Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2012 i Prevention

As some of you very loyal readers may recognize, I was the editor-in-chief of Prevention many years ago—and then life intruded in surprising ways. My husband and I moved to London, where I helped lead AOL UK, and we welcomed our beautiful son. Then we moved to Warsaw (where I worked on Prevention’s Polish edition) and we introduced lovely twin daughters to the world. And then, after more than a decade of living abroad, we brought our brood back to the United States. And now I am over the moon to join Rodale again as editorial director for Prevention. Not only is it a tremendous honor to lead this dynamic brand but, with time, the role has become much more personal. At 48, I am now in the Prevention sweet…

Should You Go Gluten Free? americans spend more than $6 billion a year on gluten-free foods, thanks in part to the products’ health halo. But are all those potato-flour pastas and pizzas getting to the right stomachs? According to a recent Mayo Clinic study, 1.6 million Americans who are on gluten-free diets don’t need to be, while the vast majority of the 1.8 million who could benefit aren’t aware they should watch their intake. Who really needs to go gluten free? Only those with the following conditions: CELIAC DISEASE Because its symptoms are so varied, this autoimmune problem can be tricky to identify. In sufferers, the immune system launches an attack when it detects gluten (the protein in wheat, rye, and barley) in the digestive tract, damaging the small intestine…

Your Happiest Winter Workout The slopes and ice rink aren’t the only spots where you can enjoy an active winter day. Strap on a pair of snowshoes for a fun, invigorating sweat session in your own backyard. “Snowshoeing burns about twice as many calories as regular walking while placing less impact on your joints,” says Declan Connolly, PhD, a professor and director of the Human Performance Lab at the University of Vermont. Why? You have to lift feet higher, which requires more energy. Don’t Sweat Your Safety Stay safe and look cool during low-light outdoor workouts with our favorite visibility-increasing gear. “Walkers and runners who have strategically placed reflectors are more easily spotted by drivers, who can also better gauge their distance,” says Gabe Maricich, apparel product manager at Brooks…

NOW: Brandy Gray Age: 42 Height: 5’8" Current weight: 128 lb Heaviest weight: 160 lb Lightbulb moment: Realizing exercise helped her fight stress Biggest benefit: Feeling healthier now than 10 years ago Growing up in Boone, NC, I was your typical jock: I played varsity basketball, volleyball, and softball, and I loved to ski. I was always in great shape. After I graduated from college, though, my activity level went way down. I got married and went straight to work as a general contractor, doing home construction. Although I didn’t sit behind a desk all day, I also didn’t have much time to exercise. My eating took a turn for the worse too. It was easier to hit the drive-through than prepare something healthy. The scale continued to climb when…

If you’d like to slim your belly and brighten your mood, look no further: Our Yoga For Weight Loss And Inner Happiness Plan does both in less than 30 minutes a day. The secret to its success: a Power Yoga routine and Joy-Boosting Journaling assignments, created by certified yoga instructor and counselor Ashley Turner. Why this mix? Yoga is a fantastic way to reduce stress, ease aches, and boost your energy levels—all of which add up to a healthier, happier you—and it can brighten your mood. A Boston University School of Medicine study found that participants who practiced yoga for an hour 3 times a week for 3 months had higher levels of the mood-boosting brain chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid than participants who walked for the same amount of time. The…

PUT ON A HAPPY FACE Smiling soothes you, even if you’re just going through the motions. A University of Wisconsin study found that people who’d had Botox injections were less prone to anger because they couldn’t express it. What’s the lesson? Just fake it till you make it. WHEN we were 5, we might have sucked our thumbs for stress relief. As adults, many of us self-soothe with junk food, a glass (or two) of wine, maybe some mindless TV. But those are fixes that don’t actually fix anything. Luckily, recent studies reveal some easy ways to lift your spirits and lower your stress that actually create positive shifts in your brain and body. “Stress triggers the release of the hormone cortisol, which can damage our brains and weaken our…

1 LOVE IT ONCE Tuscan Roasted Pork Tenderloins With Peppers And New Potatoes PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 1½ HOURS SERVINGS: 4 + LEFTOVER PORK AND PEPPERS 2 lb assorted bell peppers 5 cloves garlic, minced 1 1/2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary 2 tsp fresh lemon zest 1 tsp fennel seeds 1/8 tsp red-pepper flakes 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil 1 lb new potatoes, halved 2 pork tenderloins (about 1 3/4 lb total) 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice HEAT broiler. Coat large shallow baking pan with olive oil spray. Cut sides from peppers and arrange in single layer on prepared pan. Coat lightly with olive oil spray. BROIL 5" from heat, turning, until golden, 5 minutes. Slice peppers. Wrap and chill one-third of peppers (1 cup) for Tuscan…

