Innehållsförteckning för October 2021 från Prevention

MY BEST WALKING PARTNER is pretty slow. Penny is my 14-year-old dog—and while she loves to go out, boy, do we take our sweet time circling the neighborhood. I’ve been a little worried about her going the distance for the Prevention Virtual Walk on October 2. However, she did the May 5K—not speedily, but happily—and our vet gave me a puzzled look last time I called her my old lady. So we’ll be walking! We’re not going to break any records, and we may cut a few corners on the 3.1 miles, but that’s what the Virtual Walk is all about: getting out and doing it in whatever way works for you! This year, I’m excited that you can join me and Penny and other Virtual Walkers live in an…

Why do women tend to have longer life spans? Why do men suffer less from certain illnesses? Get answers from leading experts—and learn how to take the best care of yourself—during Live Better Longer: Sex Differences & Aging, a webinar hosted by Prevention, Men’s Health, and the American Federation for Aging Research. This free live event will be held on September 28 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET; sign up at afar.org/events.…

SERVES 4 1 Heat small pan on medium and toast 1 tsp caraway seeds (crushed) until fragrant, about 2 min. 7¢ 2 In large bowl, whisk together 3 Tbsp sherry vinegar, 1 Tbsp whole-grain mustard, and ⅛ tsp each kosher salt and pepper. Mix in caraway, then ½ small red onion (finely chopped); let sit 5 min. 87¢ 3 Meanwhile, cook 4 vegan bratwurst sausages (about 12 oz) per pkg. directions, then slice. $6.96 4 Toss onion mixture with 2 Tbsp olive oil, then add 1 small fennel bulb and 1 Gala apple (both cored and thinly sliced). Fold in cooked sausages and 6 cups mixed greens. $5.32 PER SERVING 334 cal, 20 g pro, 19 g carb, 7 g fiber, 8 g sugars (0.5 g added sugars), 20.5 g fat…

If you’re looking to build both mindfulness and physical strength, get out on the dance floor—or your living room rug! Dancing is a type of movement meditation that benefits your brain, lifts your mood, gets your heart pumping, and supports balance and coordination. Ready to let loose? Follow this dancing checklist from Lisa Farullo, founder of Freeform Dance. FIND A SPECIAL PLACE Choose somewhere you’re comfortable, whether it’s your favorite room in the house, the backyard, or the back seat of your car. PICK FEEL-GOOD TUNES Select three songs of any genre that you know will be fun to dance to. Farullo recommends using headphones to tune out distractions so you can really get into a groove. SMILE AND DO YOU Smiling really brings the fun, and don’t worry about…

Picture this: You and your partner are throwing a party, and you’ve agreed to split the responsibilities fifty-fifty. The day before, their job is to go to the store while you clean. Even split, right? But while they’re at the store, you get a text: How many people are we having? You check the RSVP list, and that’s when you see a couple of “maybes” and call those friends for clarification. Ten minutes later, another message comes in: Do we have paprika? You look in the cupboard and reply. While doing so, you realize you’re out of pepper, so you text to add that to the list. Your phone dings: How about shrimp as an appetizer? You rack your brain for any seafood allergies, then check the fridge for cocktail…

My moment of clarity came after a tumble down the stairs and an ankle fracture, in 2016. I’d been distracted—again. This time, I was looking at paint chips while walking down a flight of stairs in my house and thinking about what I’d just learned about light reflectance values. While laid up for six weeks of healing, I had plenty of time to consider what felt like my life’s failings. I had a master’s degree, but I’d made it through endless boring classes by daydreaming, doodling, and making lists of what I’d do next. My grades rarely dipped below A, but my only strategy was a combination of heavy caffeine usage, all-nighters, and make-up tests. Naturally, I’d sprained both ankles in college—after trying to read while going up a flight…

Few diagnoses are as well known—or as unfriendly to black sweaters—as dandruff, a.k.a. mild seborrheic dermatitis, which affects about 50% of adults, per a 2015 review. The condition is thought to occur when yeast called Malassezia (found on nearly everyone) overgrows in oily areas, often the scalp, says Shilpi Khetarpal, M.D., a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic. Flakes and itching follow, and they aren’t easy to banish. So many products promise relief that you might be scratching your head; here’s what experts really think about them. ANTI-DANDRUFF SHAMPOOS WHAT THEY ARE: Treatments, often with zinc, ketoconazole, or sulfur, that lower the level of yeast on the scalp. WHAT WE KNOW: The most popular solution for mild seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff shampoos have long been shown to keep yeast in check, reducing symptoms…

