• Each year, one blockbuster film edges out its competition to become the world's single highest-grossing movie at year's end.
• From 2000's "Mission: Impossible II" to 2018's "Avengers: Infinity War," here's the most successful movie at the global box office for every year since the turn of the century. 

Ask any moviegoer what the best film of the year is and opinions will vary. But the most successful one? The answer lies plainly in the numbers.

Year after year, one film proves to be the world's most successful blockbuster after beating out its competition at the global box office. We compiled this list of the most successful films of each year since the turn of the century using year-end worldwide box office totals from Box Office Mojo.

The films on this list, which stretches from 2000's "Mission: Impossible II" to 2018's "Avengers: Infinity War," might not hold the highest critic scores on Rotten Tomatoes for their respective years, but they all still managed to find a way into the hearts and pockets of moviegoers across the world.  

From book adaptations to superhero flicks and animated films that will make even the toughest adults cry, here are the most successful movies of every year since 2000:

SEE ALSO: The 400-pound actor who plays 'The Mountain' on 'Game of Thrones' eats 10,000 calories a day and remembers 'moving huge stones' as a kid on his grandfather's farm

2000: "Mission: Impossible II"

Worldwide box office total: $546.4 million

Critic score: 56%

What critics said: "It's fun. It's laughable. It has moments of excitement, moments of sheer idiocy and moments of sheer idiotic excitement." – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

2001: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

Worldwide box office total: $974.8 million

Critic score: 81%

What critics said: "During 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,' I was pretty sure I was watching a classic, one that will be around for a long time, and make many generations of fans." – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

2002: "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"

Worldwide box office total: $923.3 million

Critic score: 95%

What critics said: "The battle for Gollum's mind also provides a fitting teaser conclusion to the second act of a story I'm beginning to wish would never end." – Jack Matthew, New York Daily News

• The government shutdown is in its 12th day and there is no end in sight,
• The US Department of Agriculture will still send out Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, benefits for January despite the shutdown.
• The USDA's Child Nutrition Programs will also be funded into February.
• Other food programs such as Commodity Supplemental Food Program and WIC will not receive federal funding during the shutdown, but may continue using state and local funds.

With no sign of ending anytime soon, the government shutdown is starting to take its toll on federal services and workers. But for recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps, there is good news.

According to a plan released by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), SNAP benefits will be available during the shutdown as previously appropriated funding is carried over to meet the needs of the program.

According to the USDA's release SNAP benefits for January will be available, but there was no commitment for February. If the shutdown were to last into next month, it would be by far the longest shutdown since the budget process was reformed in 1974.

Funding for the USDA's Child Nutrition Programs including "School Lunch, School Breakfast, Child and Adult Care Feeding, Summer Food Service and Special Milk" will also continue into February, according to the USDA's plan.

Read more:Here's what happens to Social Security and disability benefits during a government shutdown»

But while SNAP and the Child Nutrition Program are safe for now, other food programs under the USDA's purview are not as lucky.

Also, other non-SNAP domestic food programs are no longer receiving federal funding, but may be sustained through state and local funding. The programs that are no longer receiving USDA funds include the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, a program focusing on low income seniors; The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.

95% the staff at the office of Food and Nutrition Services— which oversees SNAP benefits and other food programs — is now on furlough and no longer receiving pay.

In addition to the food programs, other essential USDA duties including the inspection of eggs, dairy, and other food products will continue. Those services deemed non-essential, such as research or the staffing of some national forests, are discontinued.

The shutdown is now in its 12th day and there is no clear end in sight. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with congressional leaders on Wednesday for the first formal talks on the subject since before the Christmas break, but a resolution is not expected from the meeting.

SEE ALSO: Most Americans would rather spend the $5 billion Trump is demanding for the border wall on infrastructure, education, or healthcare

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NOW WATCH: Anthony Scaramucci claims Trump isn't a nationalist: 'He likes saying that because it irks these intellectual elitists'

• A diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats is increasingly being recognized as the healthiest for your brain and body.
• This diet is known by many different names — from "plant-based" to "Mediterranean" — and can come in a range of variations. But at its core, it is focused on veggies, protein, and healthy fats.
• US News and World Report recently ranked the Mediterranean diet as the best to follow in the year ahead.

In a world dominated by celebrity fad diets that range from absurd, like Reese Witherspoon's alleged "baby-food diet," to absurdly unaffordable, such as the $200 "moon dust"-infused smoothie that Gwyneth Paltrow drinks, many people don't believe there's a single best diet for your health.

But a growing body of research suggests that a meal plan focusing on vegetables, protein, and healthy fats has key benefits for losing weight, keeping your mind sharp, and protecting your heart and brain as you age.

This type of eating regimen is called by many names and comes in different iterations, from "plant-based" to "Mediterranean." Some people on the diet eat eggs and dairy, meat and fish, or all of the above; others are vegetarian and abstain from meat and animal products altogether.

At its core, however, most of these meal plans are very similar and have two main characteristics: they are rich in vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats and low in heavily processed foods and refined carbohydrates like white bread. 

In its annual diet ranking, US News and World Report ranked the Mediterranean diet as the best one to follow in 2019. (The plan was ranked at the top last year, too.)

Evidence supporting that recommendation can be found in the March 2018 issue of the Journal of Gerontology, in which scientists analyzed six recent studies on the Mediterranean diet and found that the eating regimen is closely linked with a variety of beneficial outcomes. Positive impacts include healthy aging, better mobility, a lower risk of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease, and improved cognitive functioning.

A study presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference last January also took a deep dive into the potential benefits of two Mediterranean-style eating plans. The study looked at how the MIND diet (a version of the Mediterranean plan that focuses on "brain-healthy" foods) can slow cognitive decline.

Why plant-based diets are good for the body

Eating like you live on the coast of Naples or Athens sounds intuitively appealing. Meals could include fresh fish, vegetables drizzled in olive oil, nuts, beans, and whole grains.

Recent research suggests that diets like these, which are also low in processed foods and red meat, are great for your brain and body — both in the near-term and into older age.

To keep your energy levels up and help you feel healthy in the long term, your diet needs to feed more than your stomach.

It has to satiate your muscles, which crave protein; your digestive system, which runs best with fiber; and your tissues and bones, which work optimally when they're getting vitamins from food.

A plant-based diet's combination of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, proteins, and fats accomplishes that goal.

This balance is also key to keeping you full after a meal and energized throughout the day so you don't feel the need to overeat, Nichola Whitehead, a registered dietitian in the UK, previously told Business Insider.

"You need to have a balanced meal — things like whole grains, fiber, and vegetables — in order to sustain your blood sugar. Empty calories [like white bread or white rice] give a temporary fix," she said.

But plant-based diets aren't just good for the body — they have key benefits for the mind as well.

Mediterranean and MIND for the mind

The MIND diet is catching researchers' eyes for its potential to benefit people who've survived a stroke.

Just like the Mediterranean diet, the MIND diet emphasizes vegetables, seafood, olive oil, and wine. It puts added focus on green leafy veggies, berries, beans, whole grains, and poultry. Adherents to both plans limit or eliminate processed foods, pastries, sweets, anything fried, red meat, cheese, butter, and margarine.

