Is tofurky actually healthy?

November 07, 2018 at 03:56AM One of the most nostalgia-inducing and essential autumn smells is the waft of sweet potatoes, roasted Brussels, buttery pumpkin pie laced with cinnamon and cardamom, and turkey in the oven on Thanksgiving. But as more people adopt a plant-based or vegan lifestyle, that roasted-turkey-in-the-oven-smell is getting replaced by vegan-friendly options (bless). If there’s one turkey-substitute that reigns supreme on Turkey Day it’s tofurkey. Usually spelled “tofurky,” which is the same name of the OG brand responsible for the product’s existence, tofurky is defined by Urban Dictionary as, “A wondrous creation. It is a vaguely meat-like soy product…and some damn fine eating.” If you’ve ever tried tofurky, you know that definition is pretty spot on. But is this melon-shaped, surprisingly bird-textured vegan classic actually healthy? What exactly is in it anyway? (Besides, you know, the obvious.) “There are many different brands that sell tofurky as well as recipes available online for making your own, each with its own specific add-ins. The only real consistent ingredient is tofu,” says Remedy Review advisor Jillian Kubala, MS, RD. That means that the exact ingredient breakdown of the “loaf” varies. Basically, tofurky can be divided into two categories: homemade and store bought. Photo: Stocksy/Jennifer Brister Homemade versus store-bought tofurky Homemade is almost always better than store-bought when it comes to nutritional density—tofurky included. “Many homemade loafs are either made with rice, lentils, and seasonings, which gives you a nice dose of fiber, or simple ingredients ingredients like tofu and herbs,” says Rachel Berman, RD author of Boosting

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Get your chocolate fix the *healthy* way with these 9 cacao nibs recipes

November 06, 2018 at 09:14AM There’s a sad misconception that chocolate doesn’t have a place in a healthy diet. And, sure, your doctor isn’t going to be handing out candy bars on your way out of their office any time soon. But cacao nibs—chocolate’s cool, non-processed cousin—are delicious and healthy. Unlike processed chocolate, cacao (and cacao nibs, which are basically chopped up cacao beans) in its raw form is full of antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, and brain-boosting flavonols. So you’re basically getting the rich flavor of extra dark chocolate without a ton of added sugar or other junk. Sign me up. If you want to know what to do with cacao nibs besides just sprinkling them on top of your morning yogurt, check out these nine sweet cacao nibs recipes. Chocolate lovers, this one’s for you. Photo: Naturally Ella 1. Cacao nib and oat scones Making a batch of these for your fam will definitely ensure your “favorite child” status. Naturally Ella blogger Erin Alderson’s recipe also calls for honey and a teeny bit of vanilla extract to add an extra layer of sweetness. Photo: 8th and Lake 2. Simple overnight bircher muesli Sure, you can have a regular ‘ol bowl of muesli for breakfast, or you can spice it up with some cacao nibs. This recipe from blogger Marie Reginato is beautiful in its simplicity: All you need to make it is alt-milk (she uses cashew milk), raspberries, banana, rolled oats, honey, and of course, the cacao nibs. Photo: Love

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Yogi Koya Webb says using this $5 product has fooled people about her age

November 06, 2018 at 08:27AM If you don’t yet know yoga-preneur Koya Webb, a social media sensation who’s captured the attention of over half a million followers on Instagram, it might be time to get acquainted. That is, if you’re into heart-centric inspiration, wanderlust-inducing photography, vegan lifestyle tips, sweaty workouts and, of course, yoga guidance. A word of warning, however; exposure to Webb may also invoke envy (or is that just me?). She’s not only all of the above but also one of those women who somehow glows even more in person sans filters than she does online. She tells me she attributes quite a bit of that shine to her lifestyle. Despite her whole-foods-centric, plant-based diet, Webb is also a big believer in fueling her signature glow with supplements. Her must-haves? A daily multivitamin, B12, probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes. Webb doesn’t pretend to shun store shelves, either; however, her beauty routine is minimal and clean. Below, she shares her four faves for glowing, healthy skin, including a secret stolen from her grandmother, an OG holistic-beauty babe. Keep reading to steal Koya Webb’s wellness-oriented beauty secrets.   Photo: Osea Osea Anti-Aging Body Balm, $48 “I love Osea’s anti-aging body balm because it leaves my skin super silky and infuses it with coconut oils, minerals like seaweed, and fruits like açaí and passion fruit,” she tells me. Photo: Pacifica Pacifica Pineapple Wipe Out Face Wipes, $6 “I don’t like using towels on my face because they can contain detergent residue and bacteria that irritate

