October 24, 2018 at 08:20AM Get your credit card ready because this holiday season, Target is giving quite the gift of convenience, and it’ll make you want to shop exclusively at the retail giant. Giving Amazon Prime a run for its delivery superiority, Target is offering free two-day shipping on all orders with no minimum purchase. This means you won’t need to pad your digital cart with that extra item you don’t really need in order to hit the free-shipping minimum. Beginning November 1 and through December 22, you can use the deal to get goodies for your loved ones (and, let’s be real, yourself too) in record time—and there’s no catch: You don’t even need to fork over an annual membership fee. (Usually free two-day shipping requires a $35 minimum order or a purchase made via a Target debit or credit card.) “We want to make the busy holiday season easier for our guests so they can spend more time with their family and friends,” Target CEO Brian Cornell says in a press release. “We want to make the busy holiday season easier for our guests so they can spend more time with their family and friends.” —Brian Cornell, Target CEO Aside from free two-day shipping, Target also offers same-day shipping with Shipt (which costs $99 per year or $14 per month), a drive-up service where you can place an order in the app and have someone bring it out to your car for free within an hour. There’s also a $7 same-day delivery option
Category: 2019 Health
Dark chocolate vs. milk chocolate: Here’s which one is healthier, once and for all
October 24, 2018 at 07:14AM It’s hard to imagine a world without the luxury of chocolate. The ultra-rich superfood has been shown to decrease inflammation and improve memory, keep your heart healthy, and even boost your mood—but unfortunately not every variety is going to give you the impressive benefits. The next time you’re picking out a treat for your Halloween movie marathon, there are some important things to keep in mind. Where does chocolate even come from? Before going into which kind of chocolate belongs in your belly, you should know what it actually is. It’s actually been beloved since way back in 1,900 BC, when the Mesoamericans first began sipping it as a frothy fermented beverage. Yep, cocoa was basically the original kombucha. Obviously things have changed a lot since then, but chocolates all start the same. After seeds are harvested from cacao pods that grow on small trees native to the Amazon Basin, they’re fermented, dried, and roasted into cocoa beans, then turned into cocoa nibs. Then from there, those nibs go through different processes that result in the many forms of chocolate you see on store shelves, from powders and liquids to chocolate bars. Dark chocolate vs. milk chocolate The more chocolate is processed, the more is loses the qualities that make it healthy in the first place. Many of the benefits of chocolate come from flavanols (phytonutrients found in cocoa), which have antioxidant effects—and a very bitter taste. But as it’s fermented, alkalized, and roasted to help
How to wash your sneakers so they look brand-new again
October 24, 2018 at 06:53AM After a summer filled with hikes, runs along the beach, and all sorts of adventure, your sneakers could probably use a little TLC. But don’t worry: There are some easy ways to make your favorite pair of shoes look brand-new again and the best part? It’ll hardly take you any effort at all. Whether you want your former shiny white kicks to reappear or want to make now-dull colors pop again, all it really takes to get the job done is a few different materials you already have hanging out in your home. And get this: There’s even a way to use your washing machine—hello, timesaver—without causing any damage to your beloved tennies. When you’re ready to give your kicks a serious makeover, here are the best three tactics to start with. 1. Put them in the washing machine According to Reddit users, the best method is to remove the soles and laces, then put your shoes in a mesh sweater bag and wash them in cold water with your regular laundry soap on a medium spin speed. After they’re done, don’t put them in the dryer—just let them air-dry. And as for your laces, let them soak in a bowl of warm, soapy water for an hour, rinse them off, and let them air-dry. 2. Clean them with baking soda and a toothbrush If your white sneakers could use a refresher, grab a toothbrush. After mixing up 1 Tbsp of baking soda, 1/2 Tbsp
4 squat variations that’ll help your bum do its best peach emoji
