Reports Super-Health - Prevention
Transcription
Reports Super-Health - Prevention
p Super-Health Reports contents Report 7 Report 1 The Salt Addiction That Can Make You Fat 46 ©2012 by Rodale Inc. All rights reserved. Say Good-Bye to Fatigue This publication is only for the personal use of Rodale customers. For any other purpose, no part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any other information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher. Report 2 Report 8 Flat Belly in 7 Days BoneBuilding Breakthroughs51 Four Ways to Contact Prevention Customer Service • Go to prevention.com/customerservice • E-mail pvncustserv@rodale.com • Call (800) 813-8070 • Write to Prevention Magazine, P.O. Box 26299, Lehigh Valley, PA 18002-6299 The information here is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for any treatment prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect that you have a medical problem, please seek competent medical care. Mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities in this publication does not necessarily imply endorsement by the publisher, nor does mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities in the book imply that they endorse the publication. Internet addresses and product information given were accurate at the time this publication was posted. Project manager: Laura Mory Project editor: Diane Gilroy Project researcher: Lori McLaughlin Copy editor: Alice M. Perry Cover designer: Stacie Pearson Book designer: Maureen Logan Photo editor: Stephanie Smith Photography: cover, p. 56: Getty Images, p. 6: Jupiter Images; p. 9: CMCD Library; pp. 11–14: Tara Donne; pp. 35, 39: Hilmar; pp. 37, 38, 40: Shannon Greer; p. 42: Quentin Bacon; p. 45: PhotoLibrary; p. 48: Marcus Nilsson; pp. 49, 68: Mitch Mandel/Rodale; p. 50: Rodale Images; p. 53: Beth Bischoff; p. 54: Thomas MacDonald/Rodale; p. 61: Bananastock; pp. 62–64, 66: Glenn Glasser; pp. 73–75, 77, 78: Sang An 4 10 Report 3 DoctorApproved Home Remedies Report 9 16 Drug-Free Cures for Back Pain 54 Report 4 Report 10 Look Younger Now: Hair, Makeup & More 21 How to Make Sure You Never Have a Heart Attack 57 Report 5 Report 11 Walk Off a Size Now Dance Off Pounds 29 Report 6 Report 12 Supplements Worth a Second Look 41 CalorieBurning Dinners 62 67 REPORT 1 REPORT 1 Say Good-Bye to Fatigue Why do you feel so tired all the time? Maybe it’s lack of sleep, or maybe it’s the constant demands of all the roles you play every day—wife, sister, friend, mother, girlfriend. We can help. Here are foods that are practically guaranteed to give you an energy boost. And if they don’t help, keep reading to see if a hidden disease is causing your slump. 5 Fatigue-Fighting Foods Experts suggest that these foods are some of your best bets for boosting your energy. 1 Orange juice Orange juice is a great source of energy-essential vitamin C, and OJ helps absorption of bloodbuilding iron. Believe it or not, as many as one out of three women isn’t getting enough vitamin C, says Carol Johnston, PhD, RD, a nutrition specialist and professor in the department of nutrition at Arizona State University in Mesa. But women she studied who were low in vitamin C did much better on treadmill tests 4 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS after they were given extra C daily. “They felt better, and they had more energy,” she says. Johnston suspects that the connection between vitamin C and energy has to do with C’s role in producing carnitine, a molecule that helps your body burn fat for energy. “People likely have up to a 50% drop in muscle carnitine levels when they’re vitamin C–depleted,” she says. Although 500 mg of C was used in the research, Johnston thinks that 200 to 300 mg daily is enough for you to feel more energy, assuming that you were short on C. You can get that much without supplementing if you drink plenty of orange juice (two 8 oz glasses a day) and eat a diet high in vitamin C–rich foods. (Other vitamin C–rich foods include broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, peppers, and strawberries.) 2 Coffee In moderation, coffee works as a quick pick-me-up by making energy stores more available and increasing “muscle fiber recruitment,” that is, by helping the fiberlike cells in your muscles work together for maximum efficiency. But the boost from caffeine is unsustainable, so coffee should never be used in place of food. 3 Water This vital liquid prevents acute dehydration, which forces your cells to borrow water from the bloodstream, reducing your vitality. Drinking at least eight glasses a day also prevents cumulative dehydration, which could build during the week and end up as Friday fatigue. And water is still the best antidote to hot-day lethargy. 