With Spring Break in full effect, a new trend is on the rise with college students, and it’s no joke: Drunkorexia. Dunkorexia is the act of severely limiting food intake to save calories for heavy drinking. This leaves students battling anorexia and alcoholism at the same time. Drunkorexia has been on the rise since 2012, especially among college women under immense pressure to be thin and be the life of the party. According to research presented by Rinkler at the 39th Annual Research Society on Alcoholism in New Orleans, Drunkorexia happens in over 80% of “young boozers.” Thirty percent of women between the ages of 18-23 diet so they can drink. Drunkorexia Warning Signs: Noticeably skipping meals, diet talk, talking about cutting back on food before going out Signs of anxiety around caloric intake, including the calories in alcohol Excessively exercising “in preparation” for a night of partying Fainting, weakness, lethargy, sleeping more Cycles of restricting/dieting, and then eating anything/bingeing after drinking Life is about balance. So eat something, drink something. Keep both under control. Getting’ crunk ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. For us, a getaway or vacation means relaxation. Not doing anything strenuous. Not looking at the clock. Not caring. For others, working out is still important. No breaks for you! If you fall into the latter category, then you might enjoy working for your relaxation at New Life Hiking Spa—America’s Original Wellness Retreat. Just in time for Spring, New Life is offering a cool hiking retreat. Enjoy professionally guided hikes in the morning, afternoon meditation walks around a waterfall, all fitness classes, three freshly prepared meals a day, yoga, a private room with a private bath, one massage for each three night stay and more for… $1,374 per person. If we were that ambitious on vacation, we’d book now! But we’d rather drop a grand or more on this schedule: Wake up whenever. Walk to the buffet. Eat all we want and drink a mimosa. Walk back to our room and get ready for the pool. Lie under an umbrella on a chair and get the drink special of the day. Drink. Get another. Burp loudly. Jump in the pool. Get out of the pool. Drink. Walk to lunch. Eat. Drink. Walk back to chair and umbrella. Nap. Drink…. You get the picture.
March is National Nutrition Month, and Americans spend billions of dollars every year on obesity-related medical treatment.
WalletHub just released its report on 2019’s Fattest Cities in America. Where does your city rank?
Source: WalletHub
If you’re seeking a healthier lifestyle, you’d best stay away from McAllen, Texas. This metro area has the highest share of obese adults at 44.90%, which is 2.5 times higher than in San Francisco—the metro area with the lowest at 17.85%. Texas just might be a hard pass, period, since El Paso’s metro area has the highest share of diabetic adults at 14.60%. That’s 2.3 times higher than San Francisco and Minneapolis—the metro areas with the lowest at 6.30%. High blood pressure is at its peak in Mobile, Alabama. This metro area has the highest share of adults with HBP at 41.20%-- which is 1.9 times higher than San Jose, California. Fine. Let’s distract ourselves with this:
Apparently, we’re going to Skin Hell. While we’re vigilant about wearing sunscreen, not smoking, and mostly getting enough sleep, we’re failing in many other categories.