The day after a bad night’s sleep is the worst. If you need help nodding off or staying asleep, science suggests that food may be able to assist. “Studies show that eating anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats may help improve sleep quality,” says Jerlyn Jones, M.S., R.D.N., based in Atlanta. Tuck into these yawn-generating eats at dinner or as part of a bedtime snack, then drift off to dreamland. TART CHERRIES Research shows that these fruits and their juices may help improve insomnia and increase the bioavailability of melatonin and tryptophan, both required for conking out. And antioxidants help tame inflammation that can mess with sleep. TART BERRYCHERRY SMOOTHIE In blender, puree 1 banana (frozen), 1 small cooked beet (chopped), ¾ cup frozen blueberries, ½…

We may have just spent months thinking about vaccines for people, but don’t let all that distract you from the ones developed specifically for pets! Here are three things you might not know about these important shots. 1 Even indoor cats need them How could a solitary, homebound creature possibly get infected? Well, your pet might accidentally get out, or they could encounter a sick animal at a vet visit. Plus, disease-carrying fleas and ticks can find their way into your home. Vaccines protect your pet by exposing their immune system to incomplete or inactive strains of infectious agents. That helps their body develop an immune response that can ward off illness if they encounter the real thing. “Vaccinations are one of the key components of preventative wellness care,” explains…

There’s no such thing as a “sad salad” when you grab one from Farmer’s Fridge. There are two ways to get your fix: Look for big white vending machines filled with healthful salads and snacks located in high-foot-traffic areas like airports, or order a week’s supply—or more!—online for delivery nationwide. You’ll find salads, grain bowls, and sweet treats like chia pudding, all layered into BPA-free plastic containers that look like mason jars; sustainable and local ingredients are used whenever possible. There are also seasonal specials, like a hearty harvest salad for fall, as well as collaborations with wellknown chefs. Besides making healthy eating easy (and tasty!), the company is all about “recycle and reuse”—it donates all unsold food to local food pantries, and its containers can be recycled, repurposed, or…

What does it mean to “own your morning”? There’s no perfect way to do your morning. It looks beautifully different for each of us. But what’s universal is that it’s a set of core values—people, places, things—that power you up so you start your morning off right. For me, it’s fitness, family time, lots of coffee, and some collab with my team at Women’s Health. If you can build those types of micro moments into your morning, it allows you to be your healthiest, happiest self for the rest of the day. Why is this routine important at any age? I think it’s a good idea to reevaluate those core values throughout life—no matter how old you are or what life stage you’re at. I talk to my kids about…

Women aren’t as easily diagnosed, as they don’t usually experience the hyper activity part of ADHD. If you have several of these symptoms (outside of a major trauma or a diagnosis of depression), consider investigating whether you have ADHD, says therapist Sari Solden, who specializes in treatment of ADHD in adult women: ▶ Chronically overwhelmed▶ Severe disorganization with regard to time, money, or things▶ Difficulty maintaining routines and keeping track of logistics▶ Piles of paper and clutter▶ Feel disorganized, but spend a lot of energy trying to get organized▶ Great difficulty blocking out distractions such as a barking dog or random internal thoughts▶ Tendency to hyper-focus on one subject▶ Challenges with addictions such as gambling, Internet use, or shopping▶ Underachieving at work or in relationships▶ Trouble making decisions while getting…

Science confirms it: Lack of sleep really does make you grumpy, especially if it’s a pattern. Adults who got fewer than six hours of sleep reported feeling mentally unwell (angry, irritable, nervous) the next day, says a new study in Annals of Behavioral Medicine; these emotions worsened over three consecutive sleep-loss nights and peaked after six. Next time you have trouble nodding off, try this trick: “Count backward from 300 by 3’s—it really works! Mathematically, it’s so complicated you can’t think of anything else—like the fact that you can’t sleep!—and so doggone boring that you’re out like a light,” says Michael J. Breus, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. 70 PERCENT OF MOMS DON’T FEEL THAT SOCIETY SUFFICIENTLY SUPPORTS BREASTFEEDING, according to a recent…