4 Beans Fiber-filled legumes improve endurance. And they’re a great source of iron, the most important mineral for fighting fatigue. Iron is needed for energy because of its role in the creation of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to where it’s needed in the body. Having too little iron lowers your metabolic rate—and your energy levels. If you suspect that mildly low iron is slowing you down, eat beans and other foods rich in the mineral: dark leafy greens (such as spinach or kale), tofu, steamed clams, and red meat. (Serious anemia-level deficiencies require a doctor’s attention.) 5 Apples Like most fruits, apples have simple sugars, such as fructose, for energy and fiber to spread that energy surge out over time. And the fiber in an unpeeled apple has been associated with improved regularity and the prevention of colon cancer. Eat for Better Calorie Burn The key to a better workout—and a bigger calorie burn—is eating nutrient-dense foods about 30 minutes before you start walking. And you don’t need a fancy (read: expensive) trail mix loaded with candy-coated whatnot. Instead, try this snack packed with high-quality carbohydrates, which provide a quick fuel source for your muscles and just enough protein and fat to help you maintain a steady, elevated energy level. An excellent snack for walkers is a handful each of nuts (walnuts are high in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids) and raisins (which offer a concentrated source of energy). Try 8 walnut halves plus a mini box (0.5 ounce) of raisins (150 calories). (Read what walnuts can do for your heart on p. 59.) REPORT 1 Hidden Causes of Fatigue If you’re just plain tired, give yourself 2 to 3 weeks to make some lifestyle changes: Get more sleep, trim your social calendar, eat more wholesome foods, drink more fluids, and cut back on caffeine and alcohol. If you make those changes and are still suffering fatigue, it could be a sign of a medical condition. Here are some common causes of fatigue that can be diagnosed with a combination of tests and a thorough exam by your doctor. Anemia Women of childbearing age are especially susceptible to irondeficiency anemia because of blood loss during menstruation and the body’s need for extra iron during pregnancy and breast-feeding, explains Laurence Corash, MD, adjunct professor at the University of California, San Francisco. SYMPTOMS Fatigue is a major symptom. Others include extreme weakness, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, rapid heartbeat, chest pains, and headache. Simple exercise, such as climbing the stairs or walking short distances, can cause fatigue in people with anemia. Anemia may be the first sign of a serious illness, so seek treatment as soon as possible. TESTS A thorough evaluation for anemia includes a complete physical 6 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS exam and blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC), to check the levels of your red blood cells and hemoglobin. It’s also standard to check the stool for blood. Diabetes Sugar, also called glucose, is the fuel that keeps your body going. And that means trouble for people whose bodies can’t use glucose properly, causing it to build up in the blood. Fatigue is one of the first warning signs. In type 1 diabetes, usually occurring first in childhood or the young adult years, the body doesn’t produce insulin, a hormone that converts sugar, starches, and other food into energy. People with type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to survive. In type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90 to 95% of diabetes cases in the United States, the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin effectively. Type 2 usually develops gradually, most often in people over age 45, but it’s occurring more often earlier in life as Americans become more overweight. SYMPTOMS Extreme fatigue is one of the early warning signs that your blood sugar level is out of control, says Christopher D. Saudek, MD, professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and former president of the American Diabetes Association. Other symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, weight loss, irritability, vaginal yeast infections, and blurred vision. TESTS The two major tests for diabetes are the fasting plasma glucose test and the glucose tolerance test. The fasting plasma glucose test measures your blood glucose level after you’ve fasted for 10 to 12 hours. For the glucose tolerance test, blood is drawn twice: just before drinking a glucose syrup, then again 2 hours later. Thyroid Disease The thyroid gland is found in the front of the neck. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), produced by the pituitary gland, causes the thyroid gland to secrete two hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), that control metabolism. SYMPTOMS Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) causes muscle fatigue and weakness, which may occur first in the thigh muscles. Other symptoms include unexplained weight loss, feeling warm all the time, increased heart rate, shorter and less frequent menstrual flow, and increased thirst. Hyperthyroidism is most commonly diagnosed in women in their 20s and 30s, but it can occur in older women and men too. In postmenopausal women, hyperthyroidism may lead to osteoporosis. Hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) causes fatigue, an inability Losing Sleep Over Allergies? C0018929.jpg 17% An old mattress can house 2½ times the allergy-triggering dust mites of a new one, says new European research. But encasing your mattress and box spring in nonallergenic covers, available at most home and linen stores, can cut your exposure by up to half. Washing your bed linens in hot water once a week will also help reduce the critters and your symptoms. Source: A study of 3,580 adults’ beds, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology prevention.com 7 REPORT 1 to concentrate, and muscle soreness, even with minor activity. Other symptoms include weight gain due to water retention, feeling cold all the time (even in warm weather), heavier and more frequent menstrual flow, and constipation. Hypothyroidism is most commonly diagnosed in women past the age of 50. In fact, as many as 10% of women past 50 have mild hypothyroidism. TEST Thyroid disease can be detected with a blood test for TSH. Too much thyroid hormone, and TSH goes down; too little thyroid hormone, and TSH goes up. With diagnosis and treatment, thyroid disorders can be controlled. Depression More than “the blues,” depression is a major illness that affects the way we sleep, eat, and feel about ourselves and others, explains Kathy HoganBruen, PhD, psychologist with the Ross Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders in Washington, DC. Without treatment, the symptoms of depression may last for weeks, months, or even years. So it’s important to recognize the warning signs and get help. SYMPTOMS Depression can cause decreased energy, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, problems with memory and concentration, and feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and negativity. 8 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS TESTS If you experience five or more of the symptoms listed here for more than 2 weeks, or the symptoms interfere with your life, see your doctor or mental health professional. Your doctor may also recommend a thorough physical exam to rule out other issues. • Fatigue or loss of energy • Sleeping too little or too much • A persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood • Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed • Restlessness or irritability • Persistent physical symptoms that don’t respond to treatment, such as headaches, chronic pain, or constipation or other digestive disorders • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions • Feeling guilty, hopeless, or worthless • Thoughts of death or suicide Source: National Mental Health Association Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease that involves inflammation in the lining of the joints. It happens when the body’s immune system turns against itself and attacks healthy joint tissue, sometimes resulting in irreversible damage to bone and cartilage. SYMPTOMS RA is not always easy to diagnose early because many symptoms (such as fatigue, low energy, loss of appetite, and joint pain) are shared by other health conditions, including other forms of arthritis such as fibromyalgia and lupus. Also, anemia and thyroid disorders, which also cause fatigue, are even more common in people with RA, according to John Klippel, MD, president and CEO of the Atlanta-based Arthritis Foundation. Rheumatologists look for at least four of the following criteria in diagnosing RA: morning stiffness in and around the joints lasting at least 1 hour before maximum improvement; at least three joint areas with simultaneous soft tissue swelling or fluid; swelling in a wrist or knuckle joint; simultaneous involvement of the same joint areas on both sides of the body; lumps of tissue under the skin; and bone erosion in the wrist or hand joints, as detected by x-ray. TESTS A thorough physical exam by a rheumatologist can provide some of the most valuable evidence of the disease, but there is also a test for the presence of rheumatoid factor, an antibody found in the blood. About 80% of people with RA test positive for this antibody, though the test is not conclusive since you can test positive and not have RA and you can test negative when you do have RA. IMG0045.jpg 35% Never Take These Generics You may have heard that the FDA allows a difference of up to 20% between how the brand name affects your body and how a generic does. That’s true—but 20% typically isn’t enough to make a difference in effectiveness. That said, there are a few drugs for which the 20% leeway could be significant. These include warfarin (Coumadin), levothyroxine (Synthroid), and certain seizure medications. For these particular drugs, switching