August 01, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC As someone who still struggles to stand properly (it’s true), I’ve developed all sorts of muscle pain—especially in my lower back. I’ve tried a lot of things to deal with this lower back discomfort—which makes me feel more geriatric than I truly am—from trying a posture trainer to doing all sorts of back-strengthening workouts. But when a trainer told me that I should actually pay more attention to my hamstrings, things started to make a lot of sense. “Your hamstrings originate on the bottom of the pelvis, the sitting bones, and insert over the knee on the tibia or fibula,” says Paul Searles, CSCS, a certified strength and conditioning coach with New York’s Sports Science Lab. “If the hamstrings are tight, they will pull on the pelvis, causing it to tilt.” If your pelvis is tilting, rather than straight, it’ll impact how your spine is aligned, which leads you to use your lower back more in movements like bending over. So your hamstring strength is key because it’ll help “keep your pelvis in its proper position, which in turn will help to keep your spine in its proper position,” he explains. ad_intervals[‘409517_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409517_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); This explains a lot, considering the fact that I always catch my pelvis tilting in whenever I’m standing up for a long period of time (whoops). Pilates expert Erika Bloom also points out that the fascia is involved, too
Category: 2019 Health
Sleeping in the summer is tough—here are 3 ways to get better rest
July 31, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC As soon as the temperature outside decides to skyrocket, your dreams of falling blissfully asleep at peak grandma hour are pretty much a no-go. Unless you’re willing and able to fork over a small fortune to cover your air conditioning bill or a superhero who can brave the one leg out of the comforter (you know, the leg that’s then grabbed by whatever monster is definitely under your bed), how are you supposed to get any shut-eye? First, let’s start with why your sleep schedule is straight-up torn apart as soon as Memorial Day passes with this intel from The Sleep Solution: “We are programmed to sleep better in temps around 65 degrees,” says author Chris Winter, MD. “Because of the temperature fluctuations we go through during the night and our body’s own temperature curve (which is usually pretty high when we hop into bed), cooling has a sleep promoting effect.” ad_intervals[‘400082_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘400082_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); In addition to the weather changing, the sunny months are actually a time of high-stress situations. “Summertime can be associated with a number of stressors, including vacation envy and body image self consciousness,” says Joshua Tal, PhD, sleep psychologist. “Summer is also associated with higher sunlight exposure, leading to a shift in circadian rhythm and increased agitation.” To help you clock in those eight hours without your electric bill matching the degrees outside, we teamed up with MidNite—a drug-free
This two-ingredient tea tastes just like Thin Mints in a mug
July 31, 2019 at 05:01PM by CWC As someone with an undeniable sweet tooth, I’m on a never-ending quest to satisfy it in ways that don’t involve a box of Entenmann’s. Sometimes that means paying a little extra for some really good dark chocolate. Or looking up recipes that make the fruit in my crisper a bit more exciting. Or a few Girl Scout cookies and a cup of hot tea… or a cup of tea that magically tastes like cookies? Yeah, I think I could get into that. This morning, one of my colleagues casually let it drop that chef Sophia Roe actually does know how to make tea taste like cookies—and not just any cookies: Thin Mints. “Roe brews peppermint tea in a steaming mug of oat milk and it tastes just like them,” I’m told, as drool starts to form in the corner of my mouth. Peppermint tea and oat milk, that’s literally all you need for Thin Mint tea. What a genius, simple idea. This delightful drink is actually full of health benefits, too. Sipping peppermint tea has been linked to supporting good digestion and boosting the immune system. And hot milk—or alt-milk in this case—has total sleepytime vibes. (And who doesn’t need help hitting the hay?) ad_intervals[‘412101_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘412101_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Now when someone has figured out how to turn a box of Samoas or Tagalongs into tea, let me know. Here’s how five celebrities cut back
Unpopular opinion: I’m a grown woman and pads are my period product of choice
