Innehållsförteckning för June 2022 från Prevention

I’M NO STRANGER TO BAD ADVICE. Twenty years or so ago, a magazine I worked for ran an article on how to lose five pounds in a week featuring little tricks from the women on staff. I did not contribute to it, not based on any sense of superiority to the subject matter but because I didn’t know how to lose five pounds in a week and I just wanted to read the article! Well, it turned out to be a disappointment. Beyond the fact that the premise itself was problematic—as I now realize—the tips ranged from dubious to terrible and involved skipping meals in a complex pattern, drinking lots of diet soda, and eating pizza. (That last one I tried, but it definitely did not work for me!) To be…

YOUR LABEL GUIDE GRASS-FED “Cows fed just grass produce milk higher in omega-3s and beta-carotene,” says Bauer. Look for one of these certifications: “American Grassfed,” “PCO Certified 100% Grass-Fed,” or “Certified Grassfed by AGW.” ORGANIC Animal-based foods with the USDA Organic seal meet strict criteria that ensure the well-being of animals and the planet. A few requirements: organic feed, no growth-promoting drugs, and access to outdoor space. DAIRY-FREE This type of yogurt is safe for people who can’t (or don’t want to) eat dairy. “You can find yogurts made from almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, and cashew milk,” Bauer says. Their nutrition profile differs from milkbased yogurt (they tend to have less protein), but many still have probiotics. ♦ KNOW YOUR PROBIOTICS To be sure you’re spooning up gut-bug…

PESTO FORMULA STAR (herb/veggie) + OIL + FLAVOR PUNCH (aromatics/spices/acid) + FAT (nuts/seeds/cheese) Start with this base, then adjust your ingredient quantities to get the pesto consistency you want. For instance, add more oil or acid for a looser pesto; if you want it thicker, add more herbs, cheese, or nuts. UPCYCLED KALE kale stems + olive oil + garlic + walnuts + nutritional yeast The stems have fiber and calcium. Nutritional yeast delivers B vitamins. TRY IT ON: Pasta, eggs, roasted veggies CILANTRO-LIME cilantro + avocado oil + lime + pepitas Cilantro has antioxidants; avocado oil and pepitas boast heart-friendly fats. TRY IT ON: Meat, fish, tacos, chili LEMON-MINT mint + olive oil + lemon + pistachios Pistachios help protect the heart, and mint is great for digestion. TRY…

Type 1 diabetes, which affects nearly 1.9 million Americans of all ages, races, and genders, occurs when the immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that create and secrete insulin, explains Barney Softness, M.D., an associate professor of pediatric endocrinology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. “Type 1 was formerly known as juvenile diabetes because of its tendency to begin during childhood,” he says. Though the peak age of onset is around 13 or 14, type 1 can come on at any age, even in older adults, he adds. COMMON SYMPTOMS INCLUDE ▶Increased thirst▶Frequent urination▶Extreme hunger▶Unintended weight loss▶Irritability and other mood changes▶Fatigue and weakness▶Blurred vision▶Nausea and vomiting Though type 1 diabetes can lead to serious complications if left untreated, the good news is that advances in the…

DON’T BE AFRAID OF AGING—try to view getting older as a new stage of opportunity and strength that you’re in control of. Instead of dreading the changes you will experience (from menopause to the mammogram milestone), have an open conversation with your doctor about what to expect and what available options can help you cope and thrive. This will not only prepare you for what’s next, but also help you feel empowered and give you the confidence to accept and own your health journey. —JESSICA SHEPHERD, M.D., ob/gyn and women’s health expert and founder of Sanctum Wellness in Dallas KEEP UP WITH YEARLY CHECKUPS and say yes to blood work. Blood testing can screen for hormone imbalances, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and a host of other things to provide insights…

IF YOU’VE EVER experienced butterflies in your stomach before a speech, you knew the sensation didn’t result from a lost monarch. But this common experience—your gut seeming to act out your brain’s anxiety—is an everyday example of fascinating new research into the interconnected worlds inside us. While your stomach (likely) doesn’t contain butterflies, there are tiny organisms in there that are engaged in a conversation with your brain about that stress you’re experiencing. These organisms and their home could be far more powerful than we’ve realized, according to a burst of new studies. Many of the tens of trillions of organisms in your gut, or gastrointestinal tract, can help maintain good digestion and health. But some of them are not so cooperative: When they take over, they wreak havoc. That…

