October 25, 2018 at 11:04AM Singer-songwriter Mary Lambert is angry about quite a few things these days—and with good reason. There’s the TBH too-short sentence Bill Crosby received for his sexual assault conviction, Brett Cavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation directly following a hearing to suss out his history of alleged sexual misconduct, and the eerily echoing situation of President Trump’s election on the heels of sexual-assault allegations against him. Now Lambert, whose heart-melting voice you know from her collab with Ryan Lewis and Macklemore on “Same Love,” is channeling that rage percolating in so many women right now. Her just-released second poetry book, Shame Is an Ocean I Swim Across takes on tough-to-talk-about topics—mental health, shame, incest, sexual harassment, rape, LGBT acceptance, body-love, and forgiveness—and imbues them with inspiring power. “Speaking loudly and openly about my experiences is inherently political. I think I find most of the power and activism in the performing and sharing of it.” —Mary Lambert “I don’t know if there’s a universal path for everyone to confront shame and anger,” Lambert tells me. But for her, poetry helps. “The writing process for me is really insular and personal. I don’t feel that the impetus for my writing is rooted in activism, but I do recognize that speaking loudly and openly about my experiences is inherently political. I think I find most of the power and activism in the performing and sharing of it,” she says. Want a preview of how poetry can transform anger and shame into power? Check out a work below from
Category: 2019 Health
The FDA just approved an oral flu treatment that only requires one dose
October 25, 2018 at 09:24AM When flu season rolls around each year, the doctor’s orders are generally the same: Get your vaccine, wash your hands every chance you get, and if you contract the virus anyway, head to your physician’s office stat to see if Tamiflu—or some other treatment—can rid you of the illness. But for the first time in almost 20 years, the Food and Drug Administration just approved a new antiviral prescription for treating the flu that only requires a single dose, a release from the FDA’s newsroom reports. Xofluza ($150, or as little as $30 for insured customers who use a coupon) will be available across the US in the coming weeks, according to the drug’s manufacturer Genentech, reports Time. The drug has been approved for anyone 12 or older within 48 hours of beginning to exhibit flu like symptoms, and unlike other treatments like Tamiflu and Relenza that require taking multiple pills a day, just one Xofluza pill will do the trick. Meaning, no need to interrupt your fever-dream-induced hibernation mode with alarms that remind you to take your medication. “With thousands of people getting the flu every year, and many people becoming seriously ill, having safe and effective treatment alternatives is critical. This novel drug provides an important, additional treatment option.” —Scott Gottlieb, MD, FDA Commissioner In two randomized control trials, researchers tested the efficacy of the new drug by giving 1,832 patients Xofluza, a placebo, or another antiviral treatment within 48 hours of exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Xofluza worked better than the
Pssst… your mucus is trying to tell you something about your health
October 25, 2018 at 08:55AM It’s about that time of year again—the one in which snot seems to feature more prominently than it does in other seasons. (And yes, this article is about to be as sexy as it sounds!) More formally, it’s mucus that we’re talking about here. Nina Shapiro, MD—author of Hype: A Doctor’s Guide to Medical Myths, Exaggerated Claims, and Bad Advice and professor of head and neck surgery at UCLA—describes the stuff as “a slippery material produced by mucous glands in the lining of the entire respiratory tract, including the nose, middle ears, sinuses, throat, trachea, and lungs.” While no one really has positive associations with phlegm, it’s actually a useful substance that serves to keep the tissue moist, while helping to clear bacteria, viruses, dust, pollutants, and allergens, she says. Most of the time, it performs these functions in a low-key manner. You may have to clear it out from time to time—using a tissue and not your finger, because adulting—but it otherwise doesn’t call much attention to itself. Until it does, like when cold and flu season hits full tilt. A change in color or consistency is mucus’ way of telling you to pay attention—and, perhaps, to take action accordingly. Keep reading to get the lowdown on what your snot is saying to you. Photo: Getty Images/Westend 61 Clear So, your mucus should be clear most of the time. However, Dr. Shapiro says that when it becomes visible (read: drippy), it can be a sign
This grab-and-go avocado toast is an adult millennial’s answer to a Lunchable
