September 17, 2019 at 09:05PM by CWC In case you’ve forgotten what you learned high school biology, your liver plays an often overlooked role in healthy digestion. A quick refresher: the liver processes nutrients absorbed in the small intestine, and uses them to make the chemicals the body needs to function. With that in mind, you might want to avoid certain foods for the sake of your liver health. “The liver has a variety of functions in the body and one of them is detoxification,” says nurse practitioner Erica Matluck, NP. Your liver detoxifies the body through two phases, she says: the first involves the use of enzymes to turn fat soluble (toxic) compounds (such as hormones, medications, and pesticides) into water soluble ones; and the second involves the binding of protective substances to the toxin. “Both phases help to transform the toxic compound so it can be safely eliminated from the body,” she says. Now you probably already know that excess booze isn’t great for your liver health (and it’s not), but it’s far from the only dietary habit that impacts proper function, according to Matluck and Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD, author of Skinny Liver. You don’t need a ‘detox’ to support liver health, but here’s what you can do 1. Fill up on fruits and vegetables You knew this one was coming, right? “Colorful fruits and vegetables—especially foods like beets and cruciferous options—and legumes all have a high amount of phytonutrients which in turn help to strengthen the liver
Category: You and your body
New science aims to delay menopause or banish it altogether
September 17, 2019 at 07:57PM by CWC The internet went wild last month over a the news of a new treatment promising to potentially delay menopause for decades. The procedure, currently offered by British IVF clinic ProFam, involves surgically removing, freezing, and later re-implanting a piece of ovarian tissue from a person’s own body to boost their estrogen levels later in life. But as science-fiction as it sounds, the technique isn’t new at all. Known as ovarian grafting, it’s a spin on a decades-old procedure for young women who are undergoing chemo and radiation. Doctors have been cryopreserving (i.e. freezing) and transplanting ovarian tissue for cancer patients since 2000, says Mindy Christianson, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist and the medical director of the Johns Hopkins Fertility Center, who specializes in preserving the future fertility of young female cancer patients. To date, several hundred babies have been born from this technique, she says. However, ProFam is taking this existing tech and going one step further. “This [clinic] is using it as a sort of hormone therapy to delay menopause,” says Dr. Christianson. While not all experts agree on the potential of this particular procedure to delay menopause (and indeed, it has not been approved in the U.S. for this kind of use case), experts say treatments for the debilitating symptoms of menopause are long overdue. “Menopause is not a good thing for most women. It can bring quite a lot of symptoms that are very unpleasant,” says Norbert Gleicher, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist
The queen of cleansers answers every question you’ve ever had about washing your face
September 17, 2019 at 07:44PM by CWC At first glance, washing your face seems like the most straightforward step in your skin-care routine. After all, it’s just a quick, 60-second trip to the sink, which is easy enough, right? Not so fast. In a not-at-all scientific Instagram poll we put up last week, 55 percent of respondents said they were confused about cleansing, and we’ve gotta say: us too! To help clear up the confusion around skin-care’s sudsiest step, longtime publicist and beauty smarty-pants Emily Parr decided to start HoliFrog, a new line of four clean cleansers: a balm, a milk, and a gel, and an acid-spiked wash. “Washing your face isn’t the sort of thing you overthink, but we found that there needed to be much more thought put into this category than what was currently being offered,” she says. “Washing your face is a skin-care non-negotiable, and not doing so properly is like eating a salad without washing the leaves.” While Parr saw a lot of innovation in serums, creams, and masks, she felt like the cleansing market was made up of water and surfactants with “a few key ingredients sprinkled in for good measure.” With the right cleanser in hand, skin should feel like a”fresh canvas” on which to apply the rest of your routine. So to turn it from a got-to-do skin-care step into a can’t-wait-to-try-it step, here she answers the most common questions we get from you, our readers. Real talk: Can I just use regular
Yes, 10,000 steps a day *does* matter—but not in the way you think
