Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2026 i Prevention

MY HIP IS BEING WEIRD, so I made an orthopedist appointment, to which I showed up last Tuesday—a full week early. Another day, my phone pinged about a Zoom with my dad and his lawyer in five minutes, so I ran to the ladies’ room. When I saw my coworker with especially gorgeous hair, naturally I had to ask her which products she used… and I forgot all about the call. I was 10 billable minutes late. Gah! Oh, and I assigned the same article to two writers—luckily, our eagle-eyed deputy editor Marisa Cohen caught the issue. My best friend has reassured me dozens of times that no, my mind isn’t going. “You’re just doing too many things,” she says. “Try to slow down.” (The day after she last told me…

FROM COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTS TO FAKE SUGAR, GET READY FOR SOMEHEALTHY-EATING CLARITY. NAVIGATING THE WORLD OF NUTRITION can feel like trying to decipher murky hieroglyphs in a kale smoothie. With updated research, we learn new information about what is best for our bodies and minds. But some of what you hear, especially on social media, is motivated by profit, not by the desire to put truth out into the world, and it can be hard to tell the difference. Headlines usually don’t provide a complete picture—and we often don’t read past them, so we take in only part of the story. Even official food data is confusing: While 85% of Americans pay at least some attention to nutrition labels, only 41% fully understand them, a Research America survey found. That’s why…

When your computer has been on for days and you have too many tabs open, it slows down and you see the dreaded spinning wheel—that’s when you know it’s time to shut the machine off, let it rest for a bit, and then restart. Well, your brain needs the same thing. After all the chaos and excitement of the holidays, January is the perfect time to reboot your brain by paying attention to what makes it work at its peak and taking up some practices that will help it stay healthy as you age. Here are 14 research-based, doable, and (mostly) fun tips to get you going. DAY 1 SHAKE THINGS UP Do something entirely novel—whether it’s as minor as hiking in the woods instead of walking your usual lakeside circuit…

THERE ARE two competing forces in January—cozy season and the whole self-improvement fresh-start thing. If all you want to do is cuddle up until it gets warmer (we feel ya!), you can still do something that will make you feel more vibrant with little effort: Try tasty (and trending!) nutrition standouts you probably haven’t had before. “There are foods that I consider superstars because they’re just so, so good for you. I like to think of these as ones that provide extra-special health benefits and that stand out among others in their food group,” says the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Nutrition Director, Stefani Sassos, R.D.N. “No one superfood is going to magically bring you to a peak state of health, but incorporating them into your eating habits is a balanced way…

Daily life asks a lot of us, so you may feel panicked when you have a bunch of looming tasks on which you’ve procrastinated. But believe it or not, leaning into that dread may help you finally get stuff done. “Scary Hour” is a scheduled one-hour period devoted to tackling your obligations. “We’re used to showing up for what’s on our calendars, so if you block out the time and are specific about what you’ll be doing, you’re more likely to do it,” says Alexis Haselberger, a time-management and productivity coach in San Francisco. “I’ve been implementing this practice in my business and life for years.” For a successful Scary Hour, START HERE: PICK A PEAK TIME “It’s important to plan this hour for when you’re likely to have the energy…

1 MYTH : If you’ve contracted an STI, you’ll know. MYTHBUSTER While most sex Mually transmitted infections (STIs) manifest through classic symptoms such as blisters, discharge, and painful sex, a few signifiers are subtle. “Syphilis in particular may go unnoticed,” says Rebecca Masutani, M.D., a geriatrician at Mount Sinai Hospital in NewYork City. But cases are rising, and a painless sore or swollen lymph glands may be an early sign. One STI symptom that’s often misinterpreted: “If you’re having discomfort with urination, a practitioner may think UTI instead of STI,” Dr. Masutani says. “But that can also be a symptom of chlamydia.” A common bacterial STI, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease in women if left untreated, and that can damage the reproductive organs. AIDS is not always immediately obvious…

Twelve years ago, I was sleeping in my childhood bedroom in Fort Worth, TX, when I suddenly woke up shrieking with head pain. I’d had headaches before, but nothing like this. The pounding behind my left eye was unbearable, and over the course of the night I threw up a dozen times and my vision was so blurry that I could barely see. I was 24 and had been recuperating at my parents’ house after finishing an inpatient program for eating disorders. I felt good—I was finally beating the anorexia and bingeing that had started in my teens and brought me down to 85 pounds. I had no idea why this headache was so much worse than any one I’d previously experienced. My mom ran into my room, terrified by…

