Our mission is to advice, and to make the people of the world healthier through the power of information.
Why Sweaty Scalps Can Cause a Slew of Problems (and How to Fix 'Em)
Sometimes after an especially sweaty workout, my brain and body feel great, but my hair looks like it was dragged through a slice of pepperoni pizza. Then, in the cold winter months, when my dry scalp gets itchy and flaky, it gets a nice sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. Is this visual super gross? Or do you want pizza?
But seriously, washing my hair after a workout isn't always feasible (hello, 8 a.m. class right before work), and there's only so much I can reasonably expect dry shampoo to do. On a mission to get to the (literal) root of the problem, I decided to ask the experts for their advice on keeping my sweaty scalp happy.
What actually happens to my hair when I work out?
When you work out, you sweat (I know, I did a ton of research to come to that conclusion, huh?). But while sweat is a good thing for the body, Dendy Engelman, M.D., of Medical Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in Manhattan, says it can lead to less than awesome skin conditions, including scalp acne.
"Generally speaking, our bodies like to be balanced (we call it homeostasis). When we sweat, it's our body's way of regulating the changes that threw it off balance. Sweat isn't bad for the body; in fact, it's necessary! But sitting in sweaty hair traps bacteria against the scalp."
If that has you thinking you should wash your hair the second you finish your cool-down, hold tight: You may actually be washing your hair too much after working out, which can cause your scalp to swing from dry to greasy.
"Detergents and water weaken your outer hair layer's ability to function by reducing components of the natural oil in your skin," says Sandy Skotnicki, M.D., dermatologist and best-selling author of Beyond Soap. "This is why we use conditioner—to replace what detergents remove. I suggest dry shampoo between washing or using a detergent-free shampoo, called a co-wash."
OK, so wash less: check. What else for this itchy, flaky scalp?
Scalps are pretty easy to forget about because you can't see them, sort of like the hiatus my pedicures take in the winter (anyone in my yoga class can attest). But if your scalp is suffering from an endless cycle of sweat and shampoo, it'll be sure to let you know in the form of itchy, flaky skin on the top of your head—especially during the winter months.
"Your scalp contains many sebaceous glands that produce oil, or sebum, that protects hair. Problems occur when that sebum is lacking." Engleman says. "Dry months, when there's less moisture in the air, can strip hair and scalp of natural oils, resulting in skin that is sensitive and vulnerable. We need those natural oils to create a barrier, keeping bacteria and toxins out."
The good news is there are plenty of DIY options that can drastically improve the oil levels of your scalp (and thus your hair). Coconut oil, tea tree oil, thyme, and lavender are all expert-approved ingredients—and you may already have some of them in your kitchen. Marina Perkovic, a stylist at Eliut Salon, suggests the following DIY scalp concoctions, depending on your needs:
A Scrub for Exfoliation
Before you shampoo, grind steel-cut oatmeal into a fine powder, then add warm water and 5-6 drops of thyme essential oil. Massage the paste into your scalp and leave it on for minimum of 30 minutes.
An Oil for Hydration
Warm up olive, coconut, or jojoba oil, and add few drops of lavender or rosemary oil. Massage it into your scalp before sleep (with a towel on your pillowcase!) and wash it in the morning.
Perkovic adds that it's essential to rinse the masks thoroughly. "Any product left on the scalp will create a buildup, which is practically suffocation for the hair bulb."
For Those of Us Who Hate DIY
I'm right there with you—I once made Elmo cupcakes from Pinterest and they looked fully demonic. Luckily, our experts say there are a handful of products specifically designed to enhance scalp health. Skotnicki suggests avoiding hair products with fragrance, which are known to cause irritation, and passing on sulfate detergents in favor of glucoside detergents (like this one from Hugo Naturals), which are gentler on the scalp. "Less is more in total number of ingredients," she says. "Medical shampoos with tar or zinc can be helpful for dandruff, as can the antifungal Nizoral."
Engleman recommends the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Scalp Care Collection. "It features a botanical blend that contains clover flower extract, pea peptides, turmeric, kakadu plum, and ginseng to stimulate the scalp and protect against breakage," she says.
