February 29, 2020 at 03:00AM by CWC Your relationship with your pillows is just about the closest in your life. After all, you do fall asleep and wake up next to them every day. And finding your perfect feather-stuffed partner might just be even more important than finding your romantic one. The way you sleep has a major impact on your spine—and ultimately, your posture—and your pillow can have a major impact. “If you’re sleeping with a pillow that is the wrong size for you, your neck won’t be able to sit in a neutral position, which means your head is going to rest too far in one direction toward either shoulder,” says Jeff Brannigan, director of programming at STRETCH*D. “Over time this will create misalignment in the spine and negatively impact your posture.” Because of this, you’re going to want to put together the right pillow formula for your go-to sleep position. If you sleep on your back (which is best for your posture and alignment), you’ll want to choose a firm pillow that supports your neck. “For maximum support, you need a material that gives way to pressure and stays put,” says Burke Morley, vice president of brand at Purple, a mattress and pillow company. This means that it should hold firmly under your neck, but give a little bit beneath the weight of your head. If you’re a side sleeper, Brannigan suggests picking a pillow that allows your neck to sit in a neutral position, which will
Tag: Well+Good
This free online course teaches everything you need to know about coronavirus
February 29, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has killed approximately 2,800 people and infected tens of thousands more within a matter of weeks as it spread to 46 countries and counting. The World Health Organization declared Friday that the risk assessment for the virus is now “very high.” But there are still a lot of unknowns about the virus, and it’s hard to separate fact from fiction. Imperial College London is here to help. The university offers a free online course titled Science Matters: Let’s Talk About COVID-19. There’s a new class every week, and the content updates in real time as new information breaks. “As the epidemic seems to spread to more and more countries, people around the world are wondering about the trajectory of the epidemic and whether they should be concerned,” reads the course description. “Robust, reliable analysis is vital at this stage not only as a way to give concerned members of the public a sense of perspective, but also to support governments and other stakeholders in planning their responses.” This online course about coronavirus provides an overview of the current state of the epidemic as well as related epidemiological and public-health principles and challenges. Each class takes about one to two hours to complete, and consists of a few videos and readings. It’s taught by researchers at the MRC Centre of Global Infectious Diseases Analysis and the Jameel Institute for Disease Emergency Analytics. Both groups have been working with a number
The cheese puff snacks of your childhood are finally getting the healthy upgrade they deserve
February 29, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t love cheese puffs. There’s something irresistible about the snack, despite it just being puffed corn covered in a processed cheese powder. The satisfaction of the crunch, the yellow residue the powder leaves on your fingertips, that little curl shape… Traditionally, the snack has never been seen as a health food. It doesn’t offer any vitamins, no fiber, and almost no protein. (Sodium however, it has in spades.) But this is 2020, a time where you can milk oats and eat ice cream made of chickpeas. And now, the humble cheese puff (or doodle, as it’s also known) has undergone its own healthy makeover. Health-conscious food brands including Spudsy, Hippeas, Lesser Evil, and Brass Roots have all reinvented the cheese puff, using ingredients that range from sweet potatoes to legumes. The end result is a puffy snack that hits lots of the same nostalgic taste notes…with some added nutrition hidden in there, too. Who would have thunk it? Here, the brand founders give insider intel to how they are using good-for-you ingredients to reimagine the puff. Cheese puffs 2.0: What they’re made of Well+Good predicted that 2020 would be the year that chickpeas completely take over, and Hippeas has been building that momentum for years with its OG take on the healthy cheese puff. The brand bakes a ground chickpea flour and rice flour blend, then seasons it with salt, cane sugar, onion powder, garlic
I’m a Sephora beauty director and these 5 cleansers are makeup ‘magic erasers’
