Google planning a ‘watershed’ quantum computing announcement for December 8
According to Steve Jurvetson, venture capitalist and board member at pioneer quantum computing company D-WAVE (as well as others, such as Tesla and SpaceX), Google has what may be a “watershed” quantum computing announcement scheduled for early next month. This comes as D-WAVE, which notably also holds the Mountain View company as a customer, has just sold a 1000+ Qubit 2X quantum computer to national security research institution Los Alamos…
It’s not exactly clear what this announcement will be (besides important for the future of computing), but Jurvetson says to “stay tuned” for more information coming on December 8th. This is the first we’ve heard of a December 8th date for a Google announcement, and considering its purported potential to be a turning point in computing, this could perhaps mean an actual event is in the cards.
Notably, Google earlier this year entered a new deal with NASA and D-WAVE to continue its research in quantum computing. D-WAVE’s press release at the time had this to say:
The new agreement enables Google and its partners to keep their D-Wave system at the state-of-the-art for up to seven years, with new generations of D-Wave systems to be installed at NASA Ames as they become available.
Jurvetson made mention of the date in a comment on his Flickr account, specifically below a photo that he posted 3 years ago (below) showing Rose’s Law, a theory that suggests that sometime around the end of this year quantum computers should have power that’s “faster than the universe.” So far, he notes, Rose’s Law has seen itself proven mostly accurate — not unlike Moore’s Law, which was remarkably predicted by Gordon E. Moore after just five data points.
From your Starbucks latte to the orange-laced displays at your local grocery store, it’s official:Pumpkin spice season is officially upon us. What you may not realize, however, is that this iconic American fruit (yes, it’s technically a fruit!) has some serious beauty benefits.
“Pumpkin contains enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids that increase cell turnover, brighten and smooth skin, and are great exfoliaters,” explains New York dermatologist, Patricia Wexler, M.D. Vitamins A and C help prevent free-radical damage and boost collagen production for younger-looking skin. The zinc in pumpkin seeds is good for acne to help decrease oil production, while the essential fatty acids help with barrier function to increase hydration, she adds.
The beloved fall gourd is even good for your strands. “The essential fatty acids and vitamins A, C, and E help increase the moisture of hair and maintain cell turnover of the scalp while healing inflammation,” says Wexler. And if you have an oily scalp, you’ll appreciate this—the zinc in pumpkin helps control the level of sebum, or oil, the scalp produces, says Wexler.
Ready to give pumpkin a go? Try these at-home recipes created by licensed esthetician Michelle Ornstein, who is also founder and formulator of Enessa Skincare. And if you’re not a DIY type, we’ve also suggested product versions you can nab on your next store or Sephora run.
Face Mask
¼ cup pureed pumpkin ½ tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp manuka honey
Mix ingredients together. Apply a thin layer to skin, and rinse off after five minutes.
Turmeric powder helps brighten skin and heal inflammation associated with acne, while manuka honey is a humectant that provides moisturization and additional anti-acne properties, says Ornstein.
RELATED: The Secrets to Healthier Skin and Hair Are Hiding in Your Spice Rack
¼ cup pureed pumpkin 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed ¼ cup benzonite clay ¼ cup chamomile tea
Mix ingredients together. Apply a thick layer to skin. Wait 60 seconds, and then massage to exfoliate and rinse off.
The ground flaxseed is the secret ingredient here that washes off the dead skin cells that the pumpkin enzymes exfoliated off, says Ornstein.
Product pick: Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask, $42, peterthomasroth.com
Body Scrub
1 cup pureed pumpkin ¼ cup jojoba oil ¼ cup coffee grounds ¼ cup Himalayan salt
Mix ingredients together. Use as a body scrub in the shower or bath.
Jojoba oil is super-nourishing and rich in antioxidants, making it a great carrier oil for a body scrub. Caffeine from coffee grounds helps smooth out skin and reduces the appearance of cellulite as a bonus. Pink Himalayan salt contains trace minerals that are beneficial for skin, says Ornstein.
Product pick: Bath & Body Works Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Shea & Sugar Body Scrub, $17,bathandbodyworks.com
RELATED: How to Exfoliate Every Single Body Part—the Right Way
In-Shower Body Moisturizer
1 tsp pumpkin seed oil (such as Roland Virgin Pumpkin Seed Oil Cold Pressed, $10, walmart.com) ½ cup coconut milk 1 tsp monoi oil (such as The Body Shop Spa Wisdom Polynesia Monoi Miracle Oil, $20, thebodyshop-usa.com)
Mix ingredients in a spray bottle, and spray on body in shower after cleansing, making sure to rinse completely.
Coconut milk is extremely hydrating and rich in anti-aging and soothing fatty acids and oils. Monoi oil contains methyl salicylate, which nurtures skin and prevents environmental damage, says Ornstein. This one is so unique, you’ll need to make it yourself!
Hair Mask
1 Tbsp pumpkin seed oil
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup jojoba oil
5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
Mix ingredients together. This can be used as a scalp treatment or hair oil mask on clean hair. Allow it to sit for several minutes, then rinse out completely.Coconut, eucalyptus, and lavender are all natural ingredients that help stimulate the scalp to protect against hair loss. Jojoba oil hydrates both the scalp and hair, says Ornstein.Product pick: Sexy Hair Pumpkin Puree Treatment Masque, $25,
amazon.com
Peel-Off Exfoliating Treatment
½ cup pumpkin juice (While this can be difficult to find in stores, Ornstein says it’s easy to juice at home. “Simply peel it and separate out the stringy pulp and seeds before juicing,” she says.)
