Prevention May 2016

A Brand-New Prevention Is Coming in July There’s an exciting change under way at Prevention. Starting with our July issue, we’re doing what few other publications have dared to do: We’re going ad-free. All you’ll see in our pages is cutting-edge, totally trusted content about wellness. Get ready for more of the information and inspiration you want and need to live your healthiest, happiest life! 58% That’s how many Americans get headaches, blurred vision, or dry eyes from too much screen time, says the American Optometric Association. TRY IT NOW: Use the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes you’re in front of a screen, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. All-in-One Tool for Softer, Tighter Skin “This dry-brushing kit from Birchrose + Co ($28) includes an organic repair…

Eye masks can soothe tired peepers and calm puffiness, but when warm they also help quell pain from nasty sinus infections, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Microwave the Bausch + Lomb TheraPearl Eye Mask ($10) for 10 to 15 seconds and gently drape across your closed lids for quick relief. Your Heart Doesn’t Like Mondays, Either Even if you’ve got a standard 9-to-5 job, irregular weekend sleep hurts. The Monday am reality check after staying up late and sleeping in all weekend—called social jet lag—can affect you just like more extreme sleep changes (think working nights), a new study finds. It linked social jet lag to lower “good” cholesterol, greater insulin resistance, and more body fat. Stick to your usual sleep and wake times as much as you…

1 Shop around. Ask your eye doctor for your Rx; you’re legally entitled to it. Then compare offerings at optometrists’ offices, retailers, chains, and big-box stores. 2 Find an expert. Only 22 states require opticians to become licensed. Elsewhere, just about anyone can sell glasses. If your state doesn’t require licensing (find out at opticaltraining.com/html/continuing_ed/state_boards.asp), look for certification by the American Board of Opticianry. 3 Talk about yourself. A good optician asks questions: Do you wear glasses all day or only at night after removing contacts? What do you do most in glasses: read, work at a computer, drive, play sports? Providing these details helps opticians meet your needs. For example, if you’re online all day, they might recommend “office” near variable focus lenses to minimize headaches. 4 Consider an…

Low sex drive is so common, especially after menopause, that it verges on normal: Up to 52% of postmenopausal women experience a lack of desire. The causes can be complex, but that means there are multiple ways to feel more hot and less bothered. Start Here! TALK IT OUT Connect with your partner. Stress, relationship problems, and depression can quash your sex drive. Building intimacy outside the bedroom may fan the flames between the sheets. Talking specifically about sex—what you like, what you don’t—helps, too, as it can push you past habits that might have been established long ago. 20% Distressing desire problems are this much more common in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women. EXERCISE Fit for sex. Active women have more energy, better body image, and less stress—all…

Meet Your Edible Allergy Rx Got the springtime sniffles? Good news: Research shows that foods high in the antioxidant quercetin, like onions, apples, blueberries, and green tea, can ease symptoms by preventing immune cells from releasing histamines, which cause sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose. Omega-3–rich foods like salmon have been linked to reduced hay fever symptoms, while probiotic-packed edibles like raw sauerkraut may lower levels of allergy-triggering antibodies. Should You Be Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar? Lots of people drink ACV because they think it will help curb colds, weight gain, and even cancer. While there’s little science to support all the hype, some claims check out. first, ACV may help you absorb more calcium from food. second, consuming it after a meal can block digestion of starches that…

Sounds crazy, but stirring collagen into coffee and smoothies is suddenly trendy—for good reason. Not only does the tasteless powder pack 15 g of protein in a 2-tablespoon serving, but studies show it may also plump skin, soothe achy joints, and improve gut health. That’s because it’s high in amino acids that help prevent intestinal permeability (i.e., leaky gut), a condition linked to autoimmune diseases.…