December 28, 2018 at 10:07AM Over the past couple of years, everyone I know has become fond of saying that every month feels like a year, and every year feels like a decade. (I know, the math is weird—but it feels accurate, right?) Mostly that’s due to huge events beyond our control sending a steady drumbeat of traumatic shocks to the system, like mass shootings, humanitarian crises, political turmoil, and those celebrity deaths that hit you harder than you expect them to (RIP Anthony and Aretha). But sometimes, in this era of elastic time, you look back and realize that some good things have come along—and it’s hard to imagine a time when they didn’t exist. So here’s a (very subjective) list of all the things I can’t believe we survived without, pre-2018. And here’s to a new year, and all the “wow, we needed that” delights that we’ll enjoy next year. Keep reading for the born-in-2018 highlights that made my life a little bit less stressful, more joyful, and overall healthier this year. Photo: Getty Images/Nathan Congleton/NBC Nailed It! As therapeutic Netflix time goes, it’s hard to beat watching comedian Nicole Byer and chef Jacques Torres banter. Byer is one of the funniest comics working anywhere, and her French chocolatier co-host’s “Nee-cole” refrain is like aural Prozac to me. And then there are the contestants: Think of it like the American answer to The Great British Baking Show, with way less expertise and way more laughs. While GBBO is famously humanistic,
Category: Vegetarians
Check out the 15 best books we read this year (like actually, go check them out)
December 28, 2018 at 06:00AM It’s been a year. There’s been good stuff, great stuff, strange stuff, and stuff that makes me want to cry at the mere thought of it. But happy, sad, bored, or totally energized and ready to learn, books are trusty (and, TBH unparalleled) source distraction or inspiration or any other kind of escapism you might be jonesing for at a given moment. In 2018, Well+Good staffers and Well+Good Council members read a lot of great material that filled hours of self-care Sundays, nourished our souls, and—quite simply—made us happy. Below, check out the tomes we couldn’t put down this year, and add ’em to your TBR stack, stat. Leaf through the 15 books the Well+Good family loved in 2018. Photo: Getty Images/fotyma You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine, by Alexandra Kleeman “I loved reading this gorgeously strange novel. To me, it seems like the author is digging at the root of what it means to be a woman in 2018. And as a result, the story follows you around, wherever you go. It’s insidious and so, so satisfying to consume. (In fact, it kind of feels like it’s consuming you—but you’ll have to read it to see what I mean.)” —Kells McPhillips, news writer From Atoms to Angels, by Paul D. Walsh-Roberts “Change is all around us, and no aspect of our lives remain untouched…. I found this book full of practical insights and tools. It’s thought-provoking and challenging, yet clear and liberating.”
Music fights dementia one song at a time—and 3 more ways to stay mentally fit
December 27, 2018 at 11:21AM Driving around in the car while belting out Kelly Clarkson with your friends sure does wonders for your mood. But did you know it’s also sneakily working to boost your brain health? It’s true. In fact, the connection between social singing and cognitive health is so strong that there are at least 67 choirs across the country—each composed of people with dementia and their caregiver—meant to strengthen mental fitness. On Thursday, The Washington Post highlighted the Giving Voice Initiative, an organization that helps to form choruses for those living with Alzheimer’s disease. There’s research to back up this feel-good endeavor: When people with dementia sing with loved ones, they experience improved quality of life as well as reinforced communication skills. Other fringe benefits include higher self-esteem and social support. Music is so strongly tied to emotion that it works to activate a response in the brain directly connected to memory formation. Coupled with continued learning, this type of therapeutic activity proves to be exceptionally powerful. If you’re hesitant to sing in the shower let alone a group, rest assured that an organized sing-along is by no means the only way to improve cognitive function. Here are three more ways to stay sharp: 1. Fill up on fiber and healthy fats. Genius Foods author and brain health expert Max Lugavere has made it his mission to educate people about filling their plates in a way that feeds their brain as well as their body. The Cliff Notes version of his advice: Sugar
Okay, let’s settle this—are GMOs bad for you or not?
