anything,” Dr. Axe says. And some more elaborate coffee drinks can come packed with calories—even Bulletproof coffee
Category: 2019 Health
Spotify’s Apple Watch app is here, but there’s a hitch for runners
November 14, 2018 at 08:14AM Despite the Apple Watch’s ever-evolving smart technology (it can track your heart health and help diagnose thyroid issues), runners have long lamented the absence of one simple, much-desired feature: Spotify compatibility. And while today Apple (finally!) released the music-streaming app for the Apple Watch, you still won’t be able to stream your go-to playlist offline without bringing your phone along for the mileage, too. Rather than allowing you to run hands-free into the sunset with just your bluetooth headset and your watch, the Spotify app really just acts as a smaller remote for controlling what’s playing on your phone or speakers while you’re online, reports Tech Crunch. Still good for directing your cooking playlist while you’re prepping for Thanksgiving dinner, but you can’t (yet, at least) can’t download Drake’s latest album then leave your phone at home to stream it on-the-go. The good news? Spotify has confirmed that future updates will let you jam out anywhere (WiFi or no WiFi). So there will be a day when the wearable wipes out the need to bring your phone along at all. Until then though, the new feature could make your at-home workout habit that teensiest easier. Because hey, if you decide you hate a song mid-burpee, you could theoretically hit the skip button on your wrist mid-jump. Here’s how to DJ your runs to crush every workout. And if you’re in the market for fresh pair of running shoes, here are our editors’ favorites. Continue Reading… Author Kells McPhillips |
The simple exercise Hilaria Baldwin swears by for super-toned arms
November 14, 2018 at 07:41AM When it comes to arm workouts, the options are endless. Using resistance bands, weights, you name it, you’re able to work toward that all-over toned look. Despite there being a number of totally effective options available, one of the best doesn’t require a single piece of equipment: push-ups. And yoga phenom Hilaria Baldwin, for one, swears by ’em by for developing impressive strength without putting too much stress on the rest of your body. Those standard push-ups, done from a plank position, are a great way to work your entire body; but the celebrity yogi actually prefers taking the from-the-knee route—especially for those just starting out. Don’t be fooled, though, into thinking the modification will make things easy. By the time you’re finished, your body will likely feel the burn. “Everyone’s afraid of push-ups, and it’s because we kind of just go for it. Doing push-ups on your knees is actually a really great way to make you strong,” Baldwin tells Today of why knee push-ups aren’t to be discounted. Proper form is vital for getting the most out of your workout, so follow Baldwin’s outline for the perfect push-up: First get on your hands and knees and draw your navel in toward your spine with all your fingers facing forward. Then, make sure the insides of your elbows are facing forward as well. “As you bend down, your elbows are going to bend back. Keep your shoulders connected to your back, long through the back of the neck. You
Let neon knits light the dark days ahead
November 14, 2018 at 07:26AM Here’s a bright idea for you. Now that it’s dark at 5 p.m. (thanks, Daylight Saving Time), be the light you want to see in this world by wearing neon knitwear. The DayGlo trend that got its start this summer has resurfaced this fall as cozy clothing in fluorescent shades. High-voltage hues add an element of surprise to otherwise basic pieces such as beanies or boxy sweaters like this electric crewneck. The key to pulling off neons is to wear them with confidence and not be afraid to shine. That being said, you can tone down any tone by pairing it with light-wash jeans and simple white sneakers or boots. You can also amp up the wow-factor with a full-on monochromatic outfit. For the latter, keep it in the color family but play with different textures, like velvet or corduroy to make things interesting. Either way, neon knits are one cure for the seasonal doldrums and general feelings of meh that can set in this time of year. It’s like color therapy for your closet. Get the look Photo: Anthropologie Anthropologie Wilhelmina Pullover, $98 Available in sizes XS to XL Photo: Banana Republic Banana Republic Sloan Skinny-Fit Solid Ankle Pant, $90 Available in sizes 0 to 20 Photo: Zara Zara Soft Feel Oversized Sweater, $40 Available in sizes S to L Photo: Agolde Agolde Riley Hi Rise Straight Crop Corduroy in Tabasco, $168 Available in sizes 23 to 30 Photo: Asos Asos Weekday Balloon Sleeve Open Weave Knit