September 17, 2019 at 06:44PM by CWC Every morning, I grab my sneakers, put on a pair of bike shorts and an oversized sweatshirt, and head out on a walk. It’s something my mom has done for years, and I never understood the hype until recently. After even a quick mile on the trail, my mood is boosted, my stress is gone, I feel more energized, and I’m that much closer to hitting my daily 10,000 steps. And while that standard count does matter, there are other aspects to focus on, too. Having a goal of reaching a minimum of 10,000 steps a day will do your body good, but there are two factors to focus on other than distance: time and speed. In a 2017 study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, researchers analyzed data from nearly 3,400 participants, finding that those who had a faster stepping rate reaped similar health benefits as the people who walked the most steps every day, including a lower BMI and lower waist circumference. To be sure sure, steps are important. However, if you change you consider how fast you’re walking instead of how far you’re walking, you’ll be doing yourself a favor—even if you’re just power-walking for 20 minutes over your lunch break. If you’re not sure where to start, John Schuna Jr., PhD, one of the study authors, told Consumer Reports he recommends going for a minimum of 100 steps per minute, which equates to 2.5 to 3
I worked out in CBD-laced leggings—and boy, do I have some feels
September 17, 2019 at 04:39PM by CWC I pretty much can’t look at my screen these days without seeing a new use for CBD. The cannabinoid has proliferated our wellness-enthusiastic world so much that it’s practically infused into everything we walk by, touch…and wear. I’m being extra dramatic—but I am about to tell you about the most extra way I’ve found to get my CBD fix yet: a bra and leggings that have the cannabidinoid within their very fibers. Before you think “how random” and click away, know this: One of the reasons why the cannabinoid is so popular is due to its inflammation-soothing, muscle recovery benefits. I’ve slathered CBD-spiked body oil over sore legs in the past to deal with post-workout soreness, so donning CBD-enhanced leggings doesn’t feel all that different. The only question in my mind is whether a fabric laced with CBD can provide as much of the active ingredient as I’d need to feel the the effects. Allow me to explain the science behind Acabada’s CBD-infused athleisure line: Basically, it happens through a process called micro-encapsulation that “strategically infuses CBD molecules into their high-performance fabrics,” a rep from the brand tells me. So these teeny, tiny droplets of CBD are wrapped with a protective polymeric coating, which are bonded within the fibers of the fabric. As you wear them, these open up and release the CBD to your skin. When I slip on my leggings and sports bra—which are black and accented with leather-looking cutouts (very
Get out the door faster with this 5-minute berry yogurt waffle recipe
September 17, 2019 at 03:30PM by CWC Slow summertime mornings are for cooking photogenic meals destined for Instagram. But your weekday breakfasts now that back-to-school season is here? Let’s just say people don’t typically double tap photos of half-eaten granola bars. No disrespect to your mid-sprint-to-work dining experience—you’ve got to feed yourself and your fam somehow—but you’re missing out on quality treat-yourself time that can happen every morning. Whether you’re getting yourself back to the grind or rushing to get the kids out of the house (actually on time), you don’t have to settle for a mediocre morning meal. Instead, try this yogurt and berries “toast” recipe that’s way more nourishing than that granola bar and requires literally zero minutes of cooking time. But instead of regular toast—which is just another yawn for your morning—jazz things up by subbing in Van’s Gluten Free Original Waffles. Made with nutrient-dense, clean ingredients like whole-grain brown rice flour, these gluten- and dairy-free waffles go from freezer to flavorful, crispy morning treat with just a quick spin in the toaster. Plus, by topping off your waffle-turned-toast with sweet berries, thick Greek yogurt, almond butter, cacao nibs, or even whipped cream, you can customize the nutritious-yet-delicious breakfast for varying tastebuds—while still making it to work or school on time (and maybe even pausing to snap a pic). Scroll down for instructions on how to whip up this family-favorite, ready-in-minutes weekday waffle recipe. Photos: Carla Contreras Continue Reading… Author Well+Good Editors | Well and Good Selected
The top 3 things Simone Biles does every day to prioritize her health and wellness
September 17, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC When I watched the video of Simone Biles competing in the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championship in August, my thoughts throughout the three-minute routine can be condensed into the mind exploding emoji times 1000. I wish there were a more creative way to put this, but her moves—especially the “triple twisting double somersault” that went viral—look like they defy gravity. My brain hurts just trying to imagine how one would make their body do that. Simone Biles hits the unprecedented triple-double on floor exercise. pic.twitter.com/L5fu3OoiOm — Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) August 12, 2019 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Biles, new brand ambassador for oral healthcare startup Candid, is busy getting ready for her next competition…which hopefully will pave the way for her to compete at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. “I try not to think about the Olympics too, too much, because we still have a couple steps to get there. So I just try to take every competition one at a time,” she told Well+Good. “But if I ever get the jitters about competing at the Olympics, I kind of just relish in it because I feel like it’s good.” That is exactly how I feel every time I go on a date, which is basically the same as the Olympics, right? The four-time Olympic gold medalist also shared with us some of the most important things she does every day for her health and wellness. Check them out below. 1. She makes time for self care Let’s