Q: I’m traveling during the holidays. Is it true that flying with a bad cold could potentially cause a burst eardrum? A: A burst eardrum is very rare, but be prepared. “If you have a cold, your eustachian tubes, which connect the nose to the middle ear, are swollen, so the eardrum can rupture if it can’t accommodate pressure changes,” says Michael Benninger, MD, an otolaryngologist at the Cleveland Clinic. To clear nasal passages, use a spray like Afrin, chew gum, sip water, or pinch your nose while blowing air into your cheeks. Q: Is walking on a treadmill at an incline as good a workout as running on one? A: “Running on a flat surface may burn slightly more calories than walking on an incline, but both are absolutely…

Hydrate Skin From Within lotions typically work by forming a seal on skin to keep water in, but that ignores the reason skin gets drier as we age: Our moisture-making cells aren’t as productive as they once were. Origins Make a Difference Plus +, available as a light Treatment (1), Moisturizer (2), or thick Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream (3) ($39.50 each; origins.com), contains a complex of fruit extracts to stimulate skin’s moisture-regulating enzymes from within. The All-Natural Eye Lift a touch of liner defines eyes and wakes up your entire face. But as lids lose elasticity and get crepey, it’s almost impossible to apply evenly. These tricks from celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal, founder of Mally Beauty, help: 1 Using your finger, blend an eye shadow base, such as Tarte Clean…

WHAT IT IS A recurrent throbbing headache, often in one side of the head, frequently accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines may include a stage called aura, which is marked by visual disturbances (flashes, splotches, zigzags, or shimmering colored lights surrounding a blind spot). WHY IT HAPPENS “Migraine is a neurobiological disorder involving both neurological and vascular changes in the brain during an attack,” says Susan Broner, MD, medical director of the Manhattan Headache Center in New York City. “People with a genetic predisposition have a reduced threshold for the activation of the brain’s ‘pain centers’ and become hypersensitive to stimuli that cause pain. These set off a wave of nerve cell activity and neurotransmitter release that activates blood vessel inflammation, feeding pain structures…

“A woman I admire a lot said to me, ‘God makes you age to show you that you don’t have time to waste,’ says Jamie Lee Curtis, 54. “It really stuck with me. It’s the reason I look for meaning in my life, my relationships, and my friendships.” Such deliberate focus takes courage. That’s one reason Curtis has made it the theme of her 10th book for children, My Brave Year of Firsts: Tries, Sighs, and High Fives, which celebrates the everyday daring of trying new things from the perspective of a 6-year-old girl named Frankie. It’s a powerful notion for Curtis. “Humans are so brave,” she says, “especially in a modern world with working parents who are trying so hard to keep it all going. But women are particularly…

Once upon a time, if you were in your 40s, 50s, or even 60s and your knees hurt or were giving out, chances are you waited. Joint replacements were for the elderly, largely because artificial knees and hips had a functional life span of only 15 years. If you didn’t want to repeat the ordeal in your 60s or 70s, you put off the surgery as long as you could and learned to live with the inconvenience and discomfort. Times have changed. In 2010, 39% of the 453,663 patients who received hip replacements were under age 65, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. And 42% of that year’s 721,443 knee replacements were performed on patients ages 45 to 64. What’s more, the number of joint-replacement recipients in…

You probably have a mental picture of yourself that’s been in place for years: “I’m the short brunette with the curly hair,” for example. But at some point, what’s actually on your head no longer matches the image you carry in your head. “Most people know that hair color changes, but not many realize that texture does too,” says Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, a dermatologist in Miami. “Recent research shows that individual fiber thickness, or diameter, actually increases in your early 30s before peaking and declining from the late 30s or early 40s and onward,” says Pantene principal scientist Jeni Thomas, PhD. Density—the number of strands on your head—also changes. And then there’s the wild card: curvature. “Studies suggest that fiber shape and curvature become more irregular with age,” Dr. Thomas…

CREAMY SPINACH AND MUSHROOM SOUP PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR 10 MINUTES SERVINGS: 6 1 tsp olive oil 3 slices bacon 8 oz mushrooms, trimmed and sliced 2 leeks, white and pale green parts, cleaned and sliced ½ c dry white wine 1 russet potato, peeled and cubed 2 c frozen peas 8 oz baby spinach 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice ¼ c 2% plain Greek-style yogurt Lemon zest, for garnish HEAT oil in large pot over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until crisp, about 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Crumble and set aside. REMOVE all but 1 Tbsp bacon fat from pot. Return to heat and add mushrooms. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add leeks and cook, stirring, until tender, about…

