March 14, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC I was recently engaging (ha) in the time-honored tradition of checking out my ex’s new partner on social media, when right there, in plain sight on her public Instagram page, I saw it: a photo featuring a diamond ring on that finger. After finally determining that I wasn’t, in fact, Elle Woods–style hallucinating, and this was really happening, I texted my closest friends a screenshot of the post, along with a handful of choice emojis to convey the dire extent to which I was freaking out, and then I burst into tears. (It should be noted that I am not really a crier, per se, unless I feel extreme emotions unexpectedly.) But, upon taking a step back from the situation, I had trouble articulating why I cared that my ex got engaged quickly, given that I believed myself to be over him. We dated for eight years, and now he was engaged to a woman he’d been with for six months. Those are the facts of the situation, and I know, logically, that those facts don’t change that my ex and I are bad together nor make me want to be with him. So why did this news hit me so hard? I devoted countless journal pages to try and answer the question of “why do I care my ex got engaged quickly,” and came up blank, so I ultimately consulted licensed clinical psychologist Aimee Daramus, PsyD to help me gain clarity. As it
Category: Your Healthiest Relationship
5 derms tell us the one product that never leaves their shower
March 14, 2020 at 01:00PM by CWC We get it—there’s precious little shelf space in your shower. So why would you choose to fill it with anything you feel meh about? You deserve to love your shower time, and all that it entails (damn it!). To jumpstart your shower haul makeover, we asked a handful of top dermatologists to name the shower products they swear by for smooth, clear skin. It’s time to ditch that scrub with the car-air-freshener smell and that body wash that leaves a filmy residue and replace them with these five dermatologist-favorite shower products. 1. Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash, $6 The perfect body wash does exist—just ask Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, who used that exact word to describe this option from Dove. “I love that I always feel clean and refreshed after using it,” Dr. Garshick says. “It thoroughly cleanses the skin, but unlike other soaps that can dry the skin out, this wash leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized. Because of the moisturizing component, it’s great for daily use and won’t strip the skin of its natural oils.” 2. Bio-Oil Multiuse Skincare Oil, $28 Dendy Engelman MD, a New York City-based dermatologist, keeps this body oil on her shower shelf so that the second she turns off the water, she can slather it on. “I believe it’s important to ‘soak and grease,’” she says. “Spend 20 minutes in the shower and immediately follow with an oil or lotion.
Why an RD says everyone should stock up on these affordable healthy foods
March 14, 2020 at 11:00AM by CWC With over 1,600 COVID-19 cases nationwide, and cold and flu season in full swing, the CDC is encouraging social distancing. If you or anyone you live with gets sick, the last thing you want to do is go out and put the people in the grocery store at risk. Joyce Patterson, MPH, a registered dietitian nutritionist says it’s best to keep some healthy foods on hand to ensure you’re maintaining a balanced diet. “A health meal will include adequate protein, moderate amounts of healthy fats and complex carbohydrates, and plenty of non-starchy vegetables,” she Patterson. To help you out, Patterson created a list of healthy foods to stock up on for each food group. Protein “Proteins break down into amino acids that the body uses for all sorts of reasons,” says Patterson. “Not only do amino acids help in repairing and building cells, such as skin cells, nails, hair and muscles, but those amino acids are also used to produce things like hormones.” She adds that protein can help us stay full for longer. In the freezer Skinless poultry (e.g., ground lean turkey or chicken; skinless chicken breasts or thighs) Lean cuts of red meat or pork (e.g., sirloin, tenderloin, top round, or ground meat with 10 percent fat or less) Fish Edamame Tofu If you’re stocking up on these items, you want to make sure your items don’t go bad before you get a chance to use them. The USDA says you
7 delicious, healthy ways to cook with shiitake mushrooms tonight