1 What to look for The most common sign that a pet is experiencing joint pain is lameness, or putting less or no weight on the affected limb, explains Kimberly Agnello, D.V.M., an associate professor of small-animal surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. But depending on the cause, pets may also seem less playful, move more slowly, or have difficulty climbing stairs, adds Jamie Richardson, D.V.M., head of veterinary medicine at Small Door Veterinary. You may also see swelling, reduced range of motion, loss of muscle mass, whimpering, flinching, or aggression. If you notice changes in how your pet moves, take them to your veterinarian right away, especially if they seem to be in pain. Tell the vet how long the issue has been evident, and…

If a longtime smoker saw an image of what their own lungs looked like, would it help them quit? New research says probably yes. Looking at medical imaging prompted people to make lifestyle changes to address health issues more often than when they simply received verbal feedback about their personal health, says a meta-analysis in PLOS Medicine involving more than 9,000 individuals. The areas in which behavioral changes were observed included smoking cessation, following a healthier diet, increasing physical activity, and engaging in better ora hygiene. Researchers say the findings suggest that doctors could use this medical imaging as a tool to help motivate patients to take steps needed to improve their health and reduce disease risk.…

Going gray is just one hair change we experience as we age, and haircare brands are tackling the multitude of issues that begin in our 30s and 40s. “Hormonal shifts, less natural oil on the scalp, and shrinking follicles all contribute to hair that becomes drier, finer, and weaker,” says Bridgette Hill, founder of Root Cause Scalp Analysis, a virtual hair diagnostic service. Help your strands: ▶ CHOOSE HYDRATING, STRENGTHENING FORMULAS “All hair needs moisture, protein, and lipids,” says Hill. Shea butter and oils like avocado, argan, almond, and coconut oil are great, and amino acids are essential to the structure of each strand. ▶ APPLY THEM THE RIGHT WAY If you have fine hair, apply a preshampoo treatment or conditioner with the above ingredients the night before washing your…

1 Stand up straight with your feet about shoulder width apart. Grasp a dumbbell with both hands, then squat and twist right so you’re holding the dumbbell on the outside of your right leg. 2 Lift the weight diagonally across your body (exhaling while you do so) and twist to the left and upward until the dumbbell is above your head. 3 Slowly bring it back down until you return to starting position. This is 1 rep. 4 Do 10 reps, then switch sides and do 10 more.…

Your mouth is an excellent barometer for what’s happening throughout your body. Your oral health can have an impact on other aspects of your well-being because the mouth leads into both the digestive tract and the respiratory tract, making it a prime spot for harmful (and sometimes helpful!) germs to enter. Here are three areas of your mouth to consider. If any of the info describes something you’re experiencing, schedule a visit with your physician or dentist to investigate further. BREATH Not-so-fresh breath isn’t always the result of nibbling garlic bread or adding onions to your salad. Technically known as halitosis, chronic bad breath is often a sign of poor oral hygiene or tobacco use—but it could also stem from problems beyond the mouth. These include sinus issues, postnasal drip,…

1 Viva the Vagus Despite its low profile, the vagus nerve is incredibly important, controlling many key functions in your body, including digestion and respiration. It’s the longest cranial nerve, reaching from your brain down your face into your chest, ending at your abdomen. It actually divides into two nerves, left and right, that send sensory info to your organs, telling them to do their jobs. “The vagus’s most important function is controlling your parasympathetic nervous system, which covers your heart, gut, and bladder,” says Gurdesh S. Bedi, M.D., a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. “It also controls movements in the back of your throat and voice box, carries taste from the back of your throat and the base of your tongue, and controls the air pressure in…

Have you ever been sexually aroused and rarin’ to go only to find that attempting intercourse results in burning, knife-like, searing, and/or pinching pain? Then you’ve experienced dyspareunia, the medical word for painful intercourse. There are two types: ■ Superficial dyspareunia refers to pain limited to the entry and walls of the vagina. ■ Deep dyspareunia is when the penis or a sex toy can enter the vagina just fine, but any thrusting movement causes pain that ranges from achy to sharp to intolerable. Many women experience both kinds of pain: It hurts during penetration, and it also hurts deep in the pelvis during thrusting. The reason is simple. Even if you initially have pain only on entry, your vagina is not stupid: It’s going to try to protect itself…

PICTURE PERFECT This recall task can help strengthen your memory. Spend 20 seconds looking at this picnic image, then turn the page to answer a few questions about it. How many can you get right without turning back to peek? PICTURE PERFECT What do you remember from the photo on page 95? 1. What is the pattern, if any, on the napkin in the lower righthand corner?2. How many tomatoes are not on the cutting board? How many are there in total?3. What color is the cap on the bottle?4. Are there lemons or limes or both? THINKING AHEAD IF TODAY IS TUESDAY, WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK WILL IT BE IN 39 DAYS? MEMORY MATH What number will complete this equation? SHAPE SUDOKU Fill in the correct shapes so…

