January 24, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC There’s no denying it: protein is massively important for your health. Whether you’re a vegan or an omnivore, the protein you eat helps build muscles, make enzymes and hormones to keep your body’s systems functioning properly, sustains healthy energy levels, and offers countless other benefits. “Protein is one of the three macronutrients—along with carbohydrates and fats—and therefore is required in high amounts by the body, as it plays an important role in cellular growth, development, and repair, immunity, cell signaling, and hormonal health to name a few,” says Juliana Dewsnap, RD, a dietitian for Baze. However, there’s another surprising protein benefit: it can help with healthy aging. In fact, the body actually requires more protein as you get older. Why, you ask? Here’s what you should know. Why protein requirements change as you age There’s some evidence that older adults are not as responsive to protein as they age, meaning they need more of it to function optimally compared to younger adults. And the need increases further if you are a woman thanks to menopause. “While technically increased recommendations by protein researchers consider those age 65 and older, menopause is a key time in a women’s life where due to hormonal shifts, body composition can change drastically in a short period of time,” says Kelly Jones, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN. These changes include increased body fat and decreased lean muscle mass, the latter of which can impact longevity. Considering that the average age of
Category: Beauty
Turn out the lights: New studies show energy-efficient bulbs can damage skin
January 24, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC A teeny, tiny “I told you so” secretly sparked within me when I heard that there are studies showing that visible light—the kind you see flooding out of fluorescent office fixtures or LED bulbs—could be damaging your skin. After years of welcoming guests to lounge areas illuminated almost exclusively by candles and nights spent at dinner parties searching for dimmers to take down the too-bright overheads, I felt like a subconscious instinct had been validated. And while the research is preliminary, it’s a good time to start tuning in—and turning off—whenever possible. “New evidence has been published that [shows] high-energy visible light (HEVL), which is emitted from energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs and LED lights, can cause ROS-mediated photoaging and inflammation in the skin,” says dermatologist Bradley Bloom, MD, of Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York. For those unfamiliar with the term ROS (most everyone?), it stands for “reactive oxygen species,” which we’ve known for years are responsible for creating free-radical damage within the skin when it’s exposed to UV light from the sun. Free-radical damage, or oxidative damage, can create problems within the skin that are wide-ranging, including acne, pigmentation, eczema, collagen degradation… the list goes on. These burgeoning studies from dermatologist David McDaniel, MD, indicate that the light from bulbs (which is necessary to simply see) could also be responsible for “atmospheric skin aging,” or compromising the health and integrity of our complexions. This research is finally gaining attention, says Dr.
The gross reason a dermatologist wants you to clean your glasses every day
January 24, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC Every time you experience a breakout, your mind goes into detective-mode, trying to figure out what went wrong and caused the pimple that popped up on your face. Well, while there are always plenty of possibilities, one is pretty straight-forward: You’re not cleaning your glasses. One of our editors recently learned from a facialist at the Miraval Life in Balance Spa at the Park Hyatt St. Kitts that wearing your glasses every day without cleaning them can cause acne on your nose, around your eyes, and elsewhere on your face—basically wherever your glasses have contact with your skin. And, it checks out. According to dermatologist Jaggi Rao, MD, acne expert for Facing Acne, the oil and bacteria on your glasses can easily transfer, clogging your pores and resulting in pimples. Continuing the bad habit will only make things worse over time. “While touching your glasses and transferring germs to your face will initially create a few pimples, these will never really get a chance to heal if you keep touching your glasses and getting them dirtier each time,” says Dr. Rao. “You’ll not only end up breaking out all over again each time, but you’ll be additionally exasperating old acne, and never really allowing it to diminish. Thus, by extension, if this happens on a daily basis for a long time—as most of us push our glasses up on various occasions every day—it should come as no surprise that you may be getting
If you use just one ingredient to treat chapped lips, derms say to make it this
