Well+Good NYC

Recap: New York’s healthiest food news (January 2012)

Well+Good — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:38:57 +0000

One of the gorgeous organic-flour pies at L'asso (Photo: L'asso)

January was a big month for healthy food news in New York City.

Proof that it wasn’t all about Paula Deen? Or New Year’s resolutions?

The healthy news, restaurant openings, and menu changes we reported.

Here’s what you may have missed…

Energy Kitchen debuts a better-for-you burger value meal
In addition to an across-the-board price slash, the mini-chain is launching new Energize Meals: a burger (veggie included), baked fries, and a drink for $9.99.

Juice Generation adds wellness workshops to its menu
Juice Generation (and sister brand Cooler Cleanse) kicked off free wellness and nutrition workshops at its Greenwich Avenue Equinox cafe.

Spring Street Natural goes uptown

Spring Street Natural heads Uptown. Finally.
Spring Street Natural opened a second location on the Upper West Side. What took it almost 40 years?

L’Asso launches hemp crust pizza with its new location
The popular pie-makers at L’Asso are getting all healthy with their brand-new East Village location, including hemp-dusted crusts.

Chelsea Piers to open organic Stonyfield Cafe with former Jean Georges chef
Chelsea Piers will soon be home to the city’s first Stonyfield Farms Cafe, operated by the popular organic yogurt purveyor.

Bodybuilders trade steak for spinach
According to the New York Times, there’s a growing group of sculpted competitors that are choosing a new kind of diet: Veganism.

This Week in Wellness: First lady fitness, become a yogi model, and more

Well+Good — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:21:42 +0000

Welcome to our weekly roundup of wellness news we’ve spotted and reported throughout the week. Our Page Six!

First lady fitness. Michelle Obama dished to Prevention Magazine about her favorite ways to work out. Turns out she keeps it simple with intervals on the treadmill and “arm exercises.”

There’s an app… Healthy dining guide Clean Plates launched its first mobile app, so you can find quinoa and locally-sourced veggies while you’re on the go. And it’s deliciously free.

Moving on up. Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door Spa opened the doors to its brand new flagship on Fifth Avenue. In addition to new luxe digs, the spa will offer new treatments like organic microdermabrasion and upgrade its catering to offer a healthy spa lunch.

Be a yogi model. Yoga Journal announced its second annual talent search this week. Submit a photo of yourself striking a triangle pose, and you could end up in the pages of the magazine.

Trainers as nutritionists. How’s this for cross training? Top Equinox trainers are now required to complete nutrition certification. All the better to correct your push-ups and eating habits.

Feeling chapped? Five lip (and multitasking) balms to the rescue

Well+Good — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:04:31 +0000

(Photo: NoMoreDirtyLooks.com)

By Alexandra Spunt for
NoMoreDirtyLooks.com

Ugh. My lips have been SO chapped, it’s really the pits. First, you can’t wear lipstick, and then, one glass of red makes you look like a wino.

On the plus side, though, my winter-worn lips have allowed me to properly explore the wonderful world of multitasking balms available. As many of you know, when it comes to clean beauty, often what works on your lips also does wonders on your elbows, and maybe even under your eyes.

Does any balm totally cure chapped lips? Not overnight. But they make them feel about a thousand times more bearable, and prettier to look at too.

Also, when you’re using a product with skin-nourishing oils, you’re not only keeping moisture into the lip (without the drying ingredients, like alcohol, and nasty chemicals found in conventional balms) but you’re also feeding the skin with healthy fats and other friendly ingredients.

Here’s a quick look at five of my new new favorite balms. But we know there are others! What do you use?

1. One Love Organics Skin Savior Balm: I’ve been meaning to write about this stuff for a while. Lately I’ve been using it on lips, as well as to cleanse my face (sometimes with my new Clarisonic gadget, which we must discuss in another post). I was also delighted to see that my sister, who lives in cold and windy Toronto, found it at Shop Pretty there—and it’s her new fave for everything. Thing is, it’s on the pricier side. But! We have a Friday Deal in the works with these guys and Futurenatural later in February.

2. Waxelene: We’ve covered this stuff before, it’s the Vaseline of naturals and work great on lips, elbows, dry patches, and even to remove eye makeup in a pinch.

