It’s been an interesting year for Apple Watch apps. In the spring it seemed as if the Watch had lost its sparkle, with many big-name apps either languishing or being pulled from the Watch altogether. The problem wasn’t that Apple Watch apps are a bad idea, though. Far from it, as our selection here demonstrates. It was that sometimes, apps were designed to answer the wrong question: “could we make a Watch app?” but not “should we?”Now, the Apple Watch is onto its fourth generation, and the aptly-named Apple Watch 4 is proving pretty popular - so that's why you're probably here checking out the new apps. In fact, it's one of the best smartwatch options out there, and now we're at the fourth generation it's becoming a particularly accomplished smart option for your wrist.Jump to section- Best apps for fitness and healthBest apps for sleep and musicBest apps for photo and videoBest apps for making life easierBest apps for email and … [Read more...] about The best Apple Watch apps we’ve used in 2018
Best sources of carbohydrates
Choose the Best Soy Sauce by Looking for “Brewed” or “Fermented” on the Label
Soy sauce is delicious, but choosing the best often comes down to “my brand versus your brand.” Ditch brand loyalty and look at the label instead: If yours has been brewed or fermented, and proudly states it, it will be better than sauce made using methods like hydrolysis, often used to keep costs low. Cook’s Illustrated tested a variety of soy sauces, and while their full test and conclusion on who their favorite pick is can’t be read without a subscription, they do explain in the article below what it is that makes a good soy sauce, how the best soy sauces are made, and how you can tell a good one from a bad one if you’re trying to choose in the store: The six top-ranking sauces we tasted are made the old-fashioned way: fermented, or “brewed.” The process starts by culturing boiled soybeans and roasted wheat with a mold that creates a mixture called koji, which functions like a sourdough starter: It begins to break down the carbohydrates … [Read more...] about Choose the Best Soy Sauce by Looking for “Brewed” or “Fermented” on the Label
The Good and Bad of the Whole30 Diet
The Whole30 diet declares swaths of food off-limits, and sets up ironclad rules about the little that’s left. That means it checks a lot of boxes for a fad diet or one that’s too draconian to be effective. But there’s good here too, enough that it might help if you know what you’re in for. The main tenets of the Whole30 diet are cutting out dairy, grains, sugar, alcohol, and legumes (basically, beans.) In both the bestselling books and their informal hashtag predecessor, you’re supposed to commit to a full thirty days of the diet with absolutely no cheating. The restrictions are based on paleo diet ideas, although Whole30 goes farther by forbidding a few things that paleo eaters typically allow: honey, for example. Whole30 also prohibits treats that are usually made with non-paleo ingredients, so it’s considered cheating to recreate muffins or pancakes even if you use approved ingredients like almond flour. Some Whole30 Restrictions Are Based on … [Read more...] about The Good and Bad of the Whole30 Diet
How to Count Macronutrients Instead of Calories for Better Diet Success
If you’ve ever read a fitness blog, forum, or even Instagram, you’ve probably heard the term macros thrown around. Short for “macronutrients,” it refers to carbs, fats, and proteins—the three basic components of every diet. If you get their proportions right, it makes dieting a lot more effective when simple calorie restriction fails. One of the problems with traditional calorie counting is that it doesn’t take into account what you’re eating, just how many calories. Sure, portion control alone might work for a while, but unless you switch to the right foods—foods that leave you satiated or even stuffed while on a caloric deficit—your self-control will eventually break down. In order to start eating more of the right thing, it may be beneficial to focus on macronutrients rather than calories. Some people do well on lower carbohydrate, higher fat diets while others on higher carbohydrate, lower fat diets. Creating (and hitting) … [Read more...] about How to Count Macronutrients Instead of Calories for Better Diet Success
The High-Tech Business of Diabetes
Diabetes is big business. If you don't believe me, just Google the term "diabetes is big business" to see the headlines that agree. As of 2012, $245 billion was spent in the United States alone per year, and that has some people believing there will never be a cure—there is too much money in it. Maybe that's true, maybe not. But there are plenty of companies out there making products intended to help those afflicted. What Is Diabetes? Here's the quick, highly over-simplified primer on the disease if you're not up to speed. Diabetes mellitus, more often called just diabetes, maybe even DM, or "the diabeetus" if you're a fan of Wilford Brimley, comes in a few forms. The first is called Type 1 (aka T1), a chronic autoimmune disorder where the pancreas can no longer effectively produce the insulin hormone needed to manage the glucose (sugar) a person eats, mainly from carbohydrates. If you can't make insulin, your body gets hyperglycemia—that's too much sugar (high blood … [Read more...] about The High-Tech Business of Diabetes