January 23, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC Lip balm is one of those products that is critical to have on hand at all times, particularly during the colder months. If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a bedside balm, a desk balm, and individual balms in every bag you own so that you’re covered whenever chapped lips may strike (which, at this time of year, is pretty much a guarantee). But having just any lip balm at the ready isn’t enough to combat those dry-lipped pinches—according to dermatologists, you’ve gotta have the right product in order to ensure you’re giving those lips the love they need. The one ingredient they say you should be looking for in a lip balm? Beeswax, or, for a vegan option, petroleum jelly. “They both retain and lock in moisture,” says Howard Sobel, MD, a New York City-based cosmetic dermatologist and founder of Sobel Skin Rx, who dubs these the absolute “best ingredients” for chapped lips. Both are occlusives, which means that they seal in any hydration in your lips and keep it from evaporating. While you’re in the process of perusing your labels, there’s also one ingredient you should avoid: menthol. The minty-flavored stuff may offer a nice cooling effect to your kisser, but in the process of doing that it actually winds up drying them out, thus doing the exact opposite of what you want a lip balm to do. You know how sometimes after you apply your balm, you suddenly want more,
The 6 healthiest cereals to always stock in your pantry, according to a dietitian
January 23, 2020 at 06:30PM by CWC Did anyone else find immeasurable joy in the mini boxes of Lucky Charms, Frosted Flakes, and Cap’n Crunch as a kid? (It can’t just be me!) Now that you’re all grown up and shopping for cereal with the nutrition label in mind, it has probably come to your attention that the boxed breakfast choice—even in miniature—often packs a lot of added sugar. So to help you choose the healthiest box for you, we asked a dietitian to tell us what is the healthiest cereal for five of today’s most popular eating plans Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, a registered dietitian and author of The Better Period Food Solution, says that a few general guidelines can help you navigate the vast cereal aisle with your health in mind. “It’s a win when the ingredient list is on the shorter side, has more protein and fiber than sugar, doesn’t upset your stomach by overloading your gut with tough to breakdown sweeteners or sugar alcohols, is easy to find and most importantly, sets you up for dietary success throughout the day,” she says. So if you read that list and say check, check, check, check, you’re good to toss the one-step breakfast into your grocery cart. What is the healthiest cereal? A dietitian answers with the top 6, based on your preferred eating plan Photo: Magic Spoon Keto: MAGIC SPOON Magic Spoon’s colorful boxes reflect just how flavorful the cereal is. And Beckerman says that for keto-eaters,
The Grammys gift bag is packed with wellness goodies—here’s what’s inside
January 23, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC As if attending the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards wasn’t cool enough—the glitz! the glamour!—there’s now another reason why scoring a seat would be the ultimate win: You get a Grammys gift bag that’s jam-packed with wellness goodies. Now, don’t get me wrong. Awards show gift bags are always impressively loaded with lavish items that add up to thousands of dollars. But this year has reached peak wellness with a handful of items aimed at your physical and mental health. From a self-watering planter that will fulfill your urban garden dreams to a virtual therapy subscription, these are the things award show attendees are going home with (that you might want to grab for yourself, too). The best wellness goodies in this year’s Grammys gift bag 1. HFactor Hydrogen Infused Pure Drinking Water, $15 for pack of 6 No one at the Grammys is going to be lacking energy with this hydrogen-infused water that’s not only said to help increase athletic performance and reduce inflammation from exercise, but also work as a caffeine-free pick-me-up and hydration-booster. 2. Muse meditation headband, $350 Meditation is easy with this comfy headband. It has sensors that provide real-time feedback on your brain activity, heart rate, breathing, and body movements, all of which can help you meditate like a pro. 3. Talkspace subscription, $260-$396/month If you don’t like the idea of seeing a therapist in person, try Talkspace. The Grammys gift bag contains a subscription to the online
Getting glass skin is actually easier than you think
January 23, 2020 at 11:00AM by CWC “You’ve got glass skin” is the ultimate complexion compliment. It encompasses everything healthy skin should be: hydrated, bright, and dewy. It’s a glow so strong, it’s practically reflective. But what is glass skin? The concept comes to us by way of Korea, where women know more than a thing or two about keeping their complexions happy. “Glass skin, or ‘yuri pibu’ in Korean, refers to translucent skin that is clear, radiant, poreless, and smooth—almost like a pane of glass,” says Glow Recipe co-founder and K-beauty pro Sarah Lee. And the key to making it happen? Consistency, consistency, consistency. “Just like getting regular exercise is a way to stay healthy, practicing a consistent skin-care routine is important to achieve not only glass skin but keeping skin in its best, glowing state,” she says. With the right routine and ingredients, it’s something anyone can achieve. One misconception worth clearing up? “Glass skin” means healthy skin, and that doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be blemish-free. “We want to dispel the idea that glass skin can only be achieved with perfect clear skin because that is far from the truth,” says Lee. “The most important factor is that your routine includes both hydrating and gently exfoliating ingredients to achieve that reflective look.” Regularly exfoliating helps to fade dark spots and prevent breakouts, and hydration ensures that your skin isn’t producing excess oil, which also prevents breakouts. 1. Cleanse Not once, but twice. “Dewy, bright skin starts with the double
