December 04, 2018 at 03:45AM When your wellness routine—AKA the rituals and habits you embraced to make your life better—is stressing you out, things need to change. And for so many people this year, the line between constructive self-care and pure anxiety trigger (as in, just another thing on your already-jammed to-do list) became blurrier than ever before. In 2019, it’s time to simplify, simplify, simplify. And get that wellness-loving mojo back. “In the age of social media and particularly Instagram, I believe the pressure people feel to engage in performative wellness creates anxiety, self-doubt, and depression,” says author, doula, and wellness maven Latham Thomas, who’s watched the landscape shift and expand as wellness has gone from esoteric to everywhere. In the process, Instagram feeds have been flooded with picture-perfect healthy meals, #selfcaresunday rituals, and more. (Hey, if you don’t take an in-studio selfie, did your workout even happen?) All of this enthusiasm is infectious and, yes, fun—but it comes with a side of unspoken pressure to perform your healthy-living habits. “In the age of social media and particularly Instagram, I believe the pressure people feel to engage in performative wellness creates anxiety, self-doubt, and depression.” —Latham Thomas, wellness pioneer The industry boom—and the staggering number of new fitness, food, and lifestyle options to choose from—is partly to blame. New data shows that since 2015, the global wellness industry has grown 12.8 percent, from $3.7 trillion to $4.2 trillion. That increase is reflected in myriad new and expanded companies, products,
Category: Keto
MCT oil is going mass-market, thanks to keto lovers
December 04, 2018 at 03:45AM Let’s get something straight right now: MCT oil—which is suddenly everywhere —is nothing new. “It was a big deal around 2008,” says Mike Israetel, PhD, chief sport scientist for Renaissance Periodization fitness programs. But there’s a reason why the longtime staple of Bulletproof coffee went away (seriously, crickets for almost a decade), yet is back with a major vengeance: Call it the keto effect. In 2018, nothing dominated the food scene—healthy or otherwise—quite like the ketogenic diet. Beloved by celebs and CrossFitters alike for its reputed ability to do everything from help with weight management to ease anxiety, the keto diet is all about putting your body into ketosis, a state in which you burn fat instead of carbs for fuel. And MCT oil (which contains medium-length chains of fats called triglycerides, most commonly extracted from coconut oil) is really good at helping you stay in that state. It’s even better than coconut oil and other healthy fats, and this ketosis cred looks to be making the masses go crazy for MCT. A report released by Grand View Research says that the MCT market is expected to reach $2.46 billion by 2025. And BevNet reports that the price has more than doubled in the past five years, jumping from $3 to $8 per kilo. Hitting the market are more MCT-oil-laced products than ever, including ready-to-drink lattes and smoothie-ready gels and powders. Even Nestle is getting in on the game. “More scientists have come out with
A-Rod’s investment in keto cookies is a sweet, romantic gesture for J.Lo
November 29, 2018 at 09:27AM It’s no secret that Jennifer Lopez is someone who prioritizes healthy habits. She does stair sprints, push-ups, and booty-sculpting moves (duh) to keep her fitness game on point—and often shares tips via social media so her loyal followers can copy the moves for themselves. But she is, in fact, a human being, which means she’s not someone who deprives herself of dessert. And her partner in love and fitness just supported her sweets-eating habit in the form of a huge financial investment. “I happen to know a woman who loves cookies. And I mean loves,” Alex Rodriguez, her boyfriend, said on a recent episode of Shark Tank. “Jennifer eats a cookie every night before she goes to bed.” Ultimately, Rodriguez invested $300,000 in exchange for a 25 percent take in ketogenic cookie company, Nui, CNBC reports, and Lopez’s sweet tooth just might have been the deciding factor. Made with coconut oil, grass-fed butter, and only one gram of sugar per two-cookie serving, the treats come in three flavors (chocolate chip, peanut butter, and ginger) and are crafted to give keto devotees a way to satisfy a craving for sweets without breaking ketosis. (They’re also gluten-free.) Made with coconut oil, grass-fed butter, and only one gram of sugar per two-cookie serving, the treats are crafted to give keto devotees a way to satisfy a craving for sweets without breaking ketosis. The cookies are still super-new to the market—they aren’t even revved up on Instagram yet—and the investment from
Sesame seeds are the underrated salad topping you’ve been missing
November 24, 2018 at 02:00AM You know that end of the salad bar with all the crunchy toppings like walnuts, sunflower seeds, and croutons? Chances are you’re completely overlooking a small, yet mighty nutritional add-on: sesame seeds. Sesame seeds aren’t just a final finishing touch on burger buns, breadsticks, and sushi rolls: they actually have pretty incredible health benefits to them. Wondering what exactly they are and how to start incorporating them into your meals? Keep reading. Scroll down to see the nutritional benefits of sesame seeds, potential side effects, and ideas for using them in your meals. Health benefits of sesame seeds 1. They protect against free radicals. A review of several small studies found that eating sesame seeds could help fight oxidative stress, an imbalance between free radicals (which can damage cells and are linked to signs of aging and disease) and antioxidants in your body. 2. It may increase production of vitamin E. Sesame seeds have been shown in a small study to up the levels of tocopherols in the body, which is a precursor to vitamin E. Why that matters? Vitamin E helps lower inflammation, promotes eye health, and is good for your skin. 3. They’re high in healthy fats. You don’t have to be an all-out keto devotee to know that healthy fats are massively important to your body—especially when it comes to brain health. And one tablespoon of sesame seeds has 4 grams of fat—mostly the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated kind (you know, the good stuff). Sprinkle some sesame seeds on your
How did everyone get so obsessed with the Instant Pot?