In people who've survived a stroke — a severe episode that doubles the risk of developing dementia — the MIND diet may help slow cognitive decline, according to the study mentioned above. That finding builds on the conclusions from research published in 2017 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and jibes with the series of six studies highlighted in the March 2018 issue of the Journal of Gerontology.

For the study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers looked at data from close to 6,000 older adults. Participants were asked about their diet and the types of foods they ate or did not eat. Then researchers measured their memory and attention skills using reliable tests like word lists and backward counting exercises.

The researchers compared the participants' diets to how they performed on the cognitive tests. Those whose eating plans lined up with Mediterranean and MIND-style diets did significantly better than those on other types of diets.

In fact, the more closely aligned people's diets were with a Mediterranean-style plan, the lower their risk of scoring poorly on the brain tests.

"These findings lend support to the hypothesis that diet modification may be an important public health strategy to protect against neurodegeneration during aging," Claire McEvoy, the lead author of the paper and a nutritional epidemiologist at the University of California San Francisco, wrote in the paper.

Researchers still aren't sure why these type of eating plans appear to be so beneficial for the brain, but they have some clues.

Both diets are rich in antioxidants and two types of healthy fat: monounsaturated and omega-3 fatty acids. Previous studies have found a link between these ingredients and a reduced risk of dementia, as well as higher cognitive performance.

The green vegetables and berries emphasized in the MIND diet have also been shown to help protect against progressive loss of the structure or function of brain cells. This loss, known as neurodegeneration, is a key characteristic of diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

So if your New Year's resolution is to eat healthier or lose weight, the Mediterranean plan is worth a try. It may not even feel like you're dieting at all.

SEE ALSO: Americans have been making a huge diet mistake for 100 years — here's what they should do instead

DON'T MISS: 2 forms of exercise are the best way to stave off the effects of aging — here's how to incorporate them into your life

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here’s how the American diet has changed in the last 52 years

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• The Porter-Cable 20V Max Lithium-Ion 8-Tool Combo Kit comes with a drill driver, an impact driver, three saws, a multi-tool, and a grinder, plus all the batteries and accessories you need to complete just about any DIY project you might have at home.
• I used the power tool kit to complete a wide range of projects while renovating my house, and I was impressed by how easy it was for a beginner like me to use.
• Porter-Cable's tool kit isn't cheap with an original price tag of $500, but it's currently on sale for $402.92 on Amazon, making it a great buy.

I'm not a handyman by any stretch of the imagination. I couldn't tell you the difference between a sliding bevel and a bradawl. I just knew that as I moved into a big, old house, I was going to have a never-ending list of projects, repairs, and maintenance to keep up on. And, to get any job done, I was going to need the right tools. This is where Porter-Cable's power tool kit came into play.

Porter-Cable was founded in 1906 — the same year my house was built. And, like my house, Porter-Cable is under new ownership as of 2004. Stanley Black & Decker is a parent company that manages some of the biggest brands in the industry, including Porter-Cable, DeWalt, Craftsman, Bostitch, Stanley, Black & Decker, and more.

About four months ago, Porter-Cable sent me the 8-Tool Combo Kit to test, and it sure came in handy during our major home renovation.

The Porter-Cable 8-Tool Combo Kit comes with everything you need, including:

• ½ inch Drill Driver
• ¼ inch Hex Impact Driver
• Jigsaw
• 6-1/2 inch Circular Saw
• Reciprocating Tiger Saw
• Oscillating Multi-Tool
• Cutoff Tool/Grinder
• LED Flash Light
• 2 20V Lithium-Ion Batteries (4Ah and 1.5Ah)
• Battery Charger
• 2 Kit Bags

My first experience with the Porter-Cable Power Tools

I was impressed that all of the tools, the batteries, and the charger fit into the two bags.

As a "newb," I was fairly intimidated by the big box of tools. Thanks to the countless warning graphics, I was well aware that an irresponsible person could easily lose a finger, an eyeball, a foot, or other important body parts if he didn't take all of the necessary precautions and read the user manuals from start to finish.

I was overwhelmed by the volumes of reading materials that came with the kit. Each item had its own user manual with about 15 to 20 pages of small print. As someone who has had limited experience with power tools, I appreciated it. Reading the manuals helped me feel confident that I could use the tools safely.

How the Porter-Cable Power Tools performed

I completed a number of household projects using the kit, and once I had a couple of the easier projects under my belt and I'd watched a number of YouTube tutorials, I started to feel more comfortable with the tools.

They were user-friendly for novices, and I let the more seasoned workers remodeling our house use them to get their opinions, and they noted that the drivers and saws were up to snuff.

One of the biggest projects we worked on with the Porter-Cable Power Tools was cutting and installing shelving in our kitchen. We decided we didn't want wall cabinets. Instead, we chose shelves for a more open look.

Using the circular saw, I cut the boards to the right length. Then, I used the drill driver to drill holes for the screws. Next, I attached the brackets to the walls and the shelves to the brackets with the impact driver. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that my wife did a ton of the work on this, too.

Some other projects I completed:

• I used the oscillating multi-tool to salvage an old cabinet and turn it into a discrete kitty litter area for our bathroom.
• Before painting our porch, the oscillating multi-tool came in handy for sanding. This was the only time that we were able to use all of the 4Ah battery's juice in a single project. Fortunately, we had the 1.5Ah battery waiting in the wings.
• I used the jigsaw to cut a hole in the top of a cooler so that I could cook food in it using a sous vide immersion circulator.
• There were several pieces of furniture that we ordered online that needed to be assembled. The hex impact driver made quick work of those to-do list items.

The flashlight is incredibly helpful when working in dimly-lit corners of our home. I liked that it could point in just about any direction while sitting on the ground, unlike your standard flashlight. It also freed up my hands or child assistant.

I love that the tools are cordless. The lack of a cable made it effortless to get work done just about anywhere in the house, even in areas where we didn't have electricity yet. The battery charged quickly enough for our needs, and if one died, we could just switch it out and use the spare.

Cordless tools require recharging, and you may need to buy extra bits.

Though I loved that there wasn't a cord in the way, the batteries did make the tools heavier. If you are just using them for a few minutes here and there, it's no big deal. But, for a guy who has skipped "arm day" for decades, driving in dozens of screws starts to tire out the arms after a while.

If you are a professional using power tools all day, you may want to pick up more batteries and chargers so you aren't left twiddling your thumbs when the batteries are recharging. The Porter-Cable Charger Bag is an excellent option.

Lastly, I would have liked it if the kit came with a drill bit set. It did come with a bit for each drill, but the bits did not last long. I prefer all-inclusive kits, and with the Porter-Cable Combo Kit, I still had to purchase bits separately. However, this is a standard practice with tool kits. You have to add to them bit by bit until you have every piece you need.

Bottom line

Overall, this kit is great. Each tool worked as advertised and had little trouble with whatever I threw at it. With a little self-education and reading the manuals, the tools were easy enough for a beginner to use safely. And, the price is comparable to similar kits and much less expensive than buying each tool individually.

