Our mission is to advice, and to make the people of the world healthier through the power of information.
I Menstruate Like the Elevator in "The Shining." Here's My Review of Thinx Underwear
In recent years, my period has metamorphosed from a mildly annoying monthly recurrence to a full-on biblical flood. This can probably be chalked up to two factors: having kids and a copper IUD, the most common side effect of which is heavy, heavy periods.
You might also like Recently, I discovered, to my horror, that I'd run out of the maxi pads I’ve been teaming with my super-plus tampons. I was mere seconds from belting a pillow between my thighs when I gleefully realized that some adult diapers had been stashed in a bathroom cabinet, leftover from my postpartum healing. This is how bloody I am: Adult diapers thrill me.
Every cool person who gets their period has been talking my ear off about Thinx lately, the period underwear company that’s been "disrupting" the feminine care space since 2014. I've been super intrigued by the idea that I could just bleed freely (there's a term for this: free-bleeding!) into my underwear and worry about tampons no more.
So I emailed the marketing contact at Thinx and explained my predicament—including the fact that my menstruation is reminiscent of nothing so much as that one scene in Carrie. I received an intriguingly confident response less than an hour later, offering to send me a sample pair for review; clearly, these folks think their product is up to snuff.
Like a close girlfriend whose cycle inevitably syncs with your own, my black "Hi-Waist" Thinx arrived at sunset the day my period began. It claimed to hold two tampons’ worth of blood. The next day—my heaviest day—I chose to forgo the tampon entirely and free-bleed into my new pair of truly sexy, mesh-paneled panties.
But as I mentioned before, I bleed a whole hell of a lot. If I’d been wiser and inserted a tampon at 8 a.m., then an hour later replaced it with a fresh one, would I have avoided realizing in horror that I’d bled unknowingly all over my stylist's chair at 10 a.m.? I’ll never know. What I do know is that I ended up fashioning a maxi pad out of toilet paper by wrapping it around my underwear as I stood pantsless in a bathroom that was not my own, quietly running water over the crotch of my leggings and squeezing blood out in a sweaty panic, before emerging with what I prayed was a relaxed, breezy smile on my face.
So did my Thinx betray my trust, forcing me to spend the rest of my cycle using them as backup? Yes. But even this was game-changing.
Reader, the moment I discovered tampons at sleepaway camp 21 years ago, I thought maxi pads would be a thing of the past. I wanted to float them out on the camp’s lake and give them a proper Viking funeral. So you can imagine how disappointed I’ve been in the literal bloodbath I’ve been recently experiencing, which has put me right back on the bulky maxi pad train. I'm here to say that, fortunately, Thinx has rendered my pads unnecessary once again!
Yes, my flow is too abundant to free-bleed into a pair of Thinx alone, but I am thrilled to be sending 144 fewer maxi pads per year to a landfill. After my first-day misstep, my Thinx were washed each night, hung out to dry, and played Best Supporting Actress to my tampons for six straight days without a single rogue leak, smudge, or dewdrop of blood on my pants.
I wore them to exercise in a boot camp-style class that had me crawling under a partner's downward dog in a plank position. I wore them while on the floor getting my children into their snow pants, socks, boots, coats, hats, scarves, and gloves. I wore them to make out with my husband—they're honestly very sexy with just a t-shirt. I wore them while sitting on a white chair in a friend’s apartment while drinking a glass of red wine that—plot twist!—I ended up spilling.
In summary, I'm a believer—and I’m buying a full week's worth.
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/2DC0BAK
Is the Body-Positivity Movement Going Too Far?
In 2010, Linda Bacon, Ph.D., published Health at Every Size, which promoted the idea that everyone should have respect regardless of their weight. Bacon also started a group of the same name to give people resources to stop dieting and find professionals that agree with the idea that fat doesn’t always mean unhealthy. From there, the body-positivity—or fat-positivity—movement grew and began to reduce the stigma of being heavy. People are finally hearing the message that everyone should love their body, no matter what the media or diet industry might say.
You might also like Well, doesn’t that sound lovely? What a wonderful world, where overweight people would be seen as ordinary folks, instead of lazy, stupid failures with no self-control. But things don’t stay nice for long. At least, not if the internet is involved.
Some members of the body-positive movement have started to promote some pretty extreme concepts. Like when Everyday Feminism wrote, "Let’s make something clear: Having a goal for intentional fat loss is not body positive." Or when Ashley Graham lost some weight and received comments like, "I am no longer a fan of yours. You betrayed a lot of people!" as reported by CNN. Or when body-positive blogger Ragen Chastain said, "There is not a single study where more than a tiny fraction of people have succeeded at weight loss long term, and there is no study that shows that people who lose weight live longer or become healthier. Prescribing weight loss for health is like prescribing learning to fly for knee pain." And don’t forget Salon, with its piece comparing weight loss to gay conversion therapy, which... no.
This is why we can’t have nice things.
But how can body positivity be bad?
First of all, the basic ideals of body positivity are not bad: People should not be mistreated because of their weight, and we should never feel pressured to get our bodies to fit some model ideal of "thinness." That’s clearly not possible—or remotely healthy—for most people. And we should all learn to love ourselves, whether we’re a size 4 or size 24.
But it’s not that easy. In fact, for some people, like myself, the body-positivity movement only makes things more complicated: Fat people now get the privilege of being judged by others for being too big while simultaneously being preached at that they should just love themselves, muffin-top and all.
"I find body positivity an unrealistic expectation," says Kimberly Hershenson, LMSW, a therapist with years of experience treating eating disorders and weight issues. "People in general struggle to ‘love their bodies.’ Someone who has struggled with body image issues cannot suddenly change from body-hatred to loving the way they look."
Hershenson advises her clients to focus on things outside of their body to find self-love. Instead of trying to suddenly love the body you’ve always hated, she suggests thinking of your body as a neutral. You don’t have to love or hate it—it’s just a body, and the self is so much more than just its outer packaging.
Outside of the unrealistic expectation to simply start "loving yourself at any size," some body-positivity activists insist that weight has nothing to do with your health. Sadly, this isn’t true. As Aditi G Jha, M.D., of JustDoc.com says, "Central obesity is the number one factor associated with diabetes, hypertension, and infertility, in their respective orders."