2 packs unflavored gelatin ½ tsp tomato juice 2 tsp egg whites
Microwave the mixture so everything dissolves together, and then wait for it to cool (but not to completely solidify). Apply two layers onto skin, allow to dry, then peel off.The gelatin creates the peel-off mechanism while tomato juice helps brighten skin and control sebum production. The egg whites help lift and tighten skin, says Ornstein.Product pick: Freeman Beauty Pumpkin Peeling Mask, $2,freemanbeauty.com
Michelle Obama Opens Up About Her Less-Than-Healthy Past
“It got to the point where our pediatrician pulled me aside and urged me to make some changes for the sake of our daughters’ health.”
First Lady Michelle Obama is living proof that just because you live in the White House doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun. While she certainly takes her Let’s Move! campaign seriously, she’s also danced up a storm with Jimmy Fallon and tweeted inside jokes to her husband. It’s clear she’s high-energy (um, have you seen this workout video?), but more importantly, she’s driven by a serious passion to help America get healthy.
RELATED:A Message from the First Lady of the United States
In this exclusive interview, the FLOTUS explains why putting yourself first is key to getting and staying healthy, how she’s helping kids learn to love being active, and what she hopes to achieve next.
On Her Less-than-Healthy Past… “Too often, we as women work so hard to take care of everyone in our families and manage everything at our jobs, and we forget to pay attention to ourselves. In fact, our own health is often our very last priority—that last item on the to-do list that we never quite get around to.
"That used to be the case in my own life. I remember back when our older daughter was born, and I was exhausted, struggling with all those late-night feedings and diaper changes while trying to manage my own career and support Barack’s career. Back then, I was barely able to take a shower every day, let alone get to the gym. And one day, my mother sat me down and told me, ‘Michelle, you cannot be there for everyone else if you’re not there for yourself.’ Like usual, she was right. And while, like many women—and men—I’ve struggled to find the right balance, I try to make sure that my own health and wellbeing is up there at the top of the list along with my family’s.”
On Walking the Walk… “I certainly don’t consider myself a fitness icon—that’s way too much pressure! But I do hope that by being active, whether by hula-hooping with kids on the White House lawn or by hitting the gym as often as I can, I’m showing people that there are all kinds of ways to get fit and that it’s really about finding the activities that work best for your own body. I hope I’m also showing people by example that getting fit can be fun!”
Related: The Workout That Michelle Obama Will Be Doing this Year
On Helping Her Family Stay Healthy… “Back when I was a busy working mom living in Chicago, Barack and I didn’t always make the best nutrition choices. We were a little too dependent on our microwave and the local takeout places. It got to the point where our pediatrician pulled me aside and urged me to make some changes for the sake of our daughters’ health. That was a real wakeup call for us, so we started making some simple changes that made a big impact: cooking at home more, eating more fruits and vegetables, and drinking more water. And we could really feel the effects on our bodies. ”
On the Success of Let’s Move!… “We’ve helped create healthier daycare centers—where fruits and veggies have replaced cookies and juice—for 1.6 million kids. We raised standards for school meals, and more than 30 million kids are now eating healthier school breakfasts and lunches. We created our Let’s Move! active schools program, and nearly nine million kids are attending schools where they get 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Thousands of chain restaurants have created healthier kids’ menus, and food and beverage companies have cut 6.4 trillion calories from their products. And today, childhood obesity rates have finally stopped rising, and obesity rates are actually falling among our youngest children. ”
On What She Hopes to Achieve Next… “While we’ve made some real progress on this issue, we clearly still have a long way to go—nearly one in three kids is still overweight or obese—and I really wish we could solve this problem more quickly. Unfortunately, our childhood obesity epidemic has been decades in the making, and we can’t fix it overnight. But if we keep pushing forward in all sectors and giving families the information and support they need to make healthy choices, I believe we will be able to give all our kids the healthy futures they deserve.”
Related: Shonda Rhimes Wants Her Daughters to Own Their Sexuality
On What We Can Do to Help… “One of the most important things we can to do to protect women’s health is to protect the Affordable Care Act that my husband passed back in 2010. Because of this law, most health plans now cover preventive care like pap smears, contraception, and flu shots—with no out-of-pocket costs. Insurance companies can no longer discriminate against women—believe it or not, insurance companies used to be allowed to charge women more than men for the very same coverage. And they can no longer discriminate against you and charge you outrageous rates if you have a pre-existing condition like HPV or even pregnancy—yes, pregnancy was sometimes considered a pre-existing condition.
"This law has helped so many women, and we need to make sure that no one takes away the protections it provides for us and our families.
Today’s makeup can stand up to heat, long hours of wear, and even a Soul Cycle session. While this saves us the worry of having to reapply all the time, it does have a serious downside: Trying to get all that damn product off. Constant scrubbing is a disaster for your lashes and can cause major irritation to the delicate eye area and sensitive skin. Here’s how to gently (yet completely) remove your makeup.
Protect Your Eyes The skin around your eyes is the thinnest on your face. That’s why it’s prone to irritation, inflammation (hello, bags!), and dark circles. So first things first: A fragrance-, oil-, and alcohol-free liquid makeup remover is a great gentle option for everyday use. We love Renée Rouleau Soothing Eye Makeup Remover ($21.50, reneerouleau.com), which has a PH of 7.2. (Your tears have a natural pH of 6.9 to 7.5, so it won’t sting.)
Apply two to three drops of liquid makeup remover on a cotton pad, and hold it on your eye for 20 to 30 seconds, says Viviana Martin, the Director of Global Artistry and Pro-Artist Relations for Kevyn Aucoin. This allows the remover to start dissolving the makeup before you rub. You can then gently rub your eyes, but make sure you don’t pull and that you aren’t too rough, which can break your lashes.