I strongly recommend picking up the Porter-Cable 8-Tool Combo Kit if you are interested in taking household projects into your own hands. Additionally, according to the Honey app, the price for the kit has fluctuated significantly in the past couple of months. So, if cost is a concern for you, keep your eye out for deals.

Buy the Porter-Cable PCCK619L8 20V Max Lithium-Ion 8-Tool Combo Kit on Amazon for $402.92 (originally $499.99)

Join the conversation about this story »

• The electronic-logging-device mandate, debates over unpaid breaks, and other concerns wracked truck drivers in 2018.
• Thousands of them are planning to protest the state of trucking on April 12, 2019, with "a nationwide shutdown."
• They are organizing the strike in a Facebook group called "Black Smoke Matters."

An unpopular law, a lack of parking, too much waiting at warehouses, and a litany of other frustrations are driving truckers to plan a strike on April 12.

First reported by CDL Life, truck drivers are organizing the strike in a Facebook group called "Black Smoke Matters." It has more than 9,000 members. 

Last year was an especially challenging year for some truck drivers. The electronic-logging device (ELD) mandate effectively limited the earnings of some truckers, many of whom may not have been abiding by the federal hours of service law.

The rule arose from safety concerns, but many say it's not practical. Steven Wright, a 47-year-old who has been trucking for nearly 24 years, told Business Insider in May that the ELD mandate and the time constraints it brought slashed his weekly earnings by $450. Those pay decreases are particularly impactful for folks that average $42,000 a year, and regularly spend weeks away from their family working 70-hour weeks. 

Read more:Truck drivers say the latest measure to keep roads safe has left them 'chained up,' 'more reckless than ever,' and unable to support their families

Other trucker issues also came to the forefront this year. One was detention time, in which truckers may have to spend hours unpaid waiting for shipments at warehouses. Whether or not break time is paid and training requirements also proved to be major talking points among America's 1.8 million long-haul truckers. 

That's summarized by one of the protest points by the protesting truckers: "There needs to be involvement from drivers before making new regulations," reads a flyer from Truckers Stand as One. 

"Nobody actually listens to us," Wright, the truck driver, told Business Insider in May. "People in Washington, DC, or wherever they are, make these rules."

Truck drivers, whose salaries have plummeted by as much as 50% since the 1980s, feel that they've become less and less respected over time.

"We're not all fat slobs, and we don't all do the stereotypical trucker things," Will Kling, a truck driver based in Reno, Nevada, previously told Business Insider. "Trucking has been forgotten."

Despite that decline in prestige, truck drivers carry 71% of the nation's freight in weight— everything from food and medicine to clean water, clothes, and cash. They've become even more crucial to consumers with the boon in e-commerce and fast delivery.

Truckers are planning a shutdown of just one day on April 12. But if they were to protest for three days, grocery stores, gas stations, and ATMs would experience significant shortages.

"When you go to that store and you pick up that bottle of wine or that ketchup, you don't think about the process it took to get it where it is," Kling said.

"If I could tell everybody something about trucking, it would be that there are heartbeats in the truck," Kling added. "They don't drive themselves. We all have families, we're all just trying to do a job, like everybody else. Our job is just really different and way more dangerous."

Are you a truck driver who plans to strike on April 12? Do you have thoughts on the protest? Email the reporter at rpremack@businessinsider.com.

SEE ALSO: A safety law that truckers hate is driving up prices for consumers on everything from groceries to Amazon Prime. Here’s what you need to know about it.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: These bespoke metal cars take 2,000 hours to make by hand — see the step-by-step process

• The US government shutdown is taking its toll on the country's air traffic control network.
• According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association or NATCA, air traffic controllers are not only understaffed but also working without pay.
• The FAA's ATC training center is closed during the shutdown while newly trained controllers have been put on furlough, limiting an already depleted staff.
• According to the union, this will lead to increased flight delays. 

As the US government shutdown drags on into another week, its effects are being felt across the nation. America's air transport system is certainly not immune from its effects. 

Stuck in the middle of the shutdown is America's beleaguered air traffic controllers. 

According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association or NATCA, there are currently fewer fully trained controllers than at any point in the last 30 years.

With the government shut down, the country's air traffic control centers are not only understaffed but also currently working without pay, NATCA, the union that represents roughly 20,000 air traffic controllers, engineers, and aviation professionals, said in a statement. 

"This staffing crisis is negatively affecting the National Airspace System, and the shutdown almost certainly will make a bad situation worse," Paul Rinaldi NATCA's president said in the same statement. "Even before the shutdown, controllers have needed to work longer and harder to make up for the staffing shortfall."

Read more: The CEOs of Brazil's biggest airlines reveal the extreme challenges they are up against.

The Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily closed its ATC training center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as a result of the shutdown while newly trained controllers have been put on furlough. 

The result of all of this, according to Rinaldi, is increased flight delays for the traveling public. 

"If the staffing shortage gets worse, we will see reduced capacity in the National Airspace System, meaning more flight delays," he said. "A lack of adequate staffing also hurts the FAA’s ability to develop new technology and modernize the system, and controllers also don’t get the amount of time they need for training."

The US federal government shut down on December 21, 2018, after the Congress failed to pass a new spending bill due to disagreement over the Trump Administration's demand for $5 billion in border wall funding. 

SEE ALSO: Frontier Airlines passengers got sick and vomited on a flight after reportedly drinking bad airport water

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NOW WATCH: This Rolls-Royce feature might be the world's fanciest way to tailgate

• The keto diet is one of the trendiest diets around — and an eating plan that many people have resolved to try in 2019.
• The regimen kicks the body into a natural fat-burning mode called ketosis by starving a person's system of carbs and sugars, which are typically the first fuels we burn.
• Some people say that being in ketosis helps them focus and decreases their appetite, while trimming belly fat.
• But more research is needed on the long-term effects of the high-fat diet, and anyone who wants to go keto should consult their physician first.

Dieters from Silicon Valley to the Hollywood hills are convinced that the keto diet is a miracle for the body. 

The high-fat regimen has become the go-to eating plan for celebrities like Halle Berry and the Kardashians, Silicon Valley tech workers,venture capitalists, and sports stars like LeBron James. Fans of the diet believe it can help burn belly fat, tamp down on hunger, and increase energy, all while encouraging consumption of fatty and oily foods. 

The keto diet is designed to get the body into a natural fat-burning state called ketosis. It’s the same process that happens when people starve. In ketosis, the body switches from its default mode — burning carbs and sugars for fuel first — and begins breaking down fatty acids.

Entering ketosis usually takes at least a few days. Dr. Priyanka Wali previously told Business Insider that most people use up leftover glycogen stores in about five days, and experts agree it takes at least one to three months to see and feel the benefits of the restrictive plan. 

The keto diet wasn't originally developed for weight loss. Physicians started prescribing the diet in the 1920s to help with tough-to-control epileptic seizures that weren’t responsive to other drugs. The diet can significantly reduce the instance of seizures in children, and in some cases, stops them completely. It can also help control blood glucose levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. 

Read more:Silicon Valley's favorite diet can lead to kidney trouble — here's how to go keto without getting sick

Many keto fans who don't have epilepsy or diabetes report feeling sharper and more energetic on the diet. Some competitive athletes are also convinced that following a keto plan helps them perform. Ultra-marathoner Zach Bitter, the world record holder for the longest distance run in 12 hours, has said that going keto helped him achieve record-breaking athletic performances.

