Prevention December 2020

THE EDITORS who work on this magazine are such experienced health journalists that it can be tough to really wow them. That’s why I love the article we do every December on the biggest health breakthroughs of the year. By the time we narrow the list, everything on it makes the staff say, “Amazing!” You can see 2020’s innovations on page 62, but I also want to tell you how our annual list inspired two exciting things Prevention is doing in 2021: WE’RE COMMITTING TO BRAIN HEALTH This year, we’re highlighting an early-detection blood test for Alzheimer’s—astounding, right? The disease is so scary that people often whisper its very name, as used to happen with cancer. But without more open conversations around brain health, the people this test can help…

Sip on That! A hot cup of tea on a cold winter day: so cozy and relaxing! And it may help you live longer as well. A high intake of flavonoid-rich foods like tea (19 cups a month) is associated with lower risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Flavonols found in abundance in tea—especially green tea—likely play a role, thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties. For some green tea inspo, Republic of Tea has yummy flavors like pomegranate and ginger-peach. Tap Into Catnaps In need of a midday snooze? Make it a quick one, says a new analysis in China involving more than 300,000 people that was presented at ESC Congress 2020, a cardiology conference. Compared with not napping, regularly…

You may schedule an annual physical each year, but how good are you at keeping up with other preventive health appointments, like mammograms and heart disease screenings? According to a new survey of 3,000 women by Prevention, the nonprofit HealthyWomen, and GCI Health, many of us need to up our game—just 24% of respondents said they got regular mammograms, 20% got screened for heart disease, 18% kept up with screenings for gynecological cancers, and only 13% underwent skin cancer assessments. If you’re one of the slackers, consider this a gentle push and read on to see why you should make those appointments now. PUT YOURSELF FIRST “Preventive care is a gift—when disease is detected early, you have more treatment options and negative outcomes are minimized,” says Marsha B. Henderson, a…

Your favorite cold-weather activities—whether you’re skiing in the biting wind or curling up on the couch in the extra-dry indoors—mean your skin and hair probably need a moisture boost. Outdoor fun can lead to windburn, which is damage to the top layer of skin marked by redness, dryness, itching, or peeling, explains Michael Kassardjian, D.O., a board-certified dermatologist at Coast Dermatology in California and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. Apply a thicker moisturizer made with soothing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, soy, or oatmeal. For hair that’s looking dull, seek out a rich conditioner with silicone or oils on the label, says Debra Jaliman, M.D., a New York City–based board-certified dermatologist. (General rule: Silicone-based products end in “-icone,” as in “dimethicone.”) PREVENTION PICKS: CeraVe Healing Ointment, $24, drugstores; OGX…

1 Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, left foot turned out slightly, right foot facing front. Hold the kettlebell in your right hand and press the weight overhead, keeping your elbow unbent alongside your ear. Let your left arm hang straight at your side. This is starting position. 2 Keep your eyes on the weight and brace your abs. Shift your right hip out to the side and let your left arm slide down in front of your left leg. Squeeze your glutes and return to starting position. 3 This is one rep. Do five to 10 reps on each side.…

SERVES 4 1 On baking sheet, toss ½ cup walnuts with 1 tsp apple pie spice and roast at 400°F until fragrant, 10 min.; roughly chop. 2 In bowl, whisk together 2 Tbsp each lemon juice and olive oil, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp pepper. 3 Add 2 stalks celery, 1 Bartlett pear, 1 bulb fennel, and 1 scallion (all thinly sliced) and toss to combine. 4 Just before serving, toss 2 small bunches arugula (thick stems discarded) with pear mixture and serve with spiced nuts. NUTRITION (per serving): 202 cal, 4 g pro, 15 g carb, 5 g fiber, 8 g sugars (0 g added sugars), 15.5 g fat (2 g sat fat), 0 mg chol, 297 mg sodium…