I hadn’t heard of the ANDI score until this morning when I saw this piece from Well+Good explaining what it is. Apparently it’s a way of measuring the nutrional density of food, and certain grocers like Whole Foods are posting it in their stores. Useful or confusing? You decide.
From the piece:
Rating systems that quickly sum-up a given food’s nutritional value are supposed to make it easier for you to make healthy choices.
Often, they don’t.
Instead, the mysterious acronyms add yet another element to the millions of considerations you’re already making as you fill your basket at Trader Joe’s.
We turned to Dana James, a triple board certified New York nutritionist, to help us make sense of the commonly touted nutrition score called ANDI. Here’s what you need to know about it.
What it stands for: Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI)
What it is: Developed by star nutrition researcher and physician Dr. Joel Fuhrman, ANDI scores (from 1 to 1,000) measure the total nutrient density of a food, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant capacity. Whole Foods posts them in some stores.
Pros: The ANDI scale takes into account lots of nutrients. “It’s the most comprehensive nutrient assessment score I’ve seen,” says James. And it rates nutrient density by calorie, rather than quantity, of food—so it correctly skews towards vegetables.
For example, if you compared the nutrients in a cup of kale to a cup of lentils, you may choose lentils. But the snapshot would be inaccurate, because lentils have almost 20 times the calories of kale. The ANDI scores? Kale at 1,000, lentils 104.
Ahh, but there are cons. Read them here.
It’s that time of year y’all! Time for fun and sun, a Bardot pic and the perennial conversation about sunscreen. The EWG has released its 2012 report, and this time they’re focusing on the many myths about sunscreen. Their piece Sunscreen Exposed: Nine Surprising Truth, calls out some assumed facts about these potions, some of which are just plain fiction. It begins:
“Sunscreens prevent sunburns, but beyond that simple fact surprisingly little is known about the safety and efficacy of these ubiquitous creams and sprays.”
It’s true. Read the piece, but here’s a quick recap:
1. There’s no conclusive proof that it prevents skin cancer.
2. In fact, there’s even some evidence that it increases risk of melonoma.
3. While the market loves super-sky-high SPFs, there’s no proof of their efficacy and even the FDA has proposed prohibiting anything over 50 for being “misleading to the consumer.” Plus which, these high numbers actually encourage people to stay out longer.
4. We need vitamin D, and some smart unprotected sun exposure is the easiest way to get it.
5. Retinal palmitate, a type of vitamin A often used in sunscreens, is suspected of increasing the speed of skin cancer development.
6. Because standards around UVA are not stringent, many sunscreens barely protect skin from free radical damage (also known as aging).
7. Chemical sunscreens contain hormone disruptors, among other nasty ingredients, and many mineral versions now contain nanoparticles. Boo.
8. Europe’s ahead of the game on sunscreens. No surprises there.
9. The FDA has delayed the implementation of their new stricter language laws on sunscreen. That means another summer without them.
Oof.
So now to you: Do you use sunscreen? Have you found a great one that’s clean? Where do you stand on the sunscreen spectrum.
I for one almost never use the stuff, preferring to limit my exposure. This past Saturday for example I sat by a pool for a little bit, taking in the rays, and then I put on a hat and moved into the shade. I know, most dermatologists would start crying if I told them that story, and I’m certainly not making recommendations: sun exposure is different for everyone. Siobhan, who has sun-sensitive Irish skin, uses sunscreen regularly and has reviewed many (that series has one of my faves in it too).
In general we encourage a logic approach to the sun: know your skin, respect the sun, and don’t fall for too much dogma on either side of the debate.
Anyone who’s even dabbled in vegetarianism has undoubtedly been faced with questions of protein: Where do you get it? Are you getting enough? Will you survive to see another day???
And despite the extensive research found in books like the China Study and elsewhere, showing animal protein to not only be unnecessary but potentially harmful—and the fact that there are body builders and Olympic athletes out there thriving on vegan diets—protein remains a tired point of discussion.
I was reminded of these conversations the other day when I came across this article on Mind Body Green. It’s author Mara Tyler, who’s vegan, sites the many ways a vegan can get their protein punch… In fact, if you’re eating healthfully as a vegan, nearly everything you eat contains some amount of protein.
I’m embarrassed to admit that even I’d forgotten just how many non-animal sources there are. Tyler’s list includes veggies—and it’s true, spinach, kale, and others deliver a serious serving of the big P—soy milk, hemp, nut butters, quinoa, tofu, sprouted grains, lentils, tempeh and beans.
