Table of contents for November 2021 in Shape

A POWER TOOL TO UNDO STIFFNESS Using a mix of amber, red, and infrared LED light, the LightStim for Pain device ($249, lightstim.com) is FDA approved to soothe sore muscles and joints with its warm energy. Plus, it boosts circulation to the spot to enhance healing. Apply the wand for five to 30 minutes wherever you ache for a dose of temporary relief. Fastest Cold Brew You Can Do Got six minutes? Go from coffee grounds to enjoying your java on the rocks with Hamilton Beach’s Convenient Craft Rapid Cold Brew and Hot Coffee Maker ($60, hamiltonbeach.com). The magic kicks in when one ounce of hot water gets the joe brewing, and then a rush of cold water finishes the job. Makes up to 16 ounces, whether you choose chilled…

Click here to shop these products…

Look no further than your jump rope, favorite new streaming routine, or personal cardio machine for proof that exercising at home is having a moment—or more like a movement. As of July, more people are working out at home than in health clubs and fitness studios, according to a report cosponsored by IHRSA, the global health club association. The findings paint a snapshot of how our exercise appetites have shifted: They showed an increase of 15 percent in online workouts, 13 percent for at-home fitness equipment use, 8 percent of other digital exercise programs, and 7 percent in exercising outdoors. Happily, science is suggesting that ability to pivot our fitness game to our living room, backyard, or beyond was a real mental buoy. One study in the journal Frontiers in…

How did you come up with the “vegan at times” concept? I hadn’t been feeling great for a while. I figured out some health issues that I had, and my doctor recommended that I cut down on dairy and meat. I started to do that, and I felt better right away. I had more energy and slept better, so I kept doing it. Yet if I was at someone’s house and they were serving food with cheese or meat in it, I would have a few bites and not make a big deal about it. For me, that was a successful way of heading toward veganism. I’m not a full-time vegan—90 percent of the time I am—and I don’t punish myself if I have a bite of pizza with…

BE UNIQUE NEAL SCHULTZ, M.D. Dermatologist DENDY E. ENGELMAN, M.D. Dermatologist MONA GOHARA, M.D. Dermatologist ELIZABETH K. HALE, M.D. Dermatologist MICHELLE HENRY, M.D.Dermatologist MELISSA KANCHANAPOOMI LEVIN, M.D. Dermatologist ELLEN MARMUR, M.D. Dermatologist RON ROBINSON Cosmetic chemist GITA BASS Makeup artist PORSCHE COOPER Makeup artist NUNZIO SAVIANO Hairstylist BE STRONG + WELL JEN WIDERSTROM Consulting Shape fitness director, trainer, life coach ADAM ROSANTE Strength and nutrition coach NICOLE KEITH, PH.D. President of the American College of Sports Medicine CEDRIC X. BRYANT, PH.D. President of the American Council on Exercise JORDAN METZL, M.D. Sports medicine physician MICHELE OLSON, PH.D. Clinical professor of sport science SHAUN T Celebrity trainer ALEX SILVER-FAGAN Nike Master Trainer HARLEY PASTERNAK Celebrity trainer JAY WRIGHT Fitness expert, studio owner CARRIE PAGLIANO Clinical specialist in orthopedics CHRISTINE CARTER,…

Shani Darden Celebrity aesthetician A daily walk or Peloton class gives this sought-after facialist and brand founder a mental and physical boost. Here are a few other things that Darden does for a glow. POSTWORKOUT “I swipe Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment [$58, sephora.com] across my back and shoulders to combat sweat-induced breakouts. I love it because it’s a large towelette that’s soaked in a glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid solution.” THEN TREAT WITH “My Shani Darden Skin Care Facial Sculpting Wand [$399, sephora.com] is its own sort of workout. The device transmits sound waves below the skin’s surface and provides muscle stimulation to tone, tighten, and lift my face, addressing fine lines and wrinkles. The vibrations can also boost circulation, which gives me a more…

A great escape comes with many blissful benefits. There’s the joy of being on vacation, of course. But there are also the new discoveries and lasting memories that keep the good times rolling and spark positive change. “The wash of well-being that comes over you when you think about a past trip isn’t just a feeling. There’s an actual change happening to your brain chemistry,” says Caroline Leaf, Ph.D., a neuroscientist who researches mental health and the formation of memory. And the healthy advantages are very real. “Good memories activate the frontal cortex and can help reduce stress, bring a fresh perspective, and deepen relationships by increasing your sense of social connectedness,” she says. “Those memories also lead to greater confidence and optimism.” Here, four very different getaways, each…

Kendra Kolb Butler founder of Alpyn Beauty, wild-crafted, plant-based skin-care products “I’m comforted by plants. I also spend a lot of time in my bathroom getting ready and doing my makeup. So I bought a handful of live succulents to surround myself with during my morning routine. Bonus: I upcycle empty glass lotion jars, put a little hole in them using a diamond drill bit, and use them as the pots for the succulents. The plant decor matches my beauty theme. A full circle of botanical skin-care happiness!” Alicia Ferguson yogi and cofounder of BK Yoga Club, a body-positive studio “I bought 600-thread-count white sheets, and it was the best investment ever. I love to travel, and what I love most about a great hotel is the buttery-soft bright-white…