Psychologist Deb Thompson, Ph.D., adds, "Obesity is clearly recognized by world and national health organizations as a leading risk factor for disease and death. The body-positivity movement's denial of science is troubling."
Also, for most people, being heavier really does not feel better. As a lucky lady who gained a ton of weight over the course of a year, I felt the difference: I got winded easily, my body ached more, and I started developing plantar fasciitis. Though I’m still big, I’ve lost about 30 pounds so far, and it feels better.
So the body-positivity movement isn't wrong, exactly...
Sure, there are some extreme people who are making the movement look like a bunch of jags. For example, it’s beyond unfortunate that Chastain and Salon both compare fatphobia with homophobia. I’m not saying it’s easy being a fat person, but gay panic has caused a lot more harm throughout history. At the height of homophobia, gay men were labeled as mentally ill, pedophiles, or both. People were jailed and castrated just for being gay. Sure, fat people might get called names and crappy looks from people on the train, but few people have been literally murdered just for being fat.
My hatred of the anti-gay/anti-fat correlation aside, most of the body-positivity movement isn’t wrong. Even though statements like "weight loss is not body positive" sound extreme—they have a point.
True body positivity means you can do whatever you want with your body as long as you do it with love. Some people do need to lose weight for their health, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Others want to lose weight to look better—and that’s their right. If you aren’t obsessed with losing weight, then I don’t think it’s a problem.
But dieting culture is a problem for a lot of people.
Let’s take a little journey through my fatness, to illustrate the unfortunate effects of our dieting culture.
Personally, I was always chubby, and I never felt bad about it—until junior high. I wasn’t made fun of or criticized for my weight. In fact, if I ever said, "Oh, well I’m so fat," I’d hear an instant chorus of "Oh, my God. Don’t say that! No, don’t think that about yourself."
Though I wasn’t allowed to say fat, that didn’t stop every other girl I knew from commenting on her appearance. Once we hit 14, a part of every lunch period was devoted to each girl talking about how fat she was—these were all thin girls, by the way. So, I thought, If they think they’re fat, they must think I’m some monster! This began my wonderful journey of hating my body that continues to this very day.
You might hope that all this "I’m so fat" talk would disappear after high school, but it’s still going strong. About half the time I hang out with a group of women, we get into a whole "my [insert body part here] is so horrible" conversation. Of course, I can’t actually join in on the contest of who hates themselves more because if I talk about feeling fat, people just sadly look away, a faint, "well..." passing through their lips.
Now I truly am fat, and people—friends—act like it’s the saddest thing I could ever be. Friends who don’t even realize they’re acting this way and would never purposely say anything to make me feel bad. Even if they’d never consciously judge a fat person negatively, they’re responding to a little, internal voice that says, "Yeah, but if she just tried a little harder..."
We’ve been trained to think of "fat" as "bad," and you can’t reverse a lifetime of thinking in a couple of years’ worth of blog posts.
So when people talk about body positivity and dieting, it’s understandable why people in the BP movement get upset. Blogger and YouTuber FatGirlFlow discusses her history with eating disorders, doctors who continually told her to lose weight, and how dieting to be "healthy" nearly killed her. Eventually, she found the body-positivity movement, which "saved her life."
So although it sounds extreme to say that dieting and weight loss are not part of body positivity, I think there’s some truth to that statement. That doesn’t mean you can’t lose weight or want to lose weight and still think positively of yourself. Individuals should do whatever they want.
But there should also be some space out there on the internet for women not to have to hear about dieting, because when you say you need to diet, that makes girls like me feel like we need to diet. When body-positive activists like FatGirlFlow say "keep dieting out of body positivity," they aren’t telling you not to lose weight—they just need a break from hearing that weight loss will always be the answer.
Does body positivity promote obesity?
Think about it: Can a couple of bloggers and a Dove ad really make thin women binge on Häagen-Dazs and gain 40 pounds? This movement isn’t nearly big enough to really make people feel good about being obese, and it’s certainly not going to convince people that fat is the new black.
Sure, some of the claims that obesity has no link to health are misleading. But the truth is that the science around health and obesity is far from clear.
"Yes, weight can affect your health, and there has been research to show that there may be some correlation," says Zach Cordell, registered dietitian nutritionist. "However, in the scientific community, we know that correlation is not causation. Just because obesity and diabetes rates have risen in tandem doesn't prove that they are connected. You could also draw that correlation between the availability of organic foods and diabetes. Does that mean that because more organic food is available, more people have diabetes? No, it is just a correlation."
Cordell says that obesity and diabetes have quite a few links, but that a person’s behavior is more predictive of disease than their size. Yes, many obese people eat poorly or don’t exercise. But that’s not always the case. Some overweight people don’t eat junk food all the time and are still heavy. And there are quite a few thin folks who frequent the McDonald’s drive-thru. Though obesity is a symptom of unhealthy behavior, it’s not necessarily the cause of all disease.
Then, take a look a nutritional information. Doctors’ recommendations change drastically every ten years or so (remember when Snackwells would save us all?). Now, this isn’t a bad thing: It’s good that science is always evolving. But it’s frustrating when you’re told to eat a bunch of eggs, then five years later, you hear that all those omelets will probably give you a heart attack.
Even now, you can read material written by Joel Fuhrman, M.D., and be convinced that his almost no-fat, vegan diet is the only way to get thin and healthy—and he’s got the scientific studies to prove it! Then, you read The Obesity Code by Jason Fung, M.D., and learn that the amount of fat you eat has exactly no correlation to weight gain. In his opinion, insulin is primarily to blame for weight gain, so you should intermittently fast and eat a diet high in fat and low in carbs—and he’s got the scientific studies to prove it!
Now, I’m not a doctor, but the studies for each of those diets seem equally valid, even though they’re diametrically opposed. Cordell agrees that either of those diets, or anything in-between, can work for people. Cordell says that it doesn’t really matter what the results of all the new studies are—you have to choose a way of eating that works for you and that you can keep up for the rest of your life. Almost any diet can prove some kind of weight loss, but those studies don’t reveal the fact that to keep the weight off, you have to eat healthily forever.
And weight loss isn’t always the answer.
