A New Way to Thwart Disease-Spreading Mosquitoes
http://ift.tt/2rPzHnj Found in swamps and bogs along the east coast of North America, they are commonly called pitcher plant mosquitoes, because they live in the water of pitcher plants until adulthood. Health via WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/ January 29, 2018 at 12:56PM
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Who Really Needs to Go Gluten-Free
http://ift.tt/2GsgMlW Consumer Reports also found that some gluten-free foods have more fat, sugar and/or salt than their regular counterparts, and are short on nutrients like iron and folic acid -- found in foods with enriched-wheat flour. Health via WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/ January 29, 2018 at 12:56PM
Fainting Rarely Tied to Blood Clot, Study Finds
http://ift.tt/2Gp3FBP By Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, Jan. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- A fainting spell is rarely caused by a blood clot in the lungs, and usually doesn't warrant extensive testing, new research suggests. A study of more than 1.6 million adults treated in the emergency department after fainting -- medically known as a "syncope" -- found less than 1 percent had a blockage in an artery leading to the lungs, or pulmonary embolism. The implication is that when patients seek care in an ER following a fainting episode, they do not need hospital admission or unnecessary invasive testing, said study lead author Dr. Giorgio Costantino. Simple observation and heart monitoring is usually all that's called for, said Costantino, a cardiology researcher in Italy. "We think that it is very important to do the right tests for the patients that need them," he said. "But performing diagnostic tests can also be dangerous, and cause more harms than benefits." Only when fainting can be linked to palpitations (rapid or irregular heartbeat), shortness of breath, chest pain or other major disorders is more aggressive medical attention warranted, added Costantino, of the Ospedale Maggiore in Milan. However, one U.S. expert voiced more caution. Dr. Gregg Fonarow noted the new study also found that among certain groups of patients, blood clot risk was as high as one out of every 25. That "could not be accurately described as rare," said Fonarow, director of the University of California, Los Angeles Cardiomyopathy Center. While Fonarow agreed that fainting often has "entirely benign" causes, he said some cases are "life-threatening." He therefore stressed the continuing "critical" need to consider blood clots as a possible cause when diagnosing fainting patients. Fonarow played no role in the study. Pulmonary blood clots have long been recognized as one cause of fainting, but research on its prevalence has been scanty, the study authors said. By definition, fainting occurs when patients experience a temporary loss of consciousness "caused by a global brain reduction in blood flow," said Costantino. Fainting is common, with one in every four people fainting at least once in their lifetime, according to background research with the study. ContinuedCostantino said young people are particularly prone to a type of fainting known as "reflex syncope." This can be brought on by a drop in blood pressure or heart rate in reaction to pain or particularly stressful emotions. Still, fainting is not usually a cause for undue alarm, he said. When someone faints, have the person lie down, try to take a pulse, and raise the legs, "since most faintings are due to hypotension (low blood pressure)," Costantino said. However, he agreed with Fonarow that some fainting spells have a more serious cause. These can include a heart rhythm abnormality, a rupture of the aorta blood vessel or a blood clot, he said. To determine the prevalence of lung blood clots among fainting patients, Costantino and his associates pored over 2000-2016 data from hospital emergency rooms. The hospitals were in four countries: Canada, Denmark, Italy, and the United States. In the end, pulmonary blood clots were found to have occurred in up to 0.55 percent of all patients seen by ER staff after fainting. Among hospitalized patients, between 0.15 percent and 2.10 percent had blood clots that traveled to their lungs. The findings were published online Jan. 29 in JAMA Internal Medicine. Health via WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/ January 29, 2018 at 12:49PM
Here’s How to Finally Quit Smoking For Good, According to an Expert