Keep reading for three more….

More Reading From NoMoreDirtyLooks.com:

Brazilian Blowout will have to bear warnings about formaldehyde. Are you satisfied?
What 5 products would you take on a desert island?

Can’t find love? A little spiritual exploration may help you get there

Well+Good — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:30:48 +0000

“He’s just not that into you” was a liberating catch-phrase for women 10 years ago.

But author Gabrielle Bernstein, a Tony Robbins-meets-Carrie Bradshaw self-help guru, would call that a fear-based romantic illusion. Just like “I’m not good enough without a partner” or “I’m unlovable.”

Bernstein’s newest project, Medidating: Meditations for Fearless Romance, is based on the idea that finding love takes serious spiritual work. And as Valentine’s Day approaches, other young, hip inner-life seekers seem to be on the same page.

Medidating is an 11-track CD of guided meditations, divided into two parts. The first seven tracks are focused on banishing the fears and negative belief systems you’ve picked up from past relationships, and the last three are about “manifesting more romance in your life.”

“When we start to release the fear, we reconnect to an energy of peace, inspiration, and self-worth,” says Bernstein.”That energy, in effect, is what attracts the partner.”

Erika Shannon agrees. Shannon, a New York City fitness instructor, is hosting “Make Love NYC” with Erin Stutland and Margaret Nichols on February 11.

The day-long event involves a dance-based workout, spiritual exploration, meditation, and life coaching. Just like Bernstein’s Medidating, Shannon says the day will teach you how to move away from fear and clear bad energy from past relationships, in order to open yourself up to future ones.

The team behind Make Love NYC—Erin Stutland, Margaret Nichols, and Erika Shannon

“Self-responsibility is the ultimate sexy,” says Shannon. “Empowerment changes a wall flower into someone who will attract love.”

So, while he or she may very well be “not that into you,” it’s not because your nose is too big or you talked about your parents too much on the first date.

It could be because you’re not so into yourself. And a little guided spiritual reflection may help change that. –Lisa Elaine Held

Medidating Launch, Wednesday, February 8, ABC Home’s Deepak Homebase, 888 Broadway at 19th St., $10 (includes a copy of the CD), www.gabbyb.tv

Make Love NYC, Saturday, February 11, 10:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m., TACT Studio, 900 Broadway (at 20th St.), $95, www.makelovenyc.com

Wellness superstars want to give you advice—and props (giveaway!)

Well+Good — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:47:04 +0000

Sponsored

Well+Good is thrilled to announce Gaiam TV Fridays!

Check our homepage every Friday for the next four weeks, when one of Gaiam TV’s superstars will help you address what we like to call “urban wellness challenges.” Think happy hour exhaustion and take-out-induced nutrition deficiencies.

You, time-strapped reader, get a backstage pass and exclusive access to interviews and videos usually available only to Gaiam TV subscribers.

Meant to eat better this year? David Wolfe wants you to superfood it. Got negative thoughts on loop? Kathryn Budig can boost your confidence. Need to get back in a bathing suit? Let Jillian Michaels help.

Do you love the idea of practicing yoga and working out at home but lack the proper props? Win them here!

But first, we want to make sure you’re stocked up with practice props! (And no one knows more than Gaiam about how to practice at home in style.)

Every week we’ll give away a fantastic Gaiam yoga prize. And one lucky person will win a full collection of Gaiam yoga props and clothing—a grand prize worth more than $300! The winner will be announced on March 9 on our homepage!

To enter this contest today, please tell us in the Comments section, below, what you love about working out at home.

Winners will be chosen at random, starting Friday, February 10th. Grand prize winner will be announced on March 9th!

Study says massage helps post-workout recovery; get one with a foam roller

Well+Good — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:03:36 +0000

(Photo: Blisstree.com)

By Briana Rognlin for Blisstree.com

You probably don’t need a study to make you want a massage, but researchers have verified that massage helps reduce inflammation after a strenuous workout, proving that it’s not just an indulgence. It’s necessary.

But…as much as we’d all like to visit spas more often, weekly or even monthly massage is pretty much out of the question for a lot of people thanks to lack of time, money, or both. This is where my favorite fitness gadget comes in handy: The foam roller, otherwise known as “the poor woman’s massage.”