The US military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) also poured $10 million into developing a ketone-ester drink that generates energy from ketones, with the intention of one day giving it to soldiers. The drink is on the market now for performance athletes. But research on the keto diet for athletes is still mixed: some studies suggest that relying on fat can hurt an athlete’s performance. Large-scale studies are needed to know for sure.

Keto by the numbers

One of the trickiest things about the keto diet is the careful counting it requires. 

Dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick at the Cleveland Clinic suggests people going keto should get 70% to 80% of their calories from fat, and less than 10% from carbohydrates. To that end, most keto dieters try to keep daily carb intake between 20 to 50 grams. 

Considering there are roughly 6 grams of carbohydrates in one medium-sized carrot or a serving of plain Greek yogurt, keto meal planning requires forethought. It’s not as simple as swapping morning toast for a few strips of bacon.

Since going keto can get complicated, one Redditor even created a keto food pyramid that he encourages people on the diet to print out and put on their fridge. 

Here’s what's safe to eat on the keto diet

• Meat (pretty much any kind, including poultry and red meat.)
• Fish.
• Leafy greens.
• Eggs, including the yolks.
• Cheese.
• Oils, especially those containing healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats (like olive oil). This is critical because relying too much on more saturated fats from dairy and meat can cause digestion issues and hurt your heart.
• Avocados, another great source of monounsaturated fats.
• Nuts and seeds.
• Cauliflower: Theveggie is low in carbs and high in dietary fiber, so many keto dieters use it as a substitute for bread, pasta, and crusts.
• Berries, especially blackberries and raspberries.
• Heavy cream.
• Lots of water and other unsweetened drinks to stay hydrated. Tea and coffee are both fine.
• Perhaps even dark chocolate: Most people suggest sticking to cacao concentrations higher than 70% to 80%, since lower concentrations are too carb-heavy.

What to avoid on the keto diet

• Sugar. (Duh.)
• Other carbohydrates like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, and wheat-based flour. (There's one big caveat to this rule, however, which we'll dive into below.)
• Anything made with corn, especially high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners.
• Legumes like chickpeas and beans of all kinds. These nutrient-rich foods are high in protein and fiber, but the idea with ketosis is to rely more on fat. Many keto dieters limit their protein intake to around 10% to 15% of a day's calories, which means that a single cup of black beans could put you in range of a daily limit. Besides, that cup of black beans also has a hefty dose of carbs. 
• Most fruits. A single apple could put you over your carb count for the entire day. 
• Milk. A cup of whole milk has 12 grams of carbs, while the same amount of whipping cream has less than eight. 

While it might seem tough to limit carbohydrate intake this strictly, there's one important loophole to keep in mind. Because some carbs come from dietary fiber, which the body doesn’t break down and absorb, keto dieters can subtract those from their daily count.

The resulting number is called net carbs, and it's a better measure of how many carbohydrates you're ingesting. For example, while a carrot may have 6 grams of carbs, about 1.7 of them are dietary fiber, so the net carb intake from the carrot is just over 4 grams. Similarly, more than 75% of the carbs in spinach are fiber, making it a relatively safe choice for keto-ers.

Kirkpatrick suggests dieters limit their net carb intake to 25 grams a day.

Like any restrictive diet, it’s hard to get a balanced plate of all the vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay healthy on a keto plan. The diet is also not recommended for pregnant women, people with liver and kidney problems, or anyone prone to gout. 

Whatever your weight-loss or dieting goals may be, it’s essential to talk with a professional dietitian or doctor before going keto.

SEE ALSO: Silicon Valley's favorite diet can lead to kidney trouble — here's how to go keto without getting sick

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NOW WATCH: The extreme dieting regimen that self-help guru Tim Ferriss uses to stay lean

• Kobe and Vanessa Bryant announced they are expecting their fourth child.
• Even though Bryant is retired from the NBA and no longer the highest-paid player, he is as busy as ever.
• While Kobe has an insane work ethic and has historically been completely consumed by basketball, he has found time to enjoy life and pursue ventures off of the court in his retirement.

Kobe Bryant was once the highest-paid and most electric player in the NBA.

While Kobe has an insane work ethic and has historically been completely consumed by basketball, he has found time to enjoy life and pursue ventures off of the court in his retirement. In addition to collecting beautiful houses, fancy cars, and even a helicopter, the Black Mamba has mentored up-and-coming NBA stars, invested in projects in tech, athletics, and entertainment, and even won an Oscar. 

Needless to say, Bryant is living the life — saying and doing whatever he wants in an endlessly entertaining fashion.

Tony Manfred contributed to this report.

Let's take a closer look at how Kobe spends his millions:

He went to high school in the Philly suburbs, but he grew up in Italy. He loves Italian cars.

He once walked into a Ferrari dealership and wrote a $329,000 check for a 458 Italia.

SOURCE: TMZ

He has owned a Lamborghini, a Bentley, and a Range Rover.

SOURCE: Pricing Insider

• The Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 are part of a new Icona lineup.
• The cars evoke classic racing Ferraris of the past — and they're priced for exclusivity, at nearly $2 million.
• They're "barchetta" designs, with no windshields but with available Ferrari-branded carbon-fiber helmets.

Ferraris are already exclusive, but there are some Ferraris that are more exclusive than others.

The newest prancing horses to join the stable are the Icona Monza SP1 and SP2. Only 500 will be produced, and they're set to priced around $1.75 million apiece. 

The Monzas evoke Ferraris long, long history in racing. "The ... SP1 and SP2 are inspired by barchettas of the 1950s which were driven to victory in international motor sport not just by official works team drivers from the Scuderia, but also by a legion of gentlemen drivers who, in those years, frequently found themselves wheel to wheel with legendary professional drivers of the era," the Italian carmaker said last year when the due was revealed.

I recently had a chance to drop by Ferrari's North American headquarters to check out the Monza SP1. Here's how it went:

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The Monza SP1 is a "barchetta" ("little boast" in Italian). You'll need a helmet with a face-shield. Or goggles. Or some very fashionable sunglasses. Because the Monza has no top and no windshield.

The SP1 has a partner in style: the SP2, adding a seat. Both cars are Ferrari specials, and only 500 will be built, all based off customer specifications. Ferrari announced the cars last year.

Ferrari brought this impeccable example of the 750 Monza from 1955 to its North American HQ to celebrate the new Monza SP1 and SP2 — together they form the basis of ...

• President Donald Trump attempted to dismiss the stock market's December fall during a meeting on Wednesday.
• "We had a little glitch in the stock market last month," Trump said during a Cabinet meeting.
• Stocks booked their worst December since 1931 last month, and the three major US indexes posted their biggest annual declines since 2008.

President Donald Trump seemed to brush off the stock market's dismal December on Wednesday, attributing the worst December since the Great Depression to a "little glitch."

"We had a little glitch in the stock market last month," Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

The president also predicted that stocks would climb again when new trade deals were completed. The US is currently in talks with the European Union, Japan, and China about updates to current trade agreements.

