June 08, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC When a dermatologist offers advice—whether it be about products they love, how to deal with pimples, or what not to do to your skin—you better believe I sit up and listen. So when Dr. Shereene Idriss, aka “The Pillowtalk Dermatologist,” aka my favorite follow on Instagram, revealed the one place I should never, ever (ever, ever) use my loofah, well, let’s just say that particular tool will now forever be relegated to the skin below my neck. “I would never ever use a loofah on my face!” she told me after I slid into her DMs. Why? “Because it’s abrasive, like a physical scrub, and I wouldn’t want it to irritate or potentially scar, especially if I’m prone to breakouts.” In general, derms tend to advise against using harsh physical exfoliants on your face (and really, really don’t want you to use anything with walnuts in it for the sake of your dead skin sloughing), and many agree that chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid are the better option. And one more (very upsetting) thing about loofahs? The fact that they can be hotbeds for bacteria doesn’t exactly help their legitimacy as facial cleansing devices. “People use it after washing their bottoms, and, who knows what you’re transferring… just saying,” says Dr. Idriss. Um, yeah—that’s going to be a hard pass from me, TYVM. A few other derm words of wisdom when it comes to your shower routine: For the sake of your skin, keep
Category: 2019 Health
The one thing a dermatologist says she would never, ever do in the shower
June 08, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC When a dermatologist offers advice—whether it be about products they love, how to deal with pimples, or what not to do to your skin—you better believe I sit up and listen. So when Dr. Shereene Idriss, aka “The Pillowtalk Dermatologist,” aka my favorite follow on Instagram, revealed the one place I should never, ever (ever, ever) use my loofah, well, let’s just say that particular tool will now forever be relegated to the skin below my neck. “I would never ever use a loofah on my face!” she told me after I slid into her DMs. Why? “Because it’s abrasive, like a physical scrub, and I wouldn’t want it to irritate or potentially scar, especially if I’m prone to breakouts.” In general, derms tend to advise against using harsh physical exfoliants on your face (and really, really don’t want you to use anything with walnuts in it for the sake of your dead skin sloughing), and many agree that chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid are the better option. And one more (very upsetting) thing about loofahs? The fact that they can be hotbeds for bacteria doesn’t exactly help their legitimacy as facial cleansing devices. “People use it after washing their bottoms, and, who knows what you’re transferring… just saying,” says Dr. Idriss. Um, yeah—that’s going to be a hard pass from me, TYVM. A few other derm words of wisdom when it comes to your shower routine: For the sake of your skin, keep
6 easy-to-make sweet snacks without the sugar spike
June 08, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC Even registered dietitians agree that life is too short to live without sweet treats. (Hey, sometimes self-care comes in a box of Girl Scout cookies.) Savoring every bite of dark chocolate, every spoonful of ice cream is pure bliss. But then an hour later, that dreaded sugar crash hits. What cruel, cruel fate. But healthy sweet snacks are easier to come by than you might think. Satisfy your sweet tooth without getting that crash is as easy as pairing something high in sugar with healthy fats or fiber. “This slows the absorption of sugar, preventing it from spiking blood sugar as much,” says hormone health educator Candace Burch. “You can satisfy your need for a sweet treat without having to go overboard on the sugars and sweeteners,” says The Lung Health Institute’s registered dietitian Amanda Maucere, RDN. How exactly? Here, Maucere and registered dietitian Carissa Galloway, RDN, both give three snack ideas and all do just the trick: 1. Dark chocolate and almond butter: This is a total upgrade from the peanut butter cups in the vending machine down the hall. “Use dark chocolate—85 percent cocoa or higher—as a spoon to scoop up the almond butter,” says Maucere. 2. Berries with cream: “This one is a quick and easy winner,” says Maucere. “For a real treat, use frozen berries instead and blend with cream in a blender for a quick and easy berry sorbet!” 3. Chia seed pudding: Maucere is a fan because the chia
6 easy-to-make sweet snacks without the sugar spike
