June 11, 2019 at 08:13AM by CWC Tan lines can be intense. Every single summer, my first outing into the sun inevitably gives me a very uneven tan that lingers until way past Labor Day, despite the fact that I’m wearing copious amounts of SPF. There was the time in Florida where I didn’t properly rub in my spray sunscreen, and wound up with permanently streaky legs, and last year in Tulum, the line of my shorts were etched into my legs until the first snow. Ugh. The thing is, while I’m not a fan of having uneven tan lines, I don’t want to get even more sun exposure to even things out. (Ya know, because of sun damage and such.) So to solve the whole even-out-your-summer-glow dilemma, I looked to the pros for some tips that don’t involve more lying out in the sun. Happily they had plenty of tips for how to smooth things over. Keep scrolling for the dermatologist-approved ways to even out tan lines, minus the sun exposure. Spray tan: An easy answer is to just get a spray tan from the pros. “Spray-on tans done by a professional are one option that can cover the entire body,” says Sheel Desai Solomon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in North Carolina. “Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is a color additive that, when it comes in contact with dead skin cells on your skin’s surface, temporarily darkens the skin. It’s been approved by the FDA for this specific use.” Make sure to
Category: 2019 Health
You could be constipated and not even know it—here’s how to find out
June 11, 2019 at 06:24AM by CWC When’s the last time you pooped? If your answer is “three days ago,” that might mean you’re constipated. But if you have little rabbit poops multiple times a day and never feel quite finished, you could also be constipated. The symptoms of constipation look different for everyone, and many people who are constipated have no idea. New research by King’s College London, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology last week, found there’s a discrepancy between what people think constipation is, and what it actually is. The team, including lead author Eirini Dimidi, PhD, RD, collected data from 2,557 people (of which 934 had self-reported constipation), 411 general practitioners, and 365 gastroenterology specialists. “We kept meeting people who would tell us they suffered from constipation, but, when we screened them against the formal diagnostic criteria used around the world, they wouldn’t meet the criteria,” says Dr. Dimidi, a research associate at King’s. Conversely, only one third of those who reported constipation symptoms recognized those symptoms as constipation, she says. ad_intervals[‘399857_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399857_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); So, what exactly is constipation? New York-based gastroenterologist Rita Knotts, MD, says that some of the telltale signs include having less than three bowel movements per week, having to use your your finger get things moving, having hard or lumpy poop, straining to poop, or having an incomplete poop. Should you experience at least two of these symptoms for at least
Why dermatologists continually praise this OG skin-care acid for *all* skin types
June 11, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC Although I may look the same every single day—in jeans, T-shirt, and sneakers—my skin-care routine is changing all of the time. So underneath my same no-makeup makeup can be any mix of retinol, chemical exfoliants, hyaluronic acid serums, facial oils, and/or practically any skin-related product you can think of to prep my face before it goes out into the world. But it was only recently that I realized that there’s exactly one single ingredient that remains in my skin-care regimen, no matter what: glycolic acid. After running it by some big-named dermatologists, I learned that my preference is for good reason: Glycolic acid is an OG derm-fave ingredient. Cosmeceuticals tap medically-back ingredients so that includes MVP actives like retinol and peptides, for example. Glycolic acid is special because it was actually the first acid used heavily on the skin. “It was really the first AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) to be discovered and used in skin care,” Dennis Gross, MD, dermatologist and founder of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare tells me. “It was used in high doses as an ingredient in chemical peels in a doctor’s office, and then there were lower concentrations for at home use.” ad_intervals[‘399271_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399271_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); It’s truly to our benefit that it became an at-home beauty ingredient—because, originally, it was only used in a clinical setting. “There was once a time where glycolic acid was not being used in skin-care products,”
This is the formula for your happiest workout yet