I know from experience that weight is not the primary factor of healthiness. When I was 275 pounds, all my bloodwork was good: low blood pressure, low cholesterol, good everything. Now, I didn’t feel good at that weight, but I was technically fine.
We’ve been trained to think of "fat" as "bad," and you can’t reverse a lifetime of thinking in a couple of years of blog posts.
But when you’re heavy, the first thing a doctor tells you is "lose weight." This has happened to me—when I weighed a lot less—and to many others. When I last went to the doctor, she said, "Eat 1,200 calories a day. You can eat up to 1,500, but try to keep it closer to 1,200."
Now, this is bad for a few reasons: One, I’m a fat lady in her 30s. Do you think I’ve never tried dieting before? Have I lived under some fat-blocking rock for the last three decades and suddenly emerged as my unpleasantly plump self? No. I’ve tried lots of diets, my friend.
Also, if you have a bad history with obsession and weight, there’s no better way to trigger that than having a doctor tell you to starve yourself. (Also, this doctor was my same weight and said how she "felt sorry for Harvey Weinstein" after all the allegations came out. Just to paint a clearer picture of my hell.)
My little story is just one of many, but if the body-positive movement can help bigger people not get immediately brushed off by every doctor, that would be a huge victory in and of itself. I’m not saying doctors shouldn’t mention weight. But when weight loss is the only answer they give, that’s a problem.
Also, doctors should always approach weight with empathy: Ask the patient if they have a history of eating disorders. Ask them why they want to lose weight and why they’ve had trouble in the past. Then work with them to find an eating plan that the patient might actually stick to.
People can be overweight and healthy. Chastain just completed the Life Time Tri, a mini-triathlon. Now, can people be obese and healthy? I don’t know. But what’s better? Someone who’s able to live an active life at a heavy weight or someone slightly smaller who devotes all their mental energy to dieting? I know there are shades between those extremes, but believe me, if you’re trying to go from obese to a normal BMI, it’s very hard to keep obsession from kicking in.
I’ve had mixed feelings about the body-positivity movement, but I’ve become more positive for body positivity than I would have thought. To me, they’re asking that we end the cycle of obsessing over our bodies. Sure, some proponents of this movement go too far and claim that people who lose weight are traitors. But most advocate just appreciating yourself as you are, and that means being OK with wanting to lose weight or being OK with staying heavy.
Still, there aren’t a lot of winners here. Most people are stuck in this weird limbo between fatphobia and body positivity. Model Ashley Graham got criticized for losing weight but also got crap for "promoting obesity" when she was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. People who try to slim down get lots of positive attention when they start to lose, but if they lose too much, the folks around them start saying things like, "Are you sick?" or "You’re getting too skinny. It’s not healthy." You can never win.
And you want to know the really sad thing? When I see people like FatGirlFlow and Ragen Chastain, a part of me applauds them for their self-acceptance. But also? A little voice always says, "Yeah, but if she just tried a little harder…"
Amber Petty is a freelance writer in Los Angeles. If you like easy crafts and Simpsons gifs, check out her blog, Half-Assed Crafts.
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/2ndPE0Z
The Different Kinds of General Surgeries Offered at Hospitals
from Health and Fitness Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/2Gjyurx
Why You're So Damn Ugly And How To Become Beautiful Or Handsome
from Health and Fitness:Beauty Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/2E8UaGe
Nutritionist-Approved Tips to Stay Healthy Long After Your Diet Is Over
So you’ve successfully made it through your short-term diet plan. You deserve a huge pat on the back (even for those times you had a couple of slip-ups). But here’s the thing—we want this new way of eating to become your way of life. With tons of people living happily on a Whole30, vegan, low-sugar, or Paleo plan, it’s totally possible to turn your 30-day program and into a lifestyle.
Transitioning Out of Your Diet
Let’s be real for a second. There are no quick fixes to weight loss. As a matter of fact, it's a hell of a lot harder than just watching what you eat.
There is a not-so-glamorous term that many health professionals use to define what really works for losing weight and keeping it off, and it’s called "behavior modification." In research with obese individuals, scientists have found that just changing eating patterns or exercise habits is not enough to create lasting change.
Instead, it’s imperative to address the social and psychological cues associated with overeating. Quite simply, following food rules for the rest of your life is not sustainable, so it's important to dig deeper to determine why you are either going for junk food all of the time and/or eating too much (easier said than done, right?).
Research has found that these behavioral modifications should focus on psychological interventions. And new research points to the fact that cognitive behavioral therapy is the gold standard for treating obesity. In the case of the Greatist Reset (or any diet you choose), this may mean assessing why you chose the diet you did and whether it’s right for you. Did the low-sugar lifestyle give you more energy? Did you feel healthier eating more plants on the vegan plan? Once you recognize the reasoning behind those behaviors, it's easier to make long-lasting changes.
Now that we’ve covered the basics of handling your post-diet mentality, here are some tips to really help you stick with the respective diet plan (or at least some aspects of it).
Whole30
Phew—you may it through a month without sugar, alcohol, and bread. Now what? The founders have laid out ground rules for continuing a Whole30-ish eating plan for life.
- Eat Whole30-ish.
You’re probably dying for a piece of chocolate or glass of wine, and that’s totally OK. But the nice thing about doing the Whole30 for an entire month is that you’ve now learned how to eat plenty of whole foods without the junk (and proven to yourself that there are plenty of delicious recipes out there that are seriously good for you). Continue to do so and add in those indulgences on special occasions. Moderation is key to eating healthy and feeling good in the long run. - Evaluate what’s worth it. If your birthday is coming up and you look forward to your favorite cupcake every year, by all means, indulge in the damn cupcake. But if you’re snacking on store-bought chocolate chip cookies while watching The Bachelor, ask yourself if it’s worth it. Food that brings you joy and is a once-in-a-while treat is worth the indulgence, while foods that you mindlessly eat are not. Do you really need that glass of wine after a long day as you sit on the sofa by yourself? Probably not. Save it (and a couple more) for a fun night out with friends come Friday.
- Be mindful of your food choices. When you do opt for something that’s not so healthy, savor it. Eat consciously, enjoy every bite, and do your best not to overeat.
