October 09, 2019 at 01:05PM by CWC There’s absolutely no denying the popularity of alternative meat products. (Looking at you, Impossible and Beyond lovers.) What is surprising is how popular they are with carnivores, who make up the vast majority of the people buying these foods. Yet despite growing interest in plant-based eating for health and environmental reasons, the reality remains that people continue to love and consume meat—in 2018, the USDA estimated that the average American would consume 222.2 pounds of red meat and poultry that year. This reality has laid the groundwork for the latest healthy food trend: blended meat products. A combination of meat and veggies, these products aim to appeal to healthy eaters who still eat meat and love the taste of it, but want to cut back—and up their veggie intake while they’re at it. It’s a new food category that startups like Misfit Foods (which announced their new line of blended chicken sausage earlier this month) and mega companies like Tyson and Perdue (who both launched blended products this year), are trying to target. But can they truly compete with the alt-meat products taking up more and more space on grocery store shelves? What sparked the trend Food companies—especially ones that operate at the massive scale that Perdue and Tyson do—don’t create a new food category without doing their research first. Which is why it’s not surprising that Eric Christianson, the chief marketing officer at Perdue Foods, says their Chicken Plus line—which combines chicken
Category: Your Regeneration
Is it ever a good idea to go on a break in your relationship?
October 09, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Ah, taking a break: It’s a tale as old as…well, at least the third season of Friends. But, does the strategy ever actually strengthen a relationship, or is it more so a tactic for delaying the inevitable (read: a full-blown breakup)? Short answer: It depends—and on a lot of different variables. For instance, how serious are you and your partner? And, is the reason for the break a clear and present problem? While teasing out these answers isn’t always the most straightforward of tasks, first understanding an expert’s definition of what a break is can help you ensure you’re never in Ross Geller’s boat of bemoaning, “But we were on a break!” to anyone with ears. “An effective and functional break involves an agreement with terms and conditions,” says relationship expert Susan Winter. “Both parties acknowledge that they’re still a couple and still exclusive, but have embarked upon doing the interior work needed to bring their relationship to a better place.” Below, Winter advises on when a taking break might just be a helpful—necessary, even—choice and also how to navigate actually going on one. When taking a break in a relationship can be productive If you two are serious and you’re facing a real, tangible problem, yes, a break can help. “Breaks are taken in an effort to correct a major flaw within the relationship,” Winter says, adding that without a major flaw, there’s not really a huge point to them. “There’s no
Leggings with pockets are the best thing since dresses with pockets
October 09, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC By this point, you’re probably well aware of the amazingness that is dresses with pockets. Once it became a trend, women all around the world rejoiced for finally having a place to put their things. And now that the practical trend has expanded to leggings with pockets, going about your workouts hands-free is a breeze. Whether you’re heading to the gym, a class, or going on a run, rocking a pair of leggings with pockets enables you to have a safe place for your phone, keys, and credit card—basically everything you need. That means no more storing anything in your sports bra (we’ve all done it!) or putting your important possessions in a cubby… and hoping they’re still there once you return. If you want to give leggings with pockets a go, these nine options are both cute and functional. 9 pairs of leggings with pockets that’ll change your life 1. Lorna Jane All Day Booty Ankle Biter Tight, $120 It’s not just the cozy, supportive fabric that will make you fall in love with these ankle-length leggings. It’s the phone pocket, which gives you a place to store your cell while you’re getting your workout in. 2. 90 Degree By Reflex Power Flex Yoga Pants, $25 You won’t believe these high-waisted leggings are only $25. With nearly 8,000 reviews—and a 4.2 of 5-star rating!—they’re just as high-quality as what you can get from pricey boutique fitness brands. Aside from the comfortable material and
‘Doctors only spend one hour learning about nutrition in four years of medical school—it’s not enough’