July 31, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC When I was 9, a family friend gifted me the American Girl guide to puberty, The Care and Keeping of You, a book famous for a generation of women who leafed through the pages laden with watercolored illustrations of pubescent traumas like acne. But I’d put money on the assertion that the part of this book that readers remember most vividly is the nakedly accurate tutorial on how to insert a tampon. I remember staring at the display, which we can all applaud for helping normalize and publicize tampon use, and thinking to myself, No thanks. In the face-off of tampons vs. pads, I’ve always gravitated toward the latter. My stance isn’t something I’m, um, ashamed of so much as something I’ve resolved to keep to myself when possible, which is actually pretty easy to do. I mean, when’s the last time someone ever asked you if they could borrow a pad? It’s been a hot minute (or, like, multiple decades), right? That’s because pads, in the court of public popular opinion from the scope of my personal point of view, are antiquated and outdated. Look no further than Amy Schumer’s joke in the Netflix special Growing for details. “And millennials, if you don’t know what a pad is, congratulation…. A pad is a foot-long diaper that you coil betwixt your legs and just kind of waddle around all day wearing it,” Schumer says, while wobbling about. ad_intervals[‘409745_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if
How the humble banana became the latest go-to healthy ingredient
July 31, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC As the most widely consumed fruit in the US, bananas are about as exotic as a loaf of Wonder bread. Sure, they’re great for a quick post-workout bite, but exciting? Not so much. When it comes to trendy foods, bananas have maintained their basic status while the wellness world waxes about avocado, sweet potato, and chickpeas. (Which, to be fair, are pretty basic themselves.) But alas, finally, the humble banana is having its time in the sun. Recently, innovative food startups have been turning to bananas to be a healthy base for everything from milk to pasta. Yep, pasta. Other ways ‘nanas are popping up: as healthy “chips”, jerky, dessert bars, and even a cocktail topper. Here brand founders reveal what makes bananas such an appealing ingredient—I swear, that’s the last banana pun—and a registered dietitian weighs in on if the trend is as healthy as it sounds. ad_intervals[‘410542_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410542_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); One fruit, tons of uses The obvious reason why bananas are an easy win for brands is because they’re plant-based—basically a must these days—and super cheap. But Andrew Kinnear, the founder of non-dairy frozen banana dessert company Yellofruit, points to two other reasons why it’s such a valuable ingredient: consistency and taste. “When making good ice cream, solids are needed. Milk has protein, fats, and other components. By using banana purée, we get a naturally occurring solid, with some natural sugars and
The spirit animal of our frenetic moment is the (patient, persevering) ant
July 31, 2019 at 01:32PM by CWC “RockStar Shaman” Alyson Charles is here with her energy forecast for August—and a spirit animal that will help you get your fall mojo going way before Labor Day. Here’s everything you need to know about the ant, and why its medicine is the perfect tonic for our times. We are exiting out of July, a month that brought much fiery energy—the kind that, if you didn’t watch it and weren’t extra mindful, may have caused some arguments and situations that were quite intense or tumultuous. But through it all, these frictions were here serving us to initiate much-need realizations and change, creating the sparks that ignite transformation. The energies of August now beckon us to stay very strong, grounded, and clear, to continue to step forward with any changes we implemented recently. Be anchored in your choices and do not retreat back to old patterns and ways. ad_intervals[‘412013_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘412013_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); The spirit animal who you can call upon to keep you persevering is the ant. Ant medicine is so divine, reminding us that mastery of patience in key areas of your life is everything. You are at a pivotal moment in life right now, a time where you are literally ripping away from, and pivoting out from, old ways that previously held you back—and kept you playing small and bringing toxic situations or people into your life. Keep plunging forward into your
Cool off and de-stress ASAP with this delicious CBD lemonade
July 31, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QhBGjH1te0] CBD lemonade? Watch the video for the easy recipe. From skin-care products to food and tinctures, you can get your CBD just about any way you like. And if you pick up a CBD-infused drink on the reg, herbalist and holistic health practitioner Rachelle Robinett is here to teach you how to make your own in the latest episode of Well+Good’s YouTube series Plant Based. In this episode Robinett is joined by Lou Sagar, the founder of The Alchemist’s Kitchen. Sagar (who’s a bit of a CBD expert) says that people use the cannabinoid compound for a variety of reasons, including stress, anxiety, menstrual pain and bloating, and muscular or joint pain. (It has a lot of potential health benefits, although of course more research is needed.) ad_intervals[‘412034_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘412034_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); When trying out CBD for the first time, Robinett recommends finding your own dosage by starting low and working your way up. “You want to reach the point where you feel the desired effect,” Robinett says. “If it’s the right plant for you, you’ll get there. If you don’t get the benefit then it might not be the right plant for you.” However, if the taste of CBD oil straight is just not your thing (don’t blame you there!), Robinett has a solution for you: a celery juice/lemonade hybrid infused with CBD perfect for unwinding in this summer heat. For the recipe,