The healthiest canned goods to always have in your pantry, according to a dietitian
January 22, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC We all know about the merits of eating in-season and shopping for produce at your local farmer’s market, but it’s worth pointing out that canned food is seriously underrated by the healthy eating crowd. (Perhaps even more so than the B-sides of Carly Rae Jepson’s Emotions album…) The short list of canned foods’ accomplishments: they have a longer shelf life, help cut down on cooking time, and are often inexpensive, says Maggie Michalczyk, MS, RD. Plus, “for those looking to follow more of a plant-based diet, using things like canned chickpeas, and other beans in your meals is a great way to add plant-based protein and more fiber to the diet,” she adds. Even if you are a major meat lover, those canned goods can enhance your meal in terms of more nutrition (like fiber!) and flavor—so long as you choose wisely. “I would say if there is a low sodium or no-salt-added version of the canned food you are grabbing at the grocery store, go for that one. If not be sure to rinse and drain all canned items to remove some of the salt,” says Michalczyk. This keeps heart health in check and lowers bloating and water retention. What’s more, “BPA [an environmental toxin present in small amounts in many canned goods] has potential health risks which is why you want to look for cans that say ‘BPA free,’” she says. “Many companies have taken initiatives to remove BPA, however I would
The 5 healthiest hot sauces you’ll want to put on *everything*
January 22, 2020 at 01:30AM by CWC Born and raised in Buffalo, I can’t not like hot sauce. Frank’s Red Hot Cayenne Pepper sauce can be found in every cabinet in the 716, and before Beyoncé made it popular, I used to carry it in my bag to make school lunches more tolerable. But it turns out my beloved sauce has a whopping 190 mg of sodium! Considering the average person isn’t drinking glasses of hot sauce, that number isn’t the worst, but we know we can do much better. Nutritionist Andrea Mathis, RDN, says while there might not be much nutritional value to hot sauce, there are certainly hot sauces that are better for you than others. “Even though most hot sauce is very low in calories and fat, there are still are few other factors to consider when choosing the best option and those factors are sodium content and the amount of artificial ingredients,” she says. “I like to choose a hot sauce that has a moderate-to low-amount of sodium and is made with natural ingredients.” The healthy hot sauces you should put on everything 1. McIlhenny Co. Tabasco Pepper Sauce, $4 Mathis says this one stands out because of its simplicity. “I love it because you only have to use a little bit to get that perfect spicy flavor, and it only contains approximately 35mg of sodium per serving,” she says. “It also contains no artificial ingredients.” 2. Trader Joe’s Jalapeno Sauce, $4 Trader Joe’s always
4 things you should always do to your skin, according to a French facialist
January 21, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC I’ve gleaned beauty secrets from all types of experts, ranging from top dermatologists to facial yoga instructors and everyone in between. But I’m very excited to spill what a French skin-care routine looks like, according to my latest resource: Mila Moursi, a 70-year old Parisian facialist who has decades of skin-care knowledge under her belt. Moursi has a unique background—she studied (and taught classes on) aesthetics and cosmetic chemistry before treating the faces of stars like Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock. “The combination of my education and years of experience taught me that beauty is from the inside-out,” says Moursi. “A good product can be amazing, but if your lifestyle is not good, you’re jeopardizing the product.” For example, right along with your skin-care regimen, she stresses the importance of “beauty sleep,” eating healthy, and staying hydrated. To help bolster her 360-degree philosophy on beauty, the Parisian skin pro is all about consistency in your regimen and feeding your complexion the right ingredients. “I love peptides and amino acids,” says Moursi, since these even and brighten the skin, and she’s a big supporter of hyaluronic acid, because “it really plumps your face like a glass of water for your skin.” Keep scrolling for more of Moursi’s skin-care tips and the four things you should always do to your skin. 1. Focus on cleansing “A lot of people don’t know how to cleanse properly,” says Moursi. First of all, she recommends that you use