June 25, 2019 at 12:52PM by CWC Whether you’re an Arnold Palmer type of girl or a purest, an ice-cold lemonade is perfect for picnicking outside or lounging by the pool. (Just kidding, we know you’re stuck at your desk, gazing longingly out the window, and it’s perfect for that, too.) It also happens to be the latest Starbucks summer sip. On Tuesday, the company released three Teavana lemonades: a green tea lemonade (made with a combo of peach-flavored fruit juice blend and lemonade), a guava white tea lemonade (with a guava-flavored fruit juice blend and lemonade), and a black tea lemonade (made with a blueberry-flavored fruit juice blend and lemonade). All three are sweetened with liquid cane sugar. As is required these days, all three drinks are colorful and Instagram-friendly. Refreshing? Totally. But healthy? Not quite. Registered dietitian Sameera Khan, RD, points out that the drinks are pretty high in sugar A grande cup of the peach or guava white contains 29 grams of sugar, which is 4 grams more than the recommended amount for the entire day. (The black tea lemonade contains 27 grams.) ad_intervals[‘403705_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘403705_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); “Rather than using a sweetener like liquid cane sugar which adds to the carbs, try using monk fruit sweetener which is a revolutionary way to sweeten drinks without the harmful effects of sugar or sugar substitutes,” says Khan. “Monk fruit is a natural sweetener adding no calories and no effect on
Category: 2019 Health
Want to eat less meat? Here’s how to cut back without too much burger-related FOMO
June 25, 2019 at 12:12PM by CWC There’s nothing necessarily wrong with loving a good steak every now and then—meat can be a great source of protein, iron, and other key nutrients. But there’s growing evidence that eating more plants and less animal products (particular red and processed meats) is better for your health, which explains why an estimated eight million people in the US are vegetarian. “Recent studies have shown that a diet higher in plant-based foods and lower in animal products can protect against and actually reverse heart disease, substantially lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes, and reduce the risk of cancer. Not to mention the tremendous positive impact on the environment,” says Danielle Schaub, MSPH, RD. However, if you’ve eaten meat your whole life, the thought of cutting back and eating more plant-based foods can certainly be daunting. How do you build your meals when the main feature—chicken, fish, pork, or beef—is suddenly off the table? ad_intervals[‘403481_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘403481_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Thankfully, you can get many of the health benefits from reducing your intake, like swapping chicken for lentils and cauliflower steaks a few nights a week. Here are some expert-backed tips for eating less meat without feeling deprived. 1. Start with one meatless day a week The popular day is Monday, but any day works. Instead of cutting out all meat cold, ahem, turkey, start by making one day of the week meat-free and see how you
Why calling this drug ‘viagra for women’ undermines the complexity of female sexuality
June 25, 2019 at 10:03AM by CWC The FDA’s approval of Vyleesi should, in theory, be a triumph for women’s health, an opportunity for us to practice autonomy over our own bodies in a time when many of our sexual rights are being threatened. However, instead it serves as the latest example of women’s health care being unjustly oversimplified, with multiple headlines conflating HSDD with erectile dysfunction (ED). Calling Vyleesi “Viagra for women” ignores the fact that the two conditions are biologically dissimilar, explains Kameelah Phillips, MD, an OB/GYN in New York City, and creates a larger issue in the women’s health space. “Equating HSDD with erectile dysfunction, in my mind, minimizes the complexity of female sexuality,” she tells me. In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Vyleesi, a drug designed to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women. HSDD is a complicated disorder defined as a “lack of interest” that results in “personal distress.” In other words, you—and only you—decide if your lack of sexual interest merits a trip to the doctor to get a prescription for Vyleesi or Addyi (another FDA-approved medication for the HSDD). ad_intervals[‘403524_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘403524_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); ED, or the inability to keep an erection during sex, can have a psychological component, according to Dr. Phillips. However, it differs from HSDD largely because its physical solution is more readily available. Doctors address erectile dysfunction by prescribing drugs, like Viagra, that increase blood
How to actually have good posture when you’re zipping around on a bike this summer