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Eliminate one of life’s greatest frustrations by storing your plastic wrap in the freezer

November 06, 2018 at 08:03AM Everyone has an ongoing mental list of their biggest frustrations—mine definitely includes the people who take up two spots in the parking lot and having to ask your friend to Venmo you for dinner multiple times. But those don’t come anywhere close to matching the struggle of properly unrolling plastic wrap. Luckily there’s a simple hack that might just fix the problem for good. (Halle-freakin-lujah.) While it’s great that plastic wrap clings onto your containers—that’s its job, after all—it’s not so great (read: murder-inducing) that it also clings onto itself, making it incredibly hard to unroll a sheet without it instantly turning into an unusable, bundled-up mess. The solution to easier-stored leftovers is all about where you keep your roll. Instead of putting it in a kitchen drawer or cupboard, try the freezer. The much-colder temp in the freezer temporarily gets rid of the plastic wrap’s clinging powers—just long enough for you to unroll it and pop it onto your container. According to Today, your freezer’s much-colder temp cuts back on static and temporarily gets rid of the plastic wrap’s clinging powers—just long enough for you to unroll it and pop it onto your container. “The adhesion between pieces of plastic may be driven by the molecules in the surface re-arranging themselves to form weak chemical bonds, and the lower temperature may inhibit that process a bit,” said Chad Orzel, PhD, who notes that cold temperature also makes tap less sticky (the more you know!). What you’re

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How to make a salad that’s satisfying every single day, according to Jennifer Garner

November 05, 2018 at 11:28AM If you don’t choose the right set of ingredients, your health-rich lunch can lead you straight into a trap of salad fatigue. And that’s exactly why you’ll never find Jennifer Garner munching on a basic bowl of spinach and dressing—tasty as that combo may be. Instead, the healthy actress recently revealed a go-to salad formula that always leaves her with an incredibly satisfying bowl of greens. “Salad used to mean limp carrot shavings and too-cold tomatoes. Now, salads are a celebration of what’s seasonal and handy.” —Jennifer Garner In a recent Instagram post, Garner says leafy-green bowls used to mean “limp carrot shavings and too-cold tomatoes,” but her mind-set has totally changed since her sad-salad days. “Now, salads are a celebration of what’s seasonal and handy,” she writes. To make sure she winds up with a mouth-watering mix every time, she chooses ingredients from a wide range of categories: greens (duh), veggies—”you don’t need croutons if you have something crunchy in there”—grains/protein, fats, and a splash of dressing. While she loves cutting up an avocado and adding the beloved green cubes into the mix, well…PSA, Jen: You’re just asking to give herself avo hand with that cutting form! View this post on Instagram SALAD: used to mean limp carrot shavings and too cold tomatoes. NOW salads are a celebration of what is seasonal and handy. They are also what’s for lunch. Always. #PretendCookingShow #fullepisodeonIGTV! . A blend of greens! Kale  Arugula Sweet mix  Swiss chard . Veggies!  Green beans  Broccoli  Peppers 

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Sweet potato pesto poppers are the ultimate healthy game-day app