There are also moisturizers designed specifically for the scalp (who knew!) like LivSo moisturizing lotion, which was developed by Shari Hicks Graham, M.D. LivSo was designed for textured hair but also digs deep to moisturize scalp skin for all hair types.
And in case you need another excuse to hit up Target, celebrity hairstylist Kristin Ess has an incredible line of hair products that are available there. I'm now personally obsessed with Ess's stuff, some of which specifically targets the scalp (Micellar water shampoo, anyone?). The best part? They all clock in at less than $15. Shwing!
Moral of the Story
If your scalp ain't happy, your hair probably isn't either. "Scalp skin is some of the thickest on the body, and it carries more blood than the rest of your skin," Engelman says. "It carries nutrients to your hair follicles, which help support hair structure and growth, break down carbs and fats, moisturize the scalp, and distribute oxygen to the cells."
So if your workout schedule is wreaking havoc on your scalp, it might be worthwhile to cut back on the shampoo and give the area a little TLC. With the exception of hat head, wearing a cap can do wonders for your scalp —if you tend to dry out more during the winter, Engleman says wearing warm hats can help protect your noggin from the cold air. And if you're beach bound, keeping your scalp protected from sun damage will help keep it healthier year round.
It might take a little experimenting to find the remedy that works for you, but washing my hair less often did the trick for me. It turns out there are a bunch of hacks for post-workout sweat so my scalp can take a breather. Plus, I've freed up time after my workouts to do the things I love—you know, like eating pizza.
Grace Gallagher is a freelance writer living in Portland, Oregon. She's a lover of coffee, thrift store shopping, salt, poetry, watching cooking competitions on TV, and workouts that incorporate lying down. You can see more of her work at gracelgallagher.com.
from Greatist RSS http://bit.ly/2GgRDNe
I Worked From My Hospital Bed the Day I Gave Birth—and I Don't Regret It
When my son was born four weeks early, I accepted the need to text clients from my hospital bed while I was in labor. I accepted the frantic scramble to wrap up the product launches I had planned to finish before he arrived. I accepted the late-night feedings and the gallons of coffee it took to get through the day. What I refused to accept was the guilt other people tried to pin on me.
"You're only taking a month off?"
I had spent 19 years as a marketer in San Francisco, launching multimillion-dollar campaigns for the likes of Microsoft and Twitter. But four and a half years ago, I followed my heart and started a consulting business helping yoga and spiritual teachers launch online products and grow their revenue. It's my soul's work, but it is very demanding, so when I found out I was pregnant, I planned on taking just one month off after the birth.
When I told friends about my plans, I'd often hear responses like, "You're only taking a month off? You know you're never going to get these years back, right?" Even my husband asked if I was sure it was enough time. And that was before my son made his unexpected appearance a month early—and things ended up being so much more complicated than planned.
I know these people were just trying to express concern, but the underlying message was that I should feel guilty about focusing on my career as well as my son. Like every parent, I have moments of doubt. I sometimes wonder if I'm a good mom, but I don't regret giving so much to my business when my son was small. In fact, I don't think I'm putting my work before my family at all. Instead, I think I'm teaching my son one of the most important lessons in life:
The best way to fight regret is with self-knowledge.
Parents teach their children by modeling behavior. What I'm modeling for my son isn't all-out commitment to my business (though I do put my heart and soul into my work). Instead, it's an all-out commitment to choosing the kind of life I want, instead of just downloading my values from my family or society.
When it comes to taking time off after having a baby, many parents don't have a choice. But for those of us who are lucky enough to have options, one mom might take six months off. Another might take no time at all. A third family might decide it's best for dad to be the primary caregiver. The important thing isn't the details. It's that families make a choice that fits the needs and personalities of the people involved.
My choice was mine alone, and I would never push it on anyone—and to be honest, I wouldn't necessarily recommend texting from the delivery room if you can avoid it. I had some very time-sensitive product launches going on, and since my son came four weeks early—and very unexpectedly—my clients had no clue.
