September 25, 2019 at 02:01PM by CWC Having a thriving microbiome is the cornerstone of living your healthiest life. A healthy gut ensures more energy, fights off germs flying around your office, and gets you your dream job. Okay, maybe not the last one, but considering that every doctor, dietitian, and kombucha-loving wellness influencer is constantly preaching about gut health, it’s clear that it’s wildly important. Everyone wants a healthy gut, but steps you can take to achieve it aren’t always clear. I asked four doctors who specialize in digestive health what gut health rules they wish everyone would follow. The golden rules of gut health 1. Don’t overeat According to integrative medicine doctor and gastroenterologist Marvin Singh, MD, one of the reason why so many Americans have digestive probs is because they simply overload their systems. “Don’t overeat and do leave time for the gut to rest,” he advises. It’s why he personally is a fan of intermittent fasting; it allows the body a chance to chill out so it isn’t constantly working to digest food. 2. Keep your diet clean Dr. Singh says toxins and additives are enemies of gut health; humans aren’t meant to be consuming these unnatural substances. “Stick to real, whole, clean, and organic foods he says. Jacob Skeans, MD, a gastroenterologist at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, agrees whole heartedly, advising everyone to eat less sugar. “A Western diet is high in sugar which negatively influences the gut microbiome,” he says. If you’re
Category: You and your body
The ultimate guide to every alt-meat burger on the market right now
September 25, 2019 at 01:05PM by CWC Whether you’ve scored an Impossible Burger from a Burger King drive-thru window or grilled a few Beyond Burgers at home, you’re probably figured out by now that meat-like, plant-based burgers are officially the buzziest new protein option. (Oh, and we totally called it, too.) This is one food trend that RDs are generally pretty into. “By reducing meat intake, not only do we have an opportunity to improve our health, but also make a positive contribution to efforts to reduce or slow climate change,” Nora Minno, RDN, a plant-based dietitian and certified personal trainer in New York City. The motivation for choosing plants over meat is three-fold: (1) reduced risk of certain conditions and diseases, like Type 2 diabetes and cancer, (2) animal welfare and (3) the environment. The alt-meat conversation has long been dominated by the Impossible Burger vs Beyond Burger debate, but now more companies are stepping into the fray with their own meat-like burger offerings. Morningstar Farms will launch an Impossible-esque “bleeding” burger in early 2020, and Trader Joe’s is reportedly launching its own plant-based patties this year. So many options, so little time. In order to help you navigate this increasingly crowded space, we talked to dietitians to help us break down the nutritional benefits of each plant-based burger currently on the market right now. 1. Best overall: Beyond Burger Known as the first plant-based burger to actually look and taste like beef, the Beyond Burger (made by Beyond
Here’s how to copy a celeb-loved $1,500 skin-care routine for less than $100
September 25, 2019 at 12:17AM by CWC If I had a nickel for every time I saw someone with really nice, dewy skin and later found out their beauty routine cost more than my rent, I’d have enough money to buy everyone in my office a very large oat milk latte. That’s precisely why at Well+Good, we are all about drugstore diamonds, the occasional product dupe, and anything and everything that saves money while still being effective. So when I learned that actress-slash-goddess Demi Moore keeps her skin lookin’ good for a mere $1,555, according to Page Six, I felt the need to put my foot down. Sure, it’s great if you can afford to stock your beauty cabinet with moisturizers that tout a $680 price tag, but you don’t necessarily have to. The skin-care world is thriving—products are formulated smartly and inexpensively these days, so you really don’t have to shell out your entire savings account on a face cream to get the job done. And so, with my scrutinizing beauty editor eye, I dissected the five-product fancy product regimen, only to realize that you can definitely get your own Charlie’s Angels glow without going broke. Allow me to break down how to copy her routine for a small fraction of the price ($90 to be exact). Photo: Credentials Soothing moisturizer: Credentials Hydrating System Herbal Nova Creme, $33 Moore’s preference for a soothing moisturizer using Biologique Recherche Creme Dermopurifiante ($195) is understandable—it’s a really good moisturizer for reactive, oily, acne-prone
This last-you-forever ACV shampoo-condition is Amazon’s best-selling beauty product of the week
