Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2026 i Prevention

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, for real—the best thing ever, especially if Steve is reading this (hi, honey!). But of all the ideas in this issue that resonate with me (as I hope they will with you), one of the most salient is the reminder on page 7 that there are at least as many undercelebrated varieties of love as there are cute little Valentine’s Day tchotchkes and chocolate in the “seasonal” aisle at CVS. There’s ride-or-die BFF love, got-your-back-from-a-distance aunt or uncle love, and not-just-because-you-feed-me pet love, just to name a few. My twins (above), now 22, seem to have a sibling love that will carry them forward even when I’m no longer around. Taking a beat to appreciate the many types of love will make the world seem sunnier. Even…

DARK CHOCOLATE POWER BARK ACTIVE 10 MIN. TOTAL 30 MIN. SERVES 8 In toaster oven on small rimmed baking sheet, toast 1½ Tbsp each raw pepitas and raw hulled sunflower seeds at 400°F until fragrant, about 4 min.; immediately transfer to medium bowl and toss with ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon and a pinch of chipotle chile powder, then with 1 cup plain granola (we love Early Bird Kiss My Oats). Meanwhile, microwave 8 oz dark chocolate (chopped) in small bowl, stirring every 20 sec., until melted and smooth. Spread on parchment-lined baking sheet into 8-by 12-in. rectangle. Scatter spiced granola over chocolate and sprinkle with ½ tsp flaky sea salt. Refrigerate until set, about 20 min. Break into pieces and serve, or pack in airtight container and store in…

Wow, forgiveness can be hard, especially if you haven’t gotten over whatever it was the person did. Not forgiving someone who has done you dirty doesn’t make you a terrible person. That said, if you can get to forgiveness, it can lower your stress and help you feel happier. Making a conscious decision to forgive a transgression gives you a chance to positively reframe the situation and release negative feelings, explains Simira Freeman, Psy.D., a psychologist in New York City. This way you won’t ruminate and harbor resentment, both of which can harm your mental health (and eventually your physical health) if left to fester. Try these tips for finding a way to release the grudge. Get in your feels To let go of anger, sadness, or pain, you have…

1 MYTH : You’ll know it if you’re having a heart attack. MYTHBUSTER While some heart attacks do trigger classic symptoms (crushing chest pain, arm pain, difficulty breathing), you may only feel a heaviness in your chest or notice subtle signs such as dizziness, indigestion, nausea, fatigue, jaw pain, and headache. While chest pain is the most common symptom for both men and women, “women are more likely to also have these vague symptoms,” says Tamara Horwich, M.D., medical director of UCLA’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. A few reasons you might not recognize what’s going on: Symptoms may come and go, and heart attacks and panic attacks can feel similar. In addition, if you have diabetes you are more likely to have no symptoms or only mild or atypical ones. “Nerve…

In 2018, I was 27 and in the prime of my life, running my own entertainment PR firm in Atlanta. Things were going great professionally, but I just wasn’t feeling well. I was extremely tired all the time, my chest felt weird, and I had a deep, lingering cough. But I was young and felt invincible, so I just kept brushing it all off. Then one day while I was on the phone with a friend, she said something funny and I started to laugh—but all of a sudden I couldn’t breathe. There was a sharp pain in my left side. My friend said, “You need to go to the hospital!” I said, “Oh, I’ll just lie down until I feel better,” but she insisted. So I called my mom…

EVERYONE’S HAIR may look a little different, but one thing that everyone who isn’t bald has in common is that we all want ours to look and feel as healthy as possible. But between problems (frizz, split ends, and those uncooperative baby hairs) and factors that influence hair growth that are out of our control (such as genetics, stress, and the environment), achieving strong strands can feel like an uphill battle. Well, here’s one thing you can do to help your hair: Get the right nutrition. Certain vitamins and minerals can impact the overall health of your hair and its growth cycle. These nutrients play a role in how your hair looks and feels and whether it grows like a vine or seems stuck at the same length. Also, the better…

As the days get shorter and daylight dims, so can your mood. Up to 20% of U.S. adults experience the “winter blues,” a mild form of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), at this time of year. That’s because sunlight is one of the body’s most powerful regulators, upping your serotonin levels to support a steady mood, boosting your vitamin D levels to promote strong immunity, and keeping your circadian rhythm humming so you can sleep soundly and wake up energized and refreshed. Without enough light, those systems can get out of sync—hence that tired, irritable, sad feeling. Some science suggests that light therapy lamps may help improve SAD symptoms by mimicking outdoor light, but there’s nothing quite like feeling the warm sun on your face and breathing fresh air. If you’re…

We love walking—you know Prevention is all about walking! But sometimes when you’re out there hoofing it and a runner blows by you, you might have a twinge of “OK, fine!” and wonder if you should be picking up the pace. There are lots of reasons you don’t see too many 50-plus women out there pounding the pavement. One is that many of us have developed knee, ankle, or hip issues or have had them in the past and don’t want to stir them up again. Or, if you’re relatively new to exercise, you may simply think, That looks hard! Fair points. But you may already be doing high-impact exercises like running without even realizing it—or knowing how they can help you build up your bones and muscles. If you’ve…

There’s tired, and then there’s tired—and the pace at which we all seem to be going these days often leads to the latter state. Regular tiredness is your body’s natural way of saying, “Hey, you’ve had a productive day—time to wind down, get some rest, and start fresh tomorrow.” But then there’s the kind of exhaustion that feels like you’re wearing a weighted blanket and is especially challenging in the middle of the day when you still have work, chores, dinner, and hopefully some fun stuff ahead of you. It’s a whole other level of being wiped out. Feeling that kind of zonked is typical when you have a virus like the flu or COVID, but if you’re one of the 15% to 20% of American women who, according to…

THE STRATEGY JUST ADD PROTEIN HOW IT SAVES TIME: Prep a fresh veggie combo that will keep in the fridge for a few days and pair it with a quick no-cook protein (think tinned fish, frozen cooked shrimp) when you’re ready to dig in. Our slaw features cabbage, bok choy, and carrots that pack fiber and phytonutrients, which nourish good gut bacteria and help calm inflammation. THE STRATEGY FREEZE, THEN ASSEMBLE HOW IT SAVES TIME: On a weekend, make a batch of meatballs to store in the freezer (scallions, garlic, and ginger add big flavor and anti-inflammatory benefits here). After a long workday, microwave for 2 to 3 min. (in a bowl, covered with a damp paper towel), then pile into lettuce cups for a light but satisfying dinner. CHICKEN AND SWEET…