December 03, 2019 at 12:05PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHQKP2h_JLk] To learn all about food combining, watch the video. Food combining is a trendy method of eating that involves pairing certain foods for overall better digestion. In theory, the plan sounds like a dream, but science shows that the eating guidelines don’t follow through on all their lofty promises, according to Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD. In the most recent episode of Well+Good’s YouTube series You Versus Food, Beckerman pokes holes in the diet, which suggests things like only eating fruit on an empty stomach, not combining protein and fat, and avoiding a mix of proteins at once. “Although it’s been around for a while, there’s no scientific evidence to support this way of eating. And to date, there’s only been one study that’s examined the principals of food combining, and only in its relationship to weight loss. Spoiler alert: it didn’t make a difference,” says Beckerman. In reality, our body is really, really good at maintaining homeostasis and digesting many different types of macronutrients at once, says Beckerman. To learn more about why the plan isn’t worth the hype (and the few aspects of it worth adopting), watch the full video. Here’s your comprehensive guide to the buzziest eating plans. And everything you need to know about intuitive eating. Continue Reading… Author Kells McPhillips | Well and Good Selected by CWC
Category: Your Healthiest Relationship
Hair problems? Get to the root of them with a product elimination diet
December 03, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC The weather outside is frightful, that’s for sure. And seemingly in solidarity with the blah weather, my hair has been very blah, too. You know the feeling when your hair is in a rut and it looks bad no matter how many products you spritz into it or how good you style it? It me. The good news? Just as you can do an elimination diet with your food to figure out what parts of your diet aren’t doing your body any favors, you can apply the same strategy to your hair products. “When your hair isn’t giving you the bounce and shine you deserve, go through this checklist to eliminate the culprit,” says celebrity hairstylist Monae Everett, who tells us just how to revive hair from a rut. First up is your shampoo. “Begin by switching up your normal shampoo with deep cleansers, like a scalp exfoliator or a clarifying shampoo,” she says. “Both will remove product buildup from other hair styling products, including moisturizing shampoos.” Your hair can get used to your shampoo, after all, so a switch-up is always a good thing. Top hair stylist at Rob Peetoom Salon Amy Clark recommends using something like Davines Solu Shampoo ($24). “This will remove product buildup or minerals in the water and pollution, as well as buildup from dry shampoo which can cause the hair to feel heavy and dull,” she says. If you’ve been using any styling products lately, it’ll be helpful to
Here’s why core stretches are so important if you’re a plank queen
December 03, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC You stretch out your legs and arms after a hard workout. One thing that might surprise you, though, is that you should be doing core stretches, too. It seems like a weird area to stretch, but just like your other muscles, your core seriously needs it. “The constant contraction of any muscle can lead to tightness—especially if you’re not balancing it by working the opposing muscle group or stretching—and your abs are no different,” says Gerren Liles, Equinox master trainer and Hyperwear athlete. “Your core, like all muscles, need to not just be able to contract to generate power, but to recover and also be flexible enough to allow full range of motion.” “Tightness in your core—especially your lower back (don’t think of your core as just your six-pack!)—can lead to inefficient movement. And worse, potential injury,” Liles says. A few easy core stretches will make sure you’re able to perform at your best and avoid injury Core stretches you can do regularly to fight tightness [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VbxQhv95vo] 1. Half moon pose to balance Walk your legs out into a side lunge. Then, reach your arm down to your ankle, rotating your chest and torso up and out. Finish by extending your other arm straight above you and stretching through your side. 4 repetitions 2. Three-legged downward dog knee-to-nose Move into the traditional downward dog pose, keeping your hips up and body weight rocked back on the balls of your feet. Then, slowly
Is Orangetheory coming to a grocery store near you?