Last month was the worst December for the market since 1931, during the Great Depression. But outside the month, all three major indexes also posted their largest annual declines since 2008 — the depths of the financial crisis. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 2018 down 5.6% for the year, while the S&P 500 declined 6.2% and the Nasdaq fell 3.9%.

Investors and analysts offered a wide variety of explanations for the declines, including the Federal Reserve's recent interest-rate hikes and a slowdown in global economic growth. But some reasons also centered on Trump's own policies, such as the ongoing trade war with China, tariffs on steel and aluminum, and uncertainty over the government shutdown.

Trump has long taken credit for the soaring stock market during the early part of his administration, but has noticeably slowed mentions of stocks as the market moved sideways and eventually tanked at the end of last year.

Despite an ugly start to the day, stocks appear to have found some footing on the first trading day of 2019. All three major indexes are in the green Wednesday, with the Dow up just under 30 points, or 0.1%, and the S&P up roughly 7 points, or 0.3%, as of 2:00 p.m. ET.

SEE ALSO: Trump's trade war with China is the biggest threat to the US economy in 2019, and it's making economists the most worried they've been in years

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Anthony Scaramucci claims Trump isn't a nationalist: 'He likes saying that because it irks these intellectual elitists'

• Costco members can book cruises through Costco Travel.
• Members can search for cruises offered by 12 cruise lines and compare the destinations, prices, and features offered by each.
• Cruises booked through Costco Travel include perks like credits that can be used toward onboard purchases.

A Costco membership comes with advantages beyond the ability to shop in the company's warehouses. Among other benefits, Costco members can purchase travel accommodations through Costco Travel, which allows members to shop for cruises, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages.

Through Costco Travel, members can search for cruises offered by 12 cruise lines and compare the destinations, prices, and features offered by each. Cruises booked through Costco Travel include perks like credits that can be used toward onboard purchases.

Here's how you can book a cruise through Costco Travel.

SEE ALSO: A lawyer who represents cruise-ship workers reveals one thing passengers do that's terrible for some workers

1. Choose your destination, departure date, cruise line, and the duration of your cruise.

Once you've gone to the Costco Travel website, you can narrow the options you're given if you have criteria in mind. Otherwise, you can browse the cruises that are available in a given month. The month of departure is the only criterion you need to specify.

2. Review your options.

Once you've decided what you're looking for, you'll be shown the options that meet your criteria. This page gives you a snapshot of other relevant information, like the per-night prices for different rooms, the ship's features, the ports of call it will stop at, and an overall rating for the cruise ship from the travel guide company Berlitz.

For some cruises, you won't be able to see prices unless you enter your Costco membership number.

3. Select your cruise.

Once you've decided on a cruise, specify how many rooms you want, how many people will be staying in each room, and each passenger's age. You can also note if anyone in your party qualifies for a senior discount or is a member of the cruise line's loyalty program.

• President Donald Trump cheered the revenue raised by his tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods.
• "The United States Treasury has taken in MANY billions of dollars from the Tariffs we are charging China and other countries that have not treated us fairly," Trump tweeted.
• It is true that the Treasury collected $6.2 billion in tariff revenue in October, double the amount from the same month a year before.
• But Trump's celebration is misguided because US importers and American consumers are the ones effectively paying for the tariffs.

President Donald Trump painted a rosy picture of the trade war with China on Thursday, once again touting the large amount of tax revenue generated by his tariffs.

"The United States Treasury has taken in MANY billions of dollars from the Tariffs we are charging China and other countries that have not treated us fairly," Trump tweeted. "In the meantime we are doing well in various Trade Negotiations currently going on. At some point this had to be done!"

The Treasury has indeed doubled the amount of tax revenue from import duties since the tariffs were put in place.

According to an analysis of Treasury data by Tariffs Hurt the Heartland, an anti-tariff group, the Treasury collected around $6.2 billion worth of customs duties in October — the first full month after Trump's tariffs on $200 billion worth of goods went into effect. That number is double the tariff revenue from October 2017.

But Trump's celebration doesn't take into account who is effectively paying that money.

Chinese exporters do not pay the tariffs. Rather, US importers pay the cost of the duties when the goods come into American ports. Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center, explained the process in a September article about the mechanics of tariffs.

"A tariff is a tax on imported goods. Despite what the President says, it is almost always paid directly by the importer (usually a domestic firm), and never by the exporting country," Gleckman wrote. "Thus, if the US imposes a tariff on Chinese televisions, the duty is paid to the US Customs and Border Protection Service at the border by a US broker representing a US importer, say, Costco."

Facing a higher cost for the imported goods, the US importer can decide to either absorb the increased costs into its margins — thus lowering profits and possibly forcing cost cuts elsewhere— or pass on the cost increase to consumers to make up the difference.

"A business will, if it can, pass its higher after-tax costs on to consumers," Gleckman wrote. "Thus, the price of Chinese TVs sold in the US may rise rapidly."

So while the Treasury may be collecting more tax revenue due to the tariffs, most of the money is ultimately coming from US businesses and American consumers — rather than from China.

Read more:Trump's trade war with China is the biggest threat to the US economy in 2019, and it's making economists the most worried they've been in years»

Ian Shepherdson, the chief economist at Pantheon Economics, highlighted this problem in a December note to clients following Trump's tweet dubbing himself a "Tariff Man." The economist said some Chinese exporters may be forced to take lower margins to get their product to the US, but also asserted that American consumers would be the biggest losers.

"Tariffs are a tax on consumers, primarily, though some of the hit might be borne by Chinese exporters, forced to accept lower margins. But for the president to boast that the U.S. is 'taking in billions' on tariffs makes no sense at all," Shepherdson wrote. "The ostensible objective of the tariffs is to force China to negotiate a new trading relationship with the US, not to raise money — from U.S. consumers! — for the federal government."

SEE ALSO: One chart shows just how badly US companies are getting whacked by Trump's trade war

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

• Ritz-Carlton cruise ships are designed like yachts and come with 149 suites — each with its own private terrace — accommodating up to 298 guests.
• The Ritz-Carlton cruise line will begin sailing in 2020. 
• Reservations for the inaugural season of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection opened in June.

In 2017, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel revealed plans for a luxury cruise line, with three cruise ships set to begin sailing in 2020. As of August 2018, reservations were finally open for its inaugural season.

Somewhere between a private super yacht and a small ocean liner, the Ritz-Carlton cruise ships will accommodate the "the 1% of global travelers," according to Bloomberg. Starting prices for voyages can range anywhere from $3,100 to $10,100, depending on length of trip and location.

The new Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is designed to defy all cruise ship stereotypes, with larger rooms, relaxing common spaces, and an on-board spa. The cruise ships boast 149 suites — each with their own private terrace — accommodating up to 298 guests. There will also be high-end dining options, including a restaurant from Sven Elverfeld of Aqua— the three Michelin-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg.

"This unique combination of yachting and cruising will usher in a new way of luxury travel for guests seeking to discover the world," said Herve Humler, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in a press release.

"From the yacht’s design, to programming onboard and ashore, every aspect of the voyage has been carefully created to embody the signature service and casual luxury of a Ritz-Carlton resort," said Lisa Holladay, Global Brand Leader for The Ritz-Carlton, in the most recent news release.

