Prevention September 2025

A MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN whose kids have heartlessly abandoned her for lives of their own discovers a love of gardening. What can I tell you? As a dear friend once said, “You are fortunate if you live long enough to discover why clichés are clichés.” The garden I put in last fall is my first. It is legit awesome—as in, I experience awe when seeing flowers I planted (and “volunteers” I didn’t plant) appear where there was nothing the day before. A lifelong city dweller, I hadn’t fully known that such stunning, vivid colors existed beyond tiny nail polish bottles along the wall of a salon. Summer joys such as gardening, chilling at the beach, sleeping in, and grilling with friends tend to fade away in the fall, however. We get…

TAKEOUT YOUR PENCIL! Being more active during middle age may help keep you sharp: Adults who increased their weekly exercise to get either 150 to 300 minutes of moderate activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity had less buildup of beta-amyloid, a protein in the brain that disrupts neural function, than sedentary folks, according to new research. With moderate exercise—think walking fast, biking, or mowing the lawn—you can still talk. When doing vigorous exercise (say, running or high-intensity interval training), you’ll have to pause for a breath every few words. JOT DOWN THREE WAYS YOU’LL MOVE YOUR BODY THIS MONTH. • ________________________________________ ________________________________________ • ________________________________________ ________________________________________ • ________________________________________ ________________________________________…

GO MAD FOR APPLES Enjoy as many different kinds as you can find! Exploring an array of apple varieties allows you to mix things up when it comes to flavor and nutrition. For instance, Galas have a high concentration of catechins (potentially heartprotective compounds), and Golden Delicious are particularly rich in carotenoids, a type of antioxidant. GET PREPPED You can’t plan for every unknown, but National Preparedness Month is a good time to ensure that you’re as ready as you can be for an emergency or a disaster (September is peak hurricane season). In addition to having a stocked first aid kit handy, you can download an app such as Safer Watch—it provides mass emergency alerts and has a panic button that notifies 911 and provides your GPS location in…

The Goal Aim to stretch for 10 minutes every day, and include downward dog. 1 Start on all fours (on your hands and knees), hands about shoulderwidth apart. 2 Press your weight back and lift your hips, sitting into your feet; your body should form a triangle. It’s OK to bend your knees a bit if your hamstrings are tight. 3 Inhale and exhale for a few seconds as you hold the stretch. 4 Return to starting position; repeat as many times as you like. CHECK OFF EACH WEEK THAT YOU GET IN A DAILY STRETCH. ◯ WEEK 1 ◯ WEEK 2 ◯ WEEK 3 ◯ WEEK 4…

1 Which pain reliever should not be taken past its expiration date? A Ibuprofen B Aspirin C Acetaminophen D Never take expired medication. 2 Which one of these works best to ward off menstrual cramps? A Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) B Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 3 You should always keep aspirin in the house because: A It’s the best medication for a headache. B It’s safer than other OTC options when it comes to side effects. C It can help in the event of a heart attack. D All of the above. 4 Which of these pain relievers does not specifically target inflammation? A Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) B Acetaminophen (Tylenol) C Naproxen (Aleve) 5 Should you take Benadryl as a sleep aid? A Yes, drowsiness is a welcome side effect. B No, better not to. ANSWERS 1…

Most of us have more than one skin concern, and rosehip oil (extracted from the seeds of a type of rose) may help with acne, dull or uneven skin tone, inflammation, dryness, visible scars, and other damage. That’s because it is a cocktail of several derm-approved skincare heroes—fatty acids and antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E—that can help out with a variety of skin problems. Essential fatty acids such as lineoleic acid support the skin barrier to aid in regulating hydration and protect the deeper layers from outside irritants; antioxidants have anti-inflammatory properties to help nourish and repair skin and improve its appearance. Ready to try it? Here’s what you need to know. Pure is better: Rosehip oil can be used all by itself; reach for products labeled “organic,”…