February 29, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC One of life’s great frustrations is completing 30 seconds of derm-mandated face washing, only to realize that your mascara, foundation, and blush have smeared into a Monet painting on your face. When your skin doesn’t get as clean as you wanted it to, you then have to go for another round of cleanse, rinse, repeat. Ugh. That drama is all about to become a thing of the past now, though, because Sephora Beauty Director Jeffrey English is sharing his five top cleansers that remove makeup like it’s their job. Because, um, it is. Let’s review what separates a stellar face wash from a so-so one, shall we? Apart from ridding your face of the day’s makeup, dirt, and grime, Joshua Zeichner, MD, a dermatologist in New York City, previously told Well+Good that nailing your cleansing routine is really all about feel. “After washing your face, the skin should feel light and soft, but not tight,” he says. “There’s a perception that tight and dry equals clean, but it really represents post-wash dryness, which is harmful to the skin.” Roger that! Now, let’s get to English’s stable of unbeatable washes. 5 cleansers that remove makeup like a charm 1. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, $38 Just about everyone at the Well+Good office loves this cleanser, and English says it deserves all that praise and more. “If you’re looking for a face wash that does it all, then this one is for you. This product combines cleanser, toner,
5 easy ways to cook with protein powder that have nothing to do with smoothies
February 28, 2020 at 11:00PM by CWC You don’t have to be dietitian to know the importance of getting enough protein. Skimp on the nutrient and you’re way more likely to feel fatigued, moody, and hungry—not a great combination. Some people supplement their diets with protein powder mixed into a smoothie or shake as an easy way to get an extra boost of the nutrient. Fortunately, there’s so much more you can do with protein powder than just adding a scoop to your blender. “Cooking with protein powder can add a welcome boost of—you guessed it—protein,” says registered dietitian and Hummusapien blogger Alexis Joseph, RD. One popular (and easy) way she recommends cooking with protein powder is with baked goods. “Baked goods like muffins made with grain flours tend to be lower in protein, so adding a quality protein powder can give some oomph,” she says. Choosing the right protein powder is important both in terms of taste and nutrition. “I don’t recommend using whey protein powder in recipes as results typically vary,” she says. Pea, brown rice, or hemp proteins are best in terms of not altering the taste of your recipe while providing the protein you’re looking for. Creative protein powder recipes for every meal of the day 1. High-protein pizza dough Photo: A Beautiful Mess Leave the cheese-stuffed pizza crust to Pizza Hut while going another route: baking your protein powder right into your pizza dough. It’s an especially good idea if you’re skipping any meat toppings.
Uh, please don’t use coconut oil as lube—here’s the edible option to play with instead
February 28, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC Like everyone else in the mid-2010s, I got swept up by the coconut oil craze, using it for everything. Hair, skin, nails… everything. It’s why I was equal parts smitten and confused by the concept behind Coconu, a coconut oil-infused personal lubricant company. Why create a lube with coconut oil if I can just make a pitstop to the pantry on my way to the bedroom? Like, can you use coconut oil for lube as is and call it a day? Even though coconut oil for lube sounds like an all-natural and cheap option, it’s a precarious thing to play with. Because our genitals are absorbent as hell, straight coconut oil can mess with your vagina’s PH balance, taking you on a trip to Yeast Infection City. “The caution around coconut oil as lube is because it has antimicrobial properties and as such, it may disrupt the healthy vaginal flora,” says Jolene Brighten, ND, naturopathic physician and women’s health expert. “However, it’s important to note that we don’t have studies showing this is definitively true and some women report that they have experienced less yeast infections since using it. Of course, this may be because of they type of lube they were using previously or other factors, but it does have antifungal properties.” While coconut oil has the potential to work out as lube, it could also be a risk for your overall health down there. Most importantly, Dr. Brighten notes that it can
I’m a facialist, and this is the most common skin concern I get asked about
February 28, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC Everyone’s complexion is like a unique snowflake. Facialists get to do the rewarding job of assessing their clients’ unique skin concerns, then—over the course of about an hour—transforming it into a more radiant state. As a celebrity facialist that’s been doing this for over a decade, Candace Marino has worked with every skin woe you could imagine. Out of every skin concern, though, one holds the position as the most common that people want to know how to treat: hyperpigmentation. “Hyperpigmentation is hands down the most common skin concern that my clients are fighting,” she says. “No matter whether it’s post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, spots from hormones, or melasma, the sun will only exacerbate it, deepen it, and make it harder to treat.” You know it as those dark spots that show up on your skin after a zit is gone, or from spending too much time in the sun. The tricky thing about hyperpigmentation is that it takes a lot of time and patience to treat. “During a facial, we can gradually treat pigmentation by using the right ingredients, but the magic happens when clients are consistent with their home skin-care routine,” says Marino, who notes that she uses either a peel or an exfoliating and brightening facial to “breathe life back into dull, damaged skin.” As for taking care of your dark spots at home, Marino recommends incorporating the following skin-care essentials for your healthiest, brightest skin ever—keep scrolling for her picks. How