- Don’t linger on the guilt. If you fall off the Whole30 bandwagon completely and can’t get out of the processed foods trap, don’t harp on your mistake. You’ve proven to yourself that you can do it, so pick yourself up and get back on. This afternoon, this evening, or tomorrow morning are all chances to start fresh.
Paleo
If eating like a caveman is your thing, here are some tips to keep up with your new Stone Age habits.
- Don’t force it. If you love bread or are a marathon runner, don’t compel yourself to adapt to a lifestyle 100 percent if that doesn’t suit your needs. You did it for a month and you’re feeling really cut, but it’s time to evaluate if this is something that works for you in the long run. Maybe it is, because the beauty of Paleo is that you can still enjoy a slice of bread, muffins, pancakes, and cookies as long as they are made with Paleo-approved ingredients like almond and coconut flours, pure maple syrup, and coconut oil.
- Move outside of your meat comfort zone. Yup, you basically get to eat as much meat as you want on the Paleo diet. Pass the (compliant) bacon, please. But don’t forget about the nutrient-rich veggies that should fill up half your plate. You can also experiment with different types of meats so you don’t fall into the chicken/pork/fish rut. Visit a local butcher and learn about the hundreds of different beef cuts on offer.
- Graze a little less on grass-fed ghee. We know that Bulletproof coffee is oh-so-creamy, but when your diet is 70 percent butter or ghee (slight exaggeration) it can turn into an unhealthy habit. Stick to a small amount each day—maybe a teaspoon or two to cook your eggs and one to blend into your coffee, or to lend some taste to your steamed broccoli. Do your best not to go overboard.
Vegan
Maybe you decided to embrace the veggie life. But if you spent the last month eating tofu and veggies, it’s time to venture out of your comfort zone. Here are some tips for making the vegan lifestyle last.
- Start with education. By now, you know that you can eat soy and veggies on a vegan diet, but there are plenty of other protein options, like seitan, tempeh, hemp, and quinoa that will give you a much-needed break from Tofurkey. Spend some time reading about various sources of vegan protein and make sure you're getting enough healthy fats, B12, iron, and calcium.
- Don’t fall into the processed-food rut. There are tons of vegan-approved packaged foods out there, but just because you can have them doesn’t mean you always should. Keep these vegan snacks on hand so you're stocked with the goods. But do your best to cook as much as you can at home because the beauty of vegan meals is that they can be whipped up pretty quickly. The longest you’ll have to wait is for vegetables to roast in the oven. And this is where the next tip fits in…
- Learn to cook. If you want to go plant-based, you’ve got to cook for yourself. Vegan options at restaurants are getting easier but can still be limited, so even grabbing a quick lunch might be difficult (the salad dressing has milk in it?!). Buy a vegan cookbook and spend a Saturday in the kitchen. Experiment with different proteins and dishes and get on board with meal-prepping so you know exactly what goes into your breakfast, lunch, and dinners.
- Make vegan friends but don’t get rid of old ones. Veganism is more than an eating pattern—it’s a way of life. Those who follow it are super passionate and are happy to teach you their ways. Go on Meetup.com and find a vegan potluck in your area. Make some vegan friends who know about the best vegan restaurants in the area. It’s much easier to continue a diet plan when you’ve got the support of your friends. On the flip side, don’t ditch your meat-eating friends just because they aren’t down with your diet choices. Make them a vegan dinner and get them involved, and they will come around to the fact that you're ordering a veggie burger instead of beef.
Low-Sugar
If you’re feeling super energized after your month without added sugar, then it’s worth continuing this way of eating. But to do so, here are some things you need to remember.
- Read the labels on everything. Unfortunately, sugar lurks in tons of processed foods. Sriracha, salsa, soups, breads, crackers. You name it—it’s probably got some sugar in it. While it’s totally fine to eat some added sugar every day (the dietary guidelines range from no more than 25-50 grams), it can quickly sneak its way into your diet. Watch out for words like corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, molasses, malt syrup, sucrose, raw sugar, confectioners sugar, anhydrous dextrose, agave, and maple syrup in ingredient lists.
- Find low-sugar snacks. There are some processed snacks that do a good job of keeping sugar to a minimum. For instance, roasted chickpeas and kale chips are great salty (and crunchy) snacks to satisfy midday hunger. Of course, fruit and Medjool dates (have you ever added almond butter to a date?!) are always a great sweet snack without added sugar. Or if you’re dying for some ice cream, try making your own out of frozen bananas and turn it into an epic sundae that keeps your sugar in check.
- Keep sugar out of the house. Seriously, don’t keep an emergency bag of chocolate chip cookies hidden in a top cabinet. That’s a recipe for disaster. Make yourself go out and get those sweet treats if you really want them. Instead, leave a fresh fruit bowl on your counter or stock your cupboard with nuts.
The Takeaway
No matter how you spent your 30 days, any healthy eating tips you can pick up along the way to make long-term changes is a win. You don’t have to be perfect (no one loves being a chronic dieter), but just aim to keep practicing the habits that resonated with you the most. If you need bread in your life, then you should eat it, and if you can’t live without cheese, then you should eat it. But being conscious of the food you enjoy on a daily basis can help you feel good, happy, and energized. And ain't that what life is all about?
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/2nbemA1
We Have to Safeguard the Health and Well Being of Future Generations
from Health and Fitness Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/2FevYkY
Ignore the Rankings. There Is No "Best Diet"
At the beginning of each January, the U.S. News and World Report ranks the best and worst diets based on how easy the plans are to stick to, how likely you are to lose weight on them, and how effective they are at preventing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
But there's one problem with these lists: They suck.
For the past several years, we've had to argue that the list's "worst" diet isn't as bad as it seems (see: Whole30, Paleo), and we'd make that case again this year—U.S. News named keto the worst overall diet, and, once again, we disagree.
The list is created by an expert panel, but it ignores one key factor: There's no one way to be healthy, nor are diets one size fits all. A diet that's hard to stick to for one person might be easy for someone else. And counting calories on the No. 1-ranked DASH diet might be triggering for some people, making bottom-of-the-pile Whole30 and Paleo healthier for them.