November 23, 2018 at 01:00AM As far as kitchen appliances go, the Instant Pot isn’t exactly sexy. It lacks the luxe status of a Vitamix, retro kitsch of a Smeg toaster, or the tricked out tech features of a Samsung fridge. It’s essentially an updated slow cooker, and there are fewer things less sexy than something your grandma uses to make chili. Yet somehow, the extremely humble IP has become the Meghan Markle of the cooking world: Everyone’s talking about her, everyone wants to be her friend, everyone wants to know her secrets. There are literally hundreds of cookbooks solely devoted to the Instant Pot, with titles like The Instant Pot Bible and Instant Pot Obsession. Hop on Facebook and you can swap recipe ideas with the 1.5 million “potheads” in the Instant Pot Community Group. Or lurk in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes’ Twitter feed to find hundreds of Instant Pot recipes shared by her fans. And this isn’t just a niche thing. While Instant Pot’s parent company, Double Insight, keeps its exact sales numbers close to the vest, a company spokesperson told the New York Times in 2017 that sales have more than doubled every year since its launch in 2011. Meaning that lots and lots of people are rapidly jumping on the Instant Pot train. Of course, there are actually a lot of other pressure cookers on the market—Breville, Cuisnart, and even Crock-Pot have their own models. But just like how people refer to all tissues as Kleenex or all sodas as Coke, the Instant Pot
What a Thanksgiving plate looks like for the 6 most popular eating plans
November 20, 2018 at 07:01AM If you’re following a specific eating plan—whether it’s veganism, ketogenic, Paleo, or something else entirely—you’ve probably got this thing down. You have your go-to recipes bookmarked and saved, and you know exactly which grocery store never runs out of cauliflower pizza crust and alt-milks. But there’s nothing like Thanksgiving to throw all of that clockwork routine a little out of whack. The traditional dishes—turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes—aren’t always ideal for meatless or low-carb diets. And that makes menu planning tricky: If you’re a guest, you don’t want to stress out your host by making a ton of specific menu requests, or be ~that person~ who refuses practically everything on the table. And if you’re a host, you don’t want to make food only some people can enjoy, or impose your dietary restrictions on the rest of your guests. But in both scenarios, there’s a way to build your Thanksgiving plate where it’s crowded with amazing food—that still fits your health goals. Here, healthy food experts share healthy Thanksgiving menu ideas for their eating plan of choice. Use their picks as a guide to make your own plate—especially if you’re the one doing the cooking. Keep reading to see how to make a yummy Thanksgiving plate for your eating plan of choice. Graphic: Well+Good Creative The vegan Thanksgiving plate “Veganizing your Thanksgiving plate is much easier than you might think,” says Best of Vegan creator Kim-Julie Hansen. “Most side dishes and stuffings can be made vegan with just
9 ketogenic-friendly recipes to bring you comfort and joy this holiday season
November 15, 2018 at 02:00PM Celebs, doctors, and yes, even Well+Good’s own editors extol the mind and body benefits of the high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet. But what does eating keto look like during the holidays, when carb-y comfort foods (traditionally) reign supreme? Incredibly delicious, if ketogenic food bloggers have anything to say about it. You don’t have to miss out on any of the holiday cheer at the dinner (or dessert!) table—even if that means passing on the mashed potatoes this year. Keep reading for 11 keto-friendly recipes that will make your holiday meals merry and bright. Photo: ruled.me 1. Cinnamon Roll “Oatmeal” This take on “noatmeal” swaps keto-unfriendly oats for a concoction of chia seeds, flax seed meal, and riced cauliflower. Plus, warming spices like vanilla, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon make this breakfast taste like hygge in a bowl. Photo: Keto Diet Blog 2. Carrot and Thyme Mini Loaves Not only is the carrot and thyme combo delish, but eggs, olive oil, and flax seeds keep these loaves chock-full of healthy fats and proteins. Sounds like the perfect make-ahead breakfast for super-busy mornings. Photo: My Keto Kitchen 3. Cinnamon Keto “Granola” Almonds, coconut, pepitas, and chia seeds are just handful of the ingredients that make this take on granola absolutely delish. Plus, cinnamon and vanilla extract help to warm up those frosty mornings. Pass the almond milk, please! Photo: Gnom Gnom 4. Sweet and Crunchy Candied Pecans Candied pecans just scream holiday treat, IMO. This recipe swaps run of the mill brown sugar for