The study, published in this month’s Science Translational Medicine, measured muscle recovery through thigh muscle biopsies in 11 young men who rode a stationary bike to the point of exhaustion. They randomly chose one leg to massage, and took biopsies before exercise, 10 minutes after massage and two and a half hours after recovery. They analyzed the genes in the muscles and, according to Simon Melov, PhD, results showed that the biopsies taken from massaged muscles showed less inflammation and better recovery than non-massaged muscles:

“Our research showed that massage dampened the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the muscle cells and promoted biogenesis of mitochondria, which are the energy-producing units in the cells,” said Melov. He added that the pain reduction associated with massage may involve the same mechanism as those targeted by conventional anti-inflammatory drugs. “There’s general agreement that massage feels good, now we have a scientific basis for the experience.”

But massage is still expensive and time-consuming, which is where foam rollers come in.

Keep reading for detailed instructions on how to use a foam roller…

More Reading from Blisstree.com:

Brad Pitt admits to feeding his kids Coca-Cola, sets terrible example
Does dairy really do a waistline good?

Why your tea may not be as healthy as you think it is (and how to fix that)

Well+Good — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:30:27 +0000

Everyone knows that tea has health benefits. But it turns out you may not be getting them, even if you’re brewing, steeping, and sipping on a regular basis.

“A lot of research has shown benefits for cancer prevention, cardiovascular health, and cognitive health,” says Heidi Kothe-Levie, who’s an acupuncturist-expert in Traditional Oriental Medicine and a former tea specialist for Ito-En. “But if you’re drinking tea for overall disease risk reduction, it all comes down to how frequently you’re drinking it, how you’re brewing it, and what kind it is.”

Are you doing it wrong? Kothe-Levie, who’s sharing the current research on and myths surrounding tea’s health benefits at the 92Y next week, will explain how to make sure you’re getting those benefits every time your kettle whistles.

She gave us a sneak peek, with these four tips:

Heidi Kothe-Levie

1. Ask when the tea was plucked. Freshness is the most important factor for Kothe-Levie, who says a tea shop that values freshness should be able to tell you how long ago the leaves were plucked from the bush. Ditto any online retailer worth its salt.

2. If you’re buying tea in person, smell it! “Japanese green should have a nice grassy smell,” she says. “For black tea, you should be able to almost taste it when you smell it.” If it’s flavored, make sure they’re using natural enhancers. For example, Earl Grey should contain bergamot oil, not a chemical additive.

3. Follow brewing instructions. Those instructions that come with your tea are actually there for a reason; different temperatures and steeping times are ideal for drawing out healthy compounds, like antioxidants (and flavor!). Black tea usually calls for boiling water, while green and white are best at lower temperatures.

4. Drink almost as much tea as water. “A lot of the studies we’re seeing are showing 3-5 cups per day,” says Kothe-Levie. Which means your one morning cup isn’t cutting it, if you’re interested in partaking of the health payoffs that studies show. Channel your inner Brit and make it a part of your daily routine. —Lisa Elaine Held

The Healthy Power of Tea, Tuesday, February 7, 6:30 p.m., 92Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, $20, www.92y.org

How healthy is your workplace?

So you have to watch the Super Bowl? 5 healthy ways to make the best of it

Well+Good — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:11:07 +0000

If you have a spacious living room, own a really nice, large TV, or are known for your party hosting abilities, you may have already been roped into hosting a Super Bowl soiree by your significant other.*

Which could be fun (friends, food, etc.)—except for the whole Super Bowl part.

We came up with five healthy things you can do while feigning interest in the Giants–Patriots rivalry (for 17 hours). Just be sure to listen for other people’s applause before you fake a cheer.

1. Experiment with spring nail polish colors. This weather is making us think of pretty spring nails. Brush on a few of Priti NYC’s pre-spring After the Snow collection to test colors. (What snow?)

2. Do a wheat grass shot every time the Giants get a touch down. Just tell everyone you made green beer for the occasion. (Wait, that’s not the Giants’ color?)

3. Practice your meditation skills. You’re always using lack of time and distractions as an excuse for not meditating. Here’s a chance to focus on your inner being while drowning out grunts and whistles. No one will even notice; they’ll be focused on the whatever-down-it-is. Plus, inner life is hot.