Ranking diets best to worst (and almost always stacking trendy diets at the bottom) seems more about being controversial just for the sake of it and less about communicating actually useful information. The list doesn't account for people's goals, body types, general health, or dietary restrictions, so by default, it'll be inaccurate for a vast majority of people.
On top of that, ranking diets like this discourages people from learning about and experimenting with different eating plans. No, the high-fat, low-carb keto diet won't be healthy or sustainable for everyone. But that doesn't mean it won't work for anyone. Plus, short-term experiments with restrictive diets can help you build healthier, sustainable habits as well as teach you about how your body responds to certain foods.
We know the rankings won't stop. Next year there will be another diet pulling up in last place, whether or not it deserves to be there. But instead of assuming one diet is inherently better than another, take lists like this with a grain of salt and do your own research. Better yet, talk to your doctor about your body's needs and consider trying a new program for yourself. You won't know if something works for you unless you give it a chance.
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/2DAwFJ8
When And How to Choose A Makeup Artist
from Health and Fitness:Beauty Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/2F6Whd6
9 Ways to Make Your Morning Coffee Healthier (and Even Tastier)
For years, we’ve been told breakfast is the most important meal of the day (though some would argue against that advice). But for those of us who need a little extra push to access our inner morning person, scrambling an egg isn’t even fathomable until we’ve at least had one (or five) cups of joe.
Studies have shown that drinking coffee alone has health benefits that go beyond helping us become real humans again—like reducing our risk of type 2 diabetes. But since it’s the very first thing we put in our bodies each day after we open our eyes, why not see if there’s a way to sneak a few extra nutrients in there?
Here are a few of our favorite hacks to justify your insatiable caffeine addiction pack even more nutrition into your daily caffeine routine.
1. Add a dash of cinnamon.
Here’s a way to add a little seasonal flair to your caffeine routine while also supporting heart health and balancing blood sugar levels. (PSL, can you do that?) Adding a pinch of cinnamon can boost antioxidants, lower your blood sugar, and even cut your risk of heart disease. Plus, it tastes so good that you might finally kick the cream and sugar habit because, really, it doesn't need anything else.
2. Drink more chocolate.
OK, just to be clear, we’re not encouraging you to start melting entire Hershey’s bars into your coffee. But adding a little cocoa is cool with us.
Here’s why: Adding a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa (we’re talking the fermented seeds from the cacao tree) offers anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities that can help your body by lowering blood pressure, balancing cholesterol, and helping to manage type 2 diabetes. Think a homemade mocha with zero added sugar, although we think a little drizzle of maple syrup would be good in this too.
3. Add flavor with coconut oil.
If you like your coffee on the sweeter side, swap out those artificial vanilla and hazelnut creamers and syrups for a naturally tropical taste by adding a tablespoon of coconut oil. And while coconut oil might not be the “cure-all” it’s made out to be, adding it to your coffee may have a few health benefits, from contributing to weight loss to possibly preventing Alzheimer’s disease. While these health claims are still under investigation, we think it's worth adding it to your coffee for the flavor alone. The creaminess is crazy.
4. Call in the collagen.
From health bloggers to celebs (hey, Jennifer Aniston), it seems like everyone is hopping on the collagen bandwagon this year—adding it to smoothies, cooked meals, and... you guessed it... coffee. If you’re not on board yet, don't believe everything you hear about collagen—sprinkling it into a smoothie probably won't make you look 30 years younger.
Here's what you should know: Collagen is the protein-rich connective material between tissue and bones (so, yup, veg-heads, you’ll have to sit this one out). It comes in a powder form, so you can stir it into pretty much anything to get a major protein boost that will help you kick-start your day. There’s also some preliminary evidence it can help keep your skin hydrated, improve alcohol-induced liver damage, and support joint health. Look for a brand that doesn't change the flavor, like Further Food Collagen Peptides, so you aren't scrunching up your nose at every sip.
5. Butter it up.
We know, we can’t believe it is butter in there, either. Buttered (a.k.a. “Bulletproof”) coffee has been making celebs, athletes, and health bloggers alike get friendlier with fats. Why? Some claim this buttery buzz gives them more energy, improves brain function, and aids in weight loss—particularly if these folks are following a ketogenic diet already.
If you decide to slide a slice into your morning joe, try using grass-fed butter, which has a higher amount of omega-3 and vitamin K than regular butter.
6. Make cafe au oats.
When the morning rush gets between us and breakfast, we become our worst selves (hangry, stuck in rush-hour traffic, staring at a giant billboard of a breakfast sandwich). But here’s a way to grab breakfast and coffee on your way out the door: Brew some caffeine-packed oats in your thermos for a delicious morning meal. Not only are you getting your energizing fix, but you're also eating a solid breakfast because oatmeal comes packed with fiber and minerals like magnesium, zinc, manganese, selenium, and iron.
7. Add some ashwagandha powder.
If you’re looking to add an extra health kick to your coffee but still want it to look like, well, coffee, try sprinkling in some ashwagandha powder. You may want to combine this with some cinnamon and coconut oil since it can have a pretty strong flavor, but some people are swearing by this adaptogen trend. While it’s used heavily in Ayurvedic medicine, mainstream health connoisseurs are starting to use it more and are noticing that it may help reduce stress and possibly even increase physical stamina.
8. Get your fill of cardamom.
Cardamom has been dubbed the “queen of spices”—and it’s not just because of its rich, warm taste. In some ancient medicinal traditions, this powerful spice was used to treat everything from gum infections to tuberculosis. And while we’re not recommending you try to whip up a DIY cardamom cure for either of those, one recent study suggests the spice may have antimicrobial properties so you can fight off pesky bacteria like E. coli. And adding it to your coffee might just improve your social health, since it’s been used as a natural breath freshener and, well, coffee breath is a thing.
9. Turn up the heat.
Nope, we’re not talking temperature. If you want to spice up your morning routine, add a dash of cayenne into your morning brew. Trust us, not only will it wake up your taste buds, but it will also give you a nutrient boost early on in your day.
Cayenne has been used to manage stomach problems, lack of appetite, and circulatory issues for thousands of years in Native American medicine. Recent research shows that it may relieve pain from headaches, help digestion, and even prevent heart disease. It's pretty much a coffee-obsessed, spicy-food lover's dream.