October 08, 2019 at 11:35PM by CWC “Food is medicine.” It’s a refrain you hear a lot—including from doctors. Which is why it’s surprising news that MDs aren’t taught exactly how food and wellness are connected in medical school. According to integrative and functional medicine Frank Lipman, MD, when he was in medical school, the curriculum devoted no more than two hours to nutrition. And to his knowledge, not much has changed since. “It’s still a huge deficiency in the current medical training of physicians,” he says. This month, Harvard’s Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) released a report urging undergraduate, graduate, and medical school training for doctors to include more nutritional training. This will allow doctors “to support better outcomes for individual patients and to address the most common and costly health risks facing our country,” reads the report, with additional recommendations that nutrition education be a requirement for physicians to keep their medical license. “Of course physicians should receive more nutrition education,” Dr. Lipman says. “We have to get beyond the disease care model that we doctors get trained in where the only therapeutic tools taught are drugs and surgery. If we are going to practice health care, nutrition is essential to any health care model. In the current disease care model, nutrition should play a much more important role.” Integrative family medicine physician Bindiya Gandhi, MD agrees. “Doctors only spend one hour learning about nutrition in four years of medical school—it’s not enough,” she says. “I wish
Here’s how the top 5 spiked seltzers compare nutrition-wise, according to a dietitian
October 08, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evY1pKu6Yg4] White Claw, Truly, Bon & Viv, oh my! Here’s the nutrition deets on all the spiked seltzers out there. Remember that White Claw shortage last month that had people freaking out? Clearly, spiked seltzer is clearly having a major moment. (Sorry mezcal, it’s been real.) One of the reasons health-conscious happy hour goers are popping cans of spiked seltzer is because it’s generally lower in carbs than beer, and allegedly low in sugar, too. But as for whether these spiked seltzer brands are truly healthy, You Versus Food host and registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, has some thoughts. An important PSA from Beckerman before we continue: “Alcohol is not a healthy drink in any form,” she says. “If you do choose to drink alcohol, it should always be in moderation.” Got all that? Cool. But, she says, spiked seltzer can potentially be a better-for-you option than other types of alcohol, depending on what you buy. “Spiked seltzer, also known as hard seltzer, is normally made out of carbonated water, alcohol from fermented cane sugar, and fruit flavorings,” Beckerman explains. They are also generally gluten-free and lower in carbs and calories than wine. Just don’t let that health halo (and delicious flavor, let’s be real) fool you into overdoing it—again, alcohol is still alcohol. As for which brands at the liquor store are the healthiest options, Beckerman compared White Claw, Truly, Bon & Viv, High Noon, and Briggs, giving a critical
The only beauty tool you need to look wide-awake in 30-seconds flat
October 08, 2019 at 10:58PM by CWC You know those mornings when you wake up, look in the mirror, and are legitimately terrified of the zombie woman staring back at you? Well, same (thanks for nothing, after-dinner espresso shot). And while the combination of under-eye concealer and mascara can usually help to make you look slightly more alive in these moments, even that has its limits… especially around 2 p.m., when the concealer rubs off and mascara drips into raccoon eyes and you find yourself staring into another mirror wondering why the F your face is rebelling against you. If this sounds all too familiar, fear not—because a makeup artist who works under the legendary Pat McGrath gave us an entirely new—and dare I say even better?—way to make ourselves look more awake, no makeup required. Ready for this? Instead of reaching for the usual suspects, grab an eyelash curler. “Eyelash curlers and mascara do not necessarily go hand in hand,” confirms celebrity makeup artist Duchess Natalia. “While mascara does help to hold the curl longer, a good curl can actually help to open the eye and make it look more refreshed.” Not only will this method keep your lashes looking longer and more lifted for the long-haul, but since you’re not using any product, it’s the perfect solution for situations when you want to look bright-eyed but don’t necessarily want to layer on makeup—like if you’re heading to a yoga class or on a long flight. “If you use
‘The Supreme Court can’t stop me from fighting for the rights of LGBT workers’
October 08, 2019 at 10:14PM by CWC Black trans women face an unemployment rate of 26 percent—that’s the highest rate of any group in the nation. Even those of us who are lucky and privileged enough to have jobs continue to face structures of violence. Not just social violence, but structural systems that do not affirm us. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court began the process of deciding whether existing federal laws protect LGBTQIA people from discrimination in the workplace. Every member of the transgender community, myself included, know that we have an intrinsic right to be able to take care of our families and ourselves. There are people who want to bar us from employment, and we have to let them know: we will be resilient, we will win. This court case is a battle. And as with all battles, our focus is on how we will win the war. Regardless of what happens in court, we stand strong, we have strategies, we have contingency plans that provide for all of us. As co-founder and executive director of The New York Transgender Advocacy Group, one of the things that I know my organization will do as the arguments play out is to register people to vote. We will work with our national LGBTQIA family to get them engaged with their city council members. We need to get them to run for office so that more transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) folks run for office. This is how we win the
Are you using all 5 types of boundaries in your life to exert max healthy control?