December 03, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC Your grocery shopping list might soon include an Orangetheory class right after the reminder to pick up spinach, milk, and eggs. The popular boutique fitness company is partnering with Hy-Vee to anchor studios right next to the grocery stores. How’s that for convenient? So far, two food-fitness Orangetheory locations have opened near Hy-Vee stores, setting the tone for what could be a larger movement. In fact, Hy-Vee CEO Randy Edeker says he’s hoping to open 50 or 60 more Orangetheory locations. The first Orangetheory locations near Hy-Vee opened last year in Shakopee, Minnesota, and West Des Moines, Iowa. And the partnership is making the two brands more than just next door neighbors. Hy-Vee’s in-store dietitians are also offering up their services to Orangetheory members. “We know many of our customers are looking to live healthier lifestyles while also having more convenience, so they can spend time on the things they truly enjoy,” says Tina Potthoff, vice president of communications at Hy-Vee. “We’re getting a lot of feedback from customers who appreciate that they can now meet their health and wellness needs in one stop versus multiple stops to a grocery store, health store, and gym.” Now, if only your doctor, your hairstylist, and your dry cleaner rented space across the street, you’d really be set. How a dietitian spends $30 at Trader Joe’s: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xXMWc_GKiI] Here’s how to start working out, if it’s not part of your normal routine yet. Plus, tips on
Feeling holiday-cheer burnout? Here’s how to unwind, according to your zodiac sign
December 03, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC The year is officially coming to a close…but not before a bunch of holly, jolly holiday stressors come at you like merry little freight train. From festive work parties and tense family dinners to enough social obligations to make you want crawl into bed until 2020, you might be 110 percent over this season already. Yet, given that it’s not yet 2020, how are you supposed to make it through? According to astrologer Carolyne Faulkner, author of The Signs: Decode the Stars, Reframe your Life, some secrets for weathering the supposedly most wonderful time of the year involves gleaning secrets from your star sign. find how the planets are bringing on this unique strain of um…strain. Below, she shares what each zodiac sign can expect in terms of yuletide burnout, plus her best practices maximizing self care among all the holiday craziness. How to unwind from holiday stressors, according to your zodiac sign Aries Fiery Aries is a go-getter who will probably push themselves to crush every Q4 goal and then some. Nonetheless, it’s crucial that you don’t run yourself into the ground. Though you’re usually energized and now is no exception, the burst of motivation you’re experiencing won’t fuel you forever. “Your ruler, Mars, just left your opposite sign, Libra, which boosted your energy,” Faulkner says. “It’s wise not to keep the foot on the pedal until the very last day of work, or you’re likely to become unwell. Tip for holiday stressors: Slow
What to know about acupuncture-adjacent ear seeds and how they work
December 02, 2019 at 10:31PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmKyTPk_NtQ] Ever wonder what ear seeds are all about? Watch the video to find out, here. Raise your hand if you’ve ever done a double take while admiring someone’s earrings only to notice that they’re not studs but ear seeds. These almost earrings have been adorning the ears of wellness enthusiasts and acupuncture acolytes lately—but what the heck are they, exactly? In our latest episode of What the Wellness, Well+Good’s YouTube series in which we investigate the most out-there treatments in the wellness world to find out if they’re worth it (subscribe if you haven’t yet), senior video producer Ella Dove experiences the ear seeding trend for herself during a visit to Vie Healing spa in Los Angeles. Although they look like teeny-tiny gold studs, ear seeds are actually seeds (or sometimes they’re metal balls) that are strategically placed on pressure points within the ear, and they’re meant to help you relax and chill out. “We place [ear seeds] on pressure points that send signals to the reflex centers of the brain to relax the nervous system,” says Mona Dan, acupuncturist and founder of Vie Healing. Dan then applies the seeds to Dove’s ear (the spa sells gold ones for $34 per 20-pack). And then Dove tries it for herself on her other ear, placing them on five key areas that Dan says they can help the body find balance. Watch the full video to see how easy it is to apply ear seeds
I’m a pharmacist, and you shouldn’t have to ask me for the morning-after pill