October 25, 2018 at 08:02AM Back in the day, Lunchables were basically the only type of food ’90s kids wanted to eat. And not just because those build-your-own pizzas and Capri Suns were all sorts of satisfying on school field trips and beyond—also because they were really fun to make. Well, get ready to relive the #goodolddays: There’s a perfect new option for adult millennials to get their fix once again. Sabra—known for their many flavors of hummus—just launched its Breakfast Avocado Toast, which might just be the most genius grab-and-go item of the year. And don’t worry: It’s not already assembled, so you won’t be eating anything soggy. The two components come in a divided container Lunchables-style: a creamy avocado blend—which contains lemon juice, garlic, and other spices—and cracker-like pieces of whole grain toast that up the protein factor with pumpkin seeds, flex seeds, and rolled oats. Not only is this a convenient way to get your avocado toast fix on the fly, but with each pack containing 5 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, and less than 1 gram of added sugar, it’s also a wholesome meal or snack option that’s much healthier than the staple you enjoyed as a youngin’. Plus, the best part about being a grown-up? You can stock up on as many as you want without getting your mom’s permission. Here’s how to give your avocado toast a Halloween makeover. Or, learn how to dye your clothes the perfect shade of millennial pink with avocado seeds. Continue Reading… Author Tehrene
Our legs are burning just thinking about Jessica Alba’s 30-minute treadmill routine
October 25, 2018 at 07:34AM In a dream world, you’d have time to spend an hour in your favorite boutique fitness class or head to the gym without feeling totally rushed every single day. In reality, though? Most days are spent trying to squeeze in some sort of sped-up sweat sesh—something even Jessica Alba is all too familiar with. But she found a way to get her fix and keep up with her jam-packed schedule. When the #girlboss and mom of three is running short on time, there’s one workout that always comes through: hitting up the treadmill for 30 minutes of HIIT. And because she knows there’s plenty of other ladies who are always on the go too, she’s sharing her secrets. After a particularly intense round of cardio, she posted her exact routine—which is super easy to follow—on her Instagram story. View this post on Instagram 30 min cardio -when you you only have 30 min to get it in -check out my stories to get my 30 min interval treadmill cardio. I have bad knees so the incline and treadmill is the only way I can #mombod #momofthree #workout #wellnesswednesday A post shared by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on Oct 24, 2018 at 9:27am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Now, 30 minutes is actually a pretty long time to be on the treadmill if you’re not used to it. With that being said, the HIIT component will give you some time to recover between all the sprints. And don’t worry—there’s also a 5-minute cool-down
Meet coorie, the Scottish concept that takes hygge up a natural notch
October 25, 2018 at 06:16AM You know (and love) the Danish tradition of hygge, which wants you to bask in the most cozy stuff in life. Well, make room in your self-care routine for another buzzy concept, this time from Scotland: coorie. While hygge is about all things comfy in pursuit of happiness, coorie is focused on spending time in nature in order to reconnect. Think: a little less pastel cashmere on a plush couch, a little more tartan on a rolling hill. “A coorie way of life practices small, quiet, slow activities by engaging with our surroundings to feel happy,” says Gabriella Bennett, Scotland native and author of the new book The Art of Coorie. Historically, the word has meant cuddling up or snuggling in, but it’s taken on a life—and lifestyle—of its own. “A coorie way of life practices small, quiet, slow activities by engaging with our surroundings to feel happy.” —Gabriella Bennett, author and coorie expert “It’s about drawing comfort from Scotland’s oldest traditions and updating them for modern times,” she says. Coorie also takes a cue from sustainable and mindful living, looking at how people buy and consume and then trying to simplify. The best thing about coorie? You don’t need to go out and buy extra candles, bath bombs, or fuzzy socks to practice it. “Coorie is about learning to live better using what is around you,” Bennett says. Here’s how you can start living the coorie life today. Photo: Getty Images/michellealbert 1. Embrace the
What Every Marathon Runner Needs to Know the Week Before Race Day
October 25, 2018 at 05:22AM Picture this: You’ve pounded the pavement for months, tracked every mile, and listened to your running playlist about a million times—but you’re still a tad panicked to bust out a full 26.2. As you’re in the home stretch of running a marathon, wouldn’t it be great if a group of elite experts gave you their veteran advice? At ASICS’ perfectly timed “Run Your Best Marathon” panel discussion, that’s exactly what happened. Moderated by sports medicine physician and 34-time marathoner Jordan D. Metzl, MD, the pros talked about everything from hydrating the day before (salty broth does wonders, FYI) to preventing heavy legs in the lead up to the New York City Marathon. “Relax, don’t sweat it. The best thing you can do for yourself is stop stressing and get some sleep.” We captured all the need-to-know tips for you. Below, hear from sports nutritionist Lauren Antonucci, MS, RD, CCSD, the director of sports performance at the Hospital for Special Surgery, Polly de Mille, RN, RCEP, CSCS, and ASICS elite-level distance runner and Olympian Diego Estrada. Estrada’s top advice? “Relax, don’t sweat it. The best thing you can do for yourself is stop stressing and get some sleep.” Scroll down for the experts’ answers to the most-pressing questions runners have leading up to a marathon—and shop ASICS’ latest collection of running shoes. Photo: ASICS To gel or not to gel? When you traverse 26.2 miles on race day, you’ll need adequate long-distance fuel—which essentially means energy-gel packs (a gooey substance designed
Does it matter, health-wise, if you run on or hot or iced coffee in the winter?
