August 15, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC When the ketogenic diet first entered the public consciousness a couple years ago, times were tough. There were no cookbooks to help people navigate the high-fat, low-carb diet without getting sick of butter and avocado. No one was making keto cookies, bread, and ice-cream. Cafes didn’t yet offer butter- and MCT oil-spiked coffees on their menus. Oh, how times have changed. Now, there’s a keto product for practically anything you crave. On the surface, it seems a little too good to be true: How could it be possible to eat pancakes (topped with MCT oil syrup, no less) without breaking ketosis? And it’s confusing to know whether something is truly healthy just because it’s keto-approved; health-washing is pervasive in the food industry, with brands slapping phrases like “free from artificial coloring” or “naturally flavored” on products that are still loaded with sugar and other inflammatory ingredients. Because we’ve reached peak keto, it definitely requires some investigation. The role of keto foods and products in a healthy diet First things first: keto-friendly packaged products should not be a replacement for eating a healthy, whole foods-based diet. Not only is that because packaged products (whether they’re keto or not) are often highly processed, but also because truly staying in ketosis requires more effort than just eating foods packed with MCT oil and avocado. In general, adherents are advised to stick to very strict macros: Only 5 to 10 percent of daily calories can come from
Category: You and your body
5 things a microbiologist wants you to do to improve the air quality in your home
August 16, 2019 at 09:55AM by CWC You know that moment when you step into nature and feel the urge to close your eyes and take a whiff of the air around you? Same. And that’s great and great for you—except when it’s straight-up unhealthy. Effects of inhaling pollution over time are well-documented and TBH, super scary. Just this week, a yikes-inducing study was released in which researchers likened long-term exposure to this environmental threat to the effects of smoking a pack of cigarettes each day. Given this decidedly un-fun finding, taking steps to improve the indoor air quality within your own home is even more crucial—and according to Jason Tetro, a microbiologist and author of The Germ Files, there several clever strategies to accomplish just that. Based on a 2015 scientific review published in Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology that analyzed the best way to treat indoor air, Tetro has five recommendations for spiffing up your indoor space—no matter your square footage. Here are 5 ways to improve the indoor air quality at home…that don’t involve packing up and moving. 1. Install a HEPA filter Buying a HEPA filter, which is designed with a web of fibers that catches harmful air particles before you breathe them in, is Tetro’s top recommendation for giving your home an anti-pollution makeover. HEPA technology can be found for air purifiers if you want to start small, but for those who want to make a larger-scale change, it’s possible to install the filters directly into
These camo trail sneakers are all I want to wear from here on out
August 16, 2019 at 09:40AM by CWC I never thought I’d say this in my entire life, but I’m in love with a pair of trail sneakers. Sure, I know that gorpcore is rising to never-before-seen heights, with Balenciaga sending puffer jackets down the runway, Tevas dominating as the shoe of the summer, and hiking boots morphing into “cute” footwear. It’s strange to me, but alas—that’s how style trends work, I suppose. Turns out I’ve been subconsciously drinking the juice, because these trail sneakers—the new Hoka x Xterra Torrent ($130)—are never, ever leaving my feet. This makes me raise an eyebrow in utter confusion, because trail sneakers are about the grip and they typically have a stiff construction, but usually it’s function over style. Not these babies: The Torrent comes in a camouflage print, which is actually quite chic. If you’re not into the classic green with a lime green sole, they also have a grey-hued camo print with a bright red sole. The shape is different than your typical old-school trail shoes: They’re streamlined, and are trail sneakers dressed up like athleisure’s best. While some may shake their heads at the appeal of camo print, I hear you—but it’s been popping up slyly over the past year or so on activewear and, well, everything. So while my sister asked if I was going hunting, know that the print is stylish and indicative of the actual purpose of the shoe. “The camo ground of the sneaker was inspired by the
Intuitive eating is all about listening to your body—here’s how to start, according to experts
August 16, 2019 at 09:14AM by CWC When it comes to the healthiest way to nourish your body, there’s a lot of information out there. Between figuring out which eating plan to follow, what the deal is with sugar in fruit, or if buzzy trends like celery juice are worth trying, it all adds complicated layers to the seemingly-simple act of feeding yourself. All the “rules” and guilt around food have led more people in the wellness space to talk more about intuitive eating, aka thinking about food without judgement. “Through the process of intuitive eating, the goal is to understand the difference between physical hunger, the biological urge that tells us that we need an replenishment of nutrients, and emotional hunger, which is driven by hunger and emotional needs,” dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, explained in a recent You Versus Food video. Watch the video below for more real talk on intuitive eating: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygymXtEaQhY] While intuitive eating seems like a great idea (and it’s backed by many health experts), it can also feel a bit nebulous—especially if you have a complicated relationship with food. Thankfully, some of the panelists at the recent Well+Good TALKS event (aptly titled “We’re All Confused About Food—and Hungry For Some Answers“) had some easy tips on how to start. “Intuitive eating comes back to the simple principles of things we know to be true,” Simple Mills founder and CEO Kaitlin Smith said. “Follow those first and then start to listen to your body.”
