Prevention August 2024

Add this to your summer bucket list: Take a trip to the ocean…or a lake, or a river, or the pond at your local park. Spending time by bodies of water is good for your physical and mental health, study after study exploring the benefits of “blue space” has found. Being around water appears to positively impact factors that impede mental restoration like stress and anxiety, and it can also boost physical activity by encouraging you to move more. GET OUT YOUR PENCIL!…

PICK UP A BEACH READ. Getting lost in a good book is a great way to spend a leisurely day or a breezy evening; it also benefits your brain and can help ease stress. Why not embrace the season’s slow pace by diving into a novel with a summery setting or another easy read? SNAG FOOT-FRIENDLY SANDALS. Summer footwear isn’t always the best for promoting good foot health, but Vionic has solved this problem by crafting cute, toe-revealing, podiatrist-approved sandals, wedges, and other warmweather styles that offer cushioning, arch support, and stability as well as flexibility. MUNCH MORE MELON. All varieties are dripping with juice and full of electrolytes—a delicious way to hike your hydration on hot summer days. To choose the ripest melon, look for one that’s heavy for its…

1 What does “SPF” stand for? A Sun-proof factor  B Sun protection for fairness C Sun protection factor 2 When it comes to SPF numbers, the higher, the better. A True B False 3 You don’t have to wear sunscreen under your clothes. A Right; your skin is covered!  B You should smear it everywhere. 4 Which type of sunscreen works best? A Physical (mineral)  B Chemical  C They are equally effective 5 How many types of ultraviolet rays does sunscreen block? A 2 B 4 C 5 ANSWERS 1 OK, SO YOU MAY KNOW THAT “SPF” ON SUNSCREEN STANDS FOR ”sun protection factor,” but do you know what the number means? It basically tells you how long it would take for your skin to redden in the sun. When you wear SPF 30, it would take you about 30 times as…

◼ When your days are packed with fun, you can still squeeze in this total-body workout, created just for Prevention readers by Planet Fitness National Lead Trainer Teddy Savage for allover strengthening. Repeat each move for 45 seconds and rest for 15 seconds in between. The Goal Try to do the whole circuit for a week straight. MARK THE DAYS YOU DO IT. ◯ SUNDAY ◯ MONDAY ◯ TUESDAY ◯ WEDNESDAY ◯ THURSDAY ◯ FRIDAY ◯ SATURDAY 1 SQUATS Start with your feet about hip-width apart and sink down into a squat as far as you can go without pain. Drive through your heels and squeeze your glutes as you stand. 2 PUSH-UPS Start by lying flat on your stomach, hands beneath your shoulders. Press your palms into the ground and raise your chest while…

◼ These key habits can help you keep up with your active lifestyle by giving your body what it needs for optimal energy, muscle recovery, flexibility, and more. Add these healthy-you moves to your days. STRETCH FOR FIVE MINUTES Your cooldown routine is crucial for keeping your muscles flexible, strong, and pain-free. Spend at least five minutes stretching after a workout. Lean into static stretches, which involve moving a muscle or joint as far as it can go and then holding it there while breathing (in dynamic stretching, you move as you stretch). GRAB A SNACK Refueling after a workout supports overall muscle health, so having the right snack within an hour of completing your sweat session is ideal for optimal nutrient absorption. Protein is a necessity for building and…

◼ Do you know what to do when your furry friend needs help? Answer true or false, then see what the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends. #1 YOU DON’T NEED A FIRST AID KIT SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR PET. #2 IF YOU THINK YOUR PET HAS BEEN POISONED BY A CHEMICAL, FOLLOW LABEL INSTRUCTIONS. #3 IF YOUR PET IS INJURED, GIVE THEM A COMFORTING HUG, THEN FIGURE OUT A GAME PLAN. #4 CALL THE VET ONLY IN SERIOUS EMERGENCIES; OTHERWISE, AT-HOME FIRST AID IS FINE. ANSWERS 1 TRUE. You can use many of the supplies in a first aid kit for humans on your pet too (say, tweezers to remove a splinter or gauze to wrap a wound), but the AVMA suggests keeping pet-specific items—such as a list of your pet’s…