October 25, 2018 at 04:00AM As the temperatures start to dip, and we’re forced to spend more time inside, more than a few of us will reach for a warming beverage. Adaptogen-laced hot chocolate? Yes, please. Concentration-boosting peppermint tea? Sign me up! But, without fail, there will always be at least one person in the group (maybe it’s you) who’s apparently immune to the chill and still orders iced coffee—all chilly season long. It could look like the frozen tundra outside, and they’ll still skip along the sidewalk, iced drin in (all likeliness, ungloved) hand. There has to be something unhealthy about this, right? Because gulping down an icy beverage when it’s snowing outside surely can’t be healthy. How could it be? It sounds like subscribing your digestive system to the polar-bear plunge every freaking day. (And those dips are, at best, controversial health-wise.) But, according to certified nutritionist Karin Adoni Ben-David, the preference—though curious to many—is perfectly safe. “Drinking iced coffee during cold days won’t make you sick. And drinking a cup of hot tea or coffee won’t do much to raise your core body temperature in cold weather.” —certified nutritionist Karin Adoni Ben-David “You can have your coffee hot or cold any day of the year,” she says. “Drinking iced coffee during cold days won’t make you sick and won’t contribute to a cold,” she says. “While hot beverages and foods, like tea or soup, are helpful in loosening congestion and soothing a sore throat, cold beverages will not, in
2 yoga moves you can do at your desk to ease neck and back tightness
October 25, 2018 at 03:28AM Whether you slay away in an office or WFH, repeatedly lug around a 25 pound carry-on (read: purse), or are constantly perusing Instagram, many realities of the modern “get ‘er done” lifestyle can unfortunately lead to neck and back pain. In fact, more dollars are spent treating these ailments than almost any other medical condition, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Typically, these result because of too much time crouched over computers or firing away on hand-held devices which encourage the neck to protrude anteriorly and the shoulders to round forward. “The head weighs to ten to twelve pounds, so this position pulls the neck and back into an uncomfortable forward-jutted position. Overtime, this leads to ‘text neck’ and generalized pain,” says yoga instructor, Francesca Valarezo, who’s leading our next Well+Good Retreat in Miami. Valarezo knows the difficulties firsthand and she’s not alone—roughly 70 percent of people will be afflicted by neck aches at some point in their lives according to research from Harvard Medical Health. And while it’s hard to skip-out on the desk job all together, standing for breaks during the day—or hey, putting in that PTO to join us for a seriously high vibe experience come December—can help. Until then, Valarezo’s got two yoga poses that help stretch things out and, best yet, can be done right from the comfort of your own desk. 1. Diver’s Pose Stretch “A gentle diver’s stretch helps you strengthen and lengthen the muscles in the neck and eventually realign
Dermatologist-approved lip balms to beat that winter chap
October 24, 2018 at 12:54PM Every winter, brittle weather rolls in and leaves lips parched and cracking. So many lip balms that make restoring claims just don’t deliver—and here at Well+Good, we’re, calling B.S. on hyped balms, and seeking derm-approved advice for picking out an option that will actually get the job done. “Lips are primed to be chapped because they have a lower density of oil glands, are in daily contact with saliva that contains alpha-amylase (a digestive enzyme that can break down skin), and are always exposed to the elements so they take a beating from the sun, the cold weather, the wind, and the heat,” explains Dendy Engelman, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist. To combat those effects, search for three ultra-hydrating main ingredients when you’re scouring the web or shelf for lip-soother. Look for balms that form an occlusive seal on lips such as beeswax and the moisture magnet hyaluronic acid which locks on to water from within the skin. “Lips are primed to be chapped because they have a lower density of oil glands, are in daily contact with saliva that contains alpha-amylase (a digestive enzyme that can break down skin), and are always exposed to the elements so it takes a beating from the sun, the cold weather, wind, heat.”- Dendy Engelman, MD Simply put: If your balms don’t rock one of these, toss ’em…or save ’em for a day when you don’t need heavy-duty conditioning. Where your stockpile of useless balms once lay, you can now make