As luck would have it, I was able to have a natural birth: I started feeling contractions around four in the morning, randomly had a doctor's appointment scheduled for 7:45 anyway, and delivered just before 1 p.m. Since they weren't aware that any of this was happening, my clients were texting me, and given that it was a natural birth, when the team took him from me to go measure and do all the rest and I wasn't able to join for a little while, I felt fine… so I just started responded to my work messages.
What I do recommend is making a decision about how you want to handle being a parent from the get-go. Make this plan from a place of awareness about who you are and what you value. I've seen a therapist for years, I meditate regularly (a practice I would recommend to anyone), and my husband and I discussed the kind of parents we hoped to be in depth before we had our son. There are many ways to learn about yourself, but if you've done that work, hints from those around you that you should feel guilty simply don't have to stick.
These are my three best tips to help you avoid this guilt:
1. Do the pre-work/mental planning and really, truly consider what's important to you.
2. Develop the muscle of giving yourself permission to choose and create what you want.
3. Have a daily practice (whether it's taking a walk, meditating, or practicing yoga) to help you stay clear and continue making active choices.
The more you live with awareness and the more you choose to be conscious of what you want, the more you can create your own world. And you can give yourself permission to be right with it—no matter what other people may think or say.
And this isn't just a lesson for parents.
I learned this lesson from having to my son, and I hope to pass it on to him, but you don't have to be a parent to face moments of intense self-questioning. There are many crossroads where others will try to tell you they know what you need better than you do. Starting your own business, getting a big promotion, or changing careers are all milestones that force you to figure out how to navigate a new paradigm.
These are defining moments, but they are also the choices you're most likely to doubt. If you face these life shifts from a place of awareness, and if you take the time to really know what you want, then there will be no room for regret. No matter what anyone says or implies, you won't look back and say, "Why did I do that? That was just because my parents or society was pushing me that way!" And that is real freedom.
Destinee Berman has been called the strategist and "secret visionary" behind today's most widely recognized online schools in the yoga and mindfulness space. She helps holistic practitioners scale their impact for good, helping them grow their business in a way that is authentic, genuine, and helps them serve even more people. Learn more at destineeberman.com.
from Greatist RSS http://bit.ly/2SfTDfe
The Hurricane Method Book Review By Lindsay Lake
from Health and Fitness Articles from EzineArticles.com http://bit.ly/2UovSyM
Celery Juice: Miracle Drink or Overhyped Fad?
With hashtags like #healing, #miracle, and #foodasmedicine, you might think the latest trend taking over Instagram involves the fountain of youth or the cure for cancer. But these glowing descriptors refer to none other than the juice of your ordinary lunchbox veggie: celery.
Wait, celery? Like, ants-on-a-log, bits-in-your-tuna-salad celery? Even as a licensed nutritionist, I’ve never been too impressed with the nutrient profile of this humble vegetable. To me, celery has always seemed like a low-calorie choice for a light afternoon snack or for adding extra crunch to soups, not much more. But could I be wrong? And could juicing be the key to unlocking celery’s untold health benefits?
The Health Claims
The health claims surrounding celery juice are, admittedly, pretty bold. According to Medical Medium Anthony William, Instagram’s most famous celery juice evangelist, drinking the stuff can heal eczema, psoriasis, and acne. It also theoretically reduces bloating, fights autoimmune disease, tackles acid reflux, and eradicates bacteria and viruses. Other proponents have declared it contains “detoxifying properties that cleanse the body of all germs and toxins.” (Mmkay, we may have to draw the line there.)
Still, dramatic personal testimonies are hard to argue with. Side-by-side before-and-after photos show a woman with severe acne, now radiant with post-celery juice clear skin. Various bloggers attest that celery juice on an empty stomach first thing in the morning has led to weight loss, improved digestion, and even “a feeling of zen bliss.” How do you account for that?
The Experts Weigh In
While Medical Medium Anthony William may have 1.4 million Instagram followers, he does not actually possess any medical or nutrition degrees. So, to get the bottom of what’s legit and what’s not, I dug into the science and spoke to some credentialed nutrition professionals to see what they have to say about celery juice. (And oh, boy, do they have a lot to say about it.)