September 25, 2019 at 12:01AM by CWC Apple cider vinegar might not taste good (like, at all), but it sure is great for your hair. Because of how acidic it is, washing with it can help bring life back to damaged strands, make it super-shiny, and keep your color looking top-notch. It’s also great for your scalp, balancing the pH and clearing any buildup. Yep, basically it’s the beauty BFF you didn’t know you needed… and everyone’s starting to jump on the bandwagon. The best-selling beauty product on Amazon this week is none other than the WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Conditioner Set ($30). The base of virgin coconut oil and avocado oil help nourish and rejuvenate your hair. The star ingredient is what removes all the build-up left on your scalp, resulting in healthier hair and a healthier scalp, and a boost in growth because of that. With more than 7,000 reviews (and a 4.1 of 5 star rating), it’s safe to say people are happy with the results. Since you only need to use this set a couple times a week, the bottles should last for months, saving you money in the long run. Plus, unlike using something you put together at home, you can reap the benefits of ACV without having to smell like it 24/7. I don’t know about you, but I’ve already hit that “add to cart” button. Think it might be time to change shampoos? Here are three signs you should go for
The 4-step guide to building a high-protein salad that keeps you full until dinner
September 24, 2019 at 11:01PM by CWC Salads are the quintessential healthy lunch, but let’s be real, they aren’t always satisfying. You may start your day with the best intentions, having a healthy smoothie or protein bar for breakfast and your meal-prepped greens for lunch, only to find yourself digging around your snack drawer an hour later. Sound familiar? But make yourself a high-protein salad and you’ll be satisfied until dinner. According to F-Factor founder and fiber queen Tanya Zuckerbrot, the reason why some people don’t find salads filling is because they’re missing two key ingredients: lean protein and non-starchy veggies. Yes, fiber-rich greens are important, but without the protein, it just isn’t going to be all that satiating. To drive this point home, she posted a four-step salad building guide to Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by F-Factor by Tanya Zuckerbrot (@f_factor) on Sep 24, 2019 at 6:15am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Besides lean protein, which includes grilled chicken, turkey, tuna, and tofu, Zuckerbrot emphasizes the importance of including some non-starchy veggies like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, or beets, too. Zuckerbrot says this is a crucial step as it’s a low-calorie way to add more fiber, which will keep you feeling full longer. Even a high-protein salad can taste pretty bland without a yummy dressing to top it off, but creamy dressings are also often a hidden source of sugars and other additives. This brings us to Zuckerbrot’s fourth salad-building rule: capping your dressing at
How to figure out if you should buy or rent your home, according to a financial expert
September 24, 2019 at 09:38PM by CWC We’ve all heard the same old story about how millennials will *never* own homes due to oat milk lattes and avocado toast stealing all their savings. But if you feel you’re on solid financial ground, the real question that continues to pop up for women everywhere—or at least at our recent Wellness Collective event in San Francisco—is how do you even know when you’re ready to buy, or should stick to renting? “If you’re just crushing it financially, don’t wait on your life to buy a house,” recommends Natalie Schnuck, managing director at First Republic Bank. Translation: Don’t wait on a relationship or a new career if you feel secure in your financial situation and you’re ready for that step—just go for it. And if you are ready to take the leap and claim some bricks, Schnuck suggests doing the research. Figure out your price range, the distance from your work, and the schools that are in the area if you plan on adding (or currently have) tiny members in your family. As for the financial part of the home-owning equation, you’ll need 25 percent of your home’s value ready for a down payment, according to Schnuck. To the rest of you who aren’t ready to buy a home, guess what? You’re not doing anything wrong. “Rent gives you flexibility—it’s okay to rent,” Schnuck says. “You’re not throwing money away, you’re saving stress and saving money.” You can have your apartment and your
The neatest people in the world share 7 secrets to eliminating clutter in your life
September 24, 2019 at 09:01PM by CWC Right now, there’s a pile of “stuff” (ahem, that’s a euphemism) under my desk. Over the past few weeks, it’s been slowly accumulating to the point where there’s basically no room for my feet—and I’ve accepted that what I need is an organization intervention. That’s why I tapped some of the tidiest minds on the internet to doll out decluttering tips that work in the office, at home, or—ya know—anywhere. Best of all, their genius advice won’t cost you a cent. So grab your smudging materials and some elbow grease. It’s time to clear out your space. 7 brilliant decluttering tips from experts in tidiness 1. Time will tell you what to keep, and what to toss “If it hasn’t been used in a while or won’t serve you in the next 3 to 6 months, it’s time to toss it—and by toss, we mean responsibly recycle or donate of course,” says Allison Evans, co-founder of non-toxic cleaning company Branch Basics. That foam roller you haven’t used since last February? Yeah, it may go to better use in another sweat-enthusiast’s hands. 2. All duplicate items must go Raise your hand if you have two muffin pans and absolutely zero intention of ever making muffins. Me, I do, that’s me! “Unless you need two spatulas, four matchboxes, or three empty plastic soap pumps, it is time to clear the duplicates out,” advices Clean My Space blogger Melissa Maker. “Sort through all items, space by
