February 09, 2019 at 07:05AM by CWC It got down to 45 degrees here in Los Angeles the other day, which means it basically turned into The Day After Tomorrow, only with more faux fur. I found myself in need of more than the fleece jacket. And, as a result, I’ve spent a significant amount of time researching this season’s stock of vegan winter coats. What I found is that, because sustainable fashion is booming, especially in California, right now, ethical options—that also happen to be cool and cozy—are easier than ever to come by. When looking at vegan winter coats, be sure to avoid the obvious: leather, suede, fur, wool, cashmere, angora, camel hair, and mohair. “Often, people just look at the outer fabric, but a jacket’s lining, filling, trim, and hardware can [also] have unsustainable origins,” says Amy Rebecca Wilde, founder of Vegan Scene, a vegan fashion boutique in Venice, Cali. She says they’re usually made from plant or synthetic fibers, but they could contain silk, which is not vegan. You also want to avoid down as the filling of your coat, because this often means feathers from ducks or geese. One more design element to watch out for when looking for vegan winter coats: “Most people don’t know that they should investigate buttons, which can be sneaky, and you can find pearl, shell, horn, and ivory,” she adds. Knowledge is power, people. If you’re looking to stave off the winter chill, wherever you live, here are 9 vegan winter
Category: Vegetarians
Omega 3 deficiency is wildly common, and that’s not great news for skin
February 08, 2019 at 07:31AM by CWC It took but one deep-diving DNA test to tell me that I was severely deficient in Omega 3s (and 6s, the full-package deal) which are widely known to help improve cardiovascular health and even brain function—not to mention skin condition. There are complexion-boosting benefits to both ingesting essential fatty acids and applying them topically that should be taken seriously—especially since according to Arivale, the new wellness platform that tests nutrient levels in comparison to thousands of clients, most of us are likely lacking. “Arivale tests labs related to your Omega 3 levels, called an Omega 3 index. At the initial observation, 88.62 percent of Arivale members were out of range,” says Erica Mouch, RDN CD LD and Arivale Coach, who adds that since we can’t naturally create more, it’s time to be an adult and seek them out. “To have the right levels in our bodies, they must be consumed or taken as a supplement. Together, Omega 3 and Omega 6 support reducing inflammation, which may be most visible in your skin.” Ingesting Omega 3 and 6 for skin health A quality supplement is a must, which has been the focus of Omega 3 Innovations, who follow Norway’s sustainable fishing regulations to produce cod liver oil (with zero fishy taste, mind you) masquerading as delectable treats like dark chocolate truffles and gluten-free cookies that deliver the same amount of fish oil as eating a 5-ounce filet of salmon. The easy sweet-tooth swaps are serious business
Want To Go Vegan? The 5 Things You Need To Do First
February 08, 2019 at 12:23AM A functional doctor’s tips for making the diet successfully stick. Continue Reading… Author Neal Barnard, MD | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
10 delicious dinner ideas that prove casseroles are cool again
February 07, 2019 at 07:53AM by CWC Any meal where you can essentially throw a bunch of ingredients in one dish, cook for 40 minutes, and then get it on the table is a lifesaver for busy weeknights—especially when you have a whole fam (or even just a very hungry you!) to feed. That’s where the healthy casserole comes in. Not having to constantly watch the stove allows for more important evening activities, like watching Broad City. Plus, they make so many leftovers—the meal prepper’s dream. Here’s the thing: Casseroles have long been a busy eater’s go-to, but the ones from your childhood probably weren’t that healthy…or very appetizing. (Here’s to everyone who involuntarily gags just hearing the words “tuna noodle casserole.”) Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that way. Remember, we are living in a time where cauliflower can make a really good pizza crust and chickpeas can be pasta! To that end, check out these 10 healthy casseroles that are easy, nutritious, and blissfully tuna-free. Your mom would be proud. Keep reading for 10 healthy casseroles to make on busy weekday nights. Photo: Live Eat Learn 1. Vegan green bean casserole Green bean casserole probably has a standing appointment on your Thanksgiving table, but green beans—rich in folate, potassium, and fiber—are so healthy that they deserve attention more than once a year. Especially when following Live Eat Learn blogger Sarah Bond’s recipe, which is healthier than smothering the vegetables in processed cream of mushroom soup. Her recipe provides an easy