June 25, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC I’ve recently morphed from a public transportation devotee into a bonafide bicyclist. If you’re walking around in the East Village, at any given moment, there’s a (very) high chance I’ll come close to running into you on a CitiBike. There’s also a pretty high chance that I’ll be riding around with a curved back, resembling the stoop kids in Hey! Arnold (seriously—Google that show and you’ll discover that everyone on it had horrible posture). My new hobby has quickly made me realize that it’s actually pretty of difficult to get comfortable on a bike—I’m always alternating between sitting up in an awkwardly too-straight manner and slouching like I’m driving a convertible in a music video. There’s really no in between, and I just know I’m messing with my spine. On a bicycle, you’re in a kind of weird position, so “shoulders back” and “chin up” and “stand up straight”—aka the commands that apply to proper posture everywhere else in your life—don’t really apply when you’re on a bike. “Because everyone’s built differently, what may work for one person may not work for someone else,” says Steven Struhl, MD, orthopedic surgeon. “But first and foremost, it’s important to try to remain as stress-free and relaxed as possible while cycling since it’ll keep you comfortable, increase efficiency, prevent injury, and promote easier breathing, among other benefits.” ad_intervals[‘403398_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘403398_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); One thing you should do is
I hate to break it to you, but flip flops are not that good for your feet
June 25, 2019 at 08:57AM by CWC Like clockwork every year, I’m itching to get into sandals as soon as summer starts to creep up. A few weeks and an at-home pedicure later, I slide into my shoes and am overwhelmed with the glee of not having to tie a lace or zip a zipper. But that feeling is cut short when I come home with sore shins, achey arches, and cramped calves. So what gives? Diane Koshimune, DPM, a California-based podiatrist, says flip flops and sandals tend to have a looser fit and less support—and that looser fit might force you to claw your toes to keep the shoe on, and the lack of support might let your arch collapse with each step. Hence the resulting pain that you feel in your feet and lower body after walking around in flip flops all day, everyday. “You’re wearing shoes that are allowing your foot to do whatever it wants,” she says. “And that can either be a fine thing that your body tolerates, or it could be something that leads to other problems down the line.” ad_intervals[‘399342_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399342_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Though these flat shoes may not be bad for everyone, it really comes down to your biomechanics. “If somebody pronates, that’s when the foot collapses in, and that’s when they start getting problems,” says Paul Greenberg, DMP, a podiatrist with NYU Langone. “That’s when they get plantar fasciitis and overuse injuries.
How to turn around your day when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed
June 25, 2019 at 07:23AM by CWC In a perfect world, you’d wake up feeling refreshed and happy every day—but we don’t live in a perfect world, do we? Some days, you wake up feeling a little…off, and for no good reason. The good news is, it’s totally normal for moods to fluctuate. “We probably awake most often in a neutral mood, with some days in an upbeat mood and some days in a down mood,” says psychologist Jennifer Carter, PhD. Basically, don’t be hard on yourself if your morning mood happens to be less than cheerful on a given day. While it’s indeed often the case that you wake up on the wrong side of the bed despite nothing being objectively wrong, there are a few explanations that highlight why you might be having a down day. For starters, poor sleep hygiene leading to lack of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep—which is important for both physical and mental health—doesn’t help, Dr. Carter says. “When you don’t get enough REM sleep, in particular, you may awake feeling grumpy,” she says. And an extra-happy happy hour the night before may also contribute. While alcohol can help you fall asleep quickly, it steeply compromises sleep quality, says David Klow, LMFT, author of You Are Not Crazy: Letters From Your Therapist. And, again, that can leave you feeling off in the a.m. ad_intervals[‘400306_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘400306_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Ultimately, a slew of reasons could explain your slightly off
7 core-quaking exercises that will one-up basic crunches in a big way
June 25, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC Often, the way we work out, it’s almost as if it could have an invisible meridian dividing the upper and lower halves (you know: arm day! leg day!). But central, quite literally, to everything is the core. Having a strong midsection can help with everything from posture to movement—and it’s not as though it takes an entire gym full of equipment to make this happen. In fact, there are plenty of abs exercises to do at home. So, with the help of some of the industry’s most-loved trainers, ahead you’ll find a series of ab exercises that will help you workout the muscle group with a nine-move sequence. Keep on scrolling for the abs-strengthening workout that you can do anytime, anywhere. Windshield wiper + cross mountain climber combo Megan Roup, AKA the creator of The Sculpt Society, is a big fan of planks—especially when they involve extra movement. Place sliders under your feet in a plank, remembering to keep your hands under your shoulders, actively pull your navel to your spine with your hands pressed out to the floor. Start with the windshield wiper. “Sweep one leg up to the opposite hand and back,” Roup instructs. Repeat this eight to 10 times on each side before moving on to cross mountain climbers. There, in plank position, bend one knee across the body to the opposite shoulder. Again, repeat eight to 10 times before switching back to windshields. ad_intervals[‘391527_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if