Something to Sip On
Though these additions are all fun ways to sneak a little extra something into your morning, let’s face it—our pantries aren’t always stocked with collagen peptides, and we’re guessing your local barista won’t have ashwagandha powder on hand. But one thing Karman Meyer, R.D., recommends is including something most of us already plan on putting in our morning joe.
“Milk, lactose-free or not, will provide essential vitamins and minerals,” Meyer says. “By adding 1/4 cup milk to your morning joe, you'll get 2 grams of protein, 8 percent of the daily value of calcium, and 6 percent of the daily value of vitamin D, riboflavin, and phosphorus... essential for bone health, red blood cell production, and metabolism.” So no matter where you are—or whether or not you’re fully awake—there’s a way to add a little boost to your daily cup.
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/2nbrl4X
7 Bad Skin Care Habits You Don't Realize You Have
When it comes to our skin, we’re all just out trying to do our best, right? We test out products, wash our faces regularly, moisturize... but it turns out that some of our most persistent habits can be very bad for our skin. The good news is that most of them have easy fixes—so you can turn bad habits into good ones.
You might also like 1. You don’t replace your loofah frequently enough.
"Washcloths and loofahs can harbor bacteria, mold, and yeast, among other harmful things," says dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, M.D. "Make sure you allow your loofah to dry completely each time and replace it frequently." For people who use washcloths instead, Schlessinger recommends grabbing a fresh one every day—but don’t use it on your face. "This is very irritating to the skin," he explains, "and ends up causing dry areas, breakouts, and even sores."
2. You don’t moisturize oily, acne-prone skin.
Many of us have heard that if you have oily skin, you shouldn’t use moisturizer the same way people with dry skin do. But that’s not entirely true. "If you’re acne-prone, it’s best to use non-comedogenic products that won’t clog your pores," says cosmetic physician Stanley Kovak, M.D., founder of the Kovak Cosmetic Center.
He says that drying skin ultimately causes inflammation and increased oil production, which can actually lead to more acne. Essentially, Kovak explains, it’s all about hydration. "Hydrated skin is essential to controlling acne and keeping a fresh, radiant complexion."
3. You don’t shower right after a workout.
Sweat becomes easily trapped inside tight-knit clothing, which can lead to acne, irritation, and other problems. Even though you may rush from the gym back to work—or even straight home—Schlessinger stresses the importance of showering ASAP.
"Showering after a workout is ideal because the less time bacteria have to sit on your skin, the better," Schlessinger says. For the best results, he recommends washing your body with an antibacterial body wash and focusing on areas where your skin touched the exercise equipment, or anywhere you’re prone to breakouts (like your chest and back).
If showering immediately isn’t an option—and of course it isn’t, always—the second-best thing is to change out of your exercise clothes as soon as possible and swipe down your most acne-prone parts with some cleansing wipes, which you can keep in your gym bag as an extra layer of defense.
4. You use a high SPF so you apply less sunscreen (or apply it less frequently).
"People tend to put on less sunblock than what is recommended," Kovak says. "This means that when they use a tiny amount of SPF 80 sunblock, they’re essentially putting on the equivalent of 20 SPF."
And using a high SPF doesn’t mean you can go longer without reapplying. No matter how high the SPF is, it still needs to be reapplied frequently—there really is no such thing as too much sunscreen.
Schlessinger seconds this advice. "The absolute best thing you can do for your skin is to apply sunscreen every single day," he advises. "Because many signs of aging are caused or exacerbated by sun damage, sunscreen is the best anti-aging treatment in your skin care routine."
And on an inherently more important note, Schlessinger also advises that sunscreen is your first line of defense against skin cancer—even if you’re sitting inside all day, you still need sun protection. "Most car, home, and office windows protect against UVB rays," he explains, "but they leave you unprotected from UVA rays that cause premature signs of aging as well as skin cancer."
Moral of the story? Wear a broad spectrum every day. That way, you can shield your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
5. You always shower in the morning.
Showering in the morning is so common—after all, many of us like to hop out of bed and shower so we feel nice and fresh for the day ahead. But this routine may be harmful to our skin.
"Showering at night can help you sleep better and keep your sheets cleaner," says Schlessinger. "By washing off all of the dirt, oil, and impurities that have gathered on your skin throughout the day, you’ll be able to maximize your beauty sleep." When we go to sleep dirty, all that ick from the day is transferred to our bedding, which leads to a cycle of all that ick going right back into our skin.
"Getting a clean start in the evening is especially beneficial for allergy sufferers because it washes away the pollen and other impurities you’ve come in contact with throughout the day," Kovak says.
6. You don’t clean your makeup brushes.
Besides being good for keeping your makeup looks #onfleek, cleaning your makeup brushes on a regular basis is also a fundamental aspect of a good skin care routine. "If not properly cleaned, makeup brushes can carry hordes of bacteria that can cause serious damage to the skin," Schlessinger says. "Not to mention the buildup that gathers on dirty makeup brushes causes them to deteriorate quicker, affecting your makeup application."
Tragic all around. But the key to avoiding this travesty is simple: Clean your tools regularly. You should spritz your brushes once a week with a cleansing spray and deep clean them once a month with shampoo or gentle soap. Schlessinger says this is the best way to prevent buildup from causing infection, as well as problems like acne and irritation.
7. You turn to the tanning bed (or sunbathe) to clear up acne.
Many people with problematic acne have touted the benefits of tanning as a way to clear up acne. According to Kovak, that’s not so true. "While tanning can briefly hide the visible irritation of acne, it can, in fact, make acne worse, as it leads ultimately to dry skin, which promotes more oil production." And as we all know, more oil production can mean more acne.
Dr. Kovak adds, "Tanning also fosters sweating, which can lead to clogged pores and can cause hyperpigmentation of the skin." The end result? Your pre-existing acne scars may appear even darker.