June 11, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC I kicked off last Saturday by running a 10K with a coworker in New York City’s Central Park. The weather was perfection. We wore matching outfits and earned medals of Olympic-lever shininess. But the best part of the 6.2 miles we jogged together is that we both laughed and chatted the whole time. By accident, our ear-to-ear grins fulfilled the “smile test”—a formula for finding your ideal run pace that you can use for any (and every) workout. According to an Instagram post by athletic clothing company Outdoor Voices, the “niko-niko” or “smile” jogging method is the brainchild off Hiroaki Tanaka, PhD, professor at Fukuoka University in Japan. It goes a little something like this: “[A]ccording to Dr. Tanaka, you’ve hit your smile pace when you can sing your favorite song comfortably,” reads the caption. I know—cute, right?! View this post on Instagram Slow n’ low — the benefits of Dr. Hiroaki Tanaka’s niko-niko jogging method are various, ranging from mental calm to stronger slow-twitch muscle fibers. Niko-niko translates to “smile” — according to Dr. Tanaka, you’ve hit your smile pace when you can sing your favorite song comfortably (a heart rate of about 138-your age, divided by 2). It’s slower than you think 😉 A post shared by Outdoor Voices (@outdoorvoices) on Jun 7, 2019 at 4:38pm PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js No, my colleague and I weren’t singing as we traversed the hills of Central Park. But judging by our spirits, we
5 reasons why adding blueberries to your breakfast is a berry, er, *very* good idea
June 11, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Good things come in small packages. It’s an oft-said phrase that applies to jewelry, a six-pack of silk scrunchies, a box holding a shiny new fitness tracker…and the humble blueberry. In season from April through September, blueberries are a perfect, sweet-tart addition to nearly any food—in your morning smoothie, salad, yogurt, ice-cream, or plopped one by one into your mouth on their own. (Unless you’re Violet Beauregarde, in which case you’re probably not the biggest blueberry fan.) Working blueberries into your regular diet majorly benefits your health, too. A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating up to 150 grams of blueberries daily (about one cup) reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 15 percent—pretty major! Here, Aedin Cassidy, Ph.D, the study’s lead researcher and a professor at the University of East Anglia, explains just why blueberries are such a great heart-healthy food. Keep reading for all the intel. ad_intervals[‘399803_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399803_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Tell me about some big blueberry benefits (besides taste, of course) 1. They can reduce the disk of heart disease. As shown in the study highlighted above, blueberries are great news for your cardiovascular system. The double-blind study—which was performed on 138 overweight people between the ages of 50 and 75— showed that when people ate between half a cup and one cup of blueberries a day, their cardiovascular systems reaped the rewards.
Checks+Balanced: 34-year-old making $47K gets thrifty to afford her healthy habits and grad school
June 11, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Even in a world where questions about menstrual cups and the ins and outs of sex are completely (and blessedly) normal, somehow the ever-ubiquitous use of money remains a touchy subject for many. People want to live their healthiest life ever, but—#realtalk—it can add up. Have you ever wondered how your colleague who makes less than you do (or so you think) can afford to buy a $5 matcha and a $12 chopped salad every day? Or how your friend’s budget allows her to hit up $34 fitness classes three times a week? It’s enough to make anyone want to ask, “Ummm, excuse me. How do you afford that?!?” That’s where Well+Good’s monthly series Checks+Balanced comes in. By lifting the thick, tightly drawn curtain to expose how much women of varying income brackets spend on wellness, we’re spreading transparency and hopefully providing some inspo that’s possible to copy. Because no matter how much you make, it’s possible to cultivate healthy habits that work within your budget. ad_intervals[‘392102_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘392102_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); This month, meet Heather Ashley, a 34-year-old living in Fort Worth, Texas, who recently decided to enroll in grad school—which means learning how to cut back on expenses, and fast. Keep reading to see how she makes it work, without giving up healthy food and fitness habits that are important to her. Here, a 34-year-old part-time administrative worker and boutique gym employee shares how much she spends on wellness. Graphic: Well+Good Creative Heather Ashley,
This $20 Amazon dress has 3,000 reviews can be worn approximately 893 ways
June 11, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC The weird/delightful thing about shopping for clothes on Amazon is that they carry a lot of really strange brands that I’ve never heard of. And not like, cool under the radar athleisure brands to know, but rather things with names like, “Grecerelle Women’s Casual Loose Pocket Long Dress Short Sleeve Split Maxi Dresses” that somehow have over 3000 reviews—the majority of them five stars. That specific dress is what we’re here to talk about today, because it’s currently gold medaling on Amazon’s “Best Sellers in Clothing, Shoes, and Jewelry” list. . This seems random to me. Why are so many people buying a dress from a brand that doesn’t even have a real website (I checked) and whose name is clearly engineered to be as searchable as possible? So I decided to investigate, and see what makes this inexpensive dress so freaking popular. Many of the positive reviews center on how comfortable this dress is, and a variation of the phrase “drapes nicely” is a common theme. It’s a short sleeve floaty maxi dress with side slits and a slight v neckline that comes in a bunch of different colors, from black to red to floral.. And yes—it does have pockets (I know you were wondering). It also manages to do that thing where when you wear it it looks comfy, but in like an enviable and chic way, not a wearing giant sweatpants to the grocery store to get cold medicine kind of