December 27, 2018 at 04:00AM There are few food-related debates more polarizing than the one around genetically modified organisms, or GMOs as they’re more commonly known. (Other than the question about whether people who like black coffee are psychopaths, that is.) On one side of the fence, you’ve got those who claim that genetically modified foods are generally harmless. This cohort includes the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization, and 90 percent of members of the American Association for Advancement of Science. But then there’s another sizable crew of experts, including prominent doctors (like Mark Hyman, MD, and Frank Lipman, MD), nutritionists (Ashley Koff, RD), and advocacy organizations like the Environmental Working Group, who are a bit more skeptical. Most GMO detractors claim that it’s simply too soon to tell whether there are any long-term health effects connected to this relatively young technology, which has only been around for about 20 years. And many feel there’s evidence that GMOs actually might have a detrimental impact on our health and that of the planet. So who to believe? It’s a tricky question without a clear answer, and one that’s sure to be surfacing a lot more in the weeks to come. That’s because the US government has just finalized new rules around GMO labeling, which became mandatory back in 2016 under the Obama administration. Starting in 2020, food brands will be required to disclose the presence of GMOs in their products. (More on that in a minute.) To make sure you’re fully up
This Hot Chocolate Oatmeal Has An Anti-Inflammatory Secret Ingredient
December 26, 2018 at 01:00AM It’s also gluten-free, vegan, and super delicious. Continue Reading… Author Liz Moody | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Here’s why dietitians love sweet potatoes so freaking much
December 25, 2018 at 02:00AM If there’s one piece of produce that comes close to stealing the health halo from the avocado, it’s the humble sweet potato. People in the wellness industry—from trainers to dietitians to doctors—love the tuber. Personal trainer Michael Morelli even advocates eating them for every meal. TBH, it’s a little surprising in this carb-phobic climate that sweet potatoes are still so beloved. After all, they do have 26 grams per cup. But here’s the thing, according to 80 Twenty Nutrition founder Christy Brissette, RD: Carbs aren’t inherently “bad.” “Carbohydrates from produce are different than carbs from processed, flour-based foods,” she says, adding that carbs really only get problematic when people overdo their portions. (She says an appropriate serving should be about the size of your fist.) Now that the carb myth is straightened out, we can focus on the major reason why healthy eating pros are into ’em: all their glorious benefits. Keep reading to see the nutritional benefits of sweet potatoes, plus easy ways to add them to your diet. The top sweet potato benefits: 1. They’re a good source of vitamin A. “This is the major difference between sweet potatoes and white potatoes,” Brissette says of SP’s high beta carotene content. Beta carotene is the precursor to vitamin A (meaning it gets converted to vitamin A in the bod), key for maintaining a strong immune system. It’s also good for your eyes. A word to the wise: Vitamin A is fat-soluble, so Brissette suggests eating your sweet potato
Look Kate Hudson, Joanna Gaines has a genius decluttering hack for all those cutting boards
December 24, 2018 at 07:49AM Today in “sentences I never thought I’d type,” cutting boards are having a major moment. My mind was blown earlier this week when an eagle-eyed Twitter detective pointed out that Kate Hudson had a surplus of the things in her kitchen, and then it full-on exploded when Gwyneth Paltrow stepped in to suggest that maybe she’s not using them in the kitchen, but the uhhh bedroom. Yes, this really happened, and I would like to quickly take this opportunity to say that the Internet is an amazing place sometimes. But anyways…. As someone who is constantly trying to navigate the perils of living with a teeny, tiny kitchen (thanks, New York City apartments), I’m here to say that they take up a disproportionate amount of cabinet space in relation to their number of uses, and storing them always winds up being a massive pain. But thanks to the savior of all things home, Joanna Gaines, I have recently discovered a new way to deal with my cutting boards that doesn’t make me want to throw them out the window: By using them as a part of my decor. In her new design book, Homebody, the lifestyle guru dishes out all sorts of advice on how to keep your kitchen as clean and functional as possible. One of her top tips, per PureWow? “Clear your counter of everything but the essentials.” Which, I’ll admit, is pretty straightforward. One of her more groundbreaking hacks, though, is to actually leave