October 24, 2018 at 06:45AM There’s a reason that the peach emoji is blowing up. People aren’t using it to signify that they’re about to nosh on the fruit for breakfast—rather, everyone’s got butts on the brain (and that big, juicy peach has come to represent it, in case you didn’t know). Seriously—fitness studios use it to lure you into classes (hello, New York Pilates), Kim Kardashian launched a fragrance shaped as the emoji (because: of course), and the emoji pops up in text chains amongst friends to signify that it’s butt day. It’s super important to work your bum, after all—it makes up the core of your body, and is responsible for a lot more than you probably realize. “Your butt as a whole is a major muscle group that powers the body,” says Ashley Rosenberg, a NASM-certified trainer and The DB Method (an at-home squat machine) master trainer. “Not only does working your bum make your backside look great, but it strengthens the entire backside of the legs as well, enabling your legs to power stronger, longer workouts.” And exercising that tush helps to take pressure off of the spine. “High functioning glutes prevent stress from rotational movements—present in almost all exercise—to manifest as spinal pain,” says Dan Cohen, MD, a Mt. Sinai spinal surgeon in Miami Beach. “[Squats are] one of the best functional exercises at building muscle throughout your body, helping your muscles work more efficiently, as well as promoting mobility and balance.” —Erika Rayman And the best way
The way you brew your coffee affects its caffeine levels—here’s how
October 24, 2018 at 06:26AM Even on the best of mornings, many of us rely on a strong-as-hell cup of coffee to kick off the day. And after a sleepless night or an ungodly hour wake-up call, that jolt is especially vital. When you’re looking for a caffeine content that could wake the dead (or, on the flip side, a gentle boost to get you through the afternoon without ruining your sleep), there are a few factors to keep in mind that determine how much caffeine you’re actually getting from that cup of joe. One of the biggies: Your brewing method of choice. Different methods have different levels of extraction, explains Bob Arnot, M.D., an internal medicine doctor and author of The Coffee Lover’s Bible. As he explains it, brewing methods with higher levels of extraction get more caffeine and polyphenols out of your grind, essentially. (Polyphenols are active compounds found in coffee that help with heart, brain, and gut health, among many other benefits.) Here’s what you need to know about how your brewing method affects the caffeine level of your coffee. Photo: Stocksy/Michela Ravasio What you’re brewing matters Before the brewing process even begins, the beans you choose play a role in how much caffeine you’re getting. “Caffeine is an insect repellant, so at very low altitudes, there’s more caffeine [in coffee beans] because there are more insects,” explains Dr. Arnot. “At very high altitudes, there are far fewer insects, so there’s less caffeine.” In other words, coffee
Why this Korean herb belongs in your skin-care regimen
October 24, 2018 at 05:16AM Staying on top of every hot-off-Instagram beauty ingredient (looking at you, squalane and CBD) is fun—but sometimes following the latest skin-care buzz can make you miss out on the natural cure-alls people have been swearing by for centuries. Like, for instance, ginseng. You might be familiar with the knobby herb’s health-boosting rep in your morning tea or supplement (it’s said to reduce inflammation and support immunity)—but PSA: It’s also a multi-tasking skin-care wonder. OG Korean beauty brand Sulwhasoo has known this since 1966, when it harnessed ginseng’s powers in its ABC Ginseng Cream (still available today as Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX). “Founder Suh Sung-Whan grew up in GaeSeong, a renowned city for its exceptional Korean ginseng cultivation,” says Mark Choo, director of research and innovation at AMOREPACIFIC U.S., Sulwhasoo’s parent company. “He believed that ginseng’s exceptional benefits for our bodies can also be delivered to our skin.” Ginseng is having a full-on beauty renaissance. Today, that’s led to an entire collection of creams and serums backed by 50 years of research, including the just-launched Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Water and Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Emulsion (integral parts of the full youth-boosting routine, which complete the circle). In other words, ginseng is having a full-on beauty renaissance. And it’s backed by serious hydration prowess. “Each step of the Concentrated Ginseng regimen allows deeper penetration through the multi layers of the skin, which primes the skin to absorb each product,” says Mark Choo. “A strengthened moisture barrier means higher water and moisture retention,
There are 3 types of procrastinators—here’s how to figure out which you are
October 24, 2018 at 04:00AM Procrastinators get a bad wrap in the current work culture of busy, busy business. But if you do some soul-searching about what type of procrastinator you are (kind of like nailing down which breed of leggings enthusiast you are), you can totally find ways to hack your “I’ll do it later” attitude, according to Ellen Hendriksen, PhD. “Like forms of procrastination—binge-watching Glow, shopping for dog raincoats online, or stalking your middle school friends on social media—procrastinators themselves come in many shapes and sizes,” says Dr. Hendriksen in a recent episode of the Savvy Psychologist podcast. Here are the three main types. The Avoider: This is the classic procrastinator who puts off tasks in order to also sidestep negative emotions like doubt or stress that might come with tackling the problem. “For example, we may avoid an overtly stressful or high-stakes chore, like studying for exams or writing our best man speech,” Dr. Hendriksen explains. The Optimist: You’ll recognize these folks as the ones who are super chill about encroaching deadlines, only to pull an all-nighter to actually complete the work. “Viewed through a charitable lens, this is overconfidence,” says the psychologist. “But for those left hanging or let down by this type of procrastinator, it may seem more like delusion.” The Pleasure-Seeker: This person has no patience for anything that doesn’t offer immediate gratification. “They wait until they feel like doing their work to start, which sometimes never happens,” Dr. Hendriksen says. If you consider yourself lazy, the pleasure-seekers are your tribe. Once you’ve found