Alexis Dent is a poet, essayist, entrepreneur, and author. Her first book, Everything I Left Behind, came out this fall. In addition to freelancing, Dent writes a weekly newsletter called White Collar Dropout for self-employed millennials and ambitious side hustlers. Dent also designs quirky leggings for her apparel company, Eraminta, because she really hates wearing pants. Keep up with her on her website and follow her on Twitter @alexisdent.from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/2DCKDdK
Health Devices to Make Your Life Easier
from Health and Fitness Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/2n6vkj6
Healthy According to Lionel Messi
from Health and Fitness Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/2DHGaW2
Eggs and Weight Loss
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/2rywFnn
The Secret to Staying Healthy (Even When You Don't Feel Like It)
Lately, my oldest son—who is three years old—has come up with a new favorite retort whenever I ask him to do something: "I'm not in the mood."
You might also like It’s hilarious because he’s a kid, but it reminds me of a decidedly less-cute catch phrase that I’ve heard plenty of adults use: "I'm going to quit. I just don't feel committed." But that’s not a real reason to quit something. That's just the grown-up equivalent of saying, "I'm not in the mood.”
If we quit every time we didn't feel committed, we'd still be putting off our fourth-grade math homework.
Why do we persist with so many things in life, but when it comes to our health and fitness, we want to give up the very moment we stop feeling motivated?
Most of the world's work is done by people who don't feel like it; most folks don’t really feel like getting out of bed in the morning. Thankfully, we are not our feelings. And we’re not exclusively our thoughts, either. We have both a short-term, irrational mind and a long-term, rational mind.
The next time you have a craving and feel like giving in—or the next time you’re given an opportunity to get closer to your goal and you just don’t feel "in the mood"—notice what you say to yourself.
In those tough moments, we often end up choosing what makes us the least uncomfortable in the moment, which in the long run, leads us to give up what we really want for what we mistakenly, temporarily think we want.
We wind up trading short-term discomfort for a deeper discomfort later on.
When we make that trade, we’re letting our short-term/irrational mind take over. Acknowledge that. Say hello to it. Even laugh at it—but realize we don't have to act on it.
One of the "secrets" to success is doing what makes us successful even when we don't feel like it. It's easy to be successful when we feel like it. For instance, go to any gym in early January, and you’ll see that everyone "feels" motivated and committed. Everyone is in the mood!
But what about when we don't feel like it? Go back to that same gym in early February. It's probably a ghost town. But you can still be the one showing up: The truth is, success happens when we're not in the mood to make a healthy choice but do anyway.
Success happens when we stick with something through the inevitable highs and lows, no matter how we feel.
This is why daily and personal accountability is so important. Feeling committed comes down to our actions. The key is to make our actions as realistic as possible.
For example, last night, I was watching TV and found myself craving ice cream. I was watching my Knicks get crushed again and was in the mood for something sweet to dull the pain. Yeah, I knew I was emotionally hungry, not physically hungry, but there’s gotta be a balance between living for today and living for tomorrow, right?
There’s a demonstrated association between eating in front of the TV and weight gain. So if you’re going to eat while watching TV, it's helpful to decide up front what you'll snack on if you get a craving. This strategy is known as an "implementation intention." The key is deciding what we'll do in advance. I didn’t do that last night, but I did the second-best thing: I told myself I could get some ice cream if I still really wanted it after having some fruit.
This is what I call a micro-action.
Ask yourself, "What's the smallest possible action I can take right now?"
This is an effective way to get over a craving. It's also a very effective way to start feeling committed. Here are a few other ways micro-actions can be implemented:
- No desire to get going in the morning? Make your bed.
- No desire to eat breakfast? Drink a glass of water.
- No desire to do any work? Send a short work email.
- No desire to exercise? Walk for five minutes. Or even walk in place while watching TV.
- No desire to finish the day strong because you messed up your "perfect" eating? Focus on your next choice.
You get the point, right? These are all very doable, no matter how we feel. They’re not huge, daunting actions—and that’s why they’re so effective.
When I feel energized and focused, of course, it’s easier to eat well and exercise. When it feels easy... well, it’s easy! Of course, it doesn't always feel easy. Commitment starts when it doesn't feel easy. When we're not in the mood to do the right thing, that's when we need to focus on micro-actions.
The truth is: Our actions dictate our feelings. Too often, we let our feelings and mood dictate our actions instead. We feel tired, so we relax, which only perpetuates those lethargic feelings. We're in the mood to indulge, so we do—which just winds up making us feel bad.
Actions first: Then the feelings follow. Say to yourself, "I'm going to make a small, healthy choice and then see how I feel." You might not feel like making a healthy choice, but if you perform just one micro-action, you’ll be on your way to the attitude you want. Because once you do make that healthy choice, you wind up feeling good. And when you feel good, you feel committed.
Adam Gilbert is the founder of MyBodyTutor.com, an online program that solves the lack of consistency faced by chronic dieters. Sign up for his free mini course on weight loss, and follow Adam on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/2Dx25Mv
Tips For An Effective Weight Loss Program
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/2DweCQj
Know About Medical Education Conferences
from Health and Fitness Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/2DzdJuk
Tips On How to Lose Weight Fast
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/2DDRRxe
8 Simple Swaps to Make Comfort Food Healthier
We know how it goes. You vow to yourself on January 1 that you will make this year the best yet. No more sweets (at least not every night), no more booze (during the week), and no more skipping workouts (when it’s above 32 degrees). But the third week of January rolls around and you’re getting sick and tired of this life that’s supposed to be making you feel like a "new" person. Truth is, you’re already pretty great, so don’t feel like you need to deprive yourself of things that make you happy.
If you miss cozy comfort food meals in the winter, you should have cozy comfort food meals in the winter. And we aren't talking about ones that make you feel worse than the cold wind blowing on your face. You can easily incorporate healthy swaps that help to keep your favorite comfort foods (yes, even mac and cheese) in line with your healthy eating goals.
1. Mac and Cheese
Yes, you can indulge in mac and cheese without feeling like you just finished off the second plate of Thanksgiving dinner. Keep it cheesy but lighten things up slightly by using low-fat or nondairy (unsweetened) milk instead of whole milk or cream.
To make up for any lacking creaminess, add in puréed cauliflower. It adds a nice texture and “bulks up the dish without adding extra calories,” says Claudia Sidoti, head chef and recipe developer at HelloFresh. To make puréed cauliflower, chop the florets from a medium head, steam them, and then add to a blender or food processor and mix until smooth. Add in a 1/2 cup of the cauliflower to the cheese combo at a time until you think you've reached your desired consistency.
