November 26, 2018 at 10:13AM If you’re planning on reliving your melt-in-your-mouth good Thanksgiving dinner by eating exclusively leftovers all week long, you might want to rethink that decision. Sure, eating leftovers days after the fact seems like it would be totally fine, but just because it still looks as fresh and tasty as it did on day one doesn’t mean it is. (Nope, not even the Paleo pumpkin pie.) Unfortunately, the expiration date on leftovers isn’t nearly as long as you think. According to the USDA, you can only keep them in the refrigerator for three to four days before bacteria starts to take over your feast. So if you ate your big meal on Thanksgiving, that means today is the day you’ve gotta make the decision to eat everything or toss it out, because if you do decide to try your luck tomorrow, you might be setting yourself up for getting sick. And who wants to spend their first week back at work with a nasty foodborne illness? Now, not all hope is lost. As long as it’s not over four days, you can still freeze your leftovers today so you can enjoy ’em later. The USDA says the quality is still A+ as long as you don’t eat anything after six months. But again, you have to freeze them today in order to ensure that you’re not freezing bacteria with it, too. Other than that, it looks like it’s back to your regular meal-prepping schedule. They’ll be plenty more
Category: Vegetarians
This derm-approved trick lets you try natural deodorant *without* soaked underarms
November 26, 2018 at 09:46AM By now, pretty much everyone I know is on board with clean beauty. They’ve swapped skin-stripping cleansers and chemically packed moisturizers for skin-care products with more nourishing, plant-based ingredients (praise). But, the hardest product to swap out, no doubt, is antiperspirant in lieu of an aluminum-free natural deodorant. I understand: Finding a natural deodorant is a lot like finding the one. Some are too wet, some are too powdery; some leave pits irritated at the hands of baking soda; and still some, though otherwise perfect, just aren’t antiperspirants. A quick refresher (ahem) on the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant: The former simply helps to wick away armpit sweat and help mask any odor that comes from the area; while the latter actually plugs the sweat glands to keep you from sweating altogether. So why choose one over the other? In recent years, aluminum-laced deodorants have come under scrutiny linking them to breast cancer, and while the American Cancer Society firmly says there’s no connection, many people are opting to replace them anyhow and just sweat it naturally. And that’s why I’m happy to report that I’ve found a way to start using natural deodorants on pits most days and still prohibit that pesky sweat: It’s called deodorant cycling. To do this, you simply alternate between using natural deodorant for two days in a row and then on the third day, you use an antiperspirant. This works because many antiperspirants prevent sweat in the area for 48 hours, during which time you can
10 things nobody tells you about CrossFit
November 25, 2018 at 11:00PM Acronyms abound; grunts, moans, and clangs echo off the walls; and a cloud of chalk greats you like a hype-AF welcoming committee. These (endearing) peculiarities make CrossFit feel like it operates in a world all its own. Which, let’s face it, can be intimidating even for slay-all-day-ers. So in the name of demystifying CrossFit for the uninitiated, eight CrossFit coaches reveal what nobody tells you about CrossFit before you join (i.e., what you probably can’t find with a Google search). Below, they share nuggets of knowledge you probably won’t learn by watching The Sport Of Fitness on TV. Photo: Stocksy/ Victor Torres You don’t have to be fit to get started Spoiler alert: what you’ve heard is true. CrossFit really is for anyone, not just people can know what a “power snatch” is. There’s a misconception that you have to have previous fitness experience to try CrossFit. “You don’t have to be in shape, lose a few pounds, or put on some muscle before starting CrossFit—just like you don’t have to have a college degree to go to college,” explains former Regionals athlete Allison Warner, a coach at ICE NYC. The only thing you need to start is the confidence to walk through the door. Each box is unique “No two boxes are alike,” says CrossFit Games athlete Kelsey Kiel, a coach at CrossFit Invictus Back Bay previously told Well+Good. “The culture, coaching, and space of every box is different.” That’s why before you commit yourself and your credit card
Why you basically feel hungover after a salty meal
November 24, 2018 at 03:00AM Have you ever woken up in the morning, after a night of not drinking at all, and felt the familiar pangs of a hangover? Headache, nausea, dry mouth—yep, all the usual suspects are present and ready to ruin your day. But, like, how? You really, truly didn’t even have a drop to drink. If you indulged in a particularly sodium-rich meal the night before (like a decadent—and soy sauce-heavy—sushi tasting menu), chances are, you’ve got yourself a salt hangover. “The main reason behind a ‘salt hangover,’ really, is dehydration,” says internist Albert Ahn, MD. “Having too much salt in the diet draws water into circulating volume, leading to increased urination. Without replenishing this water loss, you can quickly become dehydrated, especially overnight.” Sound familiar? Well, it is basically what happens when you drink too much. (Ever notice how curiously long bathroom lines at bars seem to be?) Alcohol contains ethanol, which is a diuretic, so it makes you pee. If you aren’t replenishing that volume, then voilà: Hello, dehydration and the searing headache it can bring. “The main reason behind a ‘salt hangover,’ really, is dehydration.” —Albert Ahn, MD People with diets high in salt are obviously more prone to these effects, and if you deal with certain health conditions, like diabetes or issues with the kidneys, you also may be more prone to dehydration—and thus should take extra care with your salt intake. Dr. Ahn adds that older patients and women might be more sensitive to changes
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
This chocolate hummus will sweeten the spread at any holiday party—without refined sugar