RELATED: Yes, Makeup Primer Actually Works: Here’s the Right Way to Apply It
Pick a Heavy-Duty Remover if You’re Wearing Waterproof Makeup Because they have a stronger consistency, oil-based removers are ideal for removing waterproof makeup, says Martin. “A regular remover may not be able to handle the long-wearing action of a waterproof mascara,” she says. MAC Cleanse Off Oil ($31, maccosmetics.com) is a good option.
Be aware, however, that the oil can leave greasy residue behind. It can also create a barrier against other products, such as eye cream or moisturizer—stopping them from penetrating your skin. To prevent this from happening, do a full cleanse after you take off your makeup.
RELATED: 8 Ways to Keep Your Summer Glow into Fall
Use Towelettes Sparingly Makeup remover wipes have their benefits, but because they’re not highly saturated (the whole point is to reduce mess, after all), they require constant scrubbing, which can, of course, cause irritation and damage. So only use them in a pinch (like after a workout).
DIY It Combining a little bit of Vaseline and moisturizer and rubbing it into your skin works wonders when you don’t have a traditional makeup remover handy. Martin also recommends another DIY idea: honey. Similar to an oil-based remover, it’s gentle on the eyes and hydrating—opposed to traditional alcohol-based removers, which can be very drying. Just remember to cleanse your face after to avoid any stickiness.
RELATED: How to Try an At-Home Peel Without Effing up Your Face
Finish with Toner Unless your skin is severely dry or irritated, use a toner to remove any leftover makeup or remover residue. We’re fans of The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Skin Clearing Face Toner ($18, thebodyshop-usa.com), which serves as an acne treatment, too.
For most of us, a cold shower only happens when we’re last in line for the bathroom or our S.O. “accidentally” flushes while we’re in there. (In the words of Stephanie Tanner, “How rude!”) But it turns out the hot water hogs in your life may be doing you a serious favor: When it comes to body-boosting benefits, experts suggest cold showers are where it’s at.
To reap the potential rewards of a cold shower regime, Halse recommends a water temp of 60 degrees or under, which is the equivalent to very cold pool water. Start out using as cold a temperature as you can stand, says Schultz, and gradually adjust the temp so it’s a little cooler each time you hop in.
Here are just some of the perks chilling out can provide.
Brightens Your Mood
“Hydrotherapy with cold water can increase beta-endorphin and noradrenaline levels in the blood, as well as noradrenaline levels in the brain, which may in turn have an anti-depressant effect on mood,” says Sheenie Ambardar, M.D., a Beverly Hills-based psychiatrist. A study published in the journal Medical Hypotheses found that taking two to three minute cold showers on the reg (like, 68-degrees cold) over a two-week period boosted the moods of their participants.
Related:Is It Better to Wash Your Face in the Shower
Soothes Sore Muscles
Cold showers can help you recover from a hardcore workout by reducing soreness and inflammation, says Henry Halse, a Philadelphia-based certified strength and conditioning specialist. If there’s a particular muscle giving you ‘tude, Halse suggests focusing the shower water directly on the area for as close to five minutes as you can. “The increased blood flow to the area can help repair damaged muscle or other tissue because your blood contains the nutrients that heal,” he says.
Improves Your Skin
The best way to score beauty benefits from a cold shower is to first cleanse with warm water, and then shift to a cooler temperature, says Neal Schultz, M.D., a New York City dermatologist, host of DermTV.com, and creator of BeautyRx by Dr. Schultz. The cold can help tighten your skin and pores, put the kibosh on unwanted redness, and reduce puffiness below your eyes. Not only will your skin look smoother and brighter, but your makeup will go on like buttah.
Related: 5 Ways Your Shower Is Making You Look Worse
Makes Hair Shinier
The cuticle of hair shafts can be dried out more by warm water, leaving your tresses looking…well, blah, says Julia Tzu, founder and medical director of Wall Street Dermatology. A shot of cold water post-conditioner can make your hair appear shinier and smoother by flattening your hair follicles and locking in moisture.
Helps Combat Stress
Cold water to the face may help with relaxation by slowing the heart and in fact has been studied to treat abnormally fast heart rates, says Tzu. Another study found that participants who swam in ice-cold water on the regular showed an increased tolerance to stress—all thanks to their bodies adapting to the repeat exposure.
A pixie cut is super trendy—but it takes major upkeep. And growing one out can be seriously awkward. In addition to cutting back your visits to the salon, there are some simple tricks you can keep up your sleeve to prevent an unflattering look for months on end. Here, Damian Santiago, co-owner of Mizu New York Salon, schools us on returning to long hair.
Hold onto as much length as possible so that you can style your strands into a short bob, says Santiago. Because most pixies are longer in the front to frame the face, the simplest transition is an angled bob with shorter pieces in the back. Going an extra two to four weeks between trims is ideal for getting back some length.
RELATED:Are Your Friends Who Swear by Biotin Lying to You?
Use product to camouflage uneven layers or funky growth. “Play with styling it differently and exploring different products during that period,” says Santiago. The best option is to add texture to hide obvious ends. Santiago swears by R+Co’s Rockaway Salt Spray ($25, randco.com) and Death Valley Dry Shampoo ($29, randco.com). On seriously stringy cuts, you can add texture and volume with a curling iron and setting spray.
If you have just a little length, braids are your best bet at hiding your awkward phase. “You can be really creative with braids these days,” says Santiago. Starting at the part, French braid down the hairline (using as much or as little hair as you’d like) and secure with a bobby pin or elastic where the hair ends. This creates an intentional asymmetrical aesthetic so any uneven layers look almost purposeful. And if pieces start to slip out (one of the tribulations of short hair!), just pin them back in place. Messiness is part of the style’s charm.