4. Soak your cashews, almonds, or beans. The hours of soaking required to make homemade cashew or almond milk or to cook with fresh, rather than canned, beans are hard to come by. This is the perfect opportunity to make it happen.

5. Strengthen your core. Your couch is about to be end-zone-dance central, so offer to sit on the stability ball. If you can do Pilates while you walk, you can definitely get some ab work in while you sit.

*Yes, this story made the assumption that you might not like football, when in fact you do. In fact, you might be excited to be hosting a Super Bowl party. To which we weren’t invited. That’s okay. We’re not mad if you’re not. Go Giants!

Equinox trainers want to be your nutritionists, too

Well+Good — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:14:47 +0000

(Photo: Michiganavemag.com)

After advising you on proper push-up form and pushing you through what feels like a million burpees, your Equinox trainer may also soon offer advice on what to cook for dinner.

That’s a break from convention—and profession, since trainers have been taught to keep mum about what you’re putting in your mouth and stick to the output of your muscles.

But now, in addition to their many fitness certifications, Equinox’s top-level trainers (Tier 4) are required to complete a nutrition certification program.

Think of it as another form of cross-training.

The program, called Precision Nutrition, was created specifically for fitness professionals. Your trainer won’t be a Registered Dietician at the end, but he or she will know something about digestion, metabolism, and, hopefully, what you should be eating to maximize the effectiveness of your workout routine.

And good news: Equinox has not raised rates for these top-tier trainers as of yet, which means for the time being you’re getting a little more bang for your buck.

What do you think? Should personal trainers have nutrition training or should they leave it to the nutritionists?

Reader Event: Bija Yoga presents Isaac Peña and Mantralogy on February 16

Well+Good — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:49:26 +0000

Due to high demand, registration for the yoga class (and waitlist) are now closed. But please join us for the party at 7:40 p.m.!

Please join us for an evening of yoga and fashion at
Bija Yoga, the gorgeous new Union Square studio

Thursday, February 16
6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Bija Yoga, 20 East 17th Street, 2^nd Floor
(between Union Square West and Fifth Ave.)
RSVP Required: Info@WellandGoodNYC.com

When yoga teacher Veronica Perretti opened her stunner of a studio last October our jaw hit the ground. Bija made it onto our list of NYC’s Most Beautiful Yoga Studios.

The line-up of teachers also wowed us. Isaac Peña, beloved creator of Sankalpah and a Well+Good fave, is a Bija regular. During this evening of flexibility and fashion, we’ll take one of Peña’s signature healing classes—the perfect antidote to winter stiffness. After class, we’ll meet Keli Lalita Reddy, Mantralogy’s creator, and shop the Spring collection.

Mantralogy's Keli Reddy

6:00-6:30
Arrive and shop the Mantralogy Trunk Show. All pieces will be 25% off!

6:30-7:40
Stretch your winter-weary limbs during one of Isaac Peña’s legendarily healing classes. (First-time Bija students only; RSVP required)

7:40-8:30
Meet New Age Renaissance woman Keli Lalita Reddy, a co-founder of Mantralogy, which creates yoga street wear and produces Mantra Music. Hear about Reddy’s inspiring journey from punk rock musician and co-founder of Equal Vision Records, to yoga teacher, Ayurvedic healer, and fashion entrepreneur.

During the fashion-focused after-party, sip a variety of BluePrintCleanse juices and nibble on their brand-new raw BluePrintBars.

Attendee Perks!

Raffles! Bija Yoga will raffle off a 10-class card to one lucky attendee. Mantralogy will be raffling off its signature tees. And BluePrintCleanse is sending one lucky attendee home with a 3-day cleanse, a t-shirt, and The 3-Day Cleanse, a book by its founders. Please RSVP in order to be entered to win!

It’s 25 percent off night! Bija Yoga is offering 25% off all packages; Mantralogy is offering 25% off all apparel.

To secure your spot, please email Info@WellandGoodNYC.com with your first name, last name, and e-mail address. If you are RSVPing for a friend, please include their information as well.

All attendees will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours.

Want to bring someone? Click here to share this event with a friend!