October 08, 2019 at 08:48PM by CWC A key element for surviving in this world without losing your mind to burnout—social, professional, and otherwise—is having a good defense at the ready for any situation. That’s right, I’m talking about boundaries. A big part of my personal wellness journey has involved building boundaries and sticking to them, especially given all the years I’ve spent being exposed to the stress-inducing elements (and three-plus calls a day from my mom). But, these boundaries weren’t cultivated overnight, and there was a fair amount of trial and error involved in creating (and abiding by) specific ones that worked well for me. What I know now and wish I knew from the outset is that there are actually five types of boundaries, and understanding each is crucial for marinating healthy control in my life. In an Instagram post shared by Nicole LePera, PhD, who goes by The Holistic Psychologist, the five types of boundaries are defined as emotional, material, time/energy, physical, and mental. Emotional boundaries focus on barriers from inappropriate topics, dismissing emotions, and emotional dumping (so both your good-vibes-only friend and energy-vampire co-worker fall under that umbrella). Mental refers to preserving your freedom of thought, and physical is, not surprisingly, about people who make you feel uncomfortable (ahem, close-talkers). Time/energy and material are the only two boundaries you can obviously see; they’re centralized on favors with your time and with your stuff. View this post on Instagram The other day I posted about how to
How to know which bananas give you constipation and which, uh, definitely don’t
October 08, 2019 at 08:11PM by CWC There’s one simple way to know if it’s time to back off on the bananas for a bit. And nope, it’s not having a freezer jam-packed with loaf upon loaf of banana bread or being that girl who buys them by the boxful at Whole Foods. It’s actually what’s going on with your bowel movements… or lack thereof. Yep, buckle up. We’re going there. Plenty of different types of food cause constipation. Some aren’t too surprising, like red meat and fried foods. But then there are the seemingly healthy staples that can cause issues in the bathroom too, and one of the prime culprits is the beloved banana. While bananas are packed with nutrients—like potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6—Max Lugavere, the health and nutrition expert behind Genius Foods, says they can also have a major downside depending on which stage of ripeness you’re into. There are three parts of a banana’s life cycle: green, yellow, and brown. When they’re green—or unripe—they’re a great source of prebiotics. Unfortunately, because they contain the highest amount of hard-to-digest starch at the time, they can leave you very constipated. As the banana ripens and turns yellow, it’s sweeter, contains a higher amount of antioxidants, and digests more quickly. Yellow bananas also contain soluble fiber that supports your digestion instead of slowing it down, finally helping you poop (or simply stay consistent). So what about brown bananas? They’re easy to digest as well, meaning your banana bread obsession is
Real women share what to expect from sex after you have a baby
October 08, 2019 at 06:40PM by CWC When it comes to new babies, there are whole books, websites, Facebook groups, and classes devoted to preparing new parents on what to expect. Changing diapers without getting peed on? Check. Knowing the immunization schedule? Check. Bracing yourself for lots of sleepless nights? Reluctant check. But one after-birth frontier that isn’t often discussed: postpartum sex. Doctors generally adhere to a “no sex for six weeks” rule for both vaginal deliveries and c-sections. “That is typically when the uterus has returned to its normal size, there is no more lochia [postpartum vaginal bleeding], and any surgical incisions, lacerations, tears, and episiotomy wounds have fully healed,” says Felice Gersh, MD, an OB/GYN and author of PCOS SOS: A Gynecologist’s Lifeline To Naturally Restore Your Rhythms, Hormones and Happiness. But getting the “all clear” at your six-week follow-up OB appointment isn’t that simple. For many women, that benchmark comes before they are physically or emotionally ready. “A new baby changes everything and that includes a couple’s sex life,” says Dr. Gersh. “It’s important to recognize and anticipate this and not be harsh on yourself for having a low libido and for being tired. Nature isn’t really interested in a new mom desiring sex as an immediate new pregnancy would jeopardize the health of the first baby and the mom.” Makayla, 25, is a first-time mom from Texas. “I had sex six weeks postpartum and it was very painful. I didn’t realize that my scar from tearing