RELATED:Hair and Makeup Pros Reveal the Worst Beauty Disasters They’ve Had to Fix
The bottom line: Don’t chicken out in fear of the inevitable growing-out phase. If all else fails, use bobby pins to pull the hair up into a creative updo. Twist small sections of hair and pull them into the center of your head. Or even faster—pull the front strands back with a simple headband (FranceLuxe.com sells a variety of cute, chic styles.) You’ll have longer hair before you know it.
Some Lucky Women Have STD-Fighting Vaginas Are You One of Them
Hoo-has are even more special than we originally thought
It’s no secret that your vagina can do some pretty amazing things. But it might be even more awe-inspiring than you think.
According to new research from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, the bacteria in your vagina could be protecting you from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
For the study, scientists examined vaginal mucus from 31 women and used high-resolution time-lapse microscopes to test whether HIV particles became trapped in the mucus or spread out (which could then lead to an infection). The results were published in mBio, an open-access journal published by the American Society for Microbiology.
RELATED: 5 Times Vaginas Proved How Talented They Are
Vaginal bacteria is considered “healthy” if it’s dominated by a species of the bacteria Lactobacillus, lead study author Sam Lai, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy,said in a press release. But Lai and his team discovered that a strain of this bacteria, Lactobacillus crispatus, helps create a mucus barrier that fights off HIV and other STDs.
Cervicovaginal mucus that contained Lactobacillus crispatus and higher levels of the compound D-lactic acid was very good at trapping HIV, researchers found.
But not all cervicovaginal mucus is created equal. Researchers also discovered that mucus didn’t trap HIV when it had low levels of D-lactic acid, Lactobacillus iners (another type of Lactobacillus) or significant amounts of Gardnerella vaginalis, a bacterium associated with bacterial vaginosis (a condition that happens when you get too much bad bacteria in your vagina).
“These findings could lead to the development of novel strategies to protect women against HIV,” researchers wrote in the study.
The downside: Your body can’t make D-lactic acid, so you can’t take a supplement or eat something new to add it to your cervicovaginal mucus. There’s also no way of knowing the makeup of your vaginal bacteria without undergoing a lab test like this, so you’ll definitely want to keep having safe sex. Still—pretty cool!
How Your Metabolism Changes in Your 20s, 30s, and 40s
A.K.A. why you need to start strength training right now
When you’re a kid, you can wolf down candy bars, fast food, and frozen pizza bagels without a second thought—you know it won’t impact your weight. Now, you’re a hardcore veggie eater and struggle to lose those extra few pounds. Why does this happen? As you likely know, your metabolism takes a nosedive over the years and ultimately impacts your waistline. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here are all the ways your natural calorie-burning power transforms as you age—and what you can do to keep it in high gear.
In Your Twenties…
You Hit Your Peak Most women enjoy their highest basal metabolic rate (the number of calories you burn by just being alive), in their late teens or early twenties, says Christopher Ochner, Ph.D., weight-loss expert at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Some women will hit it a bit earlier, others later, which has a lot to do with genetics, but your activity level also plays a big role. After all, the more you hoof it around campus, play on intramural teams, and hit up the university weight room, the more calorie-torching muscle you’ll build and the higher your metabolism will be, he says. Plus, until you’re about 25 or so, your body is still building bone, and that process burns up calories.
But It Doesn’t Last Long According to the American Council on Exercise, your basal metabolic rate drops roughly one to two percent per decade. “By the late twenties, many women notice that they can’t eat the same things they used to without gaining weight and that the weight doesn’t fall off as easily as it once did,” says Ochner. Since this drop starts right about the time people settle into the (largely sedentary) workforce—and start losing muscle—your office job might actually be to blame, he says. Buzzkill.
In Your Thirties…
The Fattening Cycle Continues As you lose muscle, your natural calorie-burning ability slows even more. And as you lose muscle and gain fat, fat can develop into the muscle and cause weight gain and metabolic dysfunction, says Caroline Cederquist, M.D., creator of bistro MD and author of The MD Factor. To add insult to injury, during your thirties, you aren’t producing as much human growth hormone as before (no more growth spurts for you!), which also leads to a dip in your metabolic rate, she says. However, strength training can help you build muscle and produce more human growth hormone, both of which keep your metabolism running as fast as (or faster than) it did when you were 20.
Pregnancy Can Go Either Way If you decide to bring a baby on board, pregnancy can give your metabolism a bump—but not enough to start eating your normal diet times two. “Yes, you need to eat for yourself and the baby, but that baby might only be a couple millimeters large, so you don’t need that many extra calories,” says Wesley Delbridge, R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During pregnancy, you’ll likely burn about 200 extra calories a day, says Delbridge. Women who are at a healthy weight before pregnancy should only gain about 25 to 35 pounds during those nine months, he says. Unfortunately, according to a 2015 study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, almost half of women gain too much weight when they’re preggers—which can contribute to muscle- and metabolism-wrecking insulin resistance.
Breastfeeding to the Rescue A huge calorie burn comes from breastfeeding. The average woman who’s breastfeeding full-time can expect to burn an extra 500 to 1,000 calories per day, says Delbridge. Unfortunately, as soon as you start weaning your little one, your metabolism goes back to pre-pregnancy levels—as long as you haven’t lost any muscle since you got pregnant.
In Your Forties…
Your Hormones Tank Around 40, your baby maker prepares to close up shop, and your levels of estrogen, progesterone, and (again) human growth hormone decrease, says Cederquist. So unfortunately, your metabolism follows suit. That means you’ll have to focus on reducing your caloric intake during your forties in order to maintain your weight, says Delbridge. If you’re working out, that might only amount to eating about 150 less calories per day, he says. But if you don’t exercise and sit most of the day, you’ll probably have to cut more calories to stay svelte.