First of all, what’s so great about celery? Is there anything inherent in this unassuming veggie that makes it more nutritious than, say, cucumbers or carrots? Probably not. Celery does contain large amounts of vitamin K, which keeps blood clotting normally and may reduce bone loss. And it boasts smaller amounts of important nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin A, and folate—all in an extremely low-calorie package of 16 calories per cup. But all vegetables contain vitamins and minerals, and compared with many others, celery is low in fiber and other nutrients you might hope to get in a vegetable, like magnesium or calcium.
Even so, any veggie is a good veggie. “Celery, like many vegetables, is a rich source of flavonoids,” says registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, CDE, author of 2-Day Diabetes Diet. “These flavonoids have been found to help fight against chronic disease and may ward off inflammation.” A 2017 review of nine studies concluded that celery also had high antioxidant activity. “These antioxidants can prevent cell damage and protect against chronic disease,” says clinical nutritionist Josh Axe, DC, DNM.
Do we really need to juice it, though?
If celery is a healthy choice, why go to the trouble of juicing it? Wouldn’t we do just as well crunching some with a side of ranch? “Eating celery will provide you with the same phytochemicals and flavonoids that are found in celery juice,” confirms Palinski-Wade. “The benefit [of juicing] is that you can consume these nutrients in larger quantities by juicing as compared to eating large quantities of celery each day, which may not always be practical.”
But some see major drawbacks to the juicing phenomenon. “Juicing anything generally removes or significantly breaks down fibers in the food product, which is not ideal,” says Monica Auslander Moreno, MS, RDN. “Those fibers help us feel full, and the act of chewing is satiating in itself.” Plus, if it’s vitamins A or K you’re after from celery, these nutrients are both fat-soluble, meaning that eating them with fat helps your body absorb them. So that side of ranch may be the better way to go, after all.
Other Drawbacks
On the whole, many credentialed health pros view celery juice with far more skepticism than enthusiasm. According to Moreno, jumping on the juice bandwagon “is just profoundly misguided and will not confer any more ‘benefits’ than eating celery would confer. There is no clinical or anecdotal evidence that is convincing enough for me to recommend or personally drink celery juice.” Some have gone a step further in their criticism of the trend. Registered dietitian and frequent media commentator Abby Langer, RD, called out the Medical Medium on Twitter for promoting “classic charlatan BS” and has dismissed celery juicing as “pure idiocy.”
Even Dr. Axe, known for his more alternative approach to healing through diet, doesn’t think the craze lives up to its hype. “Many people mistakenly believe that consuming a few servings of celery juice—or any other ‘superfood’—can be a quick fix for better health. However, celery juice alone is unlikely to have much of an impact on health, especially if it’s paired with a poor diet and lack of physical activity,” he says.
But what if you really love the stuff?
For those who feel their lives have been transformed by celery juice, the opinions of experts may not hold a candle to personal experience. It’s true that everybody is different, and science can’t account for every individual response to food. So, if you feel celery juice gives you more energy, reduces bloating, or clears up your acne, rock on with your green self. Just note that there’s power in the placebo effect, which may account for your results more than any miraculous properties of celery. “The placebo effect is strong enough to cure or kill,” Moreno says—and when it comes to the “cure,” that’s not a bad thing.
Plus, though celery juice may not be the miracle elixir its proponents believe, is there really anything wrong with drinking it? Couldn’t you make a lot worse choices in your diet? “There are no harmful side effects to drinking celery juice, and it may provide some health benefits,” Palinski-Wade says. “If you are drinking celery juice and enjoying it, there’s no reason to stop.” Moreno agrees. “If someone adores their celery juice like I adore my daily yogurt, I would say go for it! We should all eat foods we love and look forward to.”
Then again, if you’re thinking of planting a celery garden and dropping a wad of cash on a juicer that's going to take up all of your kitchen storage, you may want to think again. For good health, most dietitians emphasize eating a diet full of fruits and vegetables—not just celery and definitely not just juiced. It may sound boring, but the road to better health is often rooted more in these common-sense principles and less in social media trends.
from Greatist RSS http://bit.ly/2G1OUrM
6 "Healthy" Instagram Food Trends That Don't Always Live Up to the Hype
Instagram is home to some serious clean-eating food porn. Scrolling through your feed can make you want to run out and drop some cash on a matcha latte or an acai bowl, but is it really worth getting sucked into the pretty colors and the gorgeous photography?