November 23, 2018 at 07:00AM It’s a true holiday miracle when you finally figure out a dish that pleases everyone at your holiday parties. But—dare we hope?—this chocolate hummus just might do the trick. (If you’re one of those people who allegedly “doesn’t like chocolate,” I truly don’t want to hear it.) Lauren Kirchmaier, the plant-based blogger behind Flora & Vino, recently shared a recipe that only requires five ingredients—oil and refined sugar didn’t make the list. Kirchmaier blends up chickpeas, raw cacao powder for a dose of chocolate, Medjool dates for natural sweetness, and tahini and almond milk for the creamy texture. In under 15 minutes, it’s ready to devour. View this post on Instagram Guys, I need to complain. I can’t get used to the time change!!! All I want when that 2:30 feeling hits is CHOCOLATE . LOTS OF IT. Bars, bits, pieces, whatever I can find. If you’re going to indulge like me, let’s at least make it this DATE-SWEETENED DARK CHOCOLATE HUMMUS with @baresnacks apple chips, yes? Oil free, packed with protein, and perfectly sweet with zero added sugar!!! Also this would be the perfect lazy girl (or boy) thanksgiving slash holiday spread for the whole fam! You know where to find the deets! Link. In. Profile. Baby. . . . http://www.floraandvino.com/date-sweetened-dark-chocolate-hummus-apple-chips/ . . . #floraandvino #desserthummus #refinedsugarfree #vegansnack A post shared by Lauren Kirchmaier (@flora_and_vino) on Nov 13, 2018 at 1:42pm PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js “A spoonful of it really kicks those chocolate cravings while providing protein
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
Avoid *this* ingredient in your lip balms if you have chapped lips
November 22, 2018 at 01:00PM When it comes to lip balm, people have pretty strong opinions. There are the die-hard Chapstick devotees, those who prefer to have tinted lip balms for a more prominent pout, and those whose fave flave is peppermint. I hate to break it to those who fall in the last camp, but minty-flavored lip moisturizers might be sabotaging your best efforts at a smooth pout. “Menthol has a cooling effect on the skin which is why many people enjoy the feel of it in their skin-care products,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York. He’s right—so many people I know always opt for minty flavors on their lips or that “cooling” option, which is basically code for “this has menthol in it.” “The lips are extremely sensitive. Menthol can lead to irritation of the skin with disruption of the skin barrier, as well as inflammation,” says Dr. Zeichner. “The lips are extremely sensitive. Menthol can lead to irritation of the skin with disruption of the skin barrier, as well as inflammation,” says Dr. Zeichner. “In the end this can lead to more dryness, creating a vicious cycle where you feel the need to apply more of the product. I personally recommend that my patients avoid menthol-containing products altogether.” Although it feels like that cooling, tingling sensation is doing something beneficial—perhaps even powerful—to your lips, it’s actually sacrificing the outer layer that protects them from the outside elements. And when it comes to compromised winter
Wait, grocery store apples are HOW old?!
November 22, 2018 at 12:00PM There are some foods that seem to go bad the second you get home from the grocery store. (Looking at you, mushy brown bananas.) But others, like apples, seem to last forever. And actually—you ready for this—it turns out that apples at most supermarkets can be over a year old. What?! Considering that we’re currently at peak apple season, I decided to do some investigating not only to learn how long do apples last, but if eating supposedly year-old apples Is it true that grocery store apples are old AF? Well…yes. Your average grocery store apple is about 10 months old, according to the USDA. But they don’t naturally last that long—untreated apples only last for a few weeks. So what gives? This vampire-esque lifespan is partly because of chemicals used on apples before arriving in stores, says Alex Formuzis, the vice president of communications at the Environmental Working Group. “Unlike some other produce, insecticides and fungicides are both applied to apples,” Fourmuzis says—up to 16 different kinds of pesticides in all. The fungicides protect the apples from bad bacteria, and the pesticides protect them from insects and other pests (since, as Fourmuzis says, they naturally attract bugs). Some producers also add a food-grade wax made of fatty acids and long-chain alcohols. “There are also fungicides in the wax film applied to conventional apples that is used so those apples can stay in cold storage facilities for long periods of time, which is why they are available all year
Not On this Ground-Breaking Supplement Yet? Here’s Why You’re About to Be
November 21, 2018 at 04:29AM You’ve got vitamin C (an attempt to avoid getting sick), vitamin D (who has time for the sun?), and magnesium (because you read somewhere that it’s supposed to be good for anxiety)—and that’s just to name a few. Translation: Your vitamin collection is officially out of control. But how many of these supplements are superfluous? What’s the difference between B2 and B12? And why do vitamins have to be so confusing? Faced with a similar conundrum—and seriously troubled about the harmful additives she found lurking in many capsules when she was pregnant—Ritual founder Kat Schneider decided to find out what women really need. “I couldn’t find a brand I trusted,” she explains, “so I decided to build my own from the ground up.” “Over half of the nutrients in a typical multivitamin are not actually necessary.” After canvassing scientists and industry vets (and combing through literally thousands of studies), Schneider and her team came to a surprising conclusion: “Over half of the nutrients in a typical multivitamin are not actually necessary,” says Luke Bucci, PhD, Ritual’s head of research and development. Great news for Marie Kondo-ing your medicine cabinet—but where does that leave us? According to Ritual’s research, most women are lacking nine specific nutrients. So the team set about to combine these into one magic (and chic) pill, as well as eliminating all the unnecessary add-ins they found in many other multivitamins. To whit: The resulting Ritual cocktail is a powerful lineup of vitamins K2, D3, B12, and E, plus boron, iron, magnesium,