March 14, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC Pinterest is a treasure trove of healthy recipes (you know, when you’re not busy finding them on Well+Good). From weeknight-saving easy dinner recipes to advanced ideas, like cooking with adaptogens, it’s a goldmine of discovering new meals and ingredients to cook with. One that’s currently taking over: shiitake mushrooms. These mushrooms have been part of healthy eaters’ plates for decades, but searches for shiitake mushrooms on Pinterest are up a whopping 1,654 percent from last year, according to a recent Pinterest report. Considering the fungus’s health benefits include boosting immunity thanks to its high concentration of antioxidants, it’s no wonder the ‘shroom is so popular right now. If you’re intrigued by shiitake mushrooms but aren’t sure what to do with them, the seven recipes included here are a good starter pack. Scroll down for 7 ways to cook with shiitake mushrooms. Photo: Steamy Kitchen 1. Green bean and shiitake mushroom stir fry If you’ve never cooked shiitake mushrooms before, this is a good recipe to start with. The mushrooms are sliced then stir-fried with green beans, onions, oyster sauce, garlic, and ginger (another major immunity booster) to make a super flavorful dish perfect served over brown rice or on a bed of greens. Bonus: You’ll only dirty one dish in the process. Photo: Umami Girl 2. Sautéed shiitake mushrooms Another easy way to cook your ‘shooms: Sauté them with a little butter, salt, and pepper. In a mere 10 minutes you’ll have a
Got a rogue breakout? Try using turmeric for acne
March 14, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC People have been turning to turmeric for ages because of how healthy—and anti-inflammatory—it is for your diet. The ingredient is becoming a DIY beauty star for the same reason, and the ingredient is even trickling into skin-care products, thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. Given that inflammation is at the root of breakouts, it’s no surprise than many people are turning to turmeric for acne. If you’re not familiar, turmeric is a plant that is native to southeast Asia. “It’s commonly used as a spice. The powder comes from the roots of the turmeric plant, known as curcuma domestica, which is thought to contain medicinal properties,” says Marnie Nussbaum, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. People relate the plant to ginger, adds Purvisha Patel, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare. “It is bright yellow because of the active ingredient curcumin,” she says. It’s used in beauty products because of its bacteria-killing, irritation-quelling, and nourishing properties. “Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-neoplastic, and antioxidant, as it combats free radicals and free radical damage,” says Dr. Patel (free radicals can result in the skin aging more quickly). “It has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine to combat certain skin conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo, and acne.” Keep scrolling to learn more about how the ingredient is an acne-fighting superhero. Using turmeric for acne Acne is an actual inflammatory condition of your oil glands and your pores. “Acne is
The sturdy fruits and vegetables that’ll stay good in your fridge for up to 3 months
March 14, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC It’s no fun to be in the constant cycle of tossing bad fruit and veggies in the garbage every week, only to replace them with new ones. (Looking at you, celery.) While leafy greens and berries generally only stay edible for a handful of days in the fridge—a week if you’re lucky!—there are some produce options that can survive for much longer, saving your wallet and the planet. The amount of time produce lasts in the fridge definitely varies, but some of the most popular fruit and vegetables have a shockingly long-lasting (refrigerator) shelf life. Take potatoes, for example. If I leave one on my kitchen counter, it’s rotten within a week or two. But with the power of the fridge, those spuds can provide healthy meals for months. The next time you’re stocking your cart with wholesome goodies, be sure these long-lasting fruits and vegetables make the cut. The best long-lasting fruits and vegetables for your fridge 1. Apples Apples are always a top produce pick of health experts, and for good reason. The fiber-packed option is healthy, affordable, and lasts in the fridge for an impressive amount of time for a fruit—from 1 to 2 months. Talk about a triple whammy. “Just don’t keep them in the same drawer as other produce, if you can help it, because they contain a gas called ethylene that can cause other produce to ripen more quickly,” Gorin says. How long they last in the
I plucked my chin hairs and now I’ve got ingrowns—what should I do now?