June 08, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC Even registered dietitians agree that life is too short to live without sweet treats. (Hey, sometimes self-care comes in a box of Girl Scout cookies.) Savoring every bite of dark chocolate, every spoonful of ice cream is pure bliss. But then an hour later, that dreaded sugar crash hits. What cruel, cruel fate. But healthy sweet snacks are easier to come by than you might think. Satisfy your sweet tooth without getting that crash is as easy as pairing something high in sugar with healthy fats or fiber. “This slows the absorption of sugar, preventing it from spiking blood sugar as much,” says hormone health educator Candace Burch. “You can satisfy your need for a sweet treat without having to go overboard on the sugars and sweeteners,” says The Lung Health Institute’s registered dietitian Amanda Maucere, RDN. How exactly? Here, Maucere and registered dietitian Carissa Galloway, RDN, both give three snack ideas and all do just the trick: 1. Dark chocolate and almond butter: This is a total upgrade from the peanut butter cups in the vending machine down the hall. “Use dark chocolate—85 percent cocoa or higher—as a spoon to scoop up the almond butter,” says Maucere. 2. Berries with cream: “This one is a quick and easy winner,” says Maucere. “For a real treat, use frozen berries instead and blend with cream in a blender for a quick and easy berry sorbet!” 3. Chia seed pudding: Maucere is a fan because the chia
Consider these supportive, stylish swimsuits your big boobs’ BFFs
June 08, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC There are a lot of things I would rather do than shop for a swimsuit: watch a documentary about elevator mechanisms, scrub a pan that I’ve made cauliflower gnocchi in without soaking it first, get on the 405 during rush hour… the list goes on. I mean, honestly, let’s raise a glass to online shopping. There’s something infinitely better about trying on a swimsuit from your own home, surrounded by comforting things like mugs half-filled with old coffee and random shoes strewn across the floor. Even as someone who is comfortable in my own skin, there is something particularly soul-sucking about going into a dressing room and slipping into a skintight, skin baring article of clothing. And if you, like me, have boobs that are dense like dying stars, you likely have felt personally victimized by a swimsuit or twelve. They’re either not supportive or—sorry not sorry—they’re kind of ugly. Where are all the cute, supportive swimsuits? I had a recent press appointment to check out a brand’s latest swimwear collection, and I made my appointment for 9 a.m. like the fool that I am. Let me tell you, getting across town to try on swimsuits for work during rush hour has got to be one of Dante’s circles of hell. But as I tried on the different suits, sans coffee but plus body anxiety, I realized something: when a swimsuit is able to make your big boobs look good and also give
Consider these supportive, stylish swimsuits your big boobs’ BFFs
June 08, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC There are a lot of things I would rather do than shop for a swimsuit: watch a documentary about elevator mechanisms, scrub a pan that I’ve made cauliflower gnocchi in without soaking it first, get on the 405 during rush hour… the list goes on. I mean, honestly, let’s raise a glass to online shopping. There’s something infinitely better about trying on a swimsuit from your own home, surrounded by comforting things like mugs half-filled with old coffee and random shoes strewn across the floor. Even as someone who is comfortable in my own skin, there is something particularly soul-sucking about going into a dressing room and slipping into a skintight, skin baring article of clothing. And if you, like me, have boobs that are dense like dying stars, you likely have felt personally victimized by a swimsuit or twelve. They’re either not supportive or—sorry not sorry—they’re kind of ugly. Where are all the cute, supportive swimsuits? I had a recent press appointment to check out a brand’s latest swimwear collection, and I made my appointment for 9 a.m. like the fool that I am. Let me tell you, getting across town to try on swimsuits for work during rush hour has got to be one of Dante’s circles of hell. But as I tried on the different suits, sans coffee but plus body anxiety, I realized something: when a swimsuit is able to make your big boobs look good and also give
Porn vs. reality: Here’s everything you’ve ever wanted to know about squirting
June 08, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC It seems like many people are just about as confused about squirting as they are about why people feel the need to ghost each other. So, in the interest of filling in sex-knowledge gaps, pros are here to explain female ejaculation myths and facts: where it comes from, what it’s made of, and how to actually do it. First things first, though: Female ejaculation isn’t some porn-propagated urban legend. “Even ancient texts, like the The Kama Sutra, reference women’s ability to expel fluids during sex,” says sexologist Jess O’Reilly, PhD, host of the Sex with Dr. Jess Podcast. “Squirting is the word most people use to refer to the ejaculation in people with vaginas, but it’s a bit of a misnomer.” Basically, dismiss the image of a hose-like release. “Usually, the fluid expelled is about a teaspoon in volume and doesn’t actually squirt across the room.” That said, there is variability in what squirting looks and feels like. Some women’s ejaculate may dribble, and others’ may gush, spray, or actually squirt with force, says sexologist Sadie Allison, PhD, founder of sex-toy boutique Tickle Kitty. “It comes down to each person’s body and anatomy.” Dr. O’Reilly likens the situation to sweat, and how that volume varies between people. How common is female ejaculation? While data suggests that anywhere between 10 and 50 percent of women experience involuntary ejaculation in their lifetime, Dr. O’Reilly suspects that more women are capable. “It’s likely that most women