That never-ending breakout on your chin? Yeah, it might not be hormonal acne after all
November 14, 2018 at 06:02AM Shortly after my 30th birthday, during a particularly stressful time at work, I found myself with a breakout of epic proportions. (Like, call-in-sick-so-nobody-has-to-see-me bad.) So I recruited the big guns: glycolic acid face wash, prescription retinol, and antibacterial spot treatments. But no matter how many new acne products I tried—and I tried a lot in my panicked state—my skin just kept getting bumpier and more inflamed, especially on the lower half of my face. A dermatologist prescribed me a steroid cream, which helped to a certain extent, but things never fully cleared up. For the next five years, my chin was perpetually red and covered in pimples of varying size and severity, which I blamed on stress and hormones. That is, until I went to see a new dermatologist at the end of last year, who took one look at me and told me that I wasn’t actually dealing with acne at all. Instead, she gave me an unfamiliar diagnosis: perioral dermatitis. Peri-what? “Perioral dermatitis is inflammation around the mouth that appears as small, red bumps that can be itchy or uncomfortable,” explains New York City dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, who notes that it’s often mistaken for acne. “This is very common in my practice—[I see] at least 8 patients a day with this condition.” No one actually knows what causes perioral dermatitis, which is found most often in women under 45, or why it only tends to affect the lower half of the face.
Exclusive: How Arianna Huffington course-corrects stress in just one minute
November 14, 2018 at 04:00AM Arianna Huffington’s list of accomplishments is at least as long as the total amount of hours she’s spent asleep (which is to say, a lot). And with her latest venture Rise & Thrive, a partnership between Thrive Global (Huffington’s enterprise for tackling burnout) and WeWork (a global network of coworking spaces), the superstar entrepreneur-slash-author is channeling all of her expert intel into one mission: Making workplace culture more wellness-minded. The first step of the partnership will be an immersive, all-day experience on January 19th at Rise by We in New York City ($299), where participants will become quick studies on how to keep well-being top of mind, even if they spend 40-plus hours a week at their desk. “By bringing together both of our communities, we have the unique opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind wellness experience for more people, allowing them to pursue personal growth for a sustainable and enhanced quality of life,” says Avi Yehiel, head of wellness at WeWork. If you’re not located in NYC, you can still benefit from Huffington’s wisdom, because she shared her thoughts on how to live your best, wellness-infused life with us. Below, Arianna Huffington talks the future of mental health, how to boss your to-do list, and more. View this post on Instagram At the #ManovaSummit with @SleepNumber CEO Shelly Ibach, who introduced me. She is a friend, a @Thrive partner, and a true pioneer in bringing science and innovation to sleep. Love her mantra: “Sleep well, dream big.” As she
Can weighted blankets quell bedtime anxiety? I tried one to find out
November 14, 2018 at 02:00AM In case you’ve missed the kicker of every mattress commercial ever, here’s an existential crisis-inducing fact for you: Everyone spends about one-third of their lives either asleep or tossing and turning in an attempt to do so. I’d be willing to bet that, for me at least, the split between struggle and success lands at about 50/50. Even though I take a nightly five-milligram dose of melatonin, a combination of work and school (I’m earning my MFA on the side) has made my pre-snooze anxiety flare up lately. And when I turned to the sleep-tech industry to see if any solutions out there could rekindle my committed relationship with Mr. Sandman, one option stood out. Enter weighted blankets: Quilted cocoons designed with “deep pressure touch” (DPT) that has been found to decrease anxiety, improve sleep quality in insomniacs, and act as an aid in soothing children with autism. Though many companies now sell this peak hygge snooze aid, I’d heard the most about Gravity Blankets, so I decided to put the company’s space grey blanket, which costs $320, to the test. The first decision I make is to select how heavy a blanket I want to drape over my comforter for the course of the experiment. Mike Grillo, Gravity’s co-founder and president, advises choosing an option that weighs in at about 7–12 percent of my body weight. And since I sit squarely between the 15-pound and 20-pound options, I go ahead and size up. When the blanket arrives about a week