Time to drop some knowledge—not everything you see on Instagram is as it seems (shocking!), and following so-called “clean eating” feeds is not always the way to get killer abs and endless energy. This time of year, when diets run rampant and everyone is ready to jump on the “healthy eating” bandwagon, arm yourself with the knowledge of which social media trends are worth skipping.
Green Juice
We’ve all seen the girl holding a green juice and showing off her killer abs. You immediately start to wonder if you should be setting aside $10-plus per day for a fancy juice. Don’t waste your money. “You don’t have to buy your juice at an expensive juice bar for it to be good for you,” says Amy Gorin, MS, RDN.
If you’re looking for a beverage with benefits, opt for something that has protein and fiber that won’t spike your blood sugar, like a good old-fashioned smoothie. You may be thinking, But a smoothie doesn’t have 10 different kinds of fruit and veggies in it. We hear that, but why not add those veggies to your plate rather than try to sip them through a straw? You’ll get the beneficial fiber that's otherwise broken down during the juicing process.
Here's a simple formula I recommend for smoothies to get plenty of protein and healthy fats in your filling drink—1 1/2 cups frozen fruit + 1 tablespoon healthy fats (like hemp or flax seeds) + 1 cup protein (can be from milk, yogurt, or protein powder). Gorin also suggests using 100-percent fruit juice in the smoothie, instead of a sweetener like honey or maple syrup. We also like adding one date for a hint of sweetness. Need some more smoothie inspo? We got you with these five-ingredient beauts.
Fat Bombs
With more than 9 million posts on Instagram, #keto doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. But are “fat bombs” and a healthy keto diet synonymous? “I cringe every time I see a recipe touted as a fat bomb because it’s generally super high in calories and devoid of the beneficial antioxidants and phytochemicals needed from fruits, veggies, and high-quality carbs,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RD, author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club.
In other words, there’s a healthy way to “fat bomb” and a not-so-healthy way. Even though butter, cream, bacon, and loads of cheese are technically “allowed” on the keto diet, that doesn’t mean you should load up your cart with all the bacon cheeseburger essentials every time (sans the bun, of course). Instead, try a “fat bomb” that embraces healthy fat ingredients, like nut butter, almond flour, olive oil, and avocado. Here are some fat bombs we can get down with.
Fancy Infused Water
Remember the days when you just had to choose between still and sparkling? Now the water options include cactus, aloe, maple, and who knows what will pop up next. Toby Amidor, MS, RD, and Wall Street Journal best-selling cookbook author, says to ignore the hype over these amped-up waters. “Aloe water claims to energize, while maple water says it helps with thyroid and bone health, but there is very little research to back up any of the claims,” she says.
In other words, don't waste your money. If you like the taste, go for it, but it's not a magical elixir to undo a bad night’s rest or a crappy diet. The best thing to chug is still good old plain water. “It’s the best calorie-free option to help you stay hydrated,” Amidor says. If your taste buds need a little pick-me-up, opt for a sugar-free flavored seltzer. After all, #lacroixwater is definitely trending.
Tea-Toxes
You’ve likely seen the girl with the flat stomach boasting about how “skinny teas” offer amazing weight-loss results! Don’t fall for the hype. These diet teas usually include an herb called senna, which is also used as an over-the-counter laxative. The National Institute of Health says senna is likely safe when taken in the short term but unsafe when used for long periods of time. Using a laxative-type supplement to lose weight can not only cause diarrhea and dehydration, but it may also promote disordered eating.
Instead, cozy up with a mug of green tea, herbal tea, or black tea. Heck, even kombucha is worth throwing in there. As a matter of fact, research suggests that drinking green tea in combination with eating a healthy diet can aid in weight loss without any nasty side effects. Plus, a meta-analysis found that drinking black tea may lower bad cholesterol levels in healthy adults. Doesn’t that sound better than drinking a laxative?