Yes, bananas have a lot of potassium—here’s why that matters
June 10, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC Raise your hand if the only thing you know about potassium is that bananas have lots of it. (Not just me? Okay, cool.) Consider this your nutrition lesson for the day: Potassium is a mineral that the body needs to function properly—it helps muscles contract and plays a role in regulating your body’s fluid levels and blood pressure. Most people get enough potassium, per the National Institutes of Health (which for women, is about 2,300 milligrams per day), which is good because a deficiency can have some serious consequences. “Low potassium levels create an acidic environment in the blood causing increased bone turnover and bone weakness,” says Allison Aaron, RD, CN. “Potassium deficiency may impair kidney function, causing excessive urination and the formation of kidney stones as well as elevated blood glucose due to impaired carbohydrate metabolism.” Okay cool, but what does potassium actually do for the body? Can you get too much or can you eat 51 bananas a day and still be good? Aaron answers all of your burning potassium questions below. What are the main potassium benefits? 1. Potassium balances out sodium. “Potassium’s main job is to balance sodium levels so that the body can function properly,” Aaron explains. “Having the right potassium-sodium ratio is important for electrolyte balance, which is essential for proper muscle contraction and nerve transmission, fluid balance—which promotes normal blood pressure—and acid-base balance for preservation of bone strength.” Potassium and sodium are both needed
Sex experts share once and for all whether a sexless relationship can be healthy
June 10, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC Even if you actually are asking for a friend, some part of you is surely curious about whether or not a sexless relationship can be happy and healthy. After all, many folks are confused about why they’re just not, like seemingly ever, in the mood, which feels related. And to deal, many have “guilt sex” because they know sex matters a lot to the partner whom they do very much love, while others just trudge along through their dry spells. But is a situation of a totally sexless relationship cause for concern? To clear things up, we called upon sex experts—and good news, low-libido lovers: at least one pro says a sexless relationship can be totally healthy. “A relationship can be healthy if there’s not much sex happening if both partners are on the same page with their sex frequency,” says California-based sexologist Jill McDevitt, PhD. But, keep in mind that there’s no universally agreed upon measurement of “not much.” For one couple, that could mean once a week, while for another that could mean only on anniversaries—and no one is right or wrong in this case. “Folks shouldn’t look outside their relationship to determine if their sex lives are satisfactory and healthy. They should only do what works for them,” Dr. McDevitt adds. Fair point. ad_intervals[‘396476_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘396476_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Still, while there’s no universal formula for how much sex is enough for any
A trainer reveals the most important thing all fitness newbies should remember
June 10, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC I remember when I got my first gym membership in a suburb of Dallas. I was a teenager, and started off fitness-wise by running around my neighborhood—so going to an actual gym was a big move for me. Walking in for the first time, I felt completely overwhelmed. Everyone around me was slaying their workouts and navigating the gym like a pro, and meanwhile I didn’t know my way around those weights machines or the cardio section—at all. Obviously, being a noob to the fitness world can be extremely intimidating, whether you’re starting a new gym membership or trying a workout class for the first time. There are machines to figure out, workouts to plan, and tons of people around you that seemingly know exactly WTF they’re doing. How’s one supposed to deal with all that on top of doing their exercise, which should be hard enough? In actuality, it’s all about your mindset—and your form. “A lot of people get intimidated when they’re going to do anything for the first time outside their comfort zone,” says Ryan Johnson, principal and co-founder of Homage Fitness. “In particular, at the gym, there’s an added level of vulnerability because it has to do with the intimacy of your body. And we carry around this hyper-awareness and body consciousness of ourself, and, walking into the gym with that energy, you think that everyone is going to sense this.” ad_intervals[‘399607_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399607_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]);