WHEN WE’RE DOING EVERYTHING in our houses—sweating, working, and playing—germs can start to flourish in areas you wouldn’t expect. As they stealthily continue to grow, the chances become greater that they can make you sick. “You need to be aware of where they are, so you can clean these places on a regular basis,” says Lisa Yakas, a microbiologist with NSF International, which tests and certifies products for consumer safety. Turn the page to discover overlooked germ-prone zones and the best ways to deal with microbes effectively. HOME OFFICE Where the Germs Are: YOUR COMPUTER KEYBOARD Do you eat at your desk as you work? Not a good idea, says Kelly Reynolds, Ph.D., a public health and environmental science professor at the University of Arizona. When food particles populate deep…

I have been editing stories about the immune system for close to 20 years. When I saw the subject appear on the agenda of the 2021 Global Wellness Summit, I wasn’t surprised—given the state of world health for the past year and a half—but I was intrigued by the viewpoint. According to the nonprofit research institute, the No. 2 trend is actually a pivot away from the immune-boosting products that have boomed in popularity. That’s right: It’s predicting their demise. The coronavirus pandemic understandably sparked a consumer obsession with the immune system. Suddenly everyone was popping marketed supplements and downing “superpowered” drinks in the hopes of fortifying their immunity quickly and easily. But bolstering our systems takes much more than the little enhancement a single product can make. On…

LIKE MANY WOMEN, Stacy London, a fashion stylist and former cohost of What Not to Wear, was baffled by the changes she began noticing in her skin at age 47. “I didn’t understand why it was so dry and itchy and why my routine and products that had worked before suddenly didn’t,” London says. It’s a common complaint: “Estrogen starts declining during perimenopause, a highly variable period for women that starts in our 30s to mid-40s. The effect—dramatic shifts in the quality of skin—is magnified during menopause in our mid-40s and 50s,” says Jonquille Chantrey, M.D., a dermatologist in London. “Lowered estrogen levels alter collagen and elastin production, weakening the dermis and reducing hydration levels.” This, in turn, causes fine lines to crop up as well as a loss…

Adjust Your Lighting You know that stress and lack of sleep can mess with your immunity, and light affects both of them. “Blue lights suppress the body’s melatonin production, which hinders sleep patterns,” says Susan Albers, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist with the Cleveland Clinic. “In contrast, soft yellow lights have been shown to be calming.” She recommends bulbs labeled “warm white” for the kitchen and bathroom and “soft white” elsewhere, and switching off screens 45 minutes before bed. Also consider a sun lamp, which helps spur vitamin D production. “They’re great for everyone regardless of whether they have symptoms of seasonal affective disorder,” Albers says. “Vitamin D is key to strengthening your immune system, and it’s likely you have low levels.” (Try the Verilux HappyLight Luxe therapy lamp, $70, verilux.com)…

3 Key Steps to Baking the Best Crust 1. Buy uncooked dough at your favorite pizza place. Most of them will sell it to you—just ask. 2. Use a pizza stone, the back of a preheated baking sheet, or a pan that conducts heat well, like a cast-iron skillet, to cook your pizza. This will give the crust crispiness and some char too, Hyland says. 3. A hot oven creates the best crust. Bake your pizza at 500°, or as close as you can get to it. Get Creative With Veggies Nothing is off-limits when it comes to prepping veggies for pizza, Hyland says. Start with the methods below, then play around. For the ultimate experience, combine all three ideas on one pie. KEEP THEM CRUNCHY Roasting hearty vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, beets,…

1. Korean Mule Add 15 dried jujubes (from a 6 oz. bag), 2 Tbsp. dried gingerroot, 3 Tbsp. dried licorice root, ¼ cup dried lotus root, and 2 Tbsp. dried goji berries to a medium saucepan. Pour in 5 cups water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until flavorful, about 45 min. Stir in 1 Tbsp. honey until it dissolves. Set a fine-mesh sieve over a teapot or a heatproof bowl, and strain the tea through the sieve; discard solids. Pour into cups, and garnish each with 1 tsp. pine nuts. Serves 6 2. Appleberry Black Tea Sangria Boil 3 cups water, and add 3 English breakfast teabags. Let steep 5 min. Remove teabags, and discard. Add 1 small red apple, cored…

Turmeric-ginger spiced cauliflower with cranberry & green chile vinaigrette over creamy red lentil hummus START TO FINISH: 35 MIN. SERVES: 4 1 large head cauliflower, trimmed and broken into a few bite-size florets (2½ lb.)2 tsp. turmeric1½ tsp. sweet paprika7 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oilKosher saltFreshly ground black pepper½ cup red lentils6 Tbsp. fresh lime juice1 Tbsp. tahini1 small garlic clove, chopped⅓ cup dried cranberries2 scallions, thinly sliced1 jalapeño, seeded if desired, halved, and thinly sliced 1 Preheat the oven to 425°. Toss the cauliflower with the turmeric, 1 tsp. paprika, and ¼ cup oil on a large rimmed baking pan. Season with salt and pepper, and spread in an even layer. Roast for 30 min., then remove the pan from the oven. 2 Meanwhile, in a small pot, bring the…