Of course soy is controversial, but based on this list it’s not even necessary.
So where do you get your plant-based protein? Also, does anyone have opinions on seitan? I know it contains gluten, and it does feel overly processed, but holy protein—and nothing is more delicious in a Thai curry!
Can we also take a moment to remember the long-held belief that if you didn’t properly combine your non-animal proteins, they didn’t count. That was what I was taught as a vegetarian teen. Thank you science for setting us straight.
Nick Kristof of the New York Times has been one of the most influential voices in the media when it comes to the dangers of endocrine disruptors. Last week he wrote again about the the science fiction that we are living with these chemicals.
The article is a great reminder of why we make such a big fuss around the presence of endocrine disruptors, and why we always advise people to avoid fragrance in their products. (Fragrances notoriously contain phthalates, part of this nasty club.)
Are you very aware of these chemicals in your day-to-day? Do you avoid them at all costs? I still eat many things out of a can (notably sardines) and am at a loss as to how to stop. Is is too much to ask that these chemicals just be banned, once and for all?
This month also happens to be Pregnancy Awareness Month, founded by author and lifestyle expert Anna Getty and producer Alisa Donner. Have you heard of this? It was created in 2008 with the intention of building a support community for mothers and expecting families, and to help educate them around health and wellness.
We should all know about endocrine disruptors, but fetuses are particularly vulnerable. I’ve pasted a few highlights from Kristof’s piece below in case you missed it, or if you’ve capped out on your New York Times articles for the month:
Endocrine disruptors are everywhere. They’re in thermal receipts that come out of gas pumps and A.T.M.’s. They’re in canned foods, cosmetics, plastics and food packaging. Test your blood or urine, and you’ll surely find them there, as well as in human breast milk and in cord blood of newborn babies.
Scientists have long known the tiniest variations in hormone levels influence fetal development. For example, a female twin is very slightly masculinized if the other twin is a male, because she is exposed to some of his hormones.
Now experts worry that endocrine disruptors have similar effects, acting as hormones and swamping the delicate balance for fetuses in particular. The latest initiative by scholars is a landmark 78-page analysis to be published next month in Endocrine Reviews, the leading publication in the field.
“For several well-studied endocrine disruptors, I think it is fair to say that we have enough data to conclude that these chemicals are not safe for human populations,” said Laura Vandenberg, a Tufts University developmental biologist who was the lead writer for the panel.
Need we say more?
Yep, Sunday is Mother’s Day which means it’s time show the moms some love. I’m looking forward to a girls weekend with my mother and sister-in-law, but since I wont be seeing my mom mom (or mummy, as she goes by), I want to get her something extra special.
Luckily I know exactly what that is. Last week when we launched on Open Sky I opted to cash in on the deal and finally get the Lotus Wei Infinite Love perfume. I knew it would be amazing—the mist is my favorite, and Siobhan told us all about the powers of the perfume.
And yet, nothing prepared me for just how much I would love it. I’m still loyal to my smoky Chaman’s Party, but this is a new obsession!
When I was home with the mist my mum fell for it hard too, so I know the perfume will be a hit. She was none too thrilled when I told her she had to give up her perfume—nor did she entirely—so I’m extra eager to have a superior and super-clean alternative.
What are you planning for your mom? Or better yet, if you’re a mom, what are you longing for? Hopefully there’s some batch beauty on the list!
We’re full of ideas over here. For one, there’s this book we hear is pretty good at helping people clean up their acts. And we know (from experience) that moms can be a little stuck in their ways!
Last holiday season I got my mum and sister Hope Gillerman’s stress remedy, and let me tell you, it’s a big crowd pleaser.
Chic brands like Kahina, Tata, Tammy and RMS are also perfect for glam moms (ours both happen to be beautiful, low-maintenance hippie-types). And as many of you know any package from NuboNau and Spirit Beauty make a woman feel like, well, a woman.
And we think that’s a pretty nice feeling, especially for those moms who often forget to pamper themselves. We know some of those.
The days are growing longer, and with summer weather comes one of my favorite ways to eat more veggies: salad! Sure, you may eat salad all year long, some greens playing sideshow to something warm and yummy. But when temperatures rise, and local veggies are in season, a great salad can become a show stealer.
If there’s one thing that kills me—and I’m sorry if this sounds snotty—it’s when someone pulls out a bottle of store-bought dressing. I get the convenience, but a delicious homemade salad dressing can be so easy that it feels wrong to douse fresh veggies with the often high-sodium and sugary processed stuff.