Raining on our parade is Denver Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Manish Shah. Dude believes in pre-juvenation (love how he made up his own thing) and a holistic approach to youth. Are you committing these skin sins? (insert ‘gasp’ here) Inconsistent Dieting “Many people think caring for your skin is skin-deep,” quips Dr. Shah. “It is not.” Inconsistent or inadequate nutrition that has your body mass and weight moving in a yo-yo motion up and down the scale can contribute to ruined elasticity and reduced collagen in the skin. This is part of the reason why specialists will recommend a two-pound maximum weight loss goal per week because your skin needs time to adapt to the loss of mass. Drinking Too Much Coffee “Excessive amounts of caffeine can increase the levels of insulin and cortisol in the system,” explains Dr. Shah. Insulin increases inflammation and cortisol is known as the stress hormone. This combination could mix up your sleeping habits and contribute to continued stress which can lead to sleep deprivation. Neglecting the Skin Around Your Eyes "The skin around your eyes is the thinnest and has very few oil glands," says Dr. Shah. Pamper your eyes and stave off signs of aging by choosing a daily eye cream that includes peptides. Dr. Shah explains, “They work to stimulate collagen production and prevent fine lines. Be sure to check the label.” Expecting Instant Results from Beauty Treatments Most of us are guilty of trying a face cream or anti-aging treatment once or twice and then giving up on it before it has had a chance to work. A majority of anti-aging treatments take up to a month to begin showing positive effects. Taking Medications With Side-Effects on the Skin Certain medications like corticosteroids for asthma and arthritis cause the skin to thin and weakens blood vessels. Medicine to treat seizures can cause heightened sensitivity to sun damage in the skin which is a common perpetrator in premature aging. Blood pressure medications that block calcium channels have been studied in relation to their inhibition of collagen production by obstructing the absorption of vitamin C by the cells. Vitamin C is an important part of collagen production. Consuming Excessive Amounts of Salt “By all measures, an excess of salt in your diet is detrimental to your kidneys, your cardiovascular health and, yes, your skin,” says Dr. Shah. Salt absorbs moisture and it can aid in making your skin look dry and less vibrant. Facial Expressions Every time you move that beautiful face, your skin wrinkles a little bit. Most of the time your face bounces back and those little wrinkles disappear once new skin cells grow. Soap While you may think that soap is your skin’s best friend, this is actually not the case. The reason for this is that your skin has an acid mantle which is a natural protective barrier of the skin. When you wash with soap – which is generally alkaline – it can remove this protective layer of oils and dry out the skin, eventually leading to wrinkles. Tugging on Your Skin While Applying or Removing Makeup To minimize the damage to the skin around your eyes, follow these quick tips from Dr. Shah: Use your ring finger to pat on products around your eyes, including serums, oils, moisturizers, and concealers. Your ring finger is the least likely to pull or tug at your skin. Apply eyeliner and eyeshadow by gently closing your eyelids, rather than by pulling them taut. If you’re struggling to apply without pulling, consider investing in products that are made to apply smoothly, like cream or gel formulas. Have patience when removing makeup from the eye area. Use cotton or another soft product, coated well with your favorite makeup removing solution. Hold the cotton over your closed eye without wiping, allowing the product to break down the makeup. After a minute or so, wipe gently to remove the makeup. Picking Your Skin You're not a dermatologist or licensed aesthetician. You should not be picking at your pimples, ingrown hairs, or anywhere else on your face. It's one of the biggest assaults against your skin and can have permanent effects. Licking Your Lips Constantly There's a myth out there that claims people can get addicted to lip balm. "These people just have dry skin and miss the feeling of the balm when it's gone," says Dr. Shah. Lip licking can become a bad habit. But when you moisten your lips that way, you actually wind up making things worse. The water in your saliva evaporates, leaving lips dry and cracked. Break these nasty habits. And ask the Skin gods for forgiveness! Guess we should all call off from work Friday—because it’s World Sleep Day! With that in mind, New Chapter is pushing it’s nighttime supplement Zyflamend. Catchy name—NOT! It’s designed to help you enjoy a deep and restful sleep through a combination of multiple time-tested herbs like Lemon Balm, Hops, Chamomile, and Valerian. Wait. Can’t we get Hops from beer? And Valerian… as in Game of Thrones? Oh, and this stuff contains Ginger and Turmeric to help reduce the cellular damage caused by free radicals. We’ve never tried this product because we could sleep on stage during a death metal concert. But you may try if you feel like it. P.S. The press release for this story cracked us up. Why are the words “hops” and “ginger” capitalized? We capitalized them just cuz. P.P.S. Check out this snippet: “We have an in-house specialist who can help break it all down for you. She’s our “Clarissa Explains it All” but her name is Charlotte. She is available on-call to guide you through the New Chapter line for all things sleep health.” Why would you reference a Nickelodeon show when it comes to adult health? Why wouldn’t you just rip that reference off and call your chick “Charlotte Explains It All?”