Building Muscle Becomes a Non-Negotiable Okay, so this is a must at any age, but around age 40, your body’s natural decline in muscle mass, called sarcopenia, sets in. To combat the loss of lean mass and keep your metabolism revved, you really have to turn to strength training. (But, hopefully, you have already!) According to research from the Harvard School of Public Health, people who lift weights put on less belly fat as they age than cardio bunnies. While any exercise will help you burn calories while you’re at the gym, strength training gives your metabolism the biggest boost after your workout ends, says Ochner. On top of pumping iron, eating enough protein (about 100 to 120 grams a day) will boost your efforts to get stronger. “A woman who was sedentary in her twenties and thirties can actually have a higher metabolic rate in her forties if she exercises and changes her diet,” says Cederquist.
At any one of the Meatball Shop’s six New York outposts, patrons relish, say, orbs of spicy pork over a bed of sauteed broccoli, or pesto-dressed chicken atop freshly milled polenta. And while a vegetable version of the meatball has long graced the menu, now Meatball Shop owner and Chef Daniel Holzman has dreamed up a vegan recipe.
“Vegan food can be difficult to make for traditionally trained chefs, because we often rely on animal fats and proteins for moisture, flavor and to help bind ingredients together,” he explained. But Holzman, who launched his cooking career at New York’s acclaimed vegan restaurant Candle Café, isn’t perturbed by the challenge. “I love vegetables and don’t find cooking with only them to be constraining,” he added.
After myriad requests from customers for a vegan iteration of the meatball, Holzman decided it was time to experiment. By melding the likes of lentils, mushrooms and walnuts with carrots, tomato paste and breadcrumbs, he found success, yielding these fresh thyme- and parsley-flecked balls. “They aren’t made with any strange meat substitutes,” he pointed out. “The lentils and mushrooms are very ‘meaty,’ and the walnuts lend great texture and richness.” They’re just begging to be heightened by an indulgent jolt of pesto or tomato sauce sopped up by focaccia.
Related: 11 Delicious Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
Vegan Meatballs
Yield: About two dozen 1 ½-inch meatballs
2 cups lentils ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 ½ large onion, chopped 3 carrots, chopped 3 celery stalks, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme 2 teaspoons salt 5 tablespoons tomato paste 10 ounces button mushrooms, wiped clean and sliced ½ cup breadcrumbs ½ cup chopped fresh parsley ¼ cup finely chopped walnuts
Combine the lentils and two quarts water in a medium stockpot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the lentils are soft (but not falling apart), about 25 minutes. Drain the lentils and allow to cool. Add ¼ cup olive oil to a large frying pan and saute the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme and salt over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and just beginning to brown. Add the tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, for 15 more minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and allow to cool to room temperature.
When cool, add the lentils to the vegetable mixture. Add breadcrumbs, parsley and walnuts to the cooled vegetable mixture and mix by hand until thoroughly incorporated. Place in the refrigerator for 25 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Drizzle the remaining two tablespoons olive oil into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and use your hand to evenly coat the entire surface. Set aside. Roll the mixture into round, golf ball-sized meatballs (about 1 ½ inches), making sure to pack the vegetable mixture firmly. Place the balls in the prepared baking dish, allowing ¼ inch of space between the balls and place in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid.
Roast for 30 minutes, or until the meatballs are firm and cooked through. Allow the meatballs to cool for five minutes on the baking dish before serving.
Per serving (3 balls): Calories 353; Fat 14 g (Saturated 2 g); Sodium 687 mg; Carbohydrate 46 g; Fiber 17 g; Sugars 6 g; Protein 16 g
A salad dressing without olive oil doesn’t sound genius—it doesn’t even sound good. Harsh, imbalanced, aggressive, joyless even? Well yes, it must be so.
But this radish and herb salad, from Engin Akin’s new cookbook Essential Turkish Cuisine, has no fat of any kind—and involves no sacrifice, no straining to compensate. Truthfully, it’s all the better for not having a lick of oil.
Engin Atkin’s Turkish Radish and Herb Salad
Initially, I couldn’t believe that this would be a selling point for Genius Recipes or for me. I’ve worked for almost six years for Food52, a company whose values direct us to embrace all the whole foods (and even some of the not-so-whole ones), and whose banned words list includes “indulgent” and “calories” and all references to diets and guilt.
Related: 7 Fall Salads
Chopping red radishes
Food52’s very first published article, by one Merrill Stubbs, was an ode to Organic Valley butter. “I’m a slatherer. Always have been,” she wrote. We’re a good fit, because most of my cooking tricks are actually just frying in olive oil. I had cookies for dessert last night and for breakfast.
Related: You Should Be Adding Fresh Herbs to Your Salads
But even I—and every colleague I fed this salad—fell for a fat-free dressing.
Chopped red radishes
Why leave the olive oil out? The reason is simple. “Like most salads from eastern Turkey,” Akin writes in the recipe’s headnote, “this salad is prepared without olive oil, as it is hard to get where olive trees are not part of the landscape.” In an email, she also pointed out the clues in the recipe’s name, Anatolian Gypsy Salad: "It must have been unpractical to carry olive oil or any kind of oil, as gypsies are nomads, and moving with oil canteens would have been not so easy.
Related: Deborah Madison’s Genius Technique for Better, Brighter Lentil Salads
Crushed ice
But why does it work so well? For one thing, there’s no vinegar or lemon juice, so the dressing doesn’t need as much padding as a typical high-acid vinaigrette. Instead, it has an unlikely but brilliant base: tomato paste, pomegranate molasses, and crushed ice. As the ice melts, it keeps the radishes bright and crunchy, but also thins the sweet, musky syrup to be looser, lighter.
Ingredients prior to mixing
All together, it’s as tangy and vibrant as any good salad dressing, but naturally a bit softer and more nuanced than a shot of vinegar. There’s also some crushed garlic, some sumac, and a whole mess of herbs—all at full volume, without a muzzle of fat.