I also happen to consider salads my culinary strength. But I’m always looking for new tricks, so pleasepleaseplease share your favorite recipes in the comments!
In my humble opinion, the key to a great dressing is the right hit of salt—though trust, even if you salt yours heavily it won’t add up to the sodium found in the processed ones—and balancing the acid (vinegar, lemon, lime etc) with the fat (olive oil, vegenaise, mayo etc). I tend to enjoy a one-to-one, or one-and-a-half-to-one, fat to acid.
These four recipes are sooooo simple, and clearly a variation on a theme (one that always starts with olive oil), so you can totally play around and find the fat-to-acid ratio that most pleases you.
Simple Italian Classic
The recipe: 1 tablespoon olive oil, juice of a lemon, 1 crushed garlic clove, salt and pepper to taste
Use this on: Just about anything, from a simple green salad to a veggie-loaded, tomato, cucumber, artichoke heart, and chickpea bonanza. Add Italian parsley for extra freshness.
Creamy Vegan Cesear
The recipe: 1-2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp vegenaise, 1 tsp dijon, 1 tsp juice from capers (this counts as the salt), capers (if you like them), juice of 1/2 a juicy lemon
Use it on: Romaine or leafy greens, feel free to add parmesan, nutritional yeast, croutons, bacon or facon bits, and pretty much anything else you fancy.
Asian Inspiration
The recipe: 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar (get the light one for less sodium and sugar), chopped green onion (optional), pepper to taste
Use it on: Greens, raw kale, cucumbers. It’s also yummy with a touch of of tamari/soy sauce and a 1/2 tsp of roasted sesame oil.
Mexican Twist
The recipe: 1-2 tbsp olive oil, juice of 1 juicy lime, thinly sliced fresh jalapeno pepper, tsp red wine vinegar, crushed clove of garlic, chopped green onion, salt and pepper to taste
Use it on: The type of salad pictured above: cukes, tomatoes, greens, peppers if you like them, mushrooms same, and add some chopped cilantro if you’re not opposed to it.
Best Greek Ever
The recipe: Start with finely chopped red onions and let them sit in salted lemon juice of 1 juicy lemon, after 20 minutes add 1-2 tbs olive oil and pepper to taste
Use it on: Greek-style salad, greens or none, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives if you like them, and feta if you’re not vegan.
You know the ones. With bright colors and pictures of cucumbers, berries, carrots and tomatoes, Yes To is one of the more widely available natural(ish) brands on the market.
While we did mention this line in the book as a cleaner option at the drugstore, the presence of fragrance in certain of their products and a few other borderlines has kept us largely away. But we’re often asked about them. Are any of you Yes To users?
I noticed today that our trusted friends at Well+Good have a review up of their new acne lotion (you can read it here), and this ingredient list looks pretty good, so maybe this brand deserves a closer look.
While we love being able to endorse naturals that are less expensive and widely available, it just drives us right up a wall when brands are almost clean, or totally clean on some products and not on others. Feel me? It just makes it harder for the consumer. To boot, they don’t feature their full ingredients list on their site. Another major pet peeve!
What’s the big deal about fragrance? Well in case you’re new to the party, fragrance is a serious red flag for us because we never know what is used in these formulations.
The fragrance industry is protected under business friendly trade laws that allow them to keep their potions secret, favoring their bottom line over our health (rarara!).
Results from labs show time and again that fragrance formulations contain really sketchy ingredients, notably phthalates—those pesky hormone disruptors—among many others.
Anyhoo, have you had any experience with this brand? And if so, which are your favorite products?
Have any of you tried white eyeliner? It’s my new fave for spring right now.
It wasn’t long ago that I was searching for something new to do with my look. Confession: I did get the highlights, and some of you also encouraged me to try white eyeliner—and I love it!
My fear was that this would look weird, basically. And it does a little. But good weird. Like a little surprise, but a pleasant one. I’ve been really into white shoes as well, so I feel like these pops of white could be part of my current uniform. The older I get the more drawn I am to the idea of a uniform, anyone with me?
But back to the liner. Jane Iredale is my go-to when it comes to natural liners, so I was very excited to try their white. It did not disappoint. What brand of liner do you wear?
I’ve tried it a few ways:
1. Inside liner. I don’t know that lining the inside of one’s eye is ever really the best idea, natural or not, but I still do it on occasion. This is a fun daytime look, as opposed to the inside black line which always screams night out. In this pic it’s done a bit more extreme than I do it, but a lighter touch is almost imperceptible while still looking fresh.