Porn vs. reality: Here’s everything you’ve ever wanted to know about squirting
June 08, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC It seems like many people are just about as confused about squirting as they are about why people feel the need to ghost each other. So, in the interest of filling in sex-knowledge gaps, pros are here to explain female ejaculation myths and facts: where it comes from, what it’s made of, and how to actually do it. First things first, though: Female ejaculation isn’t some porn-propagated urban legend. “Even ancient texts, like the The Kama Sutra, reference women’s ability to expel fluids during sex,” says sexologist Jess O’Reilly, PhD, host of the Sex with Dr. Jess Podcast. “Squirting is the word most people use to refer to the ejaculation in people with vaginas, but it’s a bit of a misnomer.” Basically, dismiss the image of a hose-like release. “Usually, the fluid expelled is about a teaspoon in volume and doesn’t actually squirt across the room.” That said, there is variability in what squirting looks and feels like. Some women’s ejaculate may dribble, and others’ may gush, spray, or actually squirt with force, says sexologist Sadie Allison, PhD, founder of sex-toy boutique Tickle Kitty. “It comes down to each person’s body and anatomy.” Dr. O’Reilly likens the situation to sweat, and how that volume varies between people. How common is female ejaculation? While data suggests that anywhere between 10 and 50 percent of women experience involuntary ejaculation in their lifetime, Dr. O’Reilly suspects that more women are capable. “It’s likely that most women
All the raisins—er, reasons—grapes are good for you, according to a registered dietitian
June 08, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Grapes are blessedly one of the most accessible fruits there is. Even if your local supermarket doesn’t stock some of the more exotic summer fruits like papaya, kiwi, or mango, they probably still have beautiful bunches of green or red grapes no matter the season. But given that they’re so sugary sweet and delicious…that can’t be a good thing for you health-wise, right? It has to be too good to be true. If a low-carb diet has you wondering whether grapes are good for you, you’re in luck: the little globes pack in a ton of health benefits, says registered dietitian Cara Harbstreet, RD. (Phew!) Here’s what she says you need to know. What are the nutritional benefits of grapes? 1. Grapes are full of polyphenols. Polyphenols are active compounds naturally found in plants (including many fruits and vegetables); grapes are particularly high in them. “The polyphenols in grapes that we tend of think of have antioxidant properties, which may support health by lowering risk of inflammatory conditions such as heart disease,” Harbstreet says. Another 2015 meta-analysis found that grape polyphenols could help reduce blood pressure. 2. Grapes are a good source of vitamin K. Just half a cup of grapes gives 14 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin K, which is pretty great for such a small serving. “Vitamin K is an important nutrient for blood clotting, bone health, and may play a role in regulating blood pressure,” Harbstreet says. “Although
Science says sighing is involuntary self care—not your inner angsty teen being rude
June 07, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC I’ve taken to sighing approximately, oh, 22,000 times a morning, and I’m worried that my co-workers thing I’m an uptight, bored, and rude. The meaning of sighing is, after all, murky at best and the connotations of it are mostly negative. Sure, you can sigh of relief when your college friend cancels those after-work dinner plans. Or you can sigh dreamily when you scroll past the most perfect trifecta of Harry Styles, Gucci, and piglets. But mostly sighing conjures that phase of your life when wearing liquid eyeliner was a moody personality trait. And I’m trying to escape my reputation as the token Goth Teenager in every room I inhabit. Is my sighing habit precluding me from such progress? If you have similar anxieties, brace yourself for one of those big relief sighs: Sighing is actually a incredibly benign reflex that we all do pretty much constantly. On average, a person sighs every five minutes, which is about 12 times an hour. And while that may seems excessive, it actually may be a factor that’s keeping us alive. One study from UCLA and Stanford points to how the purpose of sighing is to inflate the alveoli, balloon-like sacs where oxygen enters and carbon dioxide leaves the bloodstream. Sometimes the alveoli collapses, so sighing is engaged to bring in double the oxygen to pop it back up again. Otherwise, your oxygen-to-carbon-dioxide process is compromised, and—not to get catastrophic—your lungs will fail. That biological function aside,