March 13, 2020 at 11:00PM by CWC Among a love of peaches and unrepentant worrying, my grandmother and I have one big thing in common: a singular chin hair. She’s a sneaky one (the hair, not my grandma). She pops up every now and then, and who knows how long she’ll grow before I notice. And sometimes, plucking can lead to ingrown hairs. What exactly are you supposed to do with an ingrown chin hair? Shani Francis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and hair-loss specialist based in Illinois, says chin hairs, for most, tend to be thicker, more mature hairs, and can be more difficult to remove. She says there are many ways to remove chin hairs, and that one or two ingrowns, especially after extensive hair removal, is par for the course. “Single chin hair removal is possible at home,” says Dr. Francis, “If you develop multiple inflamed hairs simultaneously or what a more permanent solution, it would be better to consult a board-certified dermatologist.” Rebecca Baxt, MD, a New Jersey-based board-certified dermatologist, explains that ingrown hairs happen when your hair grows back into your skin and gets stuck, which can cause inflammation, redness, and swelling. This happens more commonly with curly hairs. If you’re prone to getting ingrown chin hair, Dr. Francis says you can use a warm towel to open your pores before hair removal, or an ice or cold compress after shaving to close the pores and minimize follicle re-entry. Dr. Baxt says it’s best to avoid mechanical forms
Know the difference between cleaning and disinfecting your home—and how often you should be doing each
March 13, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC I would say that I’m a pretty conscientious cleaner. I’m a bit of a germaphobe, and dedicate a decent amount of time to keeping my home clean and tidy. But with COVID-19, I want to make sure I’m doing everything right. Apparently, cleaning and disinfecting aren’t the same thing, and to remove and kill and remove germs, you need to do both. “Disinfectants don’t work if there’s a visibly dirty surface,” says Karen Hoffmann, RN, immediate past president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). “It’s always recommended to clean and then disinfect surfaces if they’re visibly dirty.” Cleaning, explains Hoffman, refers to removing dirt off of surfaces. “Embedded in dirt is lots of different germs and viruses, even fungi, so cleaning alone won’t kill germs,” she says. “But, we’re going to use elbow grease to remove them, literally decreasing the number of germs that’s on a surface. Disinfecting, on the other hand, actually kills germs.” If no one in your home has COVID-19, you don’t need to go overboard. Current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention call for regular cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces like tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, and sinks. If someone in your home has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the CDC recommends cleaning and disinfecting those surfaces daily. To complete both steps, “You should look to see if a surface and visibly dirty. If it’s visibly dirty
The unique stressor your sign deals with the best, according to a psychological astrologer
March 13, 2020 at 09:00PM by CWC As reasons for stress and anxiety mount, we could likely all do with a little expansion of our stress management toolkits. (Sometimes meditation and CBD supplements just aren’t enough.) To help us grow our abilities to mediate cortisol-spiking events, psychological astrologer Jennifer Freed, PhD, recommends we take notes on how other members of the zodiac deal with stress. Below, Dr. Freed gives each sign credit for where they shine in stress management while pointing out how the rest of us can learn from these varied strengths. How stress management style varies by sign (and what we can learn from each), according to a psychological astrologer Aries “Aries is the most courageous and physically protective of all the signs,” says Dr. Freed. “Also, the Aries I know can do things like run in front of a car or something to stop it from hitting a child. They can lift things off of people when buildings or things have fallen. They’re very physically courageous.” From this sign, Dr. Freed says we can all learn how to be bold in protecting the vulnerable. “We can also learn that the strong and able body is always going to help us in any kind of crisis or emergency, so we should keep our bodies very physically strong and dependable,” she says. Taurus This member of the zodiac is essentially the eye of a storm. “Taurus has the ability at its best to remain calm and centered in the face
The 1 thing everyone can do to be healthier *and* more sustainable, according to a celebrity chef
March 13, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqKoZgAGjMQ] Ever wondered what celeb chef Katie Lee loves to eat first thing in the a.m.? Get all of her wellness tips here. Let’s be honest: Healthy eating can feel way complicated sometimes. There are so many different eating plans out there (veganism! keto! Paleo! Mediterranean!), so many different products to try, and so much conflicting advice that makes eating in a healthy way for your body confusing. Sometimes, you just don’t want to take a zillion supplements while chugging matcha infused with the latest superfood powder while you bask in the light of your pink Himalayan salt lamp. But most health experts can agree that for most people, going back to the basics of healthy eating is the most important. On the latest episode of The Avocado Show, we sat down with Katie Lee, chef and co-host of Food Network’s The Kitchen. And she reminded us that eating healthy (and sustainably) doesn’t have to be overly complicated thanks to her number one tip: eat more fruits and vegetables. This tip is health canon for a reason. Fruits and veggies are usually packed with vitamins, fiber, and anti-inflammatory nutrients that help our bodies stay healthy. Eating a vegetarian diet has been shown to increase good bacteria in the gut, and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. And researchers have found that vegetables have the least impact on the environment, with fruit following close behind. While you don’t have to