Matcha Lattes
Latte art makes us stop and double tap every.damn.time. There’s nothing prettier than a gorgeous handmade heart in a cup of green matcha tea, but buyer, beware. Matcha lattes taste amazing, but some coffee shops create that memorable taste using hidden sugary ingredients, like flavored milk or syrups. On its own, matcha is an antioxidant-rich green tea with an earthy taste. It picked up steam as a health beverage because it contains a compound called ECGC, which may help break down fat.
Let’s just say that pure matcha tea is an acquired taste, and it’s not naturally sweet. Next time you order a matcha latte for the 'gram, chat with your barista about what’s in it. Opt for just milk or unsweetened almond milk and see if you still enjoy the drink.
Acai Bowls
The base of these good-looking bowls is that royal purple superfood, the acai berry. Packed with antioxidants that have been linked to reducing the risk of several diseases, the acai berry on its own is definitely as good for you as you think, but it’s also quite sour and tangy. In other words, the thing that makes acai bowls taste so great is not the acai, it’s the add-ins and toppings. First, the acai is usually blended with some sort of sweetener to make it taste good. Then it’s covered in sugary additives, like honey, granola, or sweetened coconut flakes. In other words, acai bowls can be a real calorie and added-sugar bomb.
You don’t need to avoid them entirely, but just make sure you check the ingredients before going all-in. Start by making your own lighter version at home. Trader Joe’s actually sells pure blended frozen acai, which you can mix with unsweetened almond milk, some leafy greens, and a drop of honey. Top it off with your favorite fruits, a dab of nut butter, and seeds like hemp and chia for that much-needed crunch.
Appetite-Suppressant Lollipops
We think you’re smart enough to know these are total BS, but with celebs like the Kardashians promoting them, it’s worth saying again. Hey, guys, don't expect a lolli to make you skinny! And on top of that, do not fall for crazy products that are meant to suppress your appetite. Having a hunger for food is natural. Go ahead and eat a regular lollipop when you want something sweet, and oh, I don’t know, exercise and eat well too.
The Takeaway
If Instagram can help motivate you to make healthier choices, that's a win. But just do some digging to make sure what you're ordering at the juice bar or coffee shop is actually doing you some good and not wrecking your eat-less-sugar goals. We leave you with this: A matcha latte at Starbucks can pack more than 30 grams of sugar. No wonder it tastes so damn good.
from Greatist RSS http://bit.ly/2FYJHkq
Ask Yourself These 2 Questions Every Morning to Have Game-Changing Days
Some people journal every morning, while others meditate or work out. Personally, I begin every day by asking myself these two questions—a practice that has made me feel way more positive, focused, and supported.
As soon as I wake up, I ask, "What do I value the most today?"
Thinking this way helps direct me toward my biggest priority for the day ahead. Maybe it's a work project, time with loved ones, or just rest, but every day, I choose what I want to put first.
I didn't always do this—so often, it's tempting to focus on what we don't desire throughout our day. We might think, I really don't want to have a headache right now, or I don't want to be running late. But when we find ourselves getting stuck on what we don't want, that can become an opportunity for us to decide what's truly important. If you catch yourself thinking of all the things you don't want to happen, ask yourself what type of values are important instead. What do you want to focus on today? Maybe connection, love, kindness, or contribution?
The second question: "How do I want to feel for the day?"
The feeling I choose is usually closely linked to what I want to value. If I decide to value work, I may choose to feel productive and creative. If I want to value my time with loved ones, I'll want to feel generous and present.
This process is all about shifting our focus to what we can really do to prioritize our values and generate the feeling we do want, as opposed to what we don't want. If you decide you want to feel healthy, vibrant, awake, free, effective, on time—and you keep your focus on those feelings—you'll begin to shift your perspective.
I have honestly set an intention and turned my day around: I had a bad virus, and it really took me out of my daily routine. In the morning, I felt really sick and had to stay in bed. I could feel the guilt of not being able to keep up with my work start to creep up. But I was able to remind myself what my intention and my values were—and what I wanted to feel. I decided to value my health, and I wanted to feel rejuvenation.