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Smoking is one of those things that, by now, everyone knows is terrible for you. It's also one of those things that you may have gotten addicted to before you knew any better. And if you're like a lot of smokers, you might feel like it's nearly impossible to quit, despite knowing all the reasons why you shouldn't do it. I know from experience, because I witnessed the struggle my parents had firsthand. My mom and dad smoked cigarettes for over 30 years, throughout most of my life. They tried again and again to quit, but for one reason or another, they failed, time and again. But then, when they each hit the age of 49, something stuck, and they finally kicked their addictions. That was in 2011 for my mom and 2010 for my dad. If you're struggling with addiction to smoking tobacco products, we're here to tell you that you can quit, too. Certified nurse practitioner and tobacco treatment specialist Gretchen Whitby shared with us a ton of facts, tips, and tricks to help you make 2018 the year that you finally kick that unhealthy habit for good. People who want to quit smoking need to make it a lifestyle change, Whitby says. She's been with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center's Lung Center for five years. "It's kind of similar to someone who is trying to lose weight," she says. "If they take a diet pill and they lose weight but they go back to eating the same way they did, they gain that weight back. So with smoking, they want to make it a lifestyle change, so it lasts." Before we dive in to how best to approach the problem, let's take a look at how the journey will affect your body, from the start of the battle all the way through to once you've won the war. Here's What Happens to Your Body When you Quit SmokingFirst things first: depending on how long and to what extent you've been using tobacco products, you're going to experience some symptoms of withdrawal. Whitby says the most common of these might include dry mouth, cough, nasal drip, headache, dizziness, sleepiness, and inability to concentrate. These are no doubt uncomfortable things to have to deal with, but they pale in comparison to the known risks of smoking, like increased risk for developing cancer and emphysema. But instead of thinking about why you shouldn't smoke, it might be more motivational to think about all of the good things that happen to your body when you stop. Almost immediately, like within 20 minutes of your last puff of a cigarette, your heart rate and blood pressure drop, Whitby says. Within 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood returns to normal. And within three months of quitting, your blood circulation and lung function begin to improve. At nine months smoke-free, you'll notice you cough less and breathe easier. And once you hit the one-year mark, your risk of heart disease from all that smoking is cut in half. Thinking more long-term, Whitby says that five years after quitting smoking, your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder are cut in half, and your risk of cervical cancer and stroke return to normal. After 10 years from your quit date, you are half as likely to die from lung cancer, and your risk of larynx and pancreatic cancer decreases. And finally, at 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease will be the same as that of a nonsmoker.
All of the above information is based on someone who is considered high risk for lung cancer. Whitby explains that means these numbers apply to a person who has a history of smoking an average of a pack of cigarettes a day for the past 30 years. This is referred to as a 30-pack-year history of smoking. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to have smoked for 30 years to qualify. Someone who smoked two packs a day for 15 years, or three packs a day for 10 years, would also be in the same boat. But even if you've been smoking fewer cigarettes for a lot less time, Whitby says you'll still experience all of the immediate improvements in health mentioned above, once you quit. "And people who smoke usually get sick more often, and it takes them longer to get over an illness," she says. So a stronger immune system and shorter recovery times when you do get sick are another perk of dropping the habit, whether you've been smoking for 12 months or 10 years. But to get these benefits, you have to get through day one, which Whitby says is a three-part challenge. "In addition to physical or chemical addition, people may also smoke because they have emotional addiction or behavioral addiction," she says. "For the physical, with the help of medication, we start off with more, then we wean them down. For the emotional, we help them try to focus on finding new coping mechanisms to control their stress. And then for the behavioral or habit, we try to help people come up with a plan to develop new habits [that don't include smoking]." Whitby explains each for us, in more detail, ahead. Chemical/Physical AddictionIt's well-settled that nicotine, found in tobacco, is a highly addictive substance. That's why people experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop smoking. "One of the key things to helping somebody quit is to help them get the nicotine out of their system without major withdrawal symptoms, and that's what the medications do," Whitby says. This approach is called Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), if the option chosen actually includes a dose of nicotine. There are over-the-counter (OTC) methods, as well as prescription methods, to help smokers wean themselves off of the chemicals they've been putting into their bodies, based on their respective tolerances for the discomfort associated with symptoms of withdrawal. OTC methods like nicotine gum and lozenges, and prescription methods like inhalers and nasal sprays, can be used as needed, when a craving for nicotine is particularly strong. There are also maintenance-based options, which are taken daily to