It’s hard to keep track of these daily “holidays” and special “weeks”. Did you know that this week is Sleep Awareness Week?
We didn’t know, either. But it’s underway, so let’s get our zzzzzzzs on! Dr. Sanam Hafeez is a New York-based neuropsychologist and faculty member at Columbia University. He offers 10 Sleep Hygiene Tips. Wait a minute? Hygiene tips? Are we dirty sleepers? #ListNameFail Anywho, here are his tips... and our rebuttals: Working Out Too Late Into The Night Working out can help de-stress the body and reduce anxiety. However, “if done too close to your bedtime your body might still feel the adrenaline and pump of the workout and it might be difficult to fall into a sedative state,” says Dr. Hafeez. (But we need to get buff so we can get someone into bed.) Having A Smoke Or Some Caffeine Too Close To Bedtime “Nicotine is a stimulant and it is well known to cause insomnia. Depending on how your body processes nicotine you could be putting yourself at risk for low quality sleep which means a lack of REM sleep,” warns Dr. Hafeez. (Well, we can't help it that we were "smokin'" in bed-- wink, wink.) Using Your Bed For More Than Just “Bed” Functions Your bed should be used almost exclusively for sleeping and sharing intimate moments with our spouse or lover. This is because, “the brain has a hard time adjusting to sleep mode if it gets used to being on the bed all the time, eating, watching tv, studying or just hanging out. You’ll have a harder time shifting into actual ‘bedtime,’ explains Dr. Hafeez. (But we need a sandwich after some of those "bed" functions.) Eating Too Late Into The Night For late night munchers, it is no strange notion that after a binge session at 3 a.m it may be a little difficult to fall asleep. “Your system is stuffed. Depending on how much you eat you may feel bloated or hyperactive. This can result in you feeling uncomfortable. If you’re on a diet you may feel guilty for breaking your regimen,” says Dr. Hafeez. (Hello, Netflix-and-self-chill makes us hungry.) Though It Is A Sedative, Alcohol Will Ruin Your REM Sleep Many people say they sleep better after drinking. That may be true for a glass of wine with a light dinner but alcohol disrupts the way our body absorbs liquid, thus causing urgent and frequent needs to go to the restroom to urinate. (But that's how we ended-up with what's-their-face in bed.) Going To Bed Angry Will Make It More Difficult To Fall Asleep Not only is “don’t go to bed angry” good relationship advice, it turns out it’s great psychological and sleep hygiene advice. Dr. Hafeez explains that “if you are able to leave things off with someone in a better place or in a place of ‘we will work this out in the morning because we care for each other,’ you have a better chance of letting your body relax into sleep.” (It's better we punch a pillow than punch the person who needs it.) Clinging to Your Cell Phone While Trying To Doze Off This is a major issue in today’s digital age. People are tuned in to their phones too late into the night. Tips for avoiding this issue are to leave your phone across the room. This also helps when waking up in the morning and having to walk across the room to turn your alarm off. (But how can we get IG famous if we're not taking some rando I'm-sexy-in-bed shot?) The Room Temperature Is Not Optimized For Sleep Optimal room temperature is commonly thought to be 60-67 degrees according to the national sleep foundation. “Your body has a way of regulating temperature relative to the temperature of the room in order to relax you into sleep,” says Dr. Hafeez. If the room temperature is too hot or too cold it can cause discomfort that will wake you up throughout the night or keep you from falling asleep at all. (We're gonna get kicked in the crotch if we adjust the thermostat, so, we're tossing this tip out.) Poor Lighting Environment If a room is getting too much light coming in from the window or from your bedroom hallway it can be difficult to sleep. “Many people with light sensitivity will use blackout curtains to optimize the room for sleep. When clocks move forward and the sun rises at an earlier time people often struggle to acclimate themselves to the new time because the sunlight is waking them up,” says Dr. Hafeez. (That makes everyone look better, if you know what we mean.) Napping During The Day Sleep is a recharge for the day's activities. If you are constantly napping or napped too heavily during the day, your mind won’t be as tired as it usually is once it’s time to tuck into the sheets for the night. (Well, if we weren't the champs of "Last Call"... But we need to be champs of something.) P.S. We still can’t get over “sleep hygiene”. Why not “sleep habits”? It defines the list. Or is that too obvious?