When Dan Jaworski was 54, his family found that they were reminding him about things—a lot. “It started getting really annoying,” admits his wife, Julie. “I thought, Is he not paying attention?” But tests and an MRI led to a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s. Dan wants to be the first person to beat the disease, though. He works to delay symptoms with brain engagement, proper sleep, the Mediterranean diet, and regular exercise. In fact, he’s scheduled to do the Ironman World Championship on October 9 in Kona, HI, as a way of spreading hope. Go, Dan!…

When you think of mushrooms, you probably think about putting them on your pizza, not on your face. But the fungi are actually great for your skin, because they have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Naturally, the beauty industry has dozens of ways to make soaking up those benefits easy; mushrooms have been added to products like cleansers and serums. But not all mushroom types have been researched, and there’s still much research to be done. “Studies show that some mushrooms have benefits such as skin renewal, pigment correction, hydration, and even anti-aging,” says Nianda Reid, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Embrace Dermatology and Aesthetics in Philadelphia. Mushrooms are usually paired with common skincare ingredients like retinoids, niacinamide, and ceramides, Dr. Reid notes, so the product will work for you in…

1 Stand with feet about hipwidth apart.2 Lean forward at your hips and shift your weight to one leg as you slowly start to extend the opposite leg behind you.3 Lift the extended leg higher, pitching forward as you do, until your body forms a T shape. Your arms should be hanging loosely straight down in front of you.4 Slowly bring your extended leg back down and return to starting position. Repeat with opposite leg, then alternate to do 10 on each side.…

1 Beyond Fight-or-Flight Your adrenals are small glands that sit atop your kidneys, and they’re largely responsible for how you react to stress. They contain two types of tissue: the medulla at the center, which creates the hormone adrenaline, and the outer layer, or cortex, which puts out cortisol. Both come in handy when you’re running away from a scary dog or hustling to catch a bus. Adrenaline ups your heart rate and blood flow to your muscles so you can act to save your life (or, as is more likely these days, avoid being late to work). Cortisol encourages alertness, but also helps you wake up and plays a role in digesting food and managing mood. That’s why when you’re chronically stressed (this could mean living in a war…

+ LAST YEAR, in the midst of the pandemic, an interesting thing happened: Illness from cold and flu viruses all but disappeared. Sure there were still some sniffles and runny noses, but the rate of hospitalization for influenza was lower than for any season since the CDC began collecting this data in 2005, and deaths from the flu dropped from nearly 22,000 the year before to around 700. As hospitals were overrun with COVID-19 patients, the absence of a deadly flu season was one bright spot for health workers and the public. It’s no big mystery why this happened: While we’d been told for years to wash our hands and to cover our mouths when we coughed, we didn’t always listen—at least, not until something even scarier than the flu…

BUTTERNUT This crowd-pleasing dish is a great source of vitamin A, a crucial component of a balanced diet that supports organ and eye function. ACORN One cup of this nutty squash offers 20% of your daily value of vitamin C, great for immune system support. It’ ll be the centerpiece of your season once you try these salad, dinner, and even dessert recipes from five amazing chefs. DELICATA Don’t peel off its thin, stripy skin: Once roasted, it provides a tender bite and extra fiber, helpful for digestion and regulating blood sugar. CALABAZA This squash’s creamy, sweet flesh is high in potassium, which can help lower blood pressure. KABOCHA Also known as Japanese pumpkin, this rich, dense squash is a good source of carotenoids, which may ward off diseases like…

It’s no wonder a snaggletoothed jack-o’-lantern is the face of Halloween. All that candy just screams tooth decay, right? But here’s the thing: One holiday candy fest won’t morph your child’s smile into something scary. Oral health is about a host of oral hygiene habits that go well beyond brushing. Here, five easy (and maybe even fun!) ways to treat your child’s smile right. Brush together It doesn’t matter if your kiddo’s night-time routine happens hours before yours: Once all your child’s baby teeth are in, by age 3, it’s important to brush together, gradually working up to two minutes, twice a day. (As soon as two teeth touch, add flossing.) This way, not only are you leading by example, but also “turning brushing into a family activity helps eliminate…