Summertime is prime time when it comes to chafing. The skin irritation is caused by friction and moisture, and you may be more prone to it now, when warm-weather attire exposes more skin. Help prevent or soothe the itching, burning, and stinging by gliding Summer’s Eve Active Chafe Gel on your inner thighs, your underarms, or anywhere skin rubs against skin. The paraben-free formula dries clear to create an invisible barrier that helps protect skin wherever you apply it. ($8, amazon.com)…

1| CARBONITE TANK Hot temps mean you may be active when the sun isn’t at its brightest. This Brooks workout top will keep you safer in low light: Reflectivity strips in critical motion zones (like your waist and shoulders) stand out in the dark. ($60, brooksrunning.com) 2 | MOVE EARBUDS Elite 4 Active wireless headphones by Jabra are waterproof and sweatproof, stay in place, and have technology that lets you enjoy your music while still being aware of your surroundings. ($120, jabra.com) 3 | COOLING HEADBAND You’ll want to wear this 24/7. When it gets wet with sweat or water, special technology activates to produce a cooling sensation. ($10, arcticcool.com) 4 | UPF HAT The Resilient cap by Oura is made from fabric that’s antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, and moisture-wicking, and it…

Summer is just about upon us, bringing with it lots of opportunities to be exposed to the sun—and its dangers. That makes now a terrific time to book your annual skin cancer screening. New cases of invasive melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, have gone up 31% since 2012. “Melanoma tends to be diagnosed at a later stage in people of color, which often means a worse prognosis,” says Elizabeth Hale, M.D., senior vice president of the Skin Cancer Foundation and a clinical associate professor of dermatology at New York University Langone Medical Center. “For people of color, melanoma often appears on areas of the body that don’t get much sun exposure, so any skin changes may go unnoticed for some time.” This contributes to an alarming disparity in…

Have you ever suddenly had to pee so badly that all the hair on your arms stood up, as if there were an electric current humming through your body? This happened to me regularly almost 10 years ago, when I was a freshman in college. I must be drinking too much water, I told myself. Most days I’d also wake up feeling as if my mouth were full of cotton balls and my arms and legs weighed an actual ton. I must be under a lot of stress, I thought. I spent over a year figuring out how to survive without letting others know that I was just barely getting by. MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS I had routine blood work done that spring and got a diagnosis—and a prescription—that shocked…

BAD ADVICE YOU DON’T NEED TO WEAR SUNSCREEN UNDER A T-SHIRT. Dermatologists see right through this common misconception, says Mona Gohara, M.D., an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University. Everyday tees aren’t made of fabric with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), so they allow about 20% of UV rays to get to your skin. If you regularly spend time outside, “that’s more than enough exposure to cause trouble,” says Dr. Gohara. The skin underneath is still susceptible to sunburn, wrinkling, and skin cancer. SMART STRATEGY When you’re planning to have fun in the sun, wear clothing (tops, bottoms, hats) with a built-in UPF of 50 or higher; the Skin Cancer Foundation considers this one of the most effective methods of UV protection. But slathering sunscreen on areas that are…

One big bummer of summer: all the mosquitoes, bees, and other critters that love to snack on your body. You can prevent bites and stings in the first place by wearing long sleeves, tucking your pants into socks when you’re in a buggy spot, and using mosquito spray, especially at dusk, says Melissa Piliang, M.D., a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic. Still, bites happen (and good luck getting your kids to cover up when it’s hot out!). There are several after-bite products on the market—can they really stop the itch? HEAT PENS WHAT THEY ARE: Portable pen-shaped devices that press heat onto the spot of a bite. WHAT WE KNOW: Typically when dermatologists treat skin conditions in which swelling, itching, and pain are present, they use cold therapy, not heat. “Cold…

ACTIVE 15 MIN. TOTAL 30 MIN. SERVES 12 2¼ cups all-purpose flour3/4 cup peanut butter protein powder2 tsp baking powder½ tsp baking soda1 tsp kosher salt2¼ cups low-fat buttermilk2 large eggs, at room temp¼ cup sugar1½ tsp pure vanilla extract4 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided1 cup bittersweet chocolate chipsVanilla yogurt and maple syrup, for serving 1. Place large rimmed baking sheet (12 in. by 17 in.) on center rack of oven. Heat oven to 450°F. 2. In large bowl, whisk together flour, protein powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In second bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. 3. Melt 3 Tbsp butter and whisk into buttermilk mixture. Pour wet ingredients over dry ones and fold just until no traces of flour remain (batter will be lumpy). Fold in…