Grin And You Can Bear It if too much togetherness with friends and family during the holidays is starting to frazzle your nerves just a little, try this simple, instantaneous stress reliever: Smile. A recent study from the University of Kansas found that making a happy face whenever you’re upset or tense can actually reduce your body’s response to stress and leave you feeling more relaxed. SHOULD YOU GET A FLU SHOT? ONE IN FIVE Americans will get the flu this winter, with more than 200,000 sick enough to be hospitalized. Yet most of us still don’t get vaccinated, often because of misconceptions about the shot. Here are four of the most common, along with the facts you need to know. MYTH Only the elderly and those at high risk…

How To Be Kinder To Yourself does a little voice in your head sometimes sabotage your best efforts? When you habitually judge yourself, you erode your capacity for self-compassion, which research shows is critical for happiness. One trick to help you tune out negative noise: Keep cheerful company. “Many people trace that negative inner critic to the voices of pessimistic people they grew up with,” says physician Susan Biali, MD, the author of Live a Life You Love. So spend as much time with upbeat people as you can. “Optimism is a learned skill,” Dr. Biali says. “Even the most hard-core Eeyore can become a happy-go-lucky Pooh Bear.” WHY FACEBOOK FEELS SO GOOD FACEBOOK ISN’T A WASTE OF TIME. Logging in to the social network can boost self-esteem, according to…

Orange Juice $2.55 12 OZ CAN Frozen $6.79 64 OZ JUG Premium Canned OJ from frozen concentrate may not have the appeal of a premium jug, but according to the journal Nutrition Research, it may be healthier. Made with the whole fruit (including the peel), it contains more hesperidin, a potent antioxidant found at highest levels in the rind. A daily glass may even help lower LDL cholesterol. Tuna $1.69 5 OZ CAN Albacore $3.49 5 OZ CAN Boutique cannery albacore There’s a boatload of reasons to reel in canned tuna from boutique brands such as Wild Planet and Sustainable Seas. You’ll end up with five times more omega-3 fats, because the tuna is cooked in the can rather than earlier in the process, so less is lost. Plus, boutique…

BOOKS Avid reader (and writer) Jamie Lee Curtis shared her all-time favorite books with us. · East of Eden, by John Steinbeck: The biblical account of Cain and Abel is reflected through the lens of one family. · The Transit of Venus, by Shirley Hazzard: This intricate novel follows two sisters starting a new life after World War II. · Shogun, by James Clavell: A tale of a bold English adventurer embroiled in the feudal politics of a war-torn Japan. · Angle of Repose, by Wallace Stegner: A Pulitzer Prize–winning chronicle of four generations of an American family. · Go, Dog. Go!, by P. D. Eastman: A kids’ classic since 1961.…

PROVEN EFFECTIVE SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) This naturally occurring compound plays an important role in maintaining cell membranes. Studies have shown the supplement to be as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in reducing morning stiffness, pain, and swelling while improving range of motion and walking pace, with fewer potential side effects. WORTH CONSIDERING Glucosamine and Chondroitin Usually taken together, these supplements are found naturally in joint cartilage and are thought by some to slow its natural breakdown. While patients and doctors report some success with these supplements, there’s only one large study so far that supports their use in treating moderate-to-severe cases. WAIT FOR MORE EVIDENCE Membrell JointHealth A relative newcomer, this supplement, which has Natural Eggshell Membrane (NEM), is believed to enhance joint flexibility and comfort. NEM is made of ingredients…

think outside the can! Now’s the height of the cranberry harvest—the perfect time to give these tiny tart treats a try. Buy firm, vibrant red berries (deep color indicates antioxidant potency) and toss any that are soft or shriveled. This highly acidic fruit stays fresh in the fridge for 6 weeks (freeze for up to a year). Cranberries are as delicious in savory dishes as they are in desserts; just temper the tang with a sweetener according to your taste. Cooking the berries until they pop releases their pectin, a type of fiber that helps create a thick sauce. No. 1: Winter Salad With Cranberry-Orange Dressing • Combine 1 cup fresh cranberries, ¼ cup orange juice, 2 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp honey, 2 Tbsp chopped shallot, 1 Tbsp water,…

The Natural Way To Wellness yes, you can reduce the number of trips you make to the vet for several common conditions. Here’s your smart, simple guide to keeping your pet healthy and happy, right at home. Mild Stomach Upset • Withhold all food for at least 24 hours, and then reintroduce it slowly in small quantities. Make sure there’s water available or, if vomiting is a symptom, offer one or more ice cubes every couple of hours. (Too much drinking is likely to aggravate stomach irritation.) • As a supplementary treatment for mild upsets, brew chamomile tea. Pour a cup of boiling water over a tablespoon of the flowers, steep 15 minutes, strain, and dilute with an equal quantity of water. • Many dogs and cats eat grass to…