November 05, 2018 at 07:52AM Once fall hits, Sundays typically turn into an excuse for football fans to devour all things stuffed, fried, and smothered in cheese. While plate upon plate of loaded nachos and BBQ wings aren’t exactly the best choices for your well-being (unless you give them a healthier twist, that is!), there’s one body-boosting appetizer that’s sure to please everyone in attendance, health nut or not. Lauren Kirchmaier, the plant-based blogger behind Flora & Vino, recently shared a snackin’ staple that actually makes her a fan of football season: her sweet potato pesto poppers. The oil-free, gluten-free, vegan, and grain-free staple is a must-try for anyone at your gathering—plus, they’re super easy to make. “They’re a total ‘game-changer’—sorry, I had to—when it comes to feeding you and your football fans,” she writes. “You can whip up the pesto in advance, throw a pan of sweet pots in the oven just before halftime, assemble, and serve ’em warm on a giant platter.” View this post on Instagram Ok so I’m not the biggest football fan let’s be honest BUT you know what I am a big fan of?! Sports eats. Healthified. These SWEET POTATO PESTO POPPERS made an appearance this afternoon! Oil free, gluten free, vegan, grain free, and sooooooo succulently savory!!! Dan says he’s going to try to stay up for the patriots game tonight…and I’ll happily join if I can munch on these! #patriotsfanbymarriage Perfect for a game time snack or anytime snack! They’re also a fun variation for

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Pigeon pose isn’t the only move that will loosen your hips

November 05, 2018 at 05:55AM Comprised of an array of muscles (shoutout powerful glutes and mighty adductors), the hips reign over most of our movement patterns. And yet, Americans sit an average of 13 hours a day (#desklife), which forces the hip flexors into a “shortened” position and ultimately leads to tight adductors, abductors, and hamstrings. Research also suggests that when the hip muscles tighten, a chain reaction occurs and the surrounding muscles are affected— especially the glutes.  To counteract the sit-all-day lifestyle, it’s smart to dedicate a decent amount of time to stretching before a sweat-sesh and TBH, whenever else there’s time—like after the shower or when the vegan pumpkin mac & cheese is in the oven. While pigeon pose may be the go-to hip-opener—it isn’t the *only* move that will loosen your hips. In fact, dance sculpt instructor, Megan Roup, who happens to be leading our next Well+Good Retreat in Miami this December, actually prefers an active hip-opening stretch which is humorously known as the “fire hydrant” (because it looks like a pup taking a pee on a fire hydrant). To try it, start in tabletop position with your hands and knees on the floor, shoulders stacked over your wrists and hips stacked over hips. Keeping your spine neutral and core engaged, lift your right leg to the right as high as you can, then lower it back down with control. The goal is to get your leg to hip height, but no matter how high you can reach your leg, it’s still a good stretch.

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Bored with ‘booch? Water kefir’s the new fermented drink you’ve gotta try

November 01, 2018 at 12:49PM For the past several years, kombucha‘s had the probiotic beverage market on lock. But there’s a new fermented drink on the rise that just might give your old fave a run for its money. It’s called water kefir, and it’s even being hailed as—dare we say—the new ‘booch. Chances are, you’re already familiar with “regular” kefir. “Traditionally, kefir is made from milk that is fermented, which means that it contains beneficial bacterial strains,” says functional nutritionist Brigid Titgemeier, MS, RDN, LD. (It looks and tastes like a drinkable yogurt, says Christy Brissette, RD, president of 80 Twenty Nutrition in Chicago.) Water kefir, on the other hand, is a dairy-free, vegan alternative. Granted, the bacteria in milk kefir helps break down the lactose—so people who are lactose intolerant may still be able to have it, says Brissette. But it may still contain milk proteins like casein and whey, and some people are sensitive to those, adds Titgemeier. Instead of milk, “water kefir is made by fermenting water [or coconut water] with kefir grains, a combination of lactic acid, bacteria, and yeasts,” explains Brissette. The term “kefir grains” simply comes from the way they look—they’re not actual grains. The result is a kombucha-like beverage loaded with gut-healthy bacteria, but one with lots of benefits all its own. There are a few main differences between water kefir and kombucha While water kefir is fermented with kefir grains for a day or two, “kombucha is made using black or green tea, sugar,

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