Not that there’s anything wrong with fat. But sometimes, the indulgence might be in not using it.
Engin Atkin’s Turkish Radish and Herb Salad
Adapted from Essential Turkish Cuisine (Stewart, Tabori, and Chang, October 2015)
2 cups (230 grams) sliced red radishes ½ cup (10 grams) chopped mint or tarragon ¾ cup (15 grams) chopped parsley 2 teaspoons sumac 1 large garlic clove, crushed 1 tablespoon tomato paste, diluted with 2 tablespoons cold water 3 tablespoons pomegranate molasses 3 tablespoons crushed ice Salt
1. In a bowl, toss together the radishes, mint or tarragon, parsley, sumac, and garlic.
2. Add the diluted tomato paste water, pomegranate molasses, and ice and toss. Season with salt to taste and serve immediately in a chilled bowl.
As a sports dietitian, I am often asked by athletes and exercise enthusiasts, “How much protein do I need?” But simply suggesting a daily total number of grams of protein per day is not enough. Plus, it’s hard to make sense of the all the conflicting info out there on protein intake and muscle protein synthesis (aka muscle building).
At the recent Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Nashville, Blake Rasmussen, Ph.D., from the University of Texas discussed some of the latest science on protein. Here is some insight on how much protein you should be eating, which foods are best, and guidelines for when to eat them.
Calculating Needs Daily protein needs can vary significantly based on age, gender and activity level, but typically ranges from 55 to 100 grams per day for a 150-pound person.
While the Dietary Guidelines currently recommend 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight (about 0.36 grams per pound), new research suggests that body requirements are higher, especially for active folks and older adults.
A study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutritionindicates that in addition to a boost in daily grams, the proper type and timing of protein-rich foods are also vital for keeping muscles healthy.
Types of Protein Protein quality comes down to which amino acids it contains. There are 20 of these protein building blocks, and some foods contain more of them than others. Nine of these 20 are dubbed “essential,” meaning they must come from our daily diet.
Grams of protein are plentiful in both animal- and plant-based foods, but options like meat, dairy, eggs, fish, soy and quinoa have the advantage of containing all nine of those sought-after amino acids. Legumes and grains offer lots of nutrients but are lacking one or more of those essential amino acids.
For best results, consume a combination of animal and plant options to bank those amino acids and round out your other nutritional needs. Some studies also suggest that whey and casein protein found in dairy, as well as the soy-based proteins, may be helpful when consumed together to optimize muscle building, especially after activity.
Related: 11 Healthy-Eating Myths That Just Aren’t True
When
According to published literature, protein intake should ideally be spread throughout the entire day, not consumed in a huge dose at one or two meals.
Muscle protein synthesis functions at a higher rate in the 24-hour period following exercise. This means that those who are physically active will see the greatest benefit for building and maintaining lean body mass if they eat protein after a workout. Sample Meal Plan What does a healthy day with well-distributed protein look like? Take a look: Breakfast Omelet (1 egg + 1 egg white) 1 cup cooked oatmeal (made with low-fat milk and topped with berries) Total protein = 23 grams Snack Nonfat flavored Greek yogurt Total protein = 13 grams Lunch Turkey sandwich on whole-grain bread Total protein = 29 grams Snack Apple 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter Total protein = 7 grams Dinner 4 ounces cooked chicken breast 1 medium baked sweet potato Garden salad with balsamic vinaigrette Total protein = 33 grams Daily total calories = 1,800 Daily total protein = 105 grams
7 Everyday Habits That Improve Mood, According to Science
Oh-so-easy tricks to relieve stress and be happier every day
Some of these happiness habits may surprise you—but scientific research shows they really work.
1. Smell the roses Harvard research found that folks who kept freshly cut flowers in their home for a week reported feeling more energized and less anxious.
2. Spend wisely In a 2014 study, San Francisco State University researchers discovered that splurging on life experiences (like a weekend trip) made people happier than purchasing material items.
Related: 12 Signs You May Have an Anxiety Disorder
3. Switch to iced coffeeDowning four or more cans of sweetened soda a day raised a person’s risk of depression by 30 percent, while drinking four cups of coffee a day lowered the risk by 10 percent, according to a 2014 study in Plos One.
4. Consider a D supplement A 2012 study of more than 12,000 people found that those with the lowest levels of vitamin D were the most likely to be depressed. Talk to your doc about getting a blood test to see if you’re deficient.
Related: 12 Ways to Get Your Daily Vitamin D
5. Work out regularly Starting a fitness routine between the ages of 20 and 40 that includes three sweat sessions a week could reduce one’s risk of depression by about 16 percent, suggested British research published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2014.
6. Cut back on Facebook… The site was associated with a decline in overall happiness and life satisfaction in a 2013 University of Michigan study.
7. …And meditate instead A daily practice might help some people relieve anxiety and depression, found Johns Hopkins research published last year in JAMA Internal Medicine.Try this meditation before bed for a better night’s sleep.
The 30 Best High-Protein Foods for Metabolism @ Ranked
You need more protein.
Whether or not you subsist on a ribs-and-burgers diet, or live a vegan lifestyle and carefully balance your vegetable proteins, chances are you need more, especially if you want rapid weight loss.
The Recommended Daily Allowance for men is 56 grams a day, while for women it’s 46 grams. That’s about as much as you’d get in 4 to 5 chicken drumsticks or two large hamburgers. Other ways to reach near those numbers: 2 ½ pork chops, 15 slices of bacon, or an 8-ounce steak.