What I noticed was that the more I gave myself permission to rest and recover, the more the anxiety around not getting things done went away. I learned how to take naps during the day and how to put my phone in my nightstand drawer so I wouldn't be constantly checking it. It became easier for me to do those things—guilt-free—when I knew my focus for the day was my health. I was able to take care of myself and heal.
When I can set the tone of my day, it trickles into everything I do.
I've seen this with my clients too. I was working with a woman who was really struggling to feel supported in her day-to-day. It was so easy for her to think of all the ways she wasn't getting the support she craved in her business, her relationships, and her life. I wanted to shift her values to what she desired, so I asked her to make a list of all the ways she had felt supported in the last week, the last month, and the last year.
When she was able to remember what it felt like to receive support in the past, it was easier for her to focus on getting support in the present. And if something came up where she still didn't feel supported, then her action was to state what she needed to get her needs met, even if it was something as simple as telling a barista, "I actually ordered a hot drink, not an iced one—can you please fix it?" That simple shift in deciding she wanted to feel supported led to a helpful, proactive approach for living life (even in the smallest moments).
When we shift our perspective to what we desire and what we value, we begin to see those opportunities pop up in our day-to-day lives. By applying these simple strategies to my morning routine, I've even begun to see the world a little bit differently—and it's definitely decreased my overall stress too. What would happen if you did the same?
Andee Love is a spiritual success coach who helps individuals and entrepreneurs spark business growth and overcome blocks to success. Start now with her free Success Formula.
from Greatist RSS http://bit.ly/2MEfdVp
A List of the Gross Things Making Their Way Into Your Tea
I thought I was in the minority, but, turns out, my love for tea isn't so unique: Tea just so happens to be the most popular beverage in the world besides water. Yes, it even beats coffee. I love tea for the variety of flavors, but it doesn't hurt that it has some serious health benefits too. Some studies have shown that the antioxidants found in the tea leaf can help prevent cancer, improve metabolic and cardiovascular function, and could even slow the progression of degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s). With that info in my back pocket, I was confident that my sipping would have me soaring.
So when I first heard that tea bags can sneak in some pretty gnarly ingredients, I was shocked. No way. Not possible. I decided to do some digging and look into just how problematic my go-to afternoon pick-me-up could be. Isn't it just tossing a tea bag into hot water? If you regularly enjoy a cozy afternoon cuppa tea, you'll want to be aware of these super-sh*tty ingredients that might be lurking in your mug.
Pesticides
OK, so we obviously aren’t sharing anything new by telling you that exposure to pesticides probably isn’t great for your health. But if tea isn’t something you would normally associate with the dangers of agricultural chemicals, think again.
Multiple studies have been conducted in the past few years, and each one concluded that, yes, pesticides exist in a ton of teas: A study in 2012 found pesticides in 100 percent of the teas tested; a follow-up study in 2014 discovered pesticides in 94 percent of samples. What’s worse, many of the brands contained quantities considered unsafe for regular consumption. The FDA’s 2014 Pesticide Report found unacceptable levels of pesticides in 57 percent of the retail teas tested.
Not what you expected in your cup, right? Here's the thing: Occasional pesticide exposure isn’t likely to cause any devastating health problems. The challenge here is that long-term consequences of pesticide consumption aren't definitive, but a study like this is proof that it can't be good. If you’re someone who drinks tea on a regular basis, this is definitely something to be wary of.
Heavy Metals
One nutritional tidbit you might not have known is that drinking tea can contribute to your daily dose of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc. But these aren’t the only minerals in your brew.
A study published in the Journal of Toxicology tested for toxic elements in a variety of common tea brands, and the findings are pretty unsettling. Seventy-three percent of brewed teas contained lead when steeped for the standard time of 3-4 minutes, and the quantity was even higher when steeped for longer. Umm, lead in my tea? Thank you, next. They also found potentially unsafe levels of aluminum, cadmium, and, oh yeah, arsenic. Feeling queasy yet?