Ahead, a look at one of the designs for the Ritz-Carlton cruise ship, created by the firm Tillberg Design of Sweden.

SEE ALSO: Forget the Four Seasons and The Ritz-Carlton: The most luxurious hotel brands in the world are ones you've likely never heard of

DON'T MISS: I spent 3 years writing about yachts, and owning one takes way more money than you think

Starting prices for voyages range from to $3,100 for four nights to $10,100 for 12 nights, depending on location. The all-inclusive fare comes with onboard gratuities, 24-hour in-suite dining, beverages in-suite and throughout the yacht, Wi-Fi, and onboard entertainment and enrichment.

The first of the three Ritz-Carlton cruise ships will set sail in 2020. With ten decks, it can accommodate up to 298 passengers and has a space ratio of more than 89 square feet per person.

The third deck features The Marina. With direct ocean access, it's the perfect spot to sunbathe and jump on a water toy or go for an ocean swim. There's also a terrace for a drink and a light bite.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Finding the right deal online can be difficult, but we made it easy for you to capitalize on the best sales of the day by putting them into one convenient guide. Here are the best deals you can get online today.

1. Get a free month of ClassPass for expert fitness instruction

Now is the time of year to knock the rust off your workout gear and get active in the gym. ClassPass can help make this transition a little smoother with access to expert training for every kind of workout you love. To help get 2019 started, ClassPass has released a special limited time offer so you can get the first month — including up to seven classes — free.

Access your free month of ClassPass now.

2. Udemy has slashed prices with many online courses starting at just $9.99

Udemy, the world's largest provider of online courses, is helping you educate yourself by offering a special New Year's deal until January 10. With courses typically ranging in price from $50 to $200, Udemy's sale enables you to unlock knowledge for the low price of $9.99 on many of the most popular courses. 

Shop for Udemy online courses now.

3. Get up to 75% off select items from Shopbop until end-of-day tomorrow

Shopbop is offering an additional 25% off select items, so you can get up to 75% off in total on select women's and men's fashion. Any item that has the code HELLO2019 listed is eligible for the deal. The sale ends at 11:59 p.m. on January 4 so act fast before these deals disappear. 

Shop the Shopbop Sale on Sale now.

4. East Dane is offering up to 70% off to celebrate 2019

East Dane can help you complete an outfit for any setting, ranging from lounging around comfortably to updating your look for work in 2019. You can get an additional 25% off select products that are already on sale by using the code HAPPY2019. Take advantage of this deal before it ends on January 4. 

Shop the East Dane Sale on Sale now.

5. Get up to 75% off the sale price for select items at Gap, and 40% off your total purchase

Gap is offering one of its biggest sales of the year. You can get up to 75% off the sale price on a variety of products. Plus, Gap is adding an extra 40% off your total purchase — including markdowns — until January 7. 

Shop the Gap sale now.

6. Today is the last day to get Hulu for just $5.99 a month

With a collection of award-winning original content and access to some of the best shows across traditional networks, Hulu is the perfect solution for cord-cutters and also works as a worthwhile supplement to standard cable packages. Hulu has discounted its monthly price to $5.99, but the sale ends tomorrow January 4, so now is your last chance to sign up before prices go back up. 

Get Hulu now.

7. Eat right in 2019 with $20 off each of your first four boxes from HelloFresh

Sign up before midnight on January 4 to get $20 off each of your first four shipments from HelloFresh, the delicious food box subscription service. You'll save $80 in total. This deal will not last long, so if your resolution is to start cooking more and eating healthier, now is the perfect time to try out HelloFresh with this limited time offer. 

Sign up for HelloFresh now.

8. Get up to 75% off items from the NFLShop, plus free shipping on orders over $25

With the playoffs looming around the corner, now is the perfect time to make sure you and your team are ready for a Superbowl run. The NFLShop is currently running its largest sale of the year, with 75% off select items. Plus, for a limited time, you can get free shipping on orders over $25 if you use the code NFL25 at checkout.

Join the conversation about this story »

• Credit cards play a large role in debt for Americans.
• Laura McCamy stopped using credit cards to pay off her debt — but with no revolving credit, her credit score evaporated, and it affected her ability to get a loan.
• Though giving up credit cards can help you get out of debt, there are some unexpected problems that come with cutting the cards.

I am a shopaholic. I find it hard to resist cute things — and the world is filled with cute things.

When I got my credit card bill and was bummed about my high balance, I would cheer myself up by shopping — and charging my purchases to my credit card. So it's no surprise that every time I started to pay down my credit-card balance, I found a way to spend it up again.

Credit-card debt is a problem for many Americans. CNBC reported in January that the average American had a credit-card balance of more than $6,000. Americans paid a whopping $104 billion in credit-card interest and fees over the past year, according to the New York Post. That's about $300 for every man, woman, and child in the country.

In the early 2000s, I knew I needed to change my financial habits or I would never get out of debt. I realized the only way I could do it was to ditch my credit cards, so I made the leap and stopped using plastic. The results weren't what I expected.

SEE ALSO: 4 things experts think credit cards will be used for in the future

Cutting up the cards

Dispensing with my credit cards felt like living without a net. I had almost no money saved up. What if I needed funds in an emergency?

In truth, most of my "emergencies" involved shopping. As I weaned myself from using credit, I had to let go of impulse purchases. I made a rule for myself: When I went into a store, I could buy only what was on my list. If I wanted something else, I had to wait 24 hours. Most of the time, I forgot about that "must have" as soon as I left the store.

As I adjusted to life without credit cards, I discovered that my income, though not large, was enough to cover my living expenses. I didn't have to deprive myself of things I truly wanted — I just had to spread out my purchases, instead of buying everything right away on credit.

Breaking the cycle of credit-card debt

As I committed to paying off my cards and not charging, my credit-card balances went down more quickly than I expected. I paid off about $10,000 in credit-card debt, plus a $10,000 business loan, in 18 months.

I will never forget the first month after my balances hit zero. I got to keep the big chunk of my monthly income that had gone to repaying my debts. Without the burden of credit-card payments, I felt a little bit rich.

Credit score: zero

A couple of years later, while applying for a mortgage, I discovered one big downside of not using credit cards: I had no credit score.

My credit score wasn't bad — it was nonexistent. Though I had bought and paid off two cars, my lack of current credit meant I was dead to credit-reporting agencies like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

To remedy the situation, I reactivated a credit card I got after college. The bank was willing to reopen my card with my original membership date, which provided the kind of long-term credit history I needed. On the advice of my mortgage broker, I used the card and paid the balance in full every month, to boost my credit score.

Once I had my name on a mortgage, I cut up my credit cards a second time. Now my home loan provides my credit score.

• When it comes to being more productive, there are many time-saving skills you can adopt.
• You can work in 30-minute increments, for example, or attempt to eliminate distractions for set periods of time.
• Here, career experts share 15 ways to be more productive and manage your time better.

There are countless ways to be more productive. Making "to-do" lists and working in 30-minute increments are two common approaches. However, some productivity methods work better than others and can save you time in the process.