between a generic and the brand can be a bad idea, so check with your doctor first. prevention.com 9 REPORT 2 REPORT 2 Flat Belly in 7 Days Surprise! Good ol’ crunches are one of the fastest ways to firm your midsection. (Hate crunches? Bear with us.) Thanks to 5 decades of research and nearly 90 studies, scientists have zeroed in on the best moves to flatten your belly. The secret is to really fatigue your abs—not an easy task, because they’re used to working all day to keep you standing tall. But we created a routine that, when combined with regular cardio, does it in just four moves. We know for sure because we had nearly a dozen women road-test the program as part of our Prevention Fitness Lab. “I couldn’t believe the difference a few days made,” says Gwen Hoover, 48, of Fogelsville, PA, who whittled more than 2 inches off her middle, lost 14% of her belly fat, and dropped nearly 4 pounds in just 1 week! Even our slimmest testers saw impressive results. At 5-foot-6 and 125 pounds, Rachelle Vander Schaaf, 49, of Macungie, PA, wasn’t expecting to see a big change, but she shaved more than 3 inches off her belly—without dieting. You can too! 10 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS Program at a Glance 3 DAYS A WEEK Do the four-move Slim Belly Abs Workout (p. 11) on 3 nonconsecutive days to tone your midsection. 5 DAYS A WEEK Do 30 to 40 minutes of cardio, such as brisk walking, swimming, jogging, or bike riding, to burn off belly fat. You should be breathing hard but still able to talk in short sentences. EVERY DAY Watch portions and fill up on whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and healthy fats to maximize results. Aim for 1,600 to 1,800 calories spread evenly throughout the day. To keep tabs on your eating, go to prevention.com/healthtracker. SAMPLE WORKOUT SCHEDULE DAY Activity MONDAY Abs and Cardio TUESDAY Cardio WEDNESDAY Rest THURSDAY Abs and Cardio FRIDAY Rest SATURDAY Abs and Cardio SUNDAY Cardio Slim Belly Abs Workout Do 3 sets of each move, performing as many reps (1 second up, 1 second down) as possible until you feel a burning sensation in the muscles you’re working or you can no longer maintain proper form. Rest 15 seconds between sets. You’ll likely be able to do more reps during earlier sets and exercises—and that’s okay. After you can do 50 reps or hold a plank for 2 minutes for most sets, try the harder variations, change the order of the exercises, or do the moves after another type of workout. 1. Hipless Crunch This variation better targets abs by preventing hips and upper body from helping you lift. Lie on back with legs lifted and bent, calves parallel to floor, and feet relaxed. Cross arms over chest with hands on shoulders. Contract abdominal muscles and lift head, shoulders, and upper back about 30 degrees off floor. Lower without touching head to floor. Exhale as you lift; inhale as you lower. Prevention Fitness Lab testers averaged 25 reps per set. MAKE IT EASIER Rest calves on a chair and extend arms at sides. MAKE IT HARDER Extend legs straight up. PV-0810-FLAT03_01.tif 30% TIPS • Don’t pull chin toward chest. • Focus on abs doing the work; imagine sliding rib cage toward hips. S TO P W H E N • You start pulling or jerking up with head, neck, or shoulders. • You can’t keep neck or shoulders relaxed. prevention.com 11 REPORT 2 2. No-Hands Reverse Crunch 3. V Crunch Instead of keeping arms at sides, where they can help abs, anchor them overhead to activate more belly muscles. This exercise gets your upper and lower body moving simultaneously to recruit the maximum number of muscle fibers in your midsection. Lie faceup with arms overhead and hands grasping a heavy piece of furniture or railing. Raise feet into the air with legs bent. Contract abs, press back into floor, and lift hips off floor. Exhale as you lift; inhale as you lower. Prevention Fitness Lab testers averaged 21 reps per set. MAKE IT EASIER Do the move with arms down at sides. MAKE IT HARDER Straighten legs. TIPS • Feel the contraction in abs, not in back or legs. • Tilt pelvis. • Think of lifting up instead of pulling knees toward chest. S TO P W H E N • You can’t lift hips off floor without jerking. • Neck and shoulders are tense. Balance on tailbone with legs bent, feet off floor, and arms bent at sides. Make sure back is straight and chest is lifted. Lean back and extend arms and legs, then pull back to start position. Prevention Fitness Lab testers averaged 11 reps per set. MAKE IT EASIER Grasp sides of thighs with hands. MAKE IT HARDER Hold a 3- to 5-pound dumbbell in each hand. TIPS • Keep your eyes fixed straight ahead and chin parallel to floor. • Don’t let back curve or shoulders rise toward ears. S TO P W H E N • You can’t keep arms or legs up. • You can’t keep chest lifted. • Back or neck starts to hurt. PV-0810-FLAT04_01.tif 31% PV-0810-FLAT05_01.tif 32% 12 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS prevention.com 