Hear me out: A few bugs in your organic veggies won’t kill you
February 06, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC One morning two weeks ago, a rare thing happened: I woke up motivated (and with enough time) to make my own breakfast before heading out the door. But something nightmarish happened while I was making my celery juice. As I broke off a few stalks to throw in the blender, a dead bug popped out from the folds of my organic celery. Context: Bugs and I don’t get along. I’m a 22-year-old who’s unashamed to wake up her dad at 3 a.m. to kill a creepy crawler (shout out to my roommates for assuming his role in my new apartment). Consider my bliss ruined. I threw out the offensive, bug-hiding celery, vowed to never again buy organic, and headed to Juice Generation for my green fix. Later, when I’d had time to recover from the Great Bug in Celery Incident of 2019, I wondered if I’d overreacted about the whole thing. Maybe finding bugs in my celery wasn’t the work of the devil but a part of nature that any organic shopper should be prepared for. “There’s no reason to get freaked out about bugs whether they’re alive or dead on your produce,” says Brian Nault, PhD, a professor of entomology at Cornell University. “They’re harmless especially when they’re dead.” He says washing off pests will leave behind perfectly safe food, but even if you *gag* accidentally eat one, he says you’re in the clear. So yes, I def overreacted. Thankfully Sonya Angelone,
9 immunity-boosting recipes that show flu season who’s boss
February 05, 2019 at 11:15AM by CWC At this point in the year, it often feels like flu season is endless—like, when does the torment stop? Unfortunately, the virus is only getting started. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports flu activity is strong and will continue for weeks, and that’s not good. So far, there have been 11.4 million flu illnesses, 5.4 million doctor visits, and 136,000 hospitalizations. Those stats are more than enough to convince me to look up some immunity-boosting recipes. Beyond getting the flu shot, fighting a persistent virus requires focusing on what you’re eating. “Eating the rainbow with a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats benefits immune health, and certain nutrients are especially great at keeping your immune system healthy,” says Amy Gorin, MS, RDN. “Vitamin C keeps the immune system strong and may reduce the length and severity of symptoms of the common cold, and vitamin D helps your immune cells fight off bacteria and viruses that make their way into the body. Zinc is also important for the development of some of the cells that are in charge of defending your body against toxins or foreign substances that threaten your immunity.” So, what are you waiting for? When you #EatTheRainbow, the flu won’t even stand a chance. Try these immunity-boosting recipes to help you stay healthy all season long Photo: Unsplash/Jose Soriano 1. Turmeric and lemon green smoothie Two prime immunity-boosting ingredients to add into your green smoothie
Grab a bowl: Noodles are healthy if you choose the right kind
February 05, 2019 at 05:31AM by CWC Whether you’re braving the polar vortex, battling a winter cold, or deep into a post-breakup Netflix binge, there’s one food that’s guaranteed to make you feel a whole lot warmer and fuzzier: noodles. Clearly, the ultimate comfort dish is good for our emotional health, as anyone who’s inhaled a steamy bowl of ramen on a sub-zero day can attest. But is it just as beneficial from a nutritional perspective? With fingers firmly crossed, I checked in with dietician Brooke Alpert, RD, to find out. Lucky for all of us, she had good news. “Noodles and pasta can be a healthy choice, depending on what they are made out of,” the dietician told me. (Phew!) Here are the healthy noodles she loves the most: 1. Kelp noodles Kelp noodles received top marks from Alpert, as they’re rich in key minerals. “Kelp noodles have calcium and magnesium and, unlike traditional white flour pasta, will not cause a huge spike in your blood sugar,” she explains. This gluten-free seaweed noodle (made from the powdered flesh of kelp) is often served raw, but it’s just as delish as a base for pad Thai and pho. 2. Shirataki noodles Alpert’s also a fan of high-fiber, gluten-free shirataki noodles—another A+ option for homemade pad Thai—which are made from yam flour. (Tituss Burgess is another shirataki lover, although his go-to option is made with tofu and yam.) 3. Mung bean pasta If you’re more into Italian-style noodles, Alpert recommends trying mung