I’ve had a funeral for every pair of running shoes I’ve ever owned—here’s why
September 24, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC Whenever the time comes to retire an old pair of running shoes, I repeat the same ritual. Laces in hand, I carry my sneakers to the trash, drop them inside, and proceed to ugly cry for the next 20 minutes. The waterworks portion of the footwear funeral might seem dramatic to you. Hey, maybe it is. But I’m not crying because the shoes themselves have ceased to be of use to me. The tears are because several hundred miles are behind me, and I feel endlessly, stupidly grateful. The best way I can explain it is this: Some people collect things as a hobby; I collect miles. Running shoes hold the tactile memory of every bridge, beach, or forest I’ve ever covered. They’re a memory capsule of my footsteps, but before that, they’re something even better. The right pair of sneakers can give you what you need. In early 2019, I took a pair of Brooks Ghosts (my long-time favorites) on a trip to Sedona. I spent a lot of time out west hiking deep into the forest, unplugging, and reconsidering what I wanted out of the next few years of my life. Even when when I was walking—not running—I wore these shoes, and dreamed about my life. They carried me through canyons and below tree canopies, and they also let me wander deeper into my mind. They supported me—period—and I left Arizona with red clay caked thick into their soles and something else,
5 foods that destroy your endurance, according to a sports nutritionist
September 24, 2019 at 07:30PM by CWC Endurance is strictly defined as the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity. Anyone whose ever trained for a race or another competitive event will agree that “stressful effort” seems like just the right way to phrase it. Completing the same movement patterns again and again (and! again!) can be taxing on your body—especially if what you’re eating before a workout doesn’t fuel your efforts. Clinical nutritionist Nicole Lund, MS, RDN, of the NYU Langone Sports Performance Center, says that five specific foods are best avoided before any exercise that heavily relies on endurance. First and foremost, she says that fats don’t deserve a spot on your plate in the hours leading up to intense exercise. “Fats remain in the stomach longer than any other macronutrient because of their complicated digestive process,” says Lund. “Furthermore, since all digestion slows during exercise, fat can interfere with performance by causing gastric distress.” Besides the fact that fats like to stick around in your GI tract longer than, say, carbs, they also won’t boost your energy levels in the immediate future. “The energy from fat is not immediately available for use, so they should not be consumed for fuel soon before training,” says Lund. If you’re thinking about scooping avocado onto your omelette or spreading cream cheese on a bagel, freeze—and consider the long game. (You can save your healthy fats for after you’ve crushed your workout, when they’ll help you recover.) Besides fats,
What’s better for you, matcha or green tea? We asked a dietitian to find out
September 24, 2019 at 07:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADUuZrFQX7M] When it comes to hot green drinks, who comes out on top health-wise? Watch the video to find out. Matcha is the avocado of wellness drinks—we just can’t get enough of it. It’s in our lattes, our baked goods, and even our skin-care products. However, as with any popular wellness trend, it’s easy to jump on the bandwagon without exactly knowing how it benefits your body. Isn’t matcha just fancy, rebranded green tea anyways? Not quite! In the latest episode of Well+Good’s YouTube series You Versus Food, registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, takes on the matcha vs green tea battle head-on. And she has some major tea to spill on the two beverages. Both drinks are similar in that they come from the same Camellia Sinensis plant, Beckerman says. But that’s where their similarities end. “Green tea is made by steeping tea leaves in water,” she says—we’re drinking the the compounds that are released into the water. Meanwhile, matcha is made by dissolving ground tea leaves into water, meaning we’re drinking the actual leaves themselves. The leaves themselves are less processed than those used for green tea, she adds, and are typically richer in chlorophyll and antioxidants. Matcha and green tea are each pretty healthy on their own. But as Beckerman explains, the difference in processing and brewing results in some different health benefits. One drink in particular stands out when it comes to antioxidant potency, caffeine content, and beneficial