"These days, we feel like we have less time than ever and in some very real ways, we do,"Erica Keswin, a workplace strategist, former executive coach, and author of the book "Bring Your Human to Work," told Business Insider in an email. "Because of 24/7 technology and the barrage of ‘to-dos' that come at us via email and text, it's hard to keep our priorities straight."

Keswin said the key is being more careful about what you want to pay attention to. "Otherwise, we're very likely to get sucked into the wrong — or most immediate — things," she said. "I always tell people to start by asking yourself this one important question: ‘Does your calendar reflect your values?'"

Here, career experts share their 15 favorite tips on how to be more productive and manage your time better. (Responses have been condensed and edited for clarity.)

SEE ALSO: 13 ways you can be happier at work, according to career experts

1. Plan the night before

Before going to bed, I always take time to prepare for tomorrow. I look at my schedule and see what appointments I have or deadlines I need to meet. I prep the coffee maker and sometimes make my "to-do" list the night before. A little planning goes a long way.

—Marcos Jacober, CEO ofLife Hacks Wealth and expert on real estate investment

2. Wake up earlier

When you wake up early, you have more time to plan and get organized for the day ahead. Completing tasks on your "to-do" list early on frees up time later in your day. By the time I get to the office at 7:30 a.m., I've already looked at my schedule, grabbed Starbucks, and attended a fitness class.

—Ben Gold, president of QuickBridge, a privately-held financial services firm

3. Figure out your main goal or objective

Decide what your main goal or objective is — think long-term. The main reason people lose track of their time and day is because they don't have a clear objective or goal. So if something comes across your desk that doesn't jive with your goals, it's a pretty firm and easy, "No," "Not right now," or "Someone else is better suited to handle this."

—Tom Murry, the retired CEO of Calvin Klein

• Kevin Hassett, the chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, suggested Thursday that Apple's surprising sales warning could just be the start for US companies.
• Hassett said "a heck of a lot of US companies" would have lower earnings because of President Donald Trump's trade war with China because of the country's economic slowdown.
• But Hassett argued that the Chinese slowdown actually put more pressure on China to make a deal with Trump.
• Stocks were sharply lower following Apple's announcement, with the tech giant down almost 9%.

One of President Donald Trump's top economic advisers suggested Thursday that Apple's shock announcement downgrading its revenue outlook for the holiday quarter was only the first in a series of ugly corporate revelations coming as a result of the US-China trade war.

Kevin Hassett, the chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, told CNN that Apple's sales drop in China — which the company pointed to as the primary reason for the revenue shortfall — would only represent the start for US companies.

"It's not going to be just Apple," Hassett said. "There are a heck of a lot of US companies that have sales in China that are going to be watching their earnings being downgraded next year until we get a deal with China."

Read more:One chart shows how badly US companies are getting whacked by Trump's trade war

Apple said Trump's tariffs on Chinese products were contributing to an economic slowdown in the country. In turn, Chinese consumers are not buying Apple products, Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an interview with CNBC on Wednesday.

"And what I believe to be the case is the trade tensions between the United States and China put additional pressure on their economy," Cook said.

In Hassett's reading, other US firms with significant sales to China will also be harmed by the slowdown, leading to a slew of ugly earnings surprises.

Despite the ostensible bad news for American companies, Hassett said the pain actually gave Trump a better negotiating position in trade talks with Beijing.

"That puts a lot of pressure on China to make a deal," he said.

The US and China are negotiating a deal during a 90-day truce that expires on March 1. Before the truce, the US placed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods and Beijing responded with tariffs on $110 billion worth of US goods. While Apple has been spared from the direct cost of tariffs, the indirect impact of the trade war has clearly taken its toll on the company.

Read more:Trump says the Treasury is taking in 'MANY billions of dollars' from the tariffs on China. The only problem is that US companies are paying the price.

Beyond the earnings worries, Hassett also downplayed the market's reaction to the Apple news— and the potential for more announcements of a similar nature — as a short-term concern. He argued that strong US economic fundamentals would win out in the long run.

"So when we settle the trade issues with China, then people will go back to focusing on the long-run growth that absolutely is going to return to probably a higher level once we fix this problem with China," Hassett said.

But for now, US markets were sharply lower Thursday morning, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average off nearly 540 points, or 2.3%, the S&P 500 down 43 points, or 1.7%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq down 125 points, or 1.9%, as of 11:15 a.m. ET.

As for Apple, its stock tanked after the announcement and was down nearly $14 a share, or 8.9%, on Thursday.

SEE ALSO: Trump's trade war could cost every middle-class American family $453 and could eliminate 292,000 US jobs

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• The best foam rollers keep their shape after many sessions of heavy-duty use, provide the level of pressure you need to loosen up muscles, and are built to last.
• The AmazonBasics High-Density Round Foam Roller is our top pick because it has an affordable price tag, multiple size options, firm density, and resistance to water.

As a roller derby player, I get my unfair share of sore muscles and stiffness. Nothing compares to the pain after an intense derby tournament. Yet, I have to admit that I thought my teammates looked silly as they rolled along the floor with their foam rollers. Well, after researching the phenomenon, which is supported by personal trainers, massage therapists, physical therapists, and plenty of scientific research, it’s clear that foam rollers are a smart cost-effective way to relieve sore muscles and loosen up any stiffness.

Foam rollers work using a technique called self-myofascial release (SMR), which is basically a fancy way of saying “self-massage.” You start to feel muscle knots and tightness when the fascia covering the muscles is restricted. The foam roller lengthens the fascia. Essentially, a foam roller is an inexpensive way to get a massage where and when you need it most.

Foam rollers come in all shapes and sizes, but the ideal size is generally about six inches in diameter and around 36 inches in length. This allows you to work most muscle groups and to use the roller in workouts. If you want to do deeper muscle work or target knots, textured foam rollers are an excellent solution. While most rollers work using gravity (e.g., your body pushes down on the roller to produce the massaging pressure), there are several handheld solutions that fit easily in your gym bag.

We should note that you may be able to use your health savings account (HSA) or flex spending account (FSA) to purchase a foam roller. Some plans require you to buy your roller from a physical therapist, chiropractor, or other medical professionals, so make sure you check with your provider before you buy.

We evaluated thousands of expert and customer reviews and ratings of dozens of different models before choosing the best foam rollers. In the end, the products that are included in our list are easy to use, effective at relieving muscles, and durable.

Here are the best foam rollers you can buy:

• Best foam roller: AmazonBasics High-Density Round Foam Roller
• Best textured foam roller: TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller
• Best vibrating foam roller: HyperIce Vyper 3 Speed Vibrating Foam Roller
• Best affordable foam roller: LuxFit Premium High Density Foam Roller
• Best stick foam roller: Original Tiger Tail Massage Stick

Updated on 01/03/2019 by Malarie Gokey: Updated prices and formatting.

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

SEE ALSO: The best gym bags you can buy

The best foam roller overall

Why you'll love it: For a very affordable price, the AmazonBasics High-Density Round Foam Roller provides a deep tissue massage that will speed up your muscle recovery.

