April 04, 2019 at 06:57AM by CWC Last Thursday I found myself sitting at a bar at 11 am, listening intently as a man my dad’s age gave me beauty tips. Okay, relax: At this watering hole, legendary Los Angeles health food emporium and elixir bar Dragon Herbs, the strongest thing on the menu is adaptogen-infused coffee. And its founder wasn’t critiquing my frown lines or anything—in fact, I was taking notes on what he was saying, as Ron Teeguarden is someone who’s devoted his entire adult life to studying Chinese tonic herbs. If you’ve ever been to the tonic bar at one of SoCal’s Instagram-famous Erewhon Markets, you’ve experienced his work before. All of the drinks there are made with ingredients from Dragon Herbs. “You have to nurture beauty from the inside,” Teeguarden told me. I nodded knowingly and took a sip of my Snow Lotus Bliss tea, the drink that sparked this conversation in the first place—as I mentioned to my host, I chose it because the menu said it had “purifying and beautifying properties.” Teeguarden went on to tell me that many other Chinese tonic herbs are also known to give good skin, too, and have been used that way for centuries. In other words, Moon Juice’s Beauty Dust definitely wasn’t the first adaptogenic concoction to promise a glowier complexion, although it’s quite possibly the best-known in wellness circles. Intrigued, I asked Teeguarden to recommend a few skin-enhancing ingredients that I could throw into my morning smoothies,
Category: Relaxation
What a full-body cryotherapy treatment actually feels like
April 04, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC I’ve always been dramatic and said that I hate heat. I’m in the minority in that spring and summer are my least favorite seasons, I keep my windows open at night during the wintertime, and I’m one of those people who drinks iced coffee year-round (even when it’s blizzarding). So you’d think that locking myself into a chamber where the temperature is a cool -166 degrees F for three minutes straight—to help rehab my sore muscles that have happened as a result of working out—would be right up my alley. Cryotherapy has been a practice that’s been around for quite some time. Immersing your body to those subzero temps could actually have some health perks beyond aiding post-working. “Some of the purported benefits of cryotherapy include a decrease in inflammation, pain relief, and improved mobility,” says Niket Sonpal, MD, a New York-based gastroenterologist. “For older patients, they may experience instant relief of chronic joint pain and improved rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Patients may also benefit from dramatic stimulation of the immune system (a boost), hormones, and nervous system, and feel increased energy.” He adds that it also aids in your body’s recovery time, as it increases muscle resistance to fatigue (hence why athletes love it). As with everything though, talk to you doctor before you make the decision to take on the chill. With all those health perks—and the added benefit of involving the cold, my favorite—I had to hop into a cryo pod
In a major move toward inclusivity, Target creates affordable “sensory-friendly” furniture
April 03, 2019 at 09:22AM by CWC Whether it’s beauty brands providing a wider range of complexion shades for their makeup or bras being available in 70 different sizes, more and more companies are making moves toward inclusivity. And the latest to listen to customers’ needs is Target, with its affordable new line of “sensory-friendly” furniture. Anytime you’re strolling through the kids’ section of a store, you’ll be hit with products that are overly bright, loud, and flashy. For some children, that’s not a problem. But for others—including those with autism, ADHD, and other conditions—those designs can cause sensory sensitivity. Depending on their degree of sensitivity, they can experience strong reactions to highly stimulating items, sometimes resulting in explosive reactions, says The Center for Parenting Education. To ensure every child is able to have a sensory-friendly experience both at the store and at home, Target released 20 items as part of its Pillowfort brand specially designed based on customers’ stories and feedback, all between $20 and $100. There are rocking chairs for kids who like to move around when sitting; floor cushions for those who like the feeling of soft fabric and different textures; foam-filled crash pads to jump, roll, and relax on; hideaway tents for quiet time; and even weighted blankets to help provide a feeling of calm—something adults use, too, because sensory overload knows no age. Speaking of, even though these products are meant for kids, I just have one question: Is it socially acceptable for grown-ups to
9 ways to soothe red, itchy eyes from allergies, according to experts
