August 17, 2019 at 02:01AM by CWC My plant obsession has gotten a little out of control over the past couple years. Greenery graces every corner of my apartment—on shelves, in big planters on the floor, on my dresser. I’ve got an urban jungle, and I love it. But even with all the different species I’ve collected, one of my favorites will always be the trusty snake plant. While some plants are pretty fickle—dying if you even slightly overwater them or don’t give them enough light—sansevieria, better known as the snake plant due to its reptilian leaf pattern and shape, are basically the cockroach of the plant world. And I mean that as the biggest compliment. Although they’re much prettier than the insect to look at, they’re just as tough. Even through the long, dark days of winter, my little guy has never wavered. In fact, somehow he keeps on thriving no matter the conditions, happily sprouting new leaves year-round. “The snake plant is a great option for beginners for a two big reasons,” says Erin Marino, director of brand marketing at The Sill. “First, it’s technically a drought tolerant succulent. This means you’ll be watering it less frequently than other common houseplants, and when you forget a watering (or two!), it’ll be fine. Second, the snake plant is also low light tolerant. Although snake plants prefer medium to bright light, they can tolerate lower light levels than other common houseplants. This means you can pretty much stick it in
Tag: Well+Good
6 types of insomnia exist, and each responds to a different kind of treatment
August 16, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC “Insomnia” is one of those buzzwords with which most of us wish we were way less acquainted. But alas, the persistent problem with sleeping that keeps us from falling and staying amid our dreams affects an estimated 50 percent of us. A lesser-known fact, though, is that the condition is actually something multifaceted and varied. That’s right—there are six types of insomnia that may be keeping you from accessing peak snooze. First, to be clear, the clinical criteria for insomnia clarifies that it takes place when a regular lack of a good night’s sleep is messing with your ability to function normally. According to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, difficulty sleeping can be considered insomnia when someone has “a persistent difficulty with sleep initiation, duration, consolidation, or quality that occurs despite adequate opportunity and circumstances for sleep, and results in some form of daytime impairment.” Since there are different types of insomnia (and a person can suffer from different types concurrently) knowing the kind plaguing your lack of dreams is important intel for being able to effectively treat it, says neurologist and sleep specialist Kenneth Sassower, MD. Rounded up below are the types of insomnia doctors look for. Learn about the 6 types of insomnia below, and how each is commonly treated. 1. Acute insomnia Acute insomnia happens when a person has trouble sleeping, but it doesn’t last for three months or more, says sleep medicine specialist Aneesa Das, MD. This is
“Heavy carries” are the surefire way to get stronger without lifting weights
August 16, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC You’ll be hard-pressed to see me schlepping around with less than two bags at any given time. (Gym bag, purse, laptop bag… the list of bags really goes on and on.) But I tend to view this as an annoyance—I’ve grown to hate carrying things. Sometimes I’ll knock out some bicep curls with my heavy bags, sure—but I don’t really think of carrying stuff as a workout. Fitness trainers beg to differ. “There’s nothing better than wrapping your hands around some heavy bells and just holding, marching, or walking,” says Samantha Ciaccia, a New York City-based trainer. Exercises involving these “holds” include the popular farmer’s walk exercise, which involves simply walking in a straight line while holding heavy weights in your hands. (Sometimes people do single-arm farmer’s walks for more of a focus on the obliques.) This is functional fitness at its best, because while you can use kettlebells at your gym or weights at home, things like groceries and giant bags work just as well. “Farmer’s walks are beneficial because they’re simple and efficient, but help with core strength and total body coordination,” says celebrity trainer Paolo Mascitti. To do them properly, he says to make sure your core is tight, and shoulders are back and down away from your ears. “Keep awareness of your posture, and make sure you’re comfortable with the weight so it doesn’t compromise your form.” As for what weights to carry, Ciaccia says to “go as heavy as
Steal this psychologist’s script when a bad listener makes your blood boil
August 16, 2019 at 12:31PM by CWC One of my pet peeves (and, oh, I have many, but this is at the top) is when someone asks me a question, I answer, and then they proceed to twist what I said to mean something else entirely. I tell them, for example, that my favorite flavor of ice cream is mint chocolate chip. And before I know it, they’re vilifying me for not giving Chunky Monkey its due adoration. (There are more serious examples of this, too—obviously.) When this happens, I’m left stammering, arguing, trying to defend myself as my rage builds. And when a conversation escalates to an argument, nobody walks away feeling good. Which is why Nicole LePera, PhD, a holistic psychologist in Philadelphia, recently shared a better, mental-health-specialist-approved game plan. In a recent Instagram post, Dr. LePera gives an exact script for what to say when a bad listener interprets your words worse than Siri. Just use one of these lines, and exit the convo gracefully. 1. “I’m not looking for you to agree with me.” 2. “We see things differently.” 3. “I can understand your perspective.” 4. “You might be right about that.” 5. “I appreciate you sharing your viewpoint.” 6. “Can we pause this conversation before we feel overwhelmed?” 7. Say nothing at all. View this post on Instagram If you want to live an authentic life, you’ll have to practice being misunderstood. This is one of the most difficult things to practice, because we’ve evolved to
This 8-minute Pilates ring workout will leave your abs sore for days
August 16, 2019 at 11:37AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f902gJ3FPSY] Much like medicine balls or yoga wheels, Pilates rings tend to fall into the category of workout tools that look pretty innocent. It’s just a hollow, simple ring—how sore can it leave you anyways? Fun fact: Very. In our latest episode of Good Moves, Well+Good’s video series that showcases sweat-packed at-home workouts, trainer Rahel Ghebremichael—a fitness pro who currently teaches at Modelfit—walks us through an abs-burning Pilates ring workout that will leave you seriously sore. Part strength training, part Pilates, this eight-minute sesh (which you can do from the comfort of your living room, BTW) works your arms, your core, your legs, and your balance. You might even say it’s a well-rounded sweat sesh you can do anytime, anywhere—even without a Pilates ring (Ghebremichael says it’s totally optional). Her advice for getting through the pain? “You can do anything for five reps!” Set one 1. Reverse lunge—left: Take a step back with your left leg, right knee over your right ankle on the same line. As you lunge, you’re going to keep your chest out, stomach in, core engaged. Take a squeeze of the Pilates ring in your hands, then as you extend your arms out, release and toe tap your right foot back as you stand up. Then take another giant step back, arms extending, pause—pull in the ring and squeeze—then release. Keep your shoulders away from your ears. 2. Oblique wood chop in lunge—right: Step back with your left
Are keto-branded products B.S. or actually healthy? Here’s the verdict
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
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