This best-selling Amazon buy will give you an ab-quaking workout on your living room floor
July 31, 2019 at 10:52AM by CWC I spend $100+ a week on Megaformer Pilates classes. Yes, I know how insane that is. No, I don’t have any intention of bettering my budgeting any time soon. What can I say? I love the feeling of strengthening my muscles on the machine, working them in 50-minutes worth of planks and lunges until my core, legs, and butt are shaking. It’s the only workout that I can do multiple times a week, for months on end, without getting bored or burnt out. And also, it helps me get seriously strong. Thankfully, I have inexpensive taste in clothing and a limited social life, otherwise it would be hard to justify the expense. But the other morning, when a trainer at New York City’s [solidcore] (that, along with SLT, are the Megaformer studios currently depleting my bank account) made a comment about squeezing your core during the workout the way you would on one of those “old school ab rollers,” a lightbulb went off in my brain. Could I get the same full-body, core-quaking workout that I rely on in my $40 Megaformer classes in my living room, from a $17 device that hasn’t been popular since 1996? ad_intervals[‘412104_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘412104_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); In the words of Justin Bieber, “YUP.” While the Megaformer offers a few more bells and whistles that help amp up your workout (and let’s be honest: there’s something to be said about dim
Think somebody took a bite out of your takeout order? 28% of the time you may be right
July 31, 2019 at 09:09AM by CWC There are nights when takeout is definitely called for. Days when you get home and there is nothing in the fridge besides condiments and a carton of oat milk, family movie nights when the only dinner everyone can agree on is a large pizza from the place down the street, when a craving for that very specific Buddha bowl from your favorite vegan place hits. These are the nights when only delivery will do. But just in case you order in on the reg, there’s a little something you might want to be aware of. Just a minor detail, really. Okay, here it goes: Roughly one quarter of the time you place an order through an app, someone might be sneaking a bite of your food, according to survey conducted by foodservice distributor US Foods. Of the 497 people surveyed who have worked as a food deliverer (for apps such as UberEats, Grubhub, DoorDash and Postmates), 28 percent admitted to “taking food” en route. ad_intervals[‘412061_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘412061_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Gross? Um, yeah. But the number actually shows some willpower: deliverers said they’re tempted by the food they’re delivering 54 percent of the time. Before you lose your cool, remember that customers aren’t perfect either. We’re not excusing the consumption of a few french fries from your order, but when it comes to tipping, 60 percent of deliverers said customers either didn’t tip or didn’t tip enough.
8 pairs of comfortable heels that will make you want to walk *everywhere* for the rest of the summer
July 31, 2019 at 08:22AM by CWC I am an avid sneaker wearer, and a person who hates to be even the slightest bit uncomfortable, so the thought of wearing heels in summer turns me into a human scream face emoji. The only thing worse than wearing painful heels is wearing painful heels while you are sweating uncontrollably. Who has time to deal with that stabby ball-of-your-foot pain from standing in high heels for too long while dealing with excess foot perspiration? Not I. No matter how pretty the shoes may be. It is a rare occasion where I think, gee it was a really good idea to ravage my feet for this dinner/date/day of work. Also, sweat plus open blisters equals stinging, and that just doesn’t work for me. But sometimes an outfit simply begs for a heel. I’ve even found myself, on occasion, longing to switch up my tried-and-true sneaks/sundress outfit combination, and pair my dresses with a heel instead. I’m just about five-foot-three-inches tall, so I always appreciate the height boost heels give me. And as much as it pains me to say this, sneakers are not always an appropriate footwear option. My point: there is a time and place for heels, and if we’re going to wear them they shouldn’t make us suffer. ad_intervals[‘411986_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘411986_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); So, yes, “comfortable” and “heels” are usually two things that repel each other, like oil and water or myself and