April 03, 2019 at 08:51AM by CWC You don’t need a groundhog to tell you when spring is coming when you have seasonal allergies. The instant the weather starts getting nice and the grass starts getting greener, I experience a not-so-fun parade of symptoms: sneezing, runny nose, itchy throat, congestion, and—my least fave—red, itchy eyes. Because of how irritated my eyes get, it’s not uncommon for me to have an I-just-got-done-crying look on the most pollen-heavy days of spring. Aka not a fun look for anyone. And according to docs, there’s a simple explanation for why it affects me and other lucky allergy-ridden folks so much more than any other symptom on the list. “The eyes are the hardest area to control seasonal allergy symptoms because they’re a mucus membrane that’s outwardly exposed. The pollen can easily contact the eyes, even more easily than getting into your nose or your lungs.” says David Wertheim, MD, chair, division of allergy and immunology at ProHEALTH Care, a network of urgent-care clinics and health-care providers. Airborne pollen directly contacts the conjunctiva (the clear, thin membrane that covers the inner surface of the eyelids), Dr. Wertheim says, and “causes localized release of allergic mediators, like histamine. This is the same process that causes a runny nose and sneezing.” It doesn’t take long after contact for the problems to begin. Once those allergens hit your eyes, Richard Davidson, MD, an ophthalmologist with UCHealth, says they “cause the conjunctiva on the surface of the eye to
Not to worry—here’s everything you need to know about dealing with anxiety attacks
April 03, 2019 at 08:05AM by CWC “Let it go, let it go. Can’t hold it back anymore.” Okay, to most wide-eyed children, Elsa from Disney’s Frozen is just this super-cool, kind of complicated snow queen with a great singing voice and a killer side braid. But if you really boil it down, the character is oh-so-relatable to the adult set, too. Think about it: She spends most of her life hiding from the outside world. She’s so worried about what might happen that she secludes herself from all of it. Beyond withdrawing from her family and friends, she avoids her problems instead of accepting or dealing with them. And not to get all clinical, but might it be possible that Elsa was suffering from some pretty intense anxiety while she was refusing to build a snowman with sweet Anna? Sure, it’s a cheeky comparison, but in today’s ever-busy, always-working, rise-and-grind #hustleculture, all people are practically wired for anxiety. We may not have to worry about dudes trying to steal our castles and family fortune (probably), but the demands of life today are no joke, whether you’re a successful CEO, an analyst by day and yoga instructor by night, or a living-paycheck-to-paycheck recent grad trying to figure out WTF to do next. So, in the event your worries ever percolate into anxiety-attack territory, here’s what to do. Anxiety attacks: 101 First things first, generalized anxiety is something many people experience from time to time. It’s a feeling of nervousness or
Move over, sun signs: Moon signs are the real key to understanding your personal astrological identity
April 02, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC Whether you fall into the category of “astrology obsessed” or just happen to be aware of the day and month you were born, chances are good you’re familiar with your sun sign. It signifies where the sun was when you were born and points to many major aspects of your life, including your personality traits and whom you’re romantically compatible with. (Fun fact: You can now even filter Bumble matches by astrological sign). It’s usually what you check when you look up your horoscope, but while the solar element of the zodiac tends to get all the good PR, when it comes to understanding the real you, another part of the universe is worth your attention. Meet your moon sign, or what astrologers like to refer to as your “emotional personality.” Similar (but different) to your sun sign, your moon sign is dictated by where the moon when you were born. It speaks to your below-the-surface qualities that really make you, you—even if few people ever see them. “Your moon sign governs how you internalize and emotionally respond to life,” says Paula Pavlova, co-founder of Moonbox, a beauty and wellness kit based on the lunar cycle. “By understanding your moon sign, you can gain a better sense of your inner-workings and why you react and respond to life the way that you do.” “Your moon sign governs how you internalize and emotionally respond to life.” —Paul Pavlova, co-founder of Moonbox When I recently
I masturbated my way to better skin, because the orgasm glow is real
April 02, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC I’m willing to do pretty much anything for the sake of better skin. I’ve given up sugar and dairy, slathered my face in every “gross” ingredient you can imagine—including, but not limited to, snail mucin, human foreskin cells, and snake venom—and I’ve let someone stick straight-up needles into my cheeks on more than one occasion. But when I read that the real secret to the dewy skin I’d been lusting after was lots and lots (and lots) of orgasms (how great is the Internet, huh?), I immediately volunteered myself to conduct an experiment. To the ex-boyfriends, coworkers, and family members who are reading this now, #sorrynotsorry. First things first: There is (at least a little bit of) actual science out there to support the fact that Os will make you glow. In a study published in Secrets of the Superyoung, author David Weeks found that participants who reported having sex four times a week looked approximately 10 years younger than their actual age. Super scientific? Nahhh. The best we have. Well, kind of. TBH, there aren’t any academic journal publications that specifically link sex to skin health, however, sex therapists confirm that the “sex flush,” which increases circulation to certain areas, and can give you a temporary all-over glow, is a thing. Why the lack of research but the influx of anecdotal evidence? Well, as dermatologist Jaimie Glick, MD, of Marmur Medical: “These studies are not so easy to do.” But, she confirms this:
3 reasons this holistic doctor wants you to reduce stress for your gut health
April 01, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC If you’re visiting the bathroom more than you’d like on the morning of a make-it-or-break-it presentation or the evening of a highly anticipated Bumble date, it’s no coincidence. Turns out a literal gut reaction to nerve-racking situations is super common, says holistic psychiatrist Ellen Vora, MD. “There is a direct and powerful relationship between stress and gut health,” Dr. Vora says. “Stress compromises the health of our digestive tract in a variety of ways.” That means on days when your Google cal is booked solid, GI issues may ride shotgun. But don’t freak: We teamed up with RenewLife®—the high-potency probiotic supplements for a vibrant gut—to help you embrace the calm and reap the stomach-soothing perks. Scroll down to find out the gut-health bonuses of staying stress-free. Photo: Unsplash/ Pablo Merchán Montes 1. You could cut down on the bloat (and related GI distress) Consider this: When you’re properly fueled and well-rested, there’s nothing stopping you from being a rock star at work. Your body’s digestion system is the same. When stress or extreme fatigue enters the equation, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating can too, says Dr. Vora. “In order to secrete digestive enzymes and properly digest our food (and thereby optimally absorb and assimilate nutrients from our food), our nervous system needs to be in the parasympathetic state (i.e., relaxation),” she explains. Committing to daily acts of kindness toward yourself like being realistic about your daily goals and taking regular breaks can help keep
What you can actually expect from a therapy session, straight from a no-nonsense therapist
April 01, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC After college, when I was living on my own for the first time, I decided to try therapy. Everything around me was new, and all the uncharted territory led me to feel small and uncomfortable. But I was also a 23-year-old who wanted to talk about dating, and my therapist, a referral from a family friend, seemed to only wanted to poke fun at that based on my perception our first appointment. I left feeling frustrated, annoyed, and belittled. And I never went back. But, here’s the thing: That’s not what therapy typically looks like—it shouldn’t anyway, at least. It’s also not you lying on a sofa, clutching a box of tissues, staring up into space while being incessantly asked, “How does that make you feel?” Since the notion of therapy is often fraught with confusion and misconceptions, it’s time to set the record straight. Here, psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb—whose new book, Maybe You Should Talk To Someone, follows her journey as a therapist who also goes to therapy—answers all your Therapy 101 burning questions, from how to find the right therapist to what to expect from that first session and how to know if it’s “working.” You asked, she answered: Find your Therapy 101 cheat sheet cheat sheet. Photo: Getty Images/FatCamera 1. How do I even begin to find a therapist? To start, scan Psychology Today to get a sense of a given therapist, learn what their areas of specialty are, and also
Once and for all: WTF does it actually mean to massage your kale?
April 01, 2019 at 09:42AM by CWC Ever since kale became the trendiest superfood on the planet, I’ve heard one technique and over again: massage it. It’s supposed to break down the toughness of the leaves to make them softer and less bitter, giving you a bowl of greens that not only tastes better but is easier to digest. But what does it mean to massage your kale, exactly? To me, massaging kale sounds like it should be a totally Zen spa experience. Like, if kale had eyes, cucumber slices would most definitely be placed on them. And instead of olive oil, it’d be getting slathered in relaxing essential oils. Unfortunately, there’s no R&R for these greens. But, good news: Working out kale’s kinks doesn’t require nearly as much effort as your own. “When making a kale salad, people always talk about ‘massaging’ the kale to tenderize it, but it’s not like giving someone a massage,” says chef Bruce Kalman, owner of BK Hospitality Group. “The method I use basically requires you to gently rub the kale leaves through both of your hands until you notice it beginning to soften up. It should take less than a minute. If you overwork it, it won’t have any sort of texture, and you really want your salad to be crisp, but not tough.” While massaging kale is undoubtedly the most common and quickest method of breaking down those chewy fibers—especially when you’re doing so around the same time you want to eat!—Kalman