I bet you’re wondering, how the heck does lead get into a tea bag? Companies would never add these toxins to products on purpose (or at least, we’d like to think they wouldn’t); it really all depends on where the tea was grown. Heavy metals inevitably accumulate in the soil on tea plantations due to the close proximity to coal-fired power plants, industrial waste runoff, and pesticide use.
One upside is that young tea leaves contained lower levels of heavy metals compared to mature tea leaves because their roots had less time to absorb the toxic elements in the soil. The only problem is young leaves are typically more expensive, and most large tea companies rely on mature leaves for their product.
Plastic
If you think the leaves themselves are the only problem in your teacup, you’d be wrong. You know those fancy-looking tea bags shaped like little silk pyramids? You probably thought those were made out of some type of cloth… nope. They’re typically made of plastic: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polypropylene, to be exact. Again, not the first thing you’d instinctively steep in a cup of boiling water before drinking it.
While there aren't a ton of studies spelling this out for us, I'm going to make an educated guess here and bet that plastic tea bags are iffy because there's a good chance they’re leaching BPA and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals into your beverage, and why many reusable water bottles and plastic food storage containers are now BPA-free. Bisphenol A (BPA) has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and serious problems with reproductive development. Then there’s the whole laundry list of estrogen-mimicking chemicals that can mess up your entire reproductive system and even increase your risk of getting cancer.
If you apply this information to tea, it’s likely that those chemicals are leaching out of your plastic tea bag and into your cup, just like they’d leach out into a single-use plastic water bottle. The history of tea drinking is estimated to be nearly 3,000 years old, but it wasn’t until after World War II that people began using tea bags in the infusion process. And it’s too bad they started because tea tastes way better when you use loose-leaf, plus you can get an adorable little infuser like this guy.
Artificial Flavoring
One of the sneakiest things tea companies can do is trick you into thinking you’re drinking something you’re not. Generally speaking, if you’re drinking something with a name like Raspberry Pizzaz or Tropical Sunset, odds are there are not actual raspberries or mangos in that tea bag.
This is because food scientists and flavor engineers are masters at manipulating synthetic chemicals to create flavors that mimic those of real foods. Oh, and don’t get me started on all the FDA loopholes companies can use to label something natural instead of artificial. It’s essentially code for all kinds of chemicals that don’t have to be explicitly listed—so read your labels and always buy organic when possible.
Tell me something positive, please.
We have some good news too. A lot of progress has been made regarding many of the issues we just discussed. In 2017, China promised to implement stricter regulations on pesticide usage, and many major tea companies have switched to plastic-free tea bags and more biodegradable options.
And you can now get your tea locally grown. Yes, that's correct: U.S.-grown tea is becoming a thing. What was once a crop almost exclusively grown in China and India is now being cultivated in our own backyards. Tea can only thrive in very specific climatic conditions, but there are some regions in the United States that allow relatively large farms to flourish, especially in tropical Hawaii, California, and some parts of the Southeast.
Where do we go from here?
OK, so we know that was a lot to take in. We can see you pushing that mug away—but you don't have to. We’re not trying to freak you out, just laying out all the facts so you can make more informed choices and look into your favorite brands to make sure they're making all the right calls. Because let's be serious, tea can be super good for you. It’s just a matter of figuring out what to watch out for and knowing where to buy the high-quality stuff.
The best way to avoid potentially harmful ingredients is by buying organic, ideally loose-leaf tea. Organic tea leaves aren’t sprayed with pesticides the way their non-organic counterparts are, making them a much healthier choice. Loose-leaf tea is frequently higher quality (which usually means younger leaves and less heavy metals), and you can buy compostable tea filters or stainless steel tea infusers that are just as convenient as the pre-bagged alternative.
Don’t worry, though, we’re not going to leave the task of finding healthy high-quality tea entirely up to you. We’ve done some digging to determine a few of the best tea brands that you can feel confident drinking. Numi Tea, Traditional Medicinals (specifically herbal but still a great choice), Mighty Leaf Tea, Mountain Rose Herbs, Vahdam Teas, and the Little Red Cup Tea Co. are all great options. And let's not forget about local tea shops, where you can talk to people who really know their stuff to get all the details.
from Greatist RSS http://bit.ly/2MEmq7L