Whole Foods’ 2019 trends are here and they’re good
November 15, 2018 at 03:00AM Supermarkets are looking a lot healthier these days, in large part to chains like Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods that are willing to test innovative products and see if they resonate with consumers, who vote with their dollars. Curious as to see what the big offerings will be in 2019? Get ready: Whole Foods just released its trends report, indicating what their primary focuses will be when stocking their shelves for the year ahead. Last year, adaptogenic mushrooms, flavored sparkling beverages, and floral flavors all took center stage at the retailer. (So feel free to blame your La Croix addiction on them.) Scroll down to see Whole Foods’ 2019 wellness trends. 1. Pacific Rim flavors: Last year Whole Foods was all about expanding #TacoTuesday into an all day, everyday trend. This year, the Pacific Rim is serving up major food inspo. Expect to see more products made with tropical fruits, like dragonfruit, not only being featured in juices and smoothie bowls, but also other beverages and in nutrition bars. Another Asian staple Whole Foods says you’ll see popping up more is jackfruit. 2. Shelf-stable probiotics: Whole Foods predicts that supplements and yogurt will no longer be the only ways consumers will get their fill of good bacteria. “New strains of probiotics such as bacillus coagulans GBI-30 and bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 are making more shelf-stable applications possible,” the retailer says in a press release. “Wellness-focused brands are making it easier to get more probiotics in your
How to eat your way through Mexico City—the vegetarian way
November 15, 2018 at 01:00AM Mexico City is a hot (as in temperature and high vibe) international tourism destination at the moment, and the cultural epicenter is only forecasted to grow in popularity for years to come. Beyond access to ancient ruins and world-class museums, Mexico’s capital is home to a lush climate that supports a variety of local fruits and vegetables that color its rich traditional dishes, which—it’s worth noting—are abundant just about everywhere. With street vendors hawking affordable, authentic, finger-licking meals on nearly every block, it’s impossible to go hungry here…if you follow the meat-loving paleo diet, perhaps. But don’t despair yet, vegetarians. If your wanderlusting pursuits bring you to Mexico City, where the lion’s share of both high- and lowbrow offerings indeed focus on meat-derived dishes, just be prepared with the right questions about the food anywhere and everywhere you go. Hey, just consider it a welcome reason to freshen up your Spanish skills. (Pro tip: Practice while exercising because the multitasking has been shown to improve foreign-language recall.) Check out 4 vegetarian-friendly tips for enjoying all the food in Mexico City Photo: Getty Images/Tony Anderson 1. Ask the right questions When ordering food, be super inquisitive about how the food is made, but also take care to ask the right way. Simply inquiring whether something is vegetariano won’t help you because the server or food vendor may harbor a different definition than you. For example, some may think that you’re not okay with red meat but are perfectly
Is coffee, um, *allowed* while you’re intermittent fasting?
November 14, 2018 at 08:16AM What’s harder than giving up food for eight, 16, or even 24 hours? Asking a coffee drinker to give up their morning cup. (Or two. Or three.) But apparently that’s the deal when you’re intermittent fasting. Depending on the plan you’re following, there are often strict rules about what you can and cannot consume during a fasting period in order to enjoy the promised benefits of more energy, less brain fog, and healthy weight management. And surely, drinking something as delicious as coffee is “cheating,” right? Well, not exactly. I posed these questions to Nora Minno, RD, and to Josh Axe, a doctor of natural medicine, to get the deets. The good news: Neither expert gave coffee a hard no for anyone doing intermittent fasting—but it did come with some caveats. If you’re using IF primarily to help with weight management, Minno says straight coffee shouldn’t interfere with your goals because it has nearly zero cals (a plain cup of brewed coffee has less than 5). It also won’t take you out of ketosis (the state where your body is burning fat instead of carbs for fuel), which is great news if you’re on the keto diet and want to incorporate IF. But once you start adding in anything more caloric to your coffee, like milk or MCT oil, that’s more of a no-go. “Technically, when you’re fasting, you’re not supposed to eat anything,” Dr. Axe says. And some more elaborate coffee drinks can come packed with calories—even Bulletproof coffee