3 vegan cheese ball recipes that will be the star of the snack table
December 24, 2018 at 06:57AM Despite what the internet and your Great Aunt Mildred may have you believe, “holiday treats” and “healthy eating” don’t have to be mutually exclusive. There are plenty of delicious-and-nutritious holiday swaps for sugary cookies and cakes, but there’s one holiday staple that, until now, was hard to hack: The cheese ball. Admittedly, a self-proclaimed “ball of cheese” (that is often dipped in a hefty coating of bacon) doesn’t exactly scream “good for you!” especially when there’s a perfectly good veggie plate a few inches to the left. But, c’mon—they’re pretty dang delicious, and thanks to the protein-packed vegan alternative—cashew cheese—there are plenty of ways to enjoy the cheesy hunk of deliciousness you’ve always loved without the actual cheese part of it. Woohoo! Scroll through for some of our favorite vegan recipes from around the internet sure to make you the star of any holiday potluck, where people will have a hard time believing that what you’re serving up isn’t actually the real deal. Spicy Vegan Pimento Cheese Ball A new twist on the old classic…with a kick. This recipe requires only 10 ingredients, plus your handy-dandy food processor, and will leave you with a creamy-yet-spicy edible holiday centerpiece. In lieu of cheese, the vegan version uses nutritional yeast, and amps up the flavor with garlic, smoked paprika, pimento peppers, and cayenne pepper (which, FWIW, may have metabolism-boosting properties, among other benefits worth getting amped up about). Yum, yum, yum. Full recipe at Minimalist Baker. Cranberry Thyme Vegan Cheese
Can cayenne pepper *really* help boost your metabolism?
December 24, 2018 at 05:00AM Before everyone was doing liver detoxes and drinking celery juice, there was the Master Cleanse—you know, that diet that involved consuming nothing but lemon water, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper for 10 days. Although we’d never (!) recommend you try this (or any cleanse, really), it did get one thing right: Each of the ingredients in the signature drink does have some legit health benefits, cayenne pepper included. “Cayenne pepper has long been used for its medicinal properties and as a bold spice for cooking,” says BZ Nutrition founder Brigitte Zeitlin, MPH, RD, CDN. She notes that cayenne originally hails from Central and South America—in the US, it’s most readily found in the spice aisle in dried, powdered form. According to Zeitlin, cayenne’s wellness cred lies mainly in capsaicin, the compound in chili peppers that makes them hot. (It has certain other powers too—more on that in a sec.) And cayenne has more capsaicin than both jalapeño and serrano peppers. So perhaps that’s why we’re seeing it all over the health-food scene today, from Dirty Lemon tonics to organic chocolate to energy bars. But what, exactly, can cayenne do for us—besides making us sweat more than a barre class? Read on to find out. Photo: Getty Images/Golubovy 4 cayenne pepper benefits you should know about 1. Cayenne pepper may help boost metabolism Yep, this is exactly why cayenne was included in the Master Cleanse mix. “Since these peppers are hot, they increase the heat your body produces,” explains
7 editors share the mental health tips that got them through 2018
December 24, 2018 at 03:00AM Let’s be real: 2018 was a long, hard, roller coaster of a year. (Like, can you even believe that the Winter Olympics happened in the same year as the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, a Thai soccer team getting rescued from a cave, and Harry and Meghan’s wedding? I cannot.) So yeah, 2018 has been a lot. But it’s also been a banner year for mental health awareness. More celebrities than ever have been opening up about their struggles with depression and anxiety (take that, stigma!). And new scientific research has continued to shed more light on the complexities of mental illness, from understanding the surprising link between climate change and mental health to how stress can even affect your memory. There’s been a lot to learn this year, and we want to share the goods with you. Below, seven W+G staffers share the mental health advice they learned in 2018 that have helped them better handle their stress and anxiety. Change your schedule to work for you “The best thing I did for my mental health this year was start going to workout classes at 6 a.m. When my alarm goes off at 5:20 every morning, it feels utterly masochistic, but it’s worth getting out of bed for the feeling of accomplishment I have by 7 a.m. Moving my body right when I wake up helps me curb my anxiety first thing in the morning, and going so early gives me two full hours of awake time