It’s a nasty sickness that could take you down—misinformed Instagram influencers. When it comes to your health and fitness, you need to trust the experts—and vet those influencers getting paid to pimp whatever.
Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist, and Arivale Coach Meghan Lyle has some tips on how to avoid getting the proverbial wool pulled over your eyes. Do The Credentials Of The Person Match With The Service They Are Offering? For example, if they’re providing you a menu plan or access to recommendations for nutrition around a specific goal, are they a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist? It’s not a great idea to get menu plans or personalized nutrition advice from someone who posts pictures of healthy-looking meals but has no real credential or expertise to support their recommendations. Do They Have Any Filings Against Them Through The Better Business Bureau? Before making a significant purchase, see if you can vet for concerns there, since some scammers already have reports against them. Does The Claim For Program Outcome Sound Unrealistic Or Very Specific? If it says something like “do this program for 30 days and lose X pounds”, or “get your beach body in two weeks”, etc. these are red flags. Promising a specific amount of weight loss and emphasizing appearance as an end-outcome cannot be based in evidence nor claimed for the masses. This is a concern. We know, we know. In this day and age of instant gratification, we don’t want to have to lift a finger to do anything. Do your research. Or we’re gonna find you and whoop yo ass. We’re only into the second month of the New Year, and many folks are ready to throw-in the towel on their fitness goals. Them damned lumps won’t budge! Food Therapy can help. If you want to have the benefits of registered dietitians and certified nutritionists and trainers at your fingertips, then you’ll dig the wellness app from Arivale. Free and instantaneous nutrition, health, and lifestyle guidance from over 60 full-time Arivale pros are waiting to help. You’ll gain knowledge, motivation, and accountability—and not more pounds. Join the Arivale community for free, then download the Food Therapy app for Android and iPhone. Or, text “Start” to 47243. You got this! Don't mind us eating this killer brownie... Back in the day, we suffered the darkest time of our lives. Braces. There was nothing attractive about them. We had just entered the awkward tween years-- where you look like a cross between a teen and some woodland creature—so why not make yourself totally un-homecoming-askable with braces. And if you were unfortunate, you donned headgear. And rubber bands. All for that semi-straight smile. Things have changed since the dark ages. And more adults are seeking that perfect smile. In fact, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, one in four patients are adults. Many patients are in their 20s and 30s, and some are even in their 60s and 70s. “We have seen parents and grandparents go through an orthodontic treatment alongside their children and grandchildren,” says Dr. Seth Newman, who is co-author with Dr. Steve Giannoutsos of Giving It To You Straight: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Orthodontics But Were Afraid to Ask. So why are adults doing the orthodontics thing? Finances are better. They always wanted straight and beautiful smile but they couldn’t afford it until they became adults, or they could never find the right time to do it. They are educated consumers. They know about the benefits of having straight teeth, including both the cosmetic and health benefits. They are having other dental work done. The treatment is being done in coordination with other dental work so they have a strong foundation on which the additional dental procedures can be performed. They want to please their spouse. Some adults decide to improve their smile for their significant others, or because they are being encouraged by them to pursue the procedure. Dr. Newman and Dr. Giannoutsos refer to those people as “the romantics.” So, as long as your gums and bone levels are satisfactory—go for it if you want. Treat yo self! |
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