December 02, 2019 at 08:30PM by CWC A new report from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in London, an organization of professionals in women’s reproductive health, recommends that the so-called morning-after pill (aka emergency contraception) be sold in the aisles of the pharmacy rather than behind the counter. In other words, access should’t require a conversation with a stranger. In the United States, the morning-after pill is already classified by the Food and Drug Administration as an over-the-counter medication yet many pharmacies still keep it behind the counter. Requiring women to speak to a pharmacist in order to obtain the pill adds yet another barrier to care, dissuading some women from taking this step to prevent unwanted pregnancy altogether, according to the report. If your local pharmacy is holding it behind their counter, it’s because it has chosen to do so, says founder of Birth Control Pharmacist Sally Rafie, PharmD, BCPS, APh, NCMP. Legally, any pharmacy can stock the morning-after pill in the store aisles, but some keep it guarded like, say, Sudafed, which must be held back there because people use it to make crystal meth. The morning-after pill is likely kept behind the pharmacy counter instead of on the shelf to prevent theft—it’s expensive, says Rafie. (Plan B One-Step, for example, costs about $40.) But this explanation falls apart given that I have to walk past shelves stocked with 23andMe test kits priced at $100 to reach the pharmacist’s window. Rafie insists the morning-after pill should
These eggs stay fresher than ordinary ones—here’s why
December 02, 2019 at 07:30PM by CWC When you’re shopping for groceries, you’ve got no time for browned apples and weirdly squishy peppers. But when it comes to figuring out how fresh eggs are, the most you can do in-store is open up a few cartons and double check that half the lot isn’t cracked. Considering that an egg’s freshness can dictate its quality, taste, and longevity, though (love you, gorgeously golden yolks), there’s got to be a better way. Right? Actually, there is. Enter Eggland’s Best, which uses specific feeding and processing practices and performs over 30,000 tests annually to ensure freshness. True life: The result of all that extra attention to detail means EB’s eggs have boosted nutritional value compared to ordinary eggs, a fact backed up by the USDA label on the carton. “The improved oxidative stability in the eggs protects taste, nutrients, and yolk color,” says Bart Slaugh, PhD, director of quality assurance for Eggland’s Best. “Additionally, nutrient levels are maintained more consistently during storage. All of these indicators lead to plumper yolks, less watery whites, richer yolk colors, and better tasting eggs.” How to improve your next Instagram food photo: Add an egg on it. Ready to get crackin’? Keep scrolling to learn how these eggs up the freshness level compared to ordinary eggs on the shelves. You try to nourish your body with real, whole ingredients—and EB hens have the same prerogative (okay, their farmers do, but how cute is it to imagine a
11 last-minute Cyber Monday deals you can score on Amazon today
December 02, 2019 at 05:38PM by CWC After scoring Black Friday deals all weekend long, it’ll probably be a while until you willingly hit up another packed shopping mall. Totally understandable. But you can still shop ’til you drop today in the comfort of your own home or office because there are some last-minute Cyber Monday deals on Amazon that are pretty hard to pass up. Whether you’ve had your eye on an Instant Pot or you’re hoping to give your home gym an upgrade, these are the best savings you’ll find today. Just hit that “add to cart” button before they’re gone. 11 last-minute Cyber Monday deals to score right now 1. Jane Iredale PurePressed Blush, $24 (originally $30) This natural blush will give you a hint of color for glowy, flushed cheeks. No chemical dyes needed. 2. Instant Pot Duo 80 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, $65 (originally $140) You can save about $75 (!!!) on this Instant Pot if you order it today. The healthy home-cooked meal options are endless. 3. Weighted Idea Adult Weighted Blanket, $55 (normally $90) This highly-rated weighted blanket will keep you comforted and cozy all winter long. (Psst: When you use the coupon, you get an additional 20 percent—or $11—off!) 4. LORAC PRO Palette 3 Eyeshadow Kit, $26 (originally $44) When you buy this eye shadow palette filled with soft, earthy shades, you’ll get a free mini eye primer. Score. 5. CONFU Professional Ionic Salon Hair Dryer, $22 (originally $33) This extremely powerful
‘Going with your gut’ has taken on a whole new meaning in the past decade
December 02, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC Here’s a fun party fact for you: The term “microbiome” was first coined in 2001 by microbiologist Joshua Lederberg to describe the collective organisms of bacteria species living in the gut. At the time, MDs had no idea all the secrets these bacteria families kept about each individual’s overall health; now, it’s safe to say that the scientific and medical communities are infatuated with the topic. As of 2018 (the most recent data available), over 2,400 clinical trials were testing therapies on microbiome science. The focus has also birthed a slew of gut-testing apps and at-home tests, including microbiome testing company Viome (worth an estimated $45.5 million), microbiome medicine company Second Genome (which has raised over $42.6 million in funding), and microbiome engineering company Finch (which has raised over $77 million in funding). Science has advanced so much in this area that the gut is now commonly referred to as the second brain by doctors and scientists. Clearly nothing has rocked the health world in the past decade quite like advances in gut health. The most major gut-health findings of the past decade To sum up 10 years of research, we’ve essentially learned that the health and functioning ability of your gastrointestinal system can impact the health of your entire body. “Through research, we have learned a lot about how gut health relates to a wide array of health conditions. It turns out that microorganisms can actually counteract the harmful effects of food, drugs,