2. Cat eye line. This is a fun, modern take on this back-in-vogue style. Again, what I really like about going white here is that it’s great for day (though nice at night too, because the white really jumps when it catches the light). I wear mascara when I do this, otherwise it can get a little washed out.
3. Lid shadow. This one is probably the easiest to pull off. I’ve tried just using the liner on my lid and then smudging it a bit so that it’s a matte, blended white. But I’ve also mixed it with RMS luminizer which looks more like this pic. Highly recommend!
What new makeup tricks have you been trying? And is white liner in your repertoire?
While some of you could care less what models use on their skin—they’re just genetic jackpot winners, right?—I actually think these women have a lot of insight on the subject.
Models are the ultimate guinea pigs: Day in and out, products of all stripes are piled onto their hair and faces. This means several things: They get to test everything out; they have access to experts; and they actually have to work harder than most of us to try to maintain some kind of balance when they’re not shooting and strutting.
So I was not surprised to see that several of the models in a post from Elle about Model Skin Secrets sited naturals and oils as the ultimate in skincare.
Plant oils seem especially popular among this set. Are you a plant-oil convert yet? And if so, which do you use: argan, coconut, jojoba? See any other products you love here?
Without further ado, the natural picks of these natural-born beauties…
“I like Dr. Hauschka’s Rose Day Cream because it’s chemical-free—I think using clean, organic ingredients on your skin really helps it. The Cleansing Milk and Cleansing Cream are also very good. I’m a huge Dr. Hauschka fan; I’ve been using their products for a couple years
“I actually just discovered Suki—it’s an organic line that you can buy at Whole Foods and health stores. I use their soap and moisturizing oil—facial oil is my new thing!” —Ginta Lapina
“I got really lucky with my skin—I don’t have to do a lot with it. But Caudalie has this Beauty Elixir—it’s just water with some essential oils mixed in—and it’s so nice.”
“I like argan oil—when you put it on before you go to bed, you wake up with baby skin! Really soft baby skin.” —Anais Pouliot
“During Fashion Week I use the Carrot Butter Cleanser from Organic Pharmacy to remove my makeup. It’s moisturizing and takes off everything, even waterproof mascara—it cleanses really deep.”
“For removing my mascara, I like using coconut oil. As a moisturizer, I like Dr. Alkaites’ cream or Bulgarian rose oil—you know, things that are organic and natural for the skin, and won’t just sit on it.” —Karolina Kurkova
Spoken like true clean girls! Do you share any favorites with these ladies?
I know, fiber first thing on a Monday morning? But despite how much airtime this stuff gets, Americans don’t get nearly enough of it in their diets. Not even close. Apparently our average consumption is somewhere between 5 and 10 grams a day when it should be closer to 25. Let’s not hang on that thought too long.
Fiber, as we’ve all been told—whether we’re listening or not—is critical for our health. And not only because it keeps things moving, thus detoxifying our precious bodies; it also regulates blood sugar among other nifty things.
If you’re reading this site chances are you probably already have heard ad nauseam that what happens inside our bodies has a whole lot to do with how we look—so I’ll spare you the speech about our bowels and our beauty, ya? Great.
Guess what doesn’t contain fiber? Animal products. Oh, and crappy processed foods. But I was surprised to discover exactly which foods contain a whole lot of it—pleasantly so! But first: How much do you think about fiber? And where do you get yours?
Here are some surprising heavy fiber hitters from a few food categories (courtesy of the ever-useful Mayo Clinic website):
- Raspberries: A cup gets you a generous 8 grams. And how easy is it to eat a cup of raspberries?
- Split peas: A cup delivers a whopping 16.3 grams!
- Whole-wheat spaghetti: Just over 6 grams for a cup of that goodness (which is more than a cup of bran flakes, I’ll have you know).
- Artichokes: One medium-sized artichoke contains 10.3 grams of fiber. I had no idea.
- Green peas: Good peas taste like candy, but a cup will also provide 9 grams of fiber.
I really thought the fiber champions would be all broccoli (5 grams) and brussels (4 grams), or cauliflower and cabbage which didn’t even make the Mayo Clinic’s list. An honorable mention should go to almonds and pistachios (3.5 and 3 grams respectively). And to the sleeper surprise hit, popcorn: Apparently 3 air-popped cups gets you 3.5 grams.
Where do you get your fiber?