Lip plumpers have come a long way since the ’90s, so you can kiss buzzing buh-bye
August 16, 2019 at 07:53AM by CWC A lot of things from the ’90s have come back with a vengeance in 2019, but haven’t necessarily improved in their second iteration—I’d like to submit the new version of Four Weddings and a Funeral and that time N’SYNC performed at Coachella without Justin Timberlake as evidence. Thankfully, plumping lip gloss is outdoing many of its fellow popular ’90s fads, and is not only back, but it’s better than ever. “Plumping lip products seem to be having their moment again, and I’ve been seeing new ways brands are using healthier ingredients to plump,” says celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli, pointing to heroes like hyaluronic acid and peptides as the new plump perfecting agents favorited by lipstick brands. “Whether you want your lips to look more hydrated, or you want to fill in any vertical lines, brands have really started speaking to those lip concerns.” And no matter what you’re looking to get out of your plumping product—whether it’s a quick, high-shine blast or some longer term volume—there’s something on the market that will help you get it done, whether or not you want to feel the buzzing, stinging magic, or not. Shop our picks, below. Photo: Milani Milani Keep It Full Nourishing Lip Plumper ($9) Milani makes these new nourishing lip plumping glosses, which use hyaluronic acid and peptides to fill in the lips and give them a “healthy” plump, without the stinging. Their glosses are also pretty pigmented (and cruelty free), so they
Use ‘the newspaper test’ to judge how much detail about your love life to share with friends
August 16, 2019 at 06:58AM by CWC I have a large group of female friends, and we all know one another quite well, both individually and in the scope of our group dynamic. Perhaps as a result of shows like Sex and the City, The Bold Type, and countless others spanning different generations that have normalized the desire to confide in someone (or a group of someones) to work through issues relating to romance, my friends and I often discuss is dating. Like, it’s a given whenever we catch up. But after one of my closest girlfriends introduced me to my now-long-term boyfriend, our conversations took a turn for the censored. Several of my friends knew him before they knew me. And obviously I knew them before I knew him. Now that we’ve been dating for over a year and a half, they have questions, and I’m not sure if I cough up the answers. There comes a point in every relationship when loyalty shifts toward your partner, and dishing about private goings on can feel disrespectful. But when does this line reveal itself, and the timeframe different when there are mutual friends involved? According to clinical psychologist Lindsay Jernigan, PhD, relationships are one of the most crucial parts of our life, and thus require delicate care to uphold. Sometimes, we can be too harsh with our partners, and we need people to hold us accountable. Other times, we need a second opinion about whether we have a right to
A version of 911 specifically for mental health crises could be coming soon
August 16, 2019 at 06:53AM by CWC Suicide is a huge problem in the United States—the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that suicide rates have increased by 30 percent since 1999, and rates of suicide among women and girls in particular are rising faster than those of men and boys. While the National Suicide Hotline provides invaluable help to those in need, it currently uses a 10-digit number (1-800-273-8255)—not exactly easy to remember during a crisis. Thankfully, a better solution may soon be on the horizon. New recommendations from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made it abundantly clear that having a faster way to access the hotline (similar to how we call 911 for emergencies) could save countless lives. The research was conducted in response to the 2018 National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act, which required the agency to look into the efficacy of the existing hotline’s services. The report states that “designating a three-digit code dedicated solely for the purpose of a national suicide prevention and mental health hotline would likely make it easier for Americans in crisis to access potentially life-saving resources.” The report recommends that the number 988 be designated for mental health-related emergencies—a move that FCC chairman Ajit Pai supports, according to USA Today. The FCC estimates that the service would cost an extra $50 million more a year to run in order to keep up with increased demand for services. The cost becomes a moot point when you consider the potential positive outcomes