You can also save a cup of the pasta water after boiling the macaroni to add to the noodles with the sauce. Start by cutting back on the recommended milk and add a little pasta water to see how creamy it gets, and add more as needed. The pasta water allows you to use less milk or cream as you’re making the cheese sauce. Oh, and Sidoti promises you won’t notice the difference if you swap regular macaroni for whole-wheat or even chickpea pasta, like Banza (our favorite!) if you want to add a little more nutrients to the meal and go lighter on the white flour.
Want to experiment even more? Try this healthyish butternut squash macaroni that's going to change how you feel about the OG mac recipe (a.k.a. you might like this better).
2. Shepherd’s Pie
Who doesn’t love shepherd’s pie? OK, maybe a few people, especially when you have resolutions on the brain. But with a few small swaps you can make it part of a healthy dinner rotation.
For the filling, use ground turkey instead of the traditional lamb, and double your veggie intake by adding extra peas, celery, and carrots. You’ll be able to use less meat by using more veggies (bonus point: It’s also cheaper because you can save half of the turkey to make a turkey bolognese like this one from Inspiralized).
And that creamy mashed potato topping? Replace the potatoes with mashed cauliflower or parsnips, Langan suggests. Just steam the veg of choice and then purée it. Add any ghee, butter, or oils and seasonings to flavor it up to your liking. Your guests (or your partner/roommate/in-laws/Tinder date) will never know the difference.
3. Chili
Nothing screams comfort like a potful of steamy, homemade chili, but who says you need all of that meat to feel satisfied? For our vegetarian friends or anyone who has gone a little HAM on bacon lately and needs a break, substitute the meat completely with finely chopped mushrooms. “They have a similar meaty texture and add a nice hint of umami flavor to the chili,” Langan says.
Don’t be shy with the veggies when it comes to chili either. Add as many you’d like and definitely go off of the recipe if the usual pepper-celery-carrot combo sounds too boring. Think: sweet potatoes, zucchini, butternut squash, purple potatoes, and parsnips.
4. Quiche
Is there anything better than a quiche fresh out of the oven? Cookies, yes, but we’re talking about brunch here, and when you have cheesy goodness baked in a golden, flaky crust, it’s a party for the taste buds.
If you already ate a bagel and want to lighten up the egg-based meal (and spend less time pulling it together), Sidoti suggests skipping the crust altogether and instead “lightly sprinkling whole-wheat bread crumbs at the bottom of the pan” to give a crust-like base. If you’re looking to go even lighter, some might say to use low-fat milk and egg whites (although we say the whole egg is better).
Let’s simplify things: Just take your favorite quiche recipes and make a frittata instead. You can get the same pretty round mold of a quiche but you don’t have to worry about the crust at all (not even a sprinkling of bread crumbs).
If you’re worried you’re going to eat the entire pan in one sitting and ruin your plan to have leftovers, make these egg muffins that help with portion control, but even better, they can even be enjoyed on the run since they really are just like little muffins.
5. Lasagna
Gone are the days when you save lasagna for your biggest meal of the month. You can make it healthy without making it taste bland according to Chef Ahki, CEO of Delicious Indigenous Foods and author of Electric! A Modern Guide to Non-Hybrid and Wild Foods.
Instead of ground beef in between the noodles, Chef Ahki’s recipe uses 1 cup of sun-dried tomatoes and 1/2 cup of walnuts (after soaking them both for at least an hour) as a meat layer substitute. Then add oregano, dried sage, coconut aminos, cayenne pepper, and olive oil to give the vegan mixture the classic Italian taste.
Want to take it a step or two further? Use thinly sliced zucchini or butternut squash instead of starchy noodles and mix in puréed vegetables into the tomato sauce. Want to give it a go? Here's more healthy lasagna recipe inspo.
6. Banana Bread
A slice (or two) of banana bread is good for you, right? Well, it can be, but usually, the flour and sugar overpower the benefits of the bananas. Try to go for a Paleo version instead (even if you aren’t hardcore Paleo) that uses coconut oil, almond and coconut flours, and pure maple syrup as a sweetener.
Want to go big? Toss in some chia seeds to “give it that nutty flavor and texture,” Sidoti says. There are tons of Paleo-friendly bread recipes out there that can make you feel a tad bit better about your bread addiction (we all have it).
7. Potato Pancakes (Latkes)
Here’s a radical thought: What if potato pancakes consisted of carrots, parsnip, and zucchini? That’s right. Potato pancakes sans the potatoes. “Keep the onion for flavor,” Langan says, “but fry the pancakes using grape-seed oil." Do an even swap of a mixture of the veggies for the potatoes and you'll be good to go.
Sensitive to gluten? Make your own flour by tossing dried chickpeas in a food processor—grinding, sifting, grinding, and then sifting again until the chickpeas morph into a fine, powdery texture. If that sounds too complicated, just choose one of these potato pancake recipes the next time a latke craving hits hard.
8. Hot Cocoa
As far as we’re concerned, no one’s ever too old to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate. The only difference? We suggest using a dairy-free milk instead and whisking in “some rich, dark chocolate with at least 70 percent of cocoa,” says Julie Harrington, registered dietitian, chef, and food blogger at the RDelicious Kitchen.
And do yourself a favor and avoid instant mixes as those tend to be packed with artificial sweeteners and other crap that takes away from the au natural chocolate flavor. You can easily make your own with 1/2 cup cacao powder, 1 cup maple syrup, 1 tablespoon coconut butter, and 4 cups almond milk. Stir together in a small saucepan and you’ll never buy it from a cafe (or grocery store) again.
The Takeaway
You can have your comfort foods and eat them too. Whether you're on a health kick, trying a new diet for 2018, or just trying to say no to mac and cheese every Friday night, let these recipes remind you that you don't need to deprive yourself. Make small swaps that end up having a big impact on how you feel. Life is too short to eat lettuce for every meal, so live a little and give these lighter comfort food variations a go.
from Greatist RSS http://ift.tt/2n7aXSb
Weight Loss - Four Reasons Why Your Diet Is Not Working And How To Overcome Them
from Health and Fitness:Weight Loss Articles from EzineArticles.com http://ift.tt/2G284KH