Stock up on these newly popular nutrientpacked offerings. MUSHROOMS Supplements and drinks made from fungi are trendy, but eating them is smarter—they’re filled with vitamins and antioxidants. Visit an Asian market for shiitake, oyster, maitake, cremini, and enoki varieties. MICROGREENS These young, delicate leafy greens, typically sold in a mix, are produced by veggies, grains, and herbs, and they have more phytochemicals than leaves harvested from mature plants. Add to sandwiches or use atop eggs or in salad with your favorite lettuces. FONIO This ancient grain native to West Africa is a good source of fiber, iron, and magnesium and has a bit of protein; it’s wonderful as a sweet porridge or a savory side. Other great ancient grains: sorghum (chewy, with a mild flavor), farro (nutty and hearty), and…

GET HYGGE WITH IT Adopt this Danish approach to winter. Actually pronounced “hoo-gah,” it’s the mood evoked by a warm, comforting environment that lets you enjoy what’s around you; studies suggest that hygge can boost happiness and lower stress. So savor the perfect cuppa, or play a game by candlelight with your honey—whatever you do, embrace it. SAVE SOME LIVES National Blood Donor Month is a great reminder to share this priceless gift if you’re able. Someone in the U.S. requires blood or platelets every two seconds, according to the American Red Cross. You can help maintain the blood supply and feel like a hero: Visit redcrossblood.org to find a local drive. SLURP UP SOME SOUP This National Soup Month, we’ve got our spoons in hand! A pot of soup…

SPICED BUTTERNUT SQUASH BREAKFAST COOKIES ACTIVE 15 MIN. TOTAL 35 MIN. PLUS COOLING SERVES 8 2½ cups quick-cooking oats1 cup almond flour2 tsp ground cinnamon1 tsp ground ginger½ tsp baking powder½ tsp kosher salt (we used Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for Morton, use about half as much)1 cup canned butternut squash puree (not no-salt)⅓ cup coconut oil, melted2 Tbsp pure maple syrup1 tsp pure vanilla extract6 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped2% Greek yogurt, for serving 1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In medium bowl, whisk together oats, almond flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, and salt. 3. In large bowl, whisk together butternut squash puree, coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla. Add oat mixture and dates and stir to combine (mixture will be thick). 4.…

We’ve all had the experience of hanging out at home—reading, watching TV, scrolling through social media—and then glancing out the window, surprised to find that it’s gotten pitch-black outside. Or being out at night—say, at a shopping plaza or a ball field—and, in the dazzling lights, forgetting that it’s evening. We don’t even think about such experiences because we’re so used to them. And of course electric lights are great for allowing us to get stuff done after dark (and decorating our houses at this time of year to get into the holiday groove). But a growing body of research is finding that when we’re exposed to too much light at night, it can have serious ramifications for our health. Light pollution is defined as any excessive or inappropriate use…

True enough: As we log more and more birthdays, some of us become less sure-footed. But feeling wobbly is in no way your destiny. Specific exercises can help strengthen and improve things that impact balance such as tight hips and pelvis and poor posture. Good balance is also key to brain health—the top cause of brain injury for older people is concussion resulting from a fall, according to the National Institutes of Health. “The more your body can trust its own stability, the less likely you may be to fall or injure yourself,” says Kymberly Nolden, a personal trainer in New York City. She created this five-move balance workout just for you—aim to do it at least once a week. SINGLE-LEG BALANCE WITH ABDUCTION ▶ STEP 1: Position yourself next…

SIMMER Instead of using oil, cook proteins like fish in a splash of broth or water seasoned with herbs and aromatics. This technique cuts calories and fat while making dishes taste fresh and flavorful. WHY WATER? Techniques like grilling that use high temps and dry heat trigger a chemical process called the Maillard reaction, resulting in the browning that gives foods crave-worthy crispness. Unfortunately, that process can also produce compounds that, when eaten in excess over time, may contribute to oxidative stress and inflammation. Gentle water-based cooking—simmering, boiling, poaching, blanching, and steaming—helps preserve delicate nutrients, keeping foods moist and flavorful. These methods also minimize added calories from oils, helpful if you’re on a low-calorie diet. BOIL While most pastas cook at a rolling boil, many grains benefit from a quick…