Ditch the stain stick, this baking soda spray gets any evidence of spills out of laundry
August 16, 2019 at 06:44AM by CWC One second you’re enjoying your chilled, iced matcha latte, and the next you have a gigantic green stain staring at you (or popsicle drip this time of year) from your fresh white shirt. It’s happened to the best of us. Typically, a stain that big is something not even your trusty stain stick can fight off. But instead of having to run your shirt through the wash to get rid of it, there’s a homemade spray you can make that cleans your clothes in record time. One of the most powerful stain-fighting combos just so happens to live under your kitchen sink. According to Elle, a half cup of dish soap, a cup of hydrogen peroxide, and a tablespoon of baking soda is all it takes to get rid of any evidence of an unfortunate spill, whether it’s matcha, wine, green juice, or that delicious spaghetti sauce you never should have eaten in white clothing. First, combine your ingredients in a spray bottle (make sure it’s dark, as hydrogen peroxide decomposes quickly in sunlight), shake it up. Then, after rinsing your stain with cool water, simply spray on your DIY stain remover and gently work it in. Before your eyes, the stain will start to fade pretty much instantly. A few minutes later, you can rinse off the solution and you’re good to go—no extra laundry required. It’s worth noting that while this trick works wonders without having to toss your clothes in
I failed #PlasticFreeJuly—and I’m so glad I did
August 16, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC Last month, the #PlasticFreeJuly hashtag started popping up on some of the Instagram accounts I follow. At the time, I’d been deeply affected by The Guardian‘s series on plastic, and after I learned that that majority of plastic—even the stuff we toss in the blue bin—doesn’t get recycled (only 9 percent does), I made some simple changes (reusable mugs, cotton grocery totes) to reduce the amount of plastic I consumed. But a whole month of aggressively avoiding plastic? Now that was a greater, more daunting challenge. It’s not that I think plastic is the devil. Plastic can be good! It’s used in medical devices, cars, tools, and thousands of other items that make modern life possible. The problem, in my view, is that many of us are careless with plastic. It’s cheap, convenient, and omnipresent. As I embarked on #PlasticFreeJuly to see if I could radically reduce my plastic use, I knew I wouldn’t be able to avoid plastic entirely. But maybe, just maybe, I could avoid buying it or consuming it. Here’s how things went. (Spoiler: not so smoothly.) Photo: Kate Trysh on Unsplash Groceries and food Shopping at the farmers market put plastic-free life within reach. I used Sunshine Series produce bags and brought my own containers for berries. Simple. Although the majority of farm stands still offered to wrap my produce in plastic, I politely declined. I felt like an earth-mama consumerist goddess. At the usual grocery store, things were
8 essential tools every healthy chef needs to master the meal prep life
August 16, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC You know how people can spend hours falling down the Instagram rabbit hole of Bachelorette conspiracy theories or trying to figure out if Keanu Reeves is truly ageless? I, on the other hand, swoon over all the ways fitfluencers prep their meals in advance. Odd? Maybe. Inspiring? Most definitely. Here’s the thing about meal prep: It looks so attainable, so easy, so perfect, in the gridded world of Instagram. However, the process to actually achieving perfectly pre-packaged meals, however, requires a whole lot of time and effort—and I’ve always struggled to know how to start. To help bring my healthy foodie dreams to fruition, I chatted with registered clinical nutritionist Gabriela Peacock and registered dietician Jennifer Maeng, RD, CDN, of Chelsea Nutrition. They say that meal prep success comes down to three components: recipes, time, and tools. First and foremost, “make the foods you actually enjoy and want to eat,” Peacock says. “If you have a pre-prepared lunch that you hate, you’re way more likely to ignore it and end up browsing the snack aisle of your local shop.” Maeng agrees, saying that it’s best to prepare meals in advance that make your mouth water, versus preparing a boring meal that you’re pre-committing to eat in the future. (Need some ideas? You can’t go wrong with with this healthy meal plan.) It’s also crucial to factor in enough time to get all of your cooking done—and no, that doesn’t mean you have to