Your 3-step crash course in artfully extending an olive branch to an estranged friend
June 25, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC I’ve been anticipating this whole Taylor Swift-Katy Perry reunion for literal years but I still can’t get over how offering a simple plate of cookies and literally extending an olive branch have been effective tools for reigniting a friendship previously plagued by “Bad Blood.” While having beef with peers, or really anyone in life, isn’t usually intentional, it happens. But whether because you simply miss their presence in your life, realize you’re not angry anymore, or some other life event forces you to take stock in what really matters, you may eventually decide you want to mend fences. Where and how to begin this process, though, is kind of murky—especially given the potential that the other person involved may totally ignore you. “Sadly, it’s becoming socially acceptable to ‘ghost’ people who you don’t want in your life,” says licensed psychologist Helene Brenner, PhD. “It’s often rationalized as the ‘only’ option when, in fact, the ghoster is simply afraid of dealing with their own or someone else’s hurt, messy feelings.” ad_intervals[‘402228_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘402228_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Well, “Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes,” and all that 2014 noise, and if you bravely want to patch things up with a friend after an extended period of time, this is how you may want to go about it: 1. Take inventory of what happened, and how you feel about the possible outcomes “Reaching out when there’s been a falling out
*This* is how often you should trim your hair, according to your texture
June 25, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Fact: Every time I sit down in my hairstylist’s chair, I find out that I’ve (once again) let too much time pass between trims. As a result, more of my length ends up being lopped off, and what started as a routine trim practically ends with a bob. Okay, perhaps I’m being dramatic, but so is my haircut due to all of the split, dried-out ends I’ve let go by the wayside. Depending on your hair type and how often you tend to color and heat-style it, how often you need to book regular trims tends to vary, which is why we asked Jeff Chastain, celebrity hairstylist and founder of MASC haircare, to clear things up once and for all. Keep reading to see how often you should trim your strands, broken down by hair type. Coily hair To keep coily and uber-tight curls at their best health, Chastain advises cutting hair every 10 to 12 weeks, and being very particular with how much is trimmed so as to not compromise the overall length. “I know if you cut even an eighth of an inch shorter, it can bounce up a full inch shorter. Where it actually pulls up and falls is different for everyone, so it’s good to start small,” he explains. “I try to be conservative with the length at first, then we can adjust from there. I’ll err on the side of having to cut the lengths twice so that they
Summer has *finally* arrived—here’s how to stay fit in the hot, hot heat
June 25, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC When temperatures climb and warmer weather draws nearer, it’s of course a happy occasion—hello outdoor workouts and cute sundresses and goodbye snow! However, that also means it gets more challenging to work out, whether you’re in a stuffy studio for your favorite class or going for a run outside in the sunshine. “Every time we work out, our body’s thermoregulation system kicks into gear. As we start to sweat, that is our body doing its due diligence to maintain a constant core temperature or a state of ‘homeostasis,’” explains Ally McKinney, a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym. “The better we are at regulating heat, the more effective we can be with our workouts,” she says. When pushing the body to its limits in intensity, and pairing that with a hot environment, it can be a whole lot to handle. To avoid using warmer temperatures as an excuse to not workout, it’s a good idea to get your body ready to handle the tougher climate and to more effectively stay cool and safe during those sweaty, sweaty workouts. Here, a few tips for prepping your body so you can keep up with your favorite exercises, despite those scorching days. ad_intervals[‘395369_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘395369_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Start with some early a.m. runs To get used to doing outdoor workouts in the heat, it’s a good idea to be an early riser. “Early morning workouts are going to be