But that’s still not enough: In a 2015 study in the American Journal of Physiology—Endocrinology and Metabolism, researchers found that those who ate twice as much protein as the Recommended Daily Allowance had greater net protein balance and muscle protein synthesis—in other words, it was easier for them to maintain and build muscle, and hence keep their metabolisms revving on high. So even if you eat a burger for lunch and a couple of pork chops for dinner, you’re still coming up short in the protein department. To help you reach your fitness and weight-loss goals, the researchers behind Zero Belly Cookbook uncovered and ranked these 30 best high-protein foods for metabolism. And to get your stomach supertight, don’t miss these 30 Foods That Melt Love Handles!
30. Wheatgrass Powder
2 grams per 1.25 Tbsp What doesn’t wheatgrass offer for a mere 30 calories? Even a tiny dose like this packs fiber, protein, tons of vitamin A and K, folic acid, manganese, iodine, and chlorophyll, to name a few. You don’t need to know what each nutrient does for you; just know that a single tablespoon will have you operating at peak performance levels. So even if the protein count is low, you’ll last longer at the gym.
29. Grapefruit
grapefruit
2 g per fruit Plenty of studies have shown that grapefruit stands alone as a particularly powerful weight-loss food. One study in the Journal of Medical Food found that people who ate half a fresh grapefruit a day lost 3 ½ pounds in 12 weeks despite making no changes in diet or exercise. And pair it with green tea, as part of the 17-Day Green Tea Diet. Its metabolism-boosting compounds, called catechins, increase metabolism and speed the liver’s capacity for turning fat into energy. Blast fat in record time on Eat This, Not That!'s brand-new THE 17-DAY GREEN TEA DIET! Test panelists lost up to 10 pounds!
28. Flaxmeal
flaxmeal
2 grams per 2 Tbsp You may think of flax for its fiber content and rich omega-3 fatty acid profile, but flax is actually a potent protein source as well. Two tablespoons gives you 2 grams of muscle-building protein as well as 4 grams of metabolism-enhancing fiber. Blend some into these essential protein shake recipes.
27. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
cocoa powder
2 g per 2 Tbsp Mix some cocoa powder into your smoothie for a boost of more than just flavor. In addition to delivering a gram of protein for every 12 calories, it will also give you 4 grams of fat-burning fiber and 20% of your daily value for the essential muscle-making mineral manganese.
26. Hubbard Squash
2.5 grams per ½ cup The big, blue, gnarly looking squash that shows up every autumn harbors a secret stash of metabolism-boosting protein. The seeds alone deliver 8 grams of protein per ¼ cup once you’ve roasted and salted them, but the squash meat itself will supply another few grams. Spice it up with cinnamon and serve it as an alternative to sweet potatoes. And blast even more fat with these 50 Ways to Lose 10 Pounds—Fast!
25. Falafel
falafel
2.5g per falafel They look like runaway crabcakes from a cocktail party, but falafels are little balls of chickpeas and herbs that deliver a gram of protein for every 25 calories.
24. Passion Fruit
passion fruit
2.5 grams per ½ cup Like pomegranate, passion fruit delivers a surprising dose of protein thanks to its edible seeds; a half cup also gives you 12 grams of fiber and more than half a day’s vitamin C. They’ll boost your metabolism—and speaking of, don’t fall prey to these 25 Things You're Doing to Slow Your Metabolism!
23. Sweet Peas
sweet peas
3 grams per ½ cup Like all legumes, peas are great sources of protein. But you can get an additional boost from sweet peas, the kind that come in their own edible pods (also known as mange tout). Eat them raw or steam them and top with a dab of butter and some sea salt, or use them in these soup recipes. You’ll get a gram of protein for every 15 calories you consume.
22. Broccoli Rabe
broccoli rabe
3.3 grams per serving This bitter cousin to your bland, boring broccoli has one of the highest protein-per-calorie ratios in the plant world: 1 gram of protein for every 8.7 calories. A serving will give you 3.3 grams for just 28 calories—that’s more protein than a spoonful of peanut butter.
21. Avocados
avocados
4 grams per fruit High in healthy monounsaturated fats, avocados, one of the essential superfoods, also deliver a surprising dose of protein. Another reason to make guacamole your go-to appetizer.
20. Mushrooms
mushrooms
4 grams per serving You may know about the protein packing power of Portabella mushrooms because they show up in place of burgers at some restaurants. But most mushrooms deliver about 4 grams of protein per serving, for less than 40 calories. They’re also a great source of selenium, a mineral that’s essential for proper muscle function.
19. Kamut
kamut
5 grams per ½ cup (cooked) This ancient grain saddles you with less than 5 grams of carbs for every gram of protein, about what you’ll get from its more highly publicized cousin, quinoa. Spelt and amaranth deliver similar benefits. Just make sure you’re not eating one of these 22 Worst Carbs in America!
18. Pomegranate
pomegranate
5 grams per fruit You may not think of fruit when you think of protein, but pomegranates stand out as protein powerhouses. The reason: The protein is stored in the seeds of the fruit. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that Pom Wonderful will give you the same benefits—it’s full of sugars.
17. Japanese soba noodles
japanese soba noodles
5.8g per cup, cooked For a mere 113 calories per cup, soba noodles slip you a nice bit of protein for a relatively low 24 grams of carbs.
16. Oatmeal
oatmeal
6 grams per 1 cup serving In addition to its 4 grams of belly-filling fiber, a cup of oatmeal delivers as much protein as an egg. Start every morning with one of these 50 Best Overnight Oats Recipes!
15. Eggs
eggs
6 g each Two-thirds of the egg’s protein is in the white, but don’t skip the yolk: Egg yolks are the single best dietary source of the B vitamin choline, an essential nutrient used in the construction of all the body’s cell membranes. Choline deficiency is linked directly to the genes that cause visceral fat accumulation, particularly in the liver. Yet according to a 2015 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, only a small percentage of all Americans eat daily diets that meet the U.S. Institute of Medicine’s Adequate Intake of 425 mg for women and 550 mg for men. Eggs are a key part of Zero Belly Diet and the new Zero Belly Cookbook. Test panelists lost up to 16 pounds in 14 days!