13 REPORT 2 4. Side Plank Static balancing moves like this one are challenging because your deepest abs work really hard to hold your core in midair. Do them after crunches to ensure complete fatigue—and firm abs from every angle. Lie on right side, elbow beneath shoulder, feet stacked, left hand on hip. Contract abs to lift hip and leg off floor. Hold until fatigued, noting your time. Do 3 sets before switching sides. Prevention Fitness Lab testers averaged 19 seconds per side for each set. MAKE IT EASIER Bend legs and balance on bottom knee and side of lower leg. MAKE IT HARDER Straighten top arm toward the sky. TIPS • Keep head, neck, torso, hips, and legs all in one straight line. • Don’t sink into shoulder—press elbow into floor and lift torso. S TO P W H E N • Hip is sagging toward floor. • Neck, shoulder, or back hurts. • You can’t keep body in line. Can Perfume Peel Off Pounds? In a study done by Alan Hirsch, MD, neurological director of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, people who smelled green apple, banana, or peppermint several times daily lost an average of 30 pounds in 6 months. “We think the scents may curb cravings,” Hirsch says. Harvey Prince Eau De Lite (harveyprince. com), which features green apple and peppermint notes, could do the same. 50 Years of Flat Abs Workouts to flatten belly bulge have changed plenty over the last half century—but each ab evolution brought us one step closer to the ultraeffective routine we’re using today. Here, a look back at the most popular belly busters. ’60s/’70s Old-School Sit-Up It targets only the topmost belly muscle (the rectus abdominis), and your hip muscles do a lot of the lifting. Straight-leg versions are also particularly tough on the back. ’80s The Crunch When studies revealed that the first 30% of a sit-up engages abs the most, crunches became popular. But good form is key: feet off the floor; don’t pull on your head. ’90s/’00s Plank Pose This Pilates move may work abs harder than crunches, but done alone, it may not fully fatigue abs. Planks rely on smaller muscles that often tire more quickly. Today The Slim Belly Workout Researchers placed electrodes on the bellies of hundreds of people as they crunched, balanced, and twisted to find the most effective moves, which are in this routine. PV-0810-FLAT06_01.tif 32% THE EXPERT Tony Caterisano, PhD, exercise scientist and professor in the department of health sciences at Furman University, designed this workout. 14 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS prevention.com 15 REPORT 3 REPORT 3 Doctor Approved Home Remedies Doctors don’t always have a pharmacy at their fingertips—sometimes they have to improvise just like the rest of us. You can stock your shelves to relieve, recover, and restore just like the experts do. knock out dust mites. •C onsider investing in a HEPA air purifier. It filters out small particles in the air and lessens the amount of allergy-aggravating dust circulating in a room. ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA ATHLETE’S FOOT To diminish asthma and allergy attacks, Charles P. Gerba, PhD, a University of Arizona microbiologist and leading hygiene researcher, recommends that you: • Dust and vacuum weekly if you have allergies or asthma; otherwise, let your personal “ick meter” be your guide. Note: Microfiber dusters grab and hold dust instead of spreading it around, and a vacuum that carries the Green Label seal from the Carpet and Rug Institute will protect indoor air quality by sucking up soil (find approved vacuums at carpet-rug.com). • Steam-clean your carpets every 12 to 18 months to 16 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS A saline solution provides a hostile environment for fungus, decreases excess perspiration, and softens skin so antifungal meds can penetrate deeper, says Suzanne M. Levine, DPM. Soak your foot every day for 5 to 10 minutes in a mixture of 2 teaspoons of salt per pint of warm water. BLOCKED SINUSES Open congested sinuses by massaging the “Yingxiang” acupressure point, at the infraorbital nerve, right beside each nostril, for 30 seconds. This will clear out your cavity for up to an hour, says Lee Eisenberg, MD, an associate clinical professor of otolaryngology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. For persistent allergies, quercetin and the herb stinging nettle leaf have been shown to reduce inflammatory responses and calm sneezing and coughing. BURNED TONGUE For quick relief after you’ve rushed too-hot food into your mouth, an OTC cough lozenge will lessen the pain, but one of its ingredients needs to be benzocaine. Alternatively, the tannin released from sucking on a cool, wet black-tea bag also has a pain-relieving effect and may slow bleeding from a bitten tongue. BURNS On superficial wounds such as burns and cuts, honey acts as an antibacterial agent, rapidly cleaning out and preventing further infection, according to an analysis