All hail the freezer section at Trader Joe’s, which makes all my dinners cheap and healthy
February 04, 2019 at 11:55AM by CWC “I’d love to cook an extravagant dinner when I get home after a long day at work,” said no one ever. There’s no time for washing, chopping, seasoning—when I’m tired and hungry, I need good food quickly. And that’s why I’m in love with Trader Joe’s frozen food aisle. It’s a fact that the frozen food aisle in any grocery store is where to find the healthiest options. And a freezer stocked with an assortment from TJ’s endless array of healthy and versatile side dishes is the best way to round out weeknight meals. Whether I want to add some greens to my pasta or amp up the amount of protein in my meal, there’s a healthy pick that can supplement the dish you’re already cooking. The best part about utilizing frozen goodies is that making them really only involves one step—spreading it out on baking sheet and popping it in the oven or throwing it in a pan and heating it up. You’ll have a delicious meal at your fingertips and feel like a pro-chef in the process. Grab these healthy staples the next time you find yourself in the Trader Joe’s frozen food aisle. Photo: Trader Joe’s 1. Grilled cauliflower There’s no need to spend time cutting up a head of cauliflower with this grilled option that can be baked to perfection in a snap. Photo: Trader Joe’s 2. Organic green vegetable foursome It’s easy to get your greens with this vegetable medley that
Apparently deli meat is bad for you and now I’m heartbroken
February 04, 2019 at 09:26AM by CWC There are few things more universally beloved (besides perhaps Girl Scout cookies) than the sandwich. It’s the easiest lunch option on the planet: take two slices of sprouted bread, throw in some nut butter and fruit or some veggies and pre-sliced turkey, and you’re good to go. It’s such an easy, healthy option, right? Absolutely—except if that turkey you’re using is the pre-packaged deli meat kind. “Not all deli meats are alike but unfortunately, most are high in sodium,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, creator of BetterThanDieting.com and author of Read It Before You Eat It – Taking You from Label to Table. They also historically are made with iffy ingredients like butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), which increase shelf life, and potentially-carcinogenic nitrates, which are used for curing. She says the same applies to charcuterie, aka the Instagram influencers of deli meats. “There are better choices out there, particularly lower sodium or fresh versions of the same meats,” she says. So…is deli meat bad for you? Well, it’s not great. Along with the above-mentioned health concerns, there is one big concern about deli meats: their association with cancer. Research has shown that eating lots of red and processed meats is linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer and breast cancer. It’s not completely clear why the association exists, although there are likely a few factors at play. First, we have the use of nitrates. Nitrates on their own aren’t inherently
It’s possible to be healthy at a music festival—even if your only food option is a sad cheese sandwich
February 04, 2019 at 04:20AM by CWC Whether you prefer twirling around to Phish at Bonnaroo or singing “thank u, next” at the top of your lungs with Ariana Grande at Coachella, you’re in good company: The festival season scene is a can’t-miss for millions of music lovers in the United States alone. For savvy concertgoers (think, more Whitney Port, less Fyre Festival ticket holders), there’s a lot more to think about pre-festival than which boho-chic outfits to pack for the experience. Maintaining a sense of wellness in that environment requires a certain amount of research and mindfulness. Sure, some venues and festivals offer activities like fitness classes, art markets, and even kid-friendly events. But, big questions remain, like what to eat, what to drink, and how to protect the ears for years of music festivals to come. Whether you’re a first-timer going to Austin City Limits or a seasoned vet heading back to Lollapalooza, easy-to-follow tips can help you have a great time without compromising your health. Eat (well), drink (water), and be healthy Festival lineups may offer a rich array of sounds from all over the world, but often the eats on offer are as basic and nutrient-lacking as they come. And if you follow specific diet plan, finding nourishment can be challenging, to say the least. Challenging, though, certainly doesn’t mean impossible. After taking in the lay of the festival land to scan all your options once you arrive at the event, holistic nutritionist Ali Shapiro suggests centering your meals