A sexy costume is *so* not a prereq for having a fun Halloween
October 24, 2018 at 03:00AM I’ll be the thick slice of sourdough to your avocado smash. Besides the time I accidentally introduced myself as “Danielle” (instead of Gabrielle) to my crush (I was nervous, okay!?!), this may be the least flirty or alluring thing I’ve ever said. And since my intent was to bring the vision to life for Halloween—a holiday infamous for scantily clad, horny revelers—the distinctive un-sexiness would seem pretty surprising. For me, though, it’s the annual norm. To be clear, when I say I want to be a hearty slab of bread, I mean it literally. As in, I want to slide my bod into a large, rectangular, 100 percent polyester suit that makes me look like a crunchy base to a healthy brunch staple (like this costume example) and par-tayyyy. While I’m all for folks dressing in whatever costume makes them feel the most comfortable and attractive, the running theme of my Halloween looks has been clear: not sexy. Don’t get me wrong: I’m all for folks dressing in whatever costume makes them feel the most comfortable and attractive. Heck, I even dressed up as a Mean Girls plastic one year in college (unfortunately not Lindsay Lohan’s brilliant take on the zombie bride, which I’d gladly still wear). But in the many years that have passed since my fetch phase, the running theme of my Halloween costumes has been clear: not sexy. I’ve been Canadian bacon, a roll of toilet paper, turkey, a hot dog, a tissue
The best healthy avocado substitutes to add to your diet
October 23, 2018 at 12:09PM Avocados are officially a food staple—whether they’re smashed onto some whole grain toast or even enjoyed in pudding-form. And they’ve earned their rep as a gold standard for healthy fats for good reason. “Avocados are full of properties that help eliminate toxins and inflammation stuck inside your tissues, contain healthy omega-3 fats that support the absorption of nutrients and minerals through the cell walls, and are high in fibers that help to bind toxins in the gut so you can eliminate potentially harmful consequences due to everyday foods, stress, and environmental toxins,” says health coach Jenny Carr, author of Peace of Cake: The Secret to An Anti-Inflammatory Diet. But not everyone is into the green creamy fruit. In which case, an avocado substitute is needed. For some people, it’s the taste they can’t stand. For others, it’s the texture. Then there are those that experience gastro distress when they eat too much of it. Or, the aversion could be caused by an allergy. If you tend to experience itching and/or swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face in general, you might be experiencing oral allergy syndrome (OAS)—and unfortunately avocado is one of the foods people are often allergic to, says Harvard Medical School. And if you’re already allergic to latex, it’s not uncommon to develop an allergy to avocados at some point (as well as bananas, kiwi, chestnuts, and papaya). Even if you can eat avocados, it’s never a bad thing to cut down once in a while. According to Michigan State
All about the French sneakers Meghan Markle laced up down under
October 23, 2018 at 11:01AM She’s only been the Duchess of Sussex for a few months, but Meghan Markle is already a bona fide influencer. People are curious about what she puts in her easy banana bread recipe, her cold-busting travel hacks, what she wears to the gym, the secret to her signature messy bun…This list goes on. So, when she showed up for a sailing trip in Australia on October 21 wearing a pair of sneakers, inquiring minds immediately wanted to know one thing. Who made those shoes? Her low-tops of choice were the V-10 Extra White Black from Veja, and the ecofriendly French brand is already feeling the Markle effect. “When Meghan wore the V-10, our Instagram ‘broke down,’” says Sebastien Kopp, Veja’s co-founder. “We got thousands of likes and comments. A lot of people were looking for the pair she was wearing—and a lot of people discovered our project thanks to her.” Photo: Veja You see, Veja doesn’t just make chic sneakers that are an ultra-cool alternative to a Stan Smith (IMO). Kopp and his co-founder François-Ghislain Morillion have built their 14-year-old brand to be socially responsible at every stage of production. They use raw materials from organic farms, apply fair-trade practices to both their sourcing and manufacturing, use recycled cotton, plastic, and leather, and—ready for this one—don’t advertise. Not advertising is a big deal because “70 percent of the cost of a normal big sneaker brand is related to advertising,” says Kopp. “Eliminating ads, marketing costs, brand ambassadors, and billboards means