Prevention May 2023

WHILE I’M CONFIDENT that the articles in Prevention and on our site are helpful, it’s not every day that I get to say somebody is now cancer free because of us. But a few months ago I got a letter from a reader who had gone straight to the doctor after seeing “5 Skin Cancer Pictures to Help Guide Your Mole Checks” on prevention.com. “I had a strange spot on my arm that had recurred three times,” wrote Shari Morse, who lives in Michigan. “I came across the photos in your article and realized that it looked and sounded a lot like basal cell carcinoma.” She was right. The carcinoma was removed in one go, and she’s now doing great. “This type of cancer is really one of the ‘better’ ones…

Going out of your way to enjoy Mother Nature’s beautiful creations could be an easy way to lift your spirits. People reported more feelings of awe when they viewed images of natural events they wouldn’t necessarily witness every day—like sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, and starry skies—than when they saw photos of ordinary sunny conditions or blue skies, says a study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology. Awe is an emotional state that’s often difficult to elicit, but it’s one we should strive to experience more often, as it can help improve mood and increase positive emotions, say researchers from the University of Exeter. Try timing a few daily walks for right around sunset, set an earlier alarm every so often to enjoy your morning coffee with the day’s first light, or…

PREBIOTICS ▶ What they are: A form of plant fiber that feeds the gut’s good bacteria so they can thrive. ▶ Sources: Bananas, onions, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, asparagus, apple skins, dandelion greens, oats PROBIOTICS ▶ What they are: Live strains of bacteria that enhance the trillions of existing good gut bugs. You want an array of probiotic strains living in your gut, since each does something different. ▶ Sources: Probiotic yogurt, kefir, raw kombucha, raw sauerkraut, miso soup, kimchi POSTBIOTICS ▶ What they are: When probiotics feed on prebiotics, it creates these by-products that help good bacteria flourish and slow the growth of harmful ones. ▶ Sources: Eat a variety of foods rich in prebiotics and probiotics to create these vital by-products. SYNBIOTICS ▶ What they are: You’ll see this phrase…

We already know that obesity is a multi-system disease with the potential to affect the cardio-vascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems over time—and we should add the neurological system to the list too, says a new study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. It found that carrying a lot of excess weight appears to trigger brain changes similar to those seen in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists from Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital of McGill University conducted brain scans on more than 1,300 patients, some with obesity or Alzheimer’s and some without. Researchers detected cortical thinning in the same brain regions among both patients with obesity and those who had Alzheimer’s disease. This suggests that being obese may cause gray matter atrophy that could play a role in a person’s risk for…

Tired of the same old raisins and almonds? Check out Ziba Foods to explore dried fruit that’s sustainably sourced from small CHOICE 2023 Afghan family farms and free of added sugars, additives, and preservatives. You’ll find white mulberries (crunchy-chewy), kishmish raisins (supple and golden), sun-dried fig slices, and more. Ziba Foods also sells trail mix and a few kinds of nuts, but the fruits are yum-tastic standouts. (Snag single bags and variety packs at zibafoods.com.)…

Talk to your doctor. Pregnant women who suffered from migraines prior to becoming pregnant were more likely to experience complications such as pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and preterm delivery compared with moms-to-be who didn’t get migraines, according to a study in Neurology that included nearly 20,000 women. Your doctor can help you find ways to manage your pain safely through drug-free alternatives such as keeping a food journal to ID migraine triggers, optimizing hydration with electrolyte drinks, focusing on getting good sleep, and treating migraines with cold packs or time in a dark room.…