Gender bias in the workplace is very much rampant—here’s how that can change
September 17, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC “Well, she’s qualified—but what if she leaves to pop out a couple babies?” That’s a real sentence Alyson DeNardo, a partner at California-based venture capitalist firm M Ventures, heard from a former male colleague during a hiring search for a senior-level position. “My blood was boiling,” she tells me. “My response was, ‘That happens all the time; then you give her maternity leave.’” Whether or not you’ve encountered similar issues—perhaps heard a woman being put down for having opinions, or for being “bossy” or “bitchy,” or had her achievements minimized for any other reason—trust that gender bias is a present and pervasive workplace fixture in 2019. And evidence to this point abounds. A 2018 study of 1,150 participants found people were less likely to refer a female to a job opening when the description emphasized intellectual ability. In fact, when a job description mentioned “brilliance,” participants were 25.3 percent less likely to recommend a woman for the role versus when that word was left out. A recent Lancet study showed similar results. The study authors looked at 24,000 scientific grant applications to see how men and women were funded for their respective research. The authors found that when the scientific ideas were evaluated, men and women were equally likely to receive a grant. But when the promise or talent of the scientist was considered, men were 1.4 times as likely to receive the money. And while the problem is systemic, acknowledgement of it
Here’s how to know if you need to listen to the ‘dry clean only’ command
September 16, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC Buying anything with a “dry clean only” label on it is basically my worst nightmare. As someone who—don’t @ me—rarely separates whites and colors in the wash, the last thing I want to do is take something to the dry cleaners. No thank you. But lucky for me and anyone else who likes to keep their laundry day simple, that rule doesn’t necessarily have to be followed 100 percent of the time. While you’ll probably always get the best results following your garment’s label to a T, there are exceptions to the damning “Dry Clean Only” rule. Brian Sansoni of The American Cleaning Institute told Real Simple that velvet, silk, and leather always require a trip to the dry cleaner because they don’t hold up in the rough washing machine cycle—or water in general’ however, there are some items you can give a hand-wash or even delicate-cycle treatment instead. “Nylon, polyester, and spandex hold up well to delicate cycles or hand-washing, in water slightly above room temperature,” he says. “Nylon, polyester, and spandex hold up well to delicate cycles or hand-washing, in water slightly above room temperature.” —Brian Sansoni of the American Cleaning Institute Wonderful news, really. That being said, hand-washing clothes doesn’t feel like, you know, an easy alternative to dry cleaning. In fact, given my grimey bathroom, my garments probably wouldn’t even get clean using this method. If you, like me, want to cut down on hand-washing as much as possible,
The easiest habit to adopt to improve your worst days doesn’t even require speaking
September 17, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC Right now, my life is amid a phase of change—and I’m personally predisposed to hate change. But, waaah waaah waaah, because even if I’m having a bad day, it’s still a day I still have to get through. One way I’ve been trying to make my awful days decidedly more bearable? Being more generous with my internal compliments to others as a means for boosting my own mood. The idea, which came courtesy of a co-worker who swears by it, is to compliment strangers you encounter on your walk to work, ahead of you in the checkout line at the grocery store, in the locker room with you after yoga—really anywhere. Since the compliment is in your head, you can challenge yourself to find something nice to say about every person who passes you without seeming disingenuous by actually vocalizing these rapid-fire kernels of kindness. Think of it as a cousin to a gratitude practice, one that allows you to acknowledge that there’s so much beauty in the world even when you’re having a bad day. And, better yet, there are two big psychologist-backed reasons to support this being a great idea: distraction and redirection. “First, you’re focusing your mind away from your problems and on to something that’s good,” says psychologist Aimee Daramus, PsyD. “You’re noticing what’s good about the people around you. You’re also likely to get some positive energy back, just because your thoughts can change your posture, tone of