The AmazonBasics High-Density Round Foam Roller is made in the USA of polyethylene foam. Polyethylene is a popular foam roller material because it’s made of recycled polymers, is resistant to water and corrosive solvents, and it’s easy to clean. The edges of the roller are molded so you don’t suddenly get a sharp pain if you roll off the end. The roller has a 6-inch diameter and weighs 1.2 pounds if you buy the 36-inch long one.

The roller comes in seven different lengths ranging from 36-inches long to 12-inches long. As with all AmazonBasics products, Amazon provides a one-year limited warranty.

The Wirecutter also recommends this roller because it’s affordable, has a slight surface texture to prevent sliding, and it provides the level of firm density recommended by experts. The reviewers do caution that it may be a bit too firm for new users. Heavy also included the roller in its guide to the best foam rollers because of its dense molded polypropylene construction, it keeps its shape, and it comes in three sizes. 

More than 1,800 customers give this roller a five-star rating. Reviewers have found that the AmazonBasics roller can be painful when it is your first time using it and if you have particularly fatigued muscles. However, buyers note that if you power through it will aid with post-workout recovery and make it so your body is ready to go again sooner.

The only complaint was that one buyer noted that the High-Density Round Foam Roller seemed to lose some of its firmness after a few months of use.

Pros: Firm density, three size options, durable, affordable

Cons: Beginners may find it to be too firm

Buy the AmazonBasics High-Density Round Foam Roller on Amazon for $19.89 (originally $20.99)

The best grid-textured foam roller

Why you'll love it: The TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller is the smart choice when you want to massage your knots or trigger points with several different surfaces.

The TriggerPoint Grid Foam Roller is made of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam of varying densities and has a hollow core. EVA absorbs impact, is resistant to water and other elements, and is also easy to clean. The unique surface pattern of the Grid helps with rolling through kinks, knots, and tight muscles.

The Original Grid is 5.5-inches in diameter and 13-inches long, but you can get it in a number of different sizes. The Original has a weight limit of 500 pounds and comes with instructions as well as access to an online instructional video. TriggerPoint backs the quality of the Grid with a one-year warranty.

Heavy's writer was impressed with this roller's durability, targeted massaging, and compact size. However, the writer thought it was a bit pricey, short, and could be too intense for beginners. Truth of Building Muscle performed a thorough review and appreciated the color selection, the variety of surface options, and that the roller does not lose its shape.

The Original Grid Foam Roller from TriggerPoint has more than 2,900 four- and five-star reviews on Amazon. Several commenters found that this roller worked great for easing their sore backs and other muscles after workouts. Other users were impressed with how it loosened up muscles pre-workout. Though the surface is quite hard, reviewers noted that it’s still comfortable.

The only complaint we found was that there were instances of Amazon sellers sending out counterfeits of this roller (no logo, no packaging, etc.) Of course, Amazon will provide refunds or exchanges if this happens.

Pros: Multi-density, durable, keeps its shape, 500-pound weight limit

Cons: May be too short for some tasks

Buy the TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller on Amazon for $34.99 and up (originally $39.99) 

Buy the TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller from Walmart for $34.99

The best vibrating foam roller

Why you'll love it: If simply rolling on a foam cylinder isn’t enough for your aching muscles, the HyperIce Vyper 3 Speed Vibrating Foam Roller might be just what you need.

The rugged outer shell of the HyperIce Vyper is made of polypropylene, which transfers vibration well, and features sixteen small ridges that dig into soft tissue. It measures six inches in diameter by 15-inches long and weighs four pounds. There are three intensity settings that range from 28 to 38 Hz. The Vyper is approved by the TSA for carrying on board flights, and it is backed by a one-year warranty.

Two of the high-profile owners of HyperIce are pro football running back Adrian Peterson and NBA star Blake Griffin, and other pro athletes in several other sports have tested and given the Vyper their seal of approval.

Gizmodo took a look at the Vyper when it was still trying to attract funding through Kickstarter. Needless to say, the Vyper easily surpassed its goal. The reviewer found the foam was firm and that the vibration settings were equally intense. But, they noted this was helpful for loosening tissues.

The Rx Review rated this roller highly because it is powerful and portable. However, they didn’t like how short it is and that you have to remember to charge it. Plus, it’s quite heavy for a roller. Lastly, Wear Action observed that the Vyper is expensive but well worth the price for serious athletes.

Around 81% of the reviews of the HyperIce Vyper on Amazon are positive. The most helpful customer review comes from a certified personal trainer who was blown away by the durability and power of the Vyper. Buyers weighing 230 pounds or more found that this roller had no problem handling their weight. The only common complaint is the inconsistent quality of the charger.

Pros: Offers an intense deep tissue massage, built to last

Cons: Expensive, short, complaints of it not holding a charge after a few uses

Buy the HyperIce Vyper 3-Speed Vibrating Foam Roller at Best Buy for $199.99

Buy the HyperIce Vyper 3-Speed Vibrating Foam Roller on Amazon for $238.28

• Kudadoo Maldives Private Island has been named the best new luxuryhotel of 2019 by the team at Luxury Travel Intelligence.
• The adults-only resort has 15 private residences and is situated in a lagoon.
• Guests have access to a 24-hour butler, a spa, and a swimming pool overlooking the ocean.
• The resort is part of the growing movement of eco-friendly tourism: It's entirely solar-powered.

A tiny resort in the Maldives has been dubbed the best new luxury resort of 2019.

Kudadoo Maldives is home to 15 one- or two-bedroom overwater residences and, in case the unobstructed ocean views aren't sufficient, also has an infinity pool that looks out over the water. It opened on December 26, but is already attracting high-profile guests.

The hotel is part of the growing trend of eco-friendly tourism: The resort's sloped roof generates enough energy to serve 50 guests and 100 staff at any given moment.

Readmore: The top 14 boutique hotels in the world that should be on every luxury traveler's list

Kudadoo now numbers as one of many luxury hotel offerings in the Maldives, including the world's first underwater hotel villa, where a single night's stay costs $50,000, and a resort that's home to an underwater sculpture museum.

It also joins the ranks of a seven-bedroom Swiss chalet that's been named the world's best ski lodge and a resort in Bali with "the world's best views" as must-see stops for wealthy travelers who are seeking the lap of luxury around the world.

Keep reading for a look at the island retreat.

SEE ALSO: The 13 best hotels in America that every traveler needs to visit in 2019

SEE ALSO: For $25,000 a night, you can rent a luxury chalet that sits on top of a glacier in a remote part of Alaska

Kudadoo Maldives is on a private island in Lhaviyani Atoll in the Indian Ocean. Guests fly into Malé International Airport ...

Source: Kudadoo

... and are then flown to the resort, which is about 40 minutes away, by private seaplane.

Source: Kudadoo

The resort consists of 15 bungalows that arch out over the water in a circular shape.

Source: Kudadoo

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Year & Day sells three types of products: ceramic plates, bowls, and serving pieces in four different colors ($6.50-$13/piece); stainless steel flatware in polished or matte finishes ($9-$18/piece); and Italian glassware ($12-$15/piece). The brand first caught my eye on Instagram, where every image of its smooth blush and dark navy arrangements had me glaring at my own AmazonBasics plate with disdain. It sounds strange that the basic vessels responsible for holding and transporting my food can incite such strong feelings, but that's the Year & Day Effect, I suppose. 

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