14. Hummus
hummus
6 grams per ½ cup serving Perhaps the very best thing you can dip a chip into, hummus delivers a gram of protein for each 36 calories. Made from chickpeas and olive oil, it’s as healthy as a food can get.
13. Green Beans
green beans
6 grams per ½ cup cooked They may be French, but green beans will keep you lean with a solid gram of vegetable protein for every 18 calories you consume. And blast fat faster with these killer 40 Ways to Lose 4 Inches of Body Fat!
12. Pistachios
pistachios
6.5 grams per ¼ cup All nuts are high in protein, but pistachios may have additional metabolic powers, making them one of the best-everhigh protein snacks. A brand new study by scientists in India looked at 60 middle-aged men who were at risk for diabetes and heart disease. They gave the two groups similar diets, except that one of these groups got 20 percent of their daily calories from pistachios. The group that ate the pistachios had smaller waists at the end of the study period; their cholesterol score dropped by an average of 15 points, and their blood sugar numbers improved as well.
11. Spirulina
spirulina
8 grams per tablespoon Spirulina is a blue-green algae that’s typically dried and sold in powdered form, although you can also buy spirulina flakes and tablets. Dried spirulina is about 60 percent protein and, like quinoa, it’s a complete protein, meaning it can be converted directly into muscle in the body. A tablespoon delivers 8 grams of metabolism-boosting protein for just 43 calories, plus half a day’s allotment of vitamin B12. It’s a great option if a blended vegan protein isn’t available.
10. Peanuts
peanuts
9 grams per ¼ cup The king nut when it comes to protein is the humble peanut, when you want to lose belly fat. In fact, it tops pecans (2.5 grams), cashews (5 grams) and even almonds (8 grams) in the protein power rankings. Peanuts are also terrific sources of the mood-boosting vitamin folate.
9. Beans
black beans
10 grams per ¾ cup Think of beans as little weight-loss pills, and enjoy them whenever you’d like. One study found that people who ate ¾ cup of beans daily weighed 6.6 pounds less than those who didn’t, even though the bean eater consumed, on average, 199 more calories per day. Part of the reason is that fiber—from beans and whole grains—helps our bodies (okay, actually the bacteria in our bodies) produce a substance called butyrate, which deactivates the genes that cause insulin insensitivity. Want more? Don’t miss these 50 Best Breakfast Foods for Weight Loss—Ranked!
8. Black rice
black rice
10 grams per ¼ cup uncooked Once known as Forbidden Rice because only emperors were allowed to eat it, black rice is one of the hottest new food trends, and for good reason. It’s higher in protein and fiber than its cousin, brown rice.
7. Rye berries
rye berries
12.5 grams per ½ cup Rye is the grain they make pumpernickel from, but it’s also an oft-neglected superfood. Try substituting it for rice (though you’ll need to cook it longer) for a super-potent vegetarian protein side dish, and sprinkle with chia seeds for an extra boost.
6. Chickpea pasta
chickpea pasta
14 grams per serving Traditional wheat pasta is a pretty solid protein player, with 7 grams per serving. But upgrade to Banza pasta, made with chickpeas, and you’ll double that number, while also enjoying 8 grams of fiber and only about half the carbs of your average pasta dinner.
5. Tempeh
tempeh sandwich
16 grams per ½ cup Mas macho than its softer cousin, tofu (which can lead to man boobs), tempeh is made from soy beans, rather than soy milk. As a result, it’s closer to a whole food, and keeps more of its protein, about 50% more than tofu.
4. Vegan Protein Powder
vegan protein powder
15 to 20 grams per scoop More and more research is showing that when we add plant proteins to our diets, our bodies respond by shedding fat. In a 2015 study in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation, researchers discovered that patients who ingested higher amounts of vegetable protein were far less susceptible to metabolic syndrome (a disease that ought to be renamed “diabolic syndrome”—it’s basically a combination of high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and obesity). That means eating whole foods from vegetables—and supplementing with vegan protein powder—is one of the best ways to keep extra weight at bay. A second study in Nutrition Journal found that “plant protein intakes may play a role in preventing obesity.” Vega One All-in-One Nutritional Shake, Vega Sport Performance Protein, and Sunwarrior Warrior Blend are three we love—find 150+ delicious recipes in Zero Belly Cookbook.
3. Halibut
halibut
22 grams per 3 oz fillet Often overlooked in favor of its two closest nutritional competitors, tuna and salmon, halibut is a delicious, firm-meat white fish with a very low level of contaminates. It delivers a gram of protein for every 4.5 calories. Snapper, perch and cod are also high-protein fish. (And they’re helpful when trying to get your, um, fish to swim upstream. Read on for the 30 Best Proteins for Your Penis.)
2. Turkey Breast
turkey breast
26 grams per 3 oz serving Mightier than its cousin the chicken breast (which delivers a mere 16 grams for the same serving size), turkey is protein potentate of poultry.
1. Slow-Roasted Pork Loin
pork loin chop
28 grams per 3 oz serving Pork and beef run about neck-and-neck when it comes to protein. But what we love about pork loin is that it cooks so nicely in a slow cooker, barbecued on low heat, or roasted in the oven—methods you should use more often. When you cook meat at high temperatures, and that includes beef, pork, fish, or poultry, chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are produced. According to a study in Nutrition Journal, increased intake of HCAs causes changes to our gut microbiota that increase our risk to colorectal cancer. Consider slow cookers or long, languid barbecues the healthier alternative to pan-frying or grilling. Now that you know what to eat, keep the fat burn going with these essential55 Best-Ever Ways to Boost Your Metabolism!
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