Veggie-crunching and lip-smacking videos are the ASMR obsession that has got to stop
November 14, 2018 at 01:00AM When ASMR, or autonomous sensory meridian response, first started to gain traction a few years back, I’ll admit I was skeptical. ASMR describes the feeling you get when certain sounds produce a relaxation effect—some folks even explain it as a tingling sensation, or a brain orgasm. I was more likely to describe it as giving me the heebie-jeebies. There was something unnerving to me about hearing someone whisper into a microphone while rubbing their hands across a balloon or untangling earphones or applying makeup. But the more I explored, the more the videos broke me down, and I started to understand. I’ll even admit to feeling kind of relaxed when listening to a woman whisper while running her fingers over the bristle of a brush. This was all good and fine (but, like, honestly still pretty weird) when noises were limited to innocuous tappings and crinkles—but then things went haywire. Unceremoniously, feathers on a microphone and fingernails drumming against food-storage containers gave way to far less ear-pleasing sounds when I came upon…wait a sec, I have close my eyes and focus on not gagging. Okay, …when I came upon food-noise videos. Yep, YouTubers are combining mukbangs, the South Korea-born trend of eating a large quantity of food and livestreaming it to millions (millions!), with ASMR. Suddenly, instead of soft, comforting noises, I was visually and sonically assaulted with gulps from a straw or the wet chewing of a cheeseburger. There are no shortage of extreme crunch
Yes, You Can Save to Buy a House and Still Live Your Best Life
November 13, 2018 at 06:30PM Whether you’re currently scouring the market for your dream home or it’s still a few years down the road, saving up for your first real house can seem like an incredibly daunting task. Michelle A. Alvarado, a Home Lending Officer at Citi, understands the fear that oftentimes accompanies this important life moment, but points out that preparing to buy your first home doesn’t have to compete with your wellness habits—actually, it’s helpful to think of the process as something that will benefit them. “Home ownership can provide a rewarding experience and boost your overall wellness meter,” Alvarado says. “What better way to relax than to meditate in your own garden, or have a cold drink on your balcony on a warm day? These are the sweet rewards of saving for home ownership.” It’s official: Your wellness routine and home owning aren’t mutually exclusive. To find out how all that works, Alvarado is sharing four things to keep in mind if you want to save up for a home (and still aim to have the freedom to live your best life). Keep reading for Alvarado’s 4 key tips for saving for your first home—without sacrificing Sunday brunch. 1. Make a list of priorities Are you looking to buy a home tomorrow? Do you want to live closer to family? Do you mind driving or prefer a shorter commute? These are some questions Alvarado suggests mulling over prior to executing a savings plan. The same thing goes
If your brain is better at imploding than computation, you might suffer from math trauma
November 13, 2018 at 01:10PM In high school, I was far more likely to be geeking out about the Orwellian significance 2+2=5 than any equation actually presented in the pages of a real algebra textbook. Sure, my interests skewed more bookish than binomial, but that was largely because math made me feel bad about myself—it straight-up stressed me out. And as it turns out, there’s an actual term for the “I just suck at math” mentality that makes your heartbeat quicken at the mere thought of a fraction: math trauma. “Math trauma stems from an event, a series of events, or a set of circumstances experienced by an individual as harmful or threatened such that there are lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and well-being in the perceived presence of mathematics,” Kasi Allen, PhD, a math activist (yes, math activist), tells Creative Maths. This is why the dreaded timed division tests of your youth have literally scarred you into never straying from your smartphone calculator when it comes time to split the bill. That timed division test of your youth may have literally scarred you into never straying from your smartphone calculator when it comes time to split the bill. Research has shown that those affected by this trauma are dominantly female, low-income, and nonwhite. And while scientists don’t yet know the exact cause of the trauma, it’s believed that both gender and racial stereotypes play a role. As a remedy, Dr. Allen recommends first acknowledging that you suffer from the trauma. Then, Jennifer Ruef,