Good News for (Dark) Chocolate Lovers …

by | May 20, 2020 | Health

If you haven’t heard by now, you’re in for a treat: dark chocolate is jam-packed with health benefits, giving us all an excuse to indulge. Before you go to the grocery store to buy some, we thought we’d give you the dish. 😉

 

The difference between dark and milk chocolate mainly comes down to cocoa content. According to this Harvard article, “Dark chocolate contains 50-90% cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar, whereas milk chocolate contains anywhere from 10-50% cocoa solids, cocoa butter, milk in some form, and sugar.”

 

All that cocoa packs a serious punch. When consumed in moderation, dark chocolate is high in Iron, Magnesium, Copper, and Manganese. For more information about the nutrition breakdown, click here.

 

Another study from Harvard found that “people who eat more chocolate have lower rates of heart attacks, heart failure, and even death from heart disease.”

Just like everything, dark chocolate should be consumed in moderation. That said, it’s good to hear that something so many people like helps you maintain your health…so, feel free to consider dark chocolate a little treat that doesn’t require a cheat day.

Books to Read Poolside This Summer

by | May 20, 2020 | Uncategorized

Or ocean-side, or hot tub-side…you get the idea.

 

A list of 15 book recommendations from Harper’s Bazaar here.

 

A list of 73 books from the NYTimes, broken into categories by genre here.

 

Going on a roadtrip with the kids in tow? Click here for audiobook suggestions.

 

Happy reading!

The 4 W’s of Sunscreen …

by | May 20, 2020 | Health

It’s summer time! At the risk of sounding like your mother, we’re here to remind you of the importance of wearing sunscreen. We know you know it’s important, but let’s be honest—how much SPF are you wearing as you read this? If you’re a sunscreen expert, you can skip this post. If you aren’t protecting yourself from the sun, though, we have some information that will get you through this summer with as minimal burning as possible. Here’s the what, when, where, and why of sunscreen:

 

What: Sunscreens provide barriers to the UVA and UVB radiation that comes from the sun. Exposure to radiation increases your chances of sun damage and cancer. When it comes to choosing which sunscreen you want, you can pick between a chemical-based sunscreen, or a physical one. There are pros and cons to each, which you can learn about here.

 

When: You should wear sunscreen every time you leave your place of residence. If you’re thinking, okay, but I do have a desk job where I’m always indoors, you’re still not off the hook! Even on your commute to work, whether that’s a walk to the train or a 15-minute drive in your car, you are exposed to the sun. A little bit of time outside might not seem all that bad, but trust us—that time adds up.

 

Make sure you’re reapplying your sunscreen every two hours. This might seem like a daunting task to makeup-wearers, but there are really great powder products that let you do this!

 

Where: Apply your sunscreen anywhere that will be exposed to the sun.

 

Why: It’s almost unbelievable how much good wearing sunscreen does for you. Not only does wearing sunscreen protect you from cancer, sunscreen also protects your skin from being damaged with wrinkles and other signs of premature aging. Incorporating a sunscreen (and a face lotion with SPF!) into your daily routine will save you down the road, so get to it!

5 Ways You Can Make Yourself Accountable

by | May 20, 2020 | Health

Change is hard to do, and change in your lifestyle—especially when it pertains to exercise and eating well—are huge. Teaching yourself “new tricks,” if you will, is no mean feat. The good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. Making yourself accountable is a great way of achieving your goals. Here’s a list of 5 things you can do to make yourself more accountable to the health-related goal you have in mind.

 

  1.  Add it to the calendar.

Are you planning on going on a run every morning, or trying to make that yoga class? Adding your work out plans to your calendar makes it so much easier to follow through with them. Not only will you have a visual reminder of what you’re planning to do, you will be less likely to ignore it, especially if you set an alarm for the event.

 

  1. Keep a log.

If you’re working on eating better, a log is a great way of tracking your progress. Writing down everything you eat for a day is a good way to practice being aware of what goes inside your body. Include all you consume—even the candy you’ve been taking from reception. This way, you’ll have an idea of what food you like to snack on that might not be so good for you, and what times of day you’re most likely to reach for certain food.

 

  1. Tell your family your goals.  

First of all, congratulations on having a goal! That is the first step. You should tell your family about it not only because it’s really exciting that you’re making changes in your life, but because your family will naturally hold you accountable to your plans.

 

  1. Plan a little (or big) treat for yourself.

We’ll say it again: making changes is hard. Achieving your goals is an accomplishment worth rewarding! A good way to go about this is have a set plan, and commit to sticking to it for a certain amount of time. If you make it through, buy yourself a fancy dinner or watch that movie on your Netflix queue. You deserve it.

 

  1. Remember why you started in the first place.

You’ve been putting in a lot of hard work, and you’re getting tired, or it’s becoming more challenging than you expected. Instead of handing in the towel, take a moment or two to think about why you set your goal in the first place. Is it for health reasons? Because you’ve always had a dream of running a marathon? Remember why you began, and why this goal is important. After all, the most important thing is that you stay accountable to yourself.

Pin Your Way To…Running Every Day? …

by | May 20, 2020 | Health

Were you one of those kids who made collages out of cut up magazines? Even if you weren’t, you should check out Pinterest. Pinterest is an app that you can download on your phone that lets you make “boards” out of nearly anything. These boards act as folders, if you will, where you can have a collection of pinned images. People often turn to Pinterest for when they’re getting excited for a project, like redecorating a bedroom, or even daydreaming about buying a beach house.

The great thing about Pinterest is that you can search for a ton of stuff, like quotes, pictures of athletes, and amazing recipes, and collect them together in one place. When you’re in need of inspiration—whether it’s to start, or to continue—Pinterest is a great way of getting excited about something, while, at the same time, taking a little break.