3 major benefits of sipping on coconut water—besides all the tropical vibes
February 28, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC Ah, coconut water. Not only is it refreshing, delicious, super hydrating, and makes for a spa-worthy coconut cucumber cocktail or healthy sports drink alternative, coconut water also provides some prime health benefits, too. Not to be confused with coconut milk, coconut water is the juice found inside a coconut, and is made of mostly water along with some nutrients and electrolytes. On the other hand, coconut milk “is made by blending coconut meat with water,” says Serena Poon, CN, a chef, certified nutritionist, and Reiki master. “This mixture is of a much thicker consistency and contains much more fat and calories.” Thanks to its explosion in popularity in recent years, coconut water is relatively affordable, unlike its other wellness-y drink counterparts. (Cough, CBD soda, cough.) You can easily find it for just a few dollars at many stores. Need more reasons to stock up on coconut water? Keep reading for its top benefits, plus tips on how to add a tropical (and ultra-hydrating) twist to your daily routine. What are the benefits of coconut water? 1. Coconut water is very hydrating Hydration is one of coconut water’s most well-known benefits, thanks to its electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Electrolytes are great for everyday consumption—they help regulate your pH, keep you hydrated, and control muscle contractions—but they’re especially helpful in certain situations. “Coconut water could be a good choice for rehydration after a long or intense workout, an illness during which you
13 ways to set small limits with microboundaries that help you achieve big wins in your life
February 28, 2020 at 06:08PM by CWC Creating specific boundaries in your life is critical to success and happiness, especially in the context of the burnout culture, and many of us (*raises hand*) are not very good at setting them. Lia Avellino, LCSW, relational psychotherapist and director of head and heart at The Well, explains that one of the reasons it can be hard to assert boundaries is because they require resigning oneself to an uncomfortable truth. “In order to set boundaries, we have to become acquainted with the idea that we have limits. Limits? You—superwoman who works out, is an amazing friend, kicks ass at work, is dressed impeccably—you have limits,” she says. While you may need professional help (*raises hand*) undoing some of the programming that’s made it hard for you to establish the bigger boundaries in life, you can start making your day to day experience better now by learning to set microboundaries, aka drawing small lines in the sand daily. “When we institute microboundaries in a conscious way, we can create a gentle, balanced flow in life that allows for greater productivity and work and greater restorative time in nonwork hours,” says clinical psychologist Carla Marie Manly, PhD. “Microboundaries help us slow down and evaluate our negative habits and create new habits that provide greater work/life balance.” Microboundaries aren’t just for separating your working life from your personal life. You can use them in your relationships, too, says Avellino. “We associate boundaries with pushing people away,
It’s more important than ever to wash your hands frequently—here’s *exactly* how long it takes to scrub germs away
February 28, 2020 at 05:35PM by CWC With fresh concerns about the global spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is stressing the importance of washing your hands often, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. But it’s a question as old as time: How long do you actually need to wash your hands to get them clean? For some people (i.e., a lot), the answer is they simply don’t do it. (Yuck!) For others, it’s a quick splash with soap and water. For others still, it’s as long as it takes to mentally go through the day’s to-do list. But to kick germs to the curb, you just need to sing a little song. A short scrub to wash up just doesn’t to cut it. A 2013 study from Michigan State University found that only 5 percent of people wash their hands long enough to kill germs after using the restroom, and that’s risky behavior. The CDC says proper hand washing is key to fending off illness and infections caused by salmonella, E. coli, norovirus, and respiratory diseases like COVID-19. It also helps to ensure you don’t spread disease to others. “If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol,” says the CDC. “Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.” It takes just little bit longer (seconds, really!) to wash your hands