manage ongoing cravings. Nicotine patches, which are worn all day, every day, and are part of NRT, are available OTC. Daily pills are also an option with a prescription from a doctor. These include Bupropion, which does not contain nicotine and is intended to block cravings and minimize withdrawal symptoms. This drug is also known by brands names Wellbutrin or Zyban. Varenicline, also known as Chantix, is another available pill option. This drug interferes with nicotine receptors in the brain to both lessen the effects nicotine has on you and reduce the symptoms of withdrawal. These pills can be taken in combination with NRT, according to the American Cancer Society. "OTC and prescription methods kind of cool your brain off while you're making a lifestyle change," Whitby says. All of these medications may also have side effects of their own, so make sure you talk with a doctor before deciding whether one may be right for you. But if you feel you could benefit from their use, they are intended to help get you through the initial stages of nicotine withdrawal while you figure out new coping mechanisms and new habits that don't include smoking. Emotional AddictionThe emotional addiction aspect of smoking tobacco products is often linked to stress control, Whitby says. This type of addiction comes with its own set of potential symptoms, like depression, sadness or grief, a sense of loss, frustration, impatience, anger, anxiety, irritability, trouble concentrating, restlessness, or boredom. That's why it's crucial to have alternate coping mechanisms in mind when a trigger like one of these emotions presents itself to someone who is trying to quit smoking. Whitby recommends mindfulness and relaxation techniques to get over this hump if emotional addiction is something that has fueled your nicotine use. "It's kind of life a wave," Whitby says. "Some waves are taller and stronger. Some waves are smaller and not strong. So certain triggers are stronger, and you need something to take your mind off it." Mindfulness is a form of meditation focused on living the moment, according to the Mayo Clinic. This goal is to become intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling in one particular instant without interpretation or judgment. Psychology Today outlines several mindfulness activities that take less than one minute to carry out. These include practices like paying attention to the feeling of air on your exposed skin for 10 to 60 seconds, or noticing in great detail what one breath feels like, from the sensations in your nostrils, your shoulders, and your rib cage, to how your belly expands, and so on.
Guided imagery has been an integral part of Whitby's practice, she says. "I recommend this to my patients, to help them think about things that are pleasurable and relax them," she says. Ohio State has a resource she recommends for this specific coping mechanism, available on its website. There are also groups like Nicotine Anonymous (NicA), which hold regular in-person meetings and apply the 12-step method used by Alcoholics Anonymous to quitting smoking. If you'd rather get your emotional support over the phone, the American Cancer Society says that all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer some type of free, phone-based program that links people who want to quit smoking with trained counselors. "People who use telephone counseling have twice the success rate in quitting smoking as those who don't get this type of help," the site says. And research has also shown that telephone counseling is helpful for people who are trying to quit smokeless tobacco. Behavioral AddictionThe third aspect of addiction to smoking is behavioral, Whitby says. This means that people who are addicted to smoking, in part, because they're used to doing it while they take certain actions that naturally occur throughout their day. They're used to stepping outside to have a cigarette on their break at work, smoking while they drive, or lifting their hand to their face and actually putting something inside their mouth. "If you've been smoking for 30 years, you develop huge habits that you have to work on," Whitby says. For my mom, she had to replace the habit of having something in her mouth all the time. She opted to keep hard candies and mints on hand, like Lifesavers and Atomic Fireballs, so she could replicate that motion, and "keep her mouth busy." Whitby says for this particular element of the issue, she likes to provide her patients with a three-column handout. In the first column, you write down every time you have a cigarette. In the second, you write down what you're doing while you smoke that cigarette, which may be triggers for you nicotine use. In the third, you write down ways you think you might be able to change that routine or do something different. Identifying these triggers and having a plan in place to overcome cravings associated with them will help you in the future the next time that situation arises, Whitby says. Another option my mom tried to beat her behavioral addiction was vaping with nicotine-free solutions. "It helped at first because I could see what looked like smoke," she says. But she moved past that quickly once she no longer felt she needed that visual cue.
A Few Words About VapingThere seems to be a trend for people who want to quit smoking to try vaping, Whitby says. But she cautions against this approach, whether you're using it as a physical or behavioral addiction aid. Vaping, generally, is what it's called when a person uses an Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) device to put nicotine into his or her body. These devices may or may not look like a cigarette and consist of a battery on one end, a vaporizer in the middle, and a cartridge on the other end. Using an ENDS device is called "vaping" because of the aerosol cloud that's given off when it's used. Vaping devices are heat-activated, so when a person sucks air through the cartridge, the device heats up and turns the liquid in that cartridge into a fine spray that can then inhaled by the user. "Vaping is not FDA approved," Whitby says. According to a fact sheet distributed by the American Thoracic Society, the liquids found in vaping devices have been labeled as safe to eat, but concern remains over what happens when they are inhaled into your lungs. "It really hasn't been shown yet, to be a reliable source to help somebody quit," Whitby says. And even though there are customizable liquids that can be used with vapes, so it's possible to vape with nicotine-free solutions, Whitby also points out that the ENDS devices still create a lot of smoke, with potential to seriously irritate your airways. "We just don't have enough information to know what the long-term effects are," she says. General Tips For SuccessWhen it comes down to it, my dad says you have to find what motivates you to quit, and you have to be stubborn about it. For him, he says it was the constantly rising cost of cigarettes that finally got him. "I always said, 'Oh, when they're $1 a pack I'm gonna quit. . . . Oh, when there $2 a pack, I'm gonna quit,'" he says. Then in 2010, they got up to over $5 a pack and he'd finally had enough. (By the way, the national average for the cost of a pack of cigarettes in April was all the way up to $6.16, according to TIME.) For my mom, it came down to getting my younger brother to quit. "I needed that buddy system, and I didn't want to be responsible for my son smoking," she says. So once my dad stopped buying cigarettes out of principal, over the next year she said she wouldn't buy a pack if my brother didn't. And he didn't, so neither did she. Whitby says if you can delay having that cigarette for 10, 15, or 20 minutes when you get a craving, that will help immensely in your journey. During that waiting period, she recommends revisiting her three-column handout, which can help form new habits.
"I also encourage people to set a quit date," she says. That's what my dad did. Then, she says you should start decreasing the numbers of cigarettes you smoke until you reach that date on the calendar. "If you're going to quit in four weeks, and you smoke 20 cigarettes each day, then you need to cut out five cigarettes per day each week," she says. My dad says he set the date a little longer out, a couple of months in advance. For him, he focused less on cutting back and more on the finality of his 49th birthday. "I never cut back or anything like that," he says. "I just smoked like I always did and it just so worked out that I smoked my last cigarette before I went to bed. Then when I got up in the morning, I just didn't smoke." Whitby also cautions her patients to subscribe to a "no puff, not ever" rule. "There are nicotine and dopamine receptors in your brain," she explains. "When you smoke, you get what's called up regulation, which means more nicotine receptors are present. When you quit, you get down regulation, which means less nicotine receptors are present, but we don't know how much down regulation actually occurs." This is why someone who may have quit smoking years ago can be triggered, think they can have "just one puff," and then return to full-blown tobacco use before they know it, because they may have just as many nicotine receptors in their brain as they did when they were smoking regularly. Free Resources to Help You Quit For GoodWith all of this information, it's clear that quitting smoking is a complicated, multilayered process. Thankfully, there are also lots of public resources available to help people navigate through it. These include the toll-free hotline 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), the American Lung Association website, SmokeFree.gov, and various free apps for your smartphone. Whitby says one of her patients had success with an app called My QuitBuddy, which was created by the Australian National Preventative Health Agency. She also notes there are many available that are likely just as effective, like US-created QuitGuide and quitSTART. And the most important thing to remember of all, she says, is not to get discouraged. "Don't give up, that's the key," Whitby says. "Most people try to quit multiple times before they're successful, and it's never too late to quit." Health via POPSUGAR Fitness http://ift.tt/2mWxwLI January 29, 2018 at 12:40PM
9 Ways to Feel Happier and Fight Stress
http://ift.tt/2DIMWaU Whether it's the Winter blues or you're just in a slump, we all go through emotional ups and downs. It's OK! We don't always feel joyful all the time. But when you're ready to kick that sadness to the curb and pick yourself back up, these quick, easy, and free techniques will help put a smile on your face. Now let's get happy!
Related How to Feel Happy Instantly Health via POPSUGAR Fitness http://ift.tt/2mWxwLI January 29, 2018 at 12:24PM
Want to Lose Weight? Running Can Help You Get There, According to This Trainer
http://ift.tt/2DJ5Ez3 If you're looking to decrease inches or you're getting started in your fitness journey, running may be just what you need to jump-start your metabolism. In fact, I often encourage clients of all fitness levels to sign up for an outdoor running race and start training. Read below and learn how running can help you start dropping pounds today! Running Burns a Lot of CaloriesAccording to a calculator by the American Council of Exercise, a 140-pound person burns 635 calories per hour jogging, versus only 317 walking. Jogging just 10 extra minutes a day (averaging 100 calories) is the equivalent of one pound per month. If you're not up for going on a straight run, build some running intervals into a walk, bringing your heart rate up for some HIIT training. You Keep Burning Even After Your Workout Is CompleteKnown as the "after-burn," your metabolism continues to stay elevated for 24-48 hours after you're done working out. The more intense the exercise and oxygen consumed, the more calories your body burns in recovery during a process known as EPOC. Since running is a fairly intense workout, you'll continue to burn calories and decrease inches long after you take off those tennis shoes. Some studies even suggest that HIIT training is a better appetite suppressant than moderate-intensity exercise, giving you one more reason to push yourself during your next running workout. Running Shouldn't Be All You DoCardiovascular exercise is an important part of a workout regimen, but combined with strength training and low-impact stretching, you will reach your weight-loss goals faster. As a personal trainer, I often encourage my clients to incorporate running into a weekly routine that also includes bodyweight exercise, yoga/Pilates for recovery, and resistance training for building muscle. If you're always breaking down the body and burning calories without taking the time to properly rebuild, you're more likely to experience injuries and slow down your long-term weight loss. I see the best results when women spend at least half of their exercise days performing cardiovascular exercises like running and the other half doing something completely different for the body. Combining Healthy Food and Exercise Will Get You the Best ResultsProper nutrition gives your body the nutrients it needs to complete a workout and properly recover. Prior to your run, taking in a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fluid will give you energy to get going. If your run is longer than 60 minutes, your body will benefit from some continued calories throughout, often consumed in a carbohydrate-rich sports drink or gel pack. If your workout is longer than 30 minutes, consuming a protein-rich snack within two hours of completion will aid your muscle recovery and help keep your food cravings in check. Waiting too long after a run to eat will cause your blood sugar to crash, making it difficult to make healthy food choices post-workout. Health via POPSUGAR Fitness http://ift.tt/2mWxwLI January 29, 2018 at 11:38AM
12 Chocolate Treats You Should Buy for Yourself This Valentine’s Day
http://ift.tt/2nh6ld2 Whether you’re smooching someone special or rocking this Valentine’s Day solo, it’s important to give yourself a little TLC too. And yeah, sometimes TLC grows from the cacao plant. But before you try to put a ring on that Ring Ding, know that not all chocolate is not what it claims to be. For example, the first ingredient in a Hershey's Bar is sugar. And take a look at a Reese's Pieces package—you won't even find chocolate listed in the ingredients. There's nothing sexy about something pretending to be chocolate that's just... not. But don't lose heart! We put together a list of healthyish chocolate treats we think are worth swiping right for. Chocolate that's real and raw. Chocolate that will support you emotionally and treat you right physically. Because you deserve better than mediocre modified cornstarch this Valentine's Day. Made with 70 percent cocoa, butterfat, and fleur de sel, Alter Eco’s dark brown butter bar is pretty much everything we’ve been looking for in a ($8.25; amazon.com) You don’t have to be Winnie the Pooh to think honey is the sh*t. Break off a piece to find the rich dark chocolate you’d expect in a chocolate bar paired with the sweet crunch of honeycomb you probably wouldn’t. It’s a delightfully sweet and surprisingly addictive combo that we fully endorse for all humans (and cartoon bears) observing Valentine’s Day this year. ($6.21; amazon.com) Jam-packed with crunchy almonds and tart, chewy cranberries, this bark is basically the love child of your go-to trail mix and your favorite chocolate bar. Take a bag along with you whenever snacking is imperative—from the trail to a potluck to your nightstand. Taza’s stone-ground disks can be heated up and melted into a rich cup of hot cocoa, stirred into savory sauces for added flavor and texture, and drizzled over desserts for an extra kick of cocoa. Unfortunately, we can’t get much more specific than that, because we ate it all straight out of the package before we could try doing any of these things. ($15.59; amazon.com) From lattes to soups, it’s trendy to make almost anything ‘golden’ these days, and chocolate is no exception. Whether or not you’re in on the turmeric hype, these chewy bundles of coconut, dark chocolate, and turmeric are loaded with flavor and might even have a few health benefits. Think Reese’s cool aunt. Made with fresh almond butter and a deep dark chocolate ganache, these almond butter cups are naturally indulgent without even trying. You won’t find any shady partially hydrogenated characters in here—Hail Merry uses organic virgin coconut oil and natural sources of sugar and fat to give rise to extreme (and clean) decadence in each bite. Some people eat these tarttreats from the Himalayas for their antioxidants, high fiber, and iron. Others do it for the vitamin C. We do it for the chocolate. These scrunchy berries coated in dark chocolate are basically superfoods disguised as dessert. Nanga by Nature's motto is, “only good stuff touches these nuts,” and judging by the taste of these almonds, we believe them. Roasted, sweetened lightly with maple syrup, and sprinkled with cocoa dust, these are definitely the sexiest almonds we’ve laid eyes on in 2018. ($29.99; amazon.com) Move over, Nutella, we’ve just met a dreamier chocolate nut butter. With subtle hints of espresso and cocoa, this almond butter goes with almost anything—or, admittedly, without anything. Spread this gluten-free, dairy-free, and Paleo-friendly almond butter on toast, spoon into oatmeal, or forget the table manners and dig in. Let’s be real: Most chocolate yogurts leave a lot to be desired. (Cough cough... the chocolate part?) Unlike most brands, Noosa’s Mexican Chocolate yogurt has more in common with chocolate than its hue. Made with yogurt, a pinch of cinnamon and cayenne, and with rich fair-trade cocoa powder, this dairy-based dessert can be spooned up on the daily. The flavor of our favorite beverage now lives in the body of our favorite food. Still not enticed? Goodio’s Finnish chocolates are simple, vegan, and made with raw, unroasted cacao. They're also fresh to the U.S. market, so you'll have to check out Whole Foods in the northeast to track some of these bars down. ($6.99; amazon.com limited supply) Thought to be natural aphrodisiacs for a long time, figs have gotten quite the reputation as a super-sexy snack. And while the jury's out on whether or not these dried fruits can actually help you get it on, John and Kira's chocolate covered figs certainly make us a little weak in the knees. These Calabacita figs are filled with a whiskey-infused Valrhona dark chocolate ganache, then dipped into rich, dark chocolate. Health via Greatist RSS https://greatist.com/ January 29, 2018 at 10:36AM
Scientists Zero in on Better Saliva-Based HIV Test
http://ift.tt/2nojnV4 The new test may be able to detect early evidence of HIV antibodies in saliva as reliably as a blood test, according to the scientists who developed it. Health via WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/ January 29, 2018 at 10:34AM
9 Savory Chocolate Recipes So You Can Justify Eating Chocolate Whenever
http://ift.tt/2DLKKDJ When you're trying to make a date night (or day) special—V-day, birthdays, anniversaries, etc...—you can't go wrong adding some chocolate to the mix. And not just when it's time for dessert. These recipes turn chocolate into way more than just a candy in a heart-shaped box; they prove it can go savory but taste just as decadent. Surprise your taste buds (and your favorite person) with these unexpected chocolate recipes for breakfast, lunch, apps, or dinner. As if you needed another reason to eat chocolate.
Chocolate and steak may sound like an odd combo, but this fancy-looking, easy-to-make meal is actually perfect for Valentine’s Day dinner. You get to make chocolate part of the main course with a cocoa chili rub and a chocolate pesto sauce. Use an extra dark chocolate for the pesto and almonds to give it a nuttier taste.
Start your day off with a little savory-sweet action. This chocolate quinoa bowl won’t leave you stuffed, but you will love the flavor combo. It hits all your taste buds with juicy blueberries and crunchy coconut chips.
Betcha never thought about shaking up your coffee like this. Coffee gets a richer, saltier flavor when chili powder, cinnamon, cocoa powder, and cayenne pepper are added to the mix. To make it a little healthier, cut the sugar a bit.
It sounds weird, but it works. Just don’t let your partner dig into it thinking it's a bowl of mousse or pudding. Serve this rich hummus with pretzels and fruit (like green apple slices) to play up the sweet and salty mix.
This is another meal that will have you looking like a five-star chef without going crazy in the kitchen. It really is low-maintenance: Just grab Arborio rice, agave, rice milk, rosemary, chocolate, nuts, and pears. The pears get lightly fried in coconut oil, adding a sweet crunch to the top.
Adding chocolate chips to grilled cheese? Uh, yes, please. The salty, rich flavor of Brie balances out the sweetness of strawberries here. If you want to add even more flavor to the savory side, start with sourdough bread instead of French.
You may be used to avoiding olive oil in baking recipes, but it’s very intentional here and gives the brownies a bit of a peppery taste. Treat yourself to some fleur de sel finishing salt; it’s pricier than sea salt, but hey, this is a special occasion, and you'll taste the difference.
Anything that starts with bacon is headed in the right direction. This bark takes two rounds in the oven to make, so think of it as a fun night-in activity to make together rather than going at it solo. The outcome is worth it, though—it’s crunchy, gooey, salty, and sweet all in one.
Not so sure you’re into the savory-sweet idea? Start small with chocolate zucchini bread. It’s still less sweet than a normal chocolate cake or bowl of ice cream and has just the right hint of tanginess thanks to Greek yogurt and the veggies.
Health via Greatist RSS https://greatist.com/ January 29, 2018 at 09:32AM
There's No Such Thing As a "Girl Push-Up" (but Modified Push-Ups Are Legit As Hell)
http://ift.tt/2DUwOGz One of the most annoying terms in the fitness world? "Girl push-ups." We’re referring to the modified push-up, of course, which has absolutely nothing to do with gender. According to Rob Sulaver, founder of Bandana Training and founding trainer at Rumble Boxing, it’s always better to drop to your knees than to struggle through a "push-up" that looks more like an attempt at the worm. "There’s no shame in the regression game," Sulaver tells us. "It’s better to do a full range of motion push-up from your knees than a partial range of motion push-up from your toes." You might also like {{displayTitle}} READFor those who need a quick refresher on the modified push-up, it goes something like this: You drop your knees to the floor and keep your core straight and elevated. Leading with your chest, you lower your upper body to the ground slowly, keeping the core engaged, and then push back up, making sure your elbows aren’t poking out to the side. "By dropping to your knees, you’re decreasing the length of the lever arm, making the push-up easier so you can maintain proper alignment," Sulaver says. For personal trainer, fitness goddess, and former trainer on The Biggest Loser Jen Widerstrom, modified push-ups are great, but she thinks there are better versions than the one you're most familiar with. She suggests maintaining form and dipping down just a few inches before pressing up, or placing hands on a step or even a desk to take some of the weight off of the arms. "I’d rather have you drop just two inches into a push-up and then press through to target the same muscle groups. It’s all about starting somewhere and building from there." The truth is, there are many variations of the push-up, and chances are, if you’re not quite ready to do the traditional version, one of them will be much more effective than struggling through a half-push-up, half-upward-flop. Poor form can mean dropping the chin, allowing the shoulder blades to cave, sticking the butt up, or letting the hips dip. (If your pelvis hits the floor before the rest of you does, it’s not really a push-up.) But people of any gender routinely do poor "regular" push-ups instead of switching over to the infamous "girl push-up," just because they don’t want to stoop to what's been stigmatized as a sub-standard exercise. Which brings us to the real issue at hand—that we're allowing "girl" to be synonymous with "sub-standard." That might have flown in the Mad Men era, but fortunately, our culture has shifted—and that line of thinking is definitely no longer something we should be OK with.
We do modified exercises all the time to accommodate injury or soreness and to ensure we’re doing something that’s going to benefit our bodies. Whether the body in question belongs to a woman, man, or gender-nonconforming individual is, quite frankly, irrelevant. Working out is never one-size-fits-all, and that’s because we all have different bodies, fitness levels, limits, and experiences. So why does the modified push-up continue to bear this name? It may have something to do with the fact that it’s been an integral part of military training and phys-ed tests that were, for a long time, only applied to guys. According to Widerstrom, this term probably stems from a misguided strategy from decades ago to motivate dudes to push themselves. "For a long time, women weren’t doing sports at the level that men were, so it was uncommon for women to do push-ups at all. My mother was one of the only women P.E. teachers in Chicago in the '60s. We’ve come a long way since then." When asked about how she deals with this kind of sexist lingo in her own life, Widerstrom laughs. "Call it what you want. I’d rather lead by example and make them look stupid." But if at one point calling the modified push-up the "girl push-up" was a motivating force for men, Sulaver points out that this terminology can now lead to poor movement patterns and less effective workouts for anyone who lets themselves get caught up in it. "Anytime we allow our ego, rather than our capabilities, to dictate how we move, we end up moving worse." There’s nothing wrong with getting creative when it comes to finding ways to motivate. But no matter how you spin it, sexist language isn’t effective—or relevant—in the health and fitness world anymore. Though it's taken us some time to realize it, strength isn’t related to gender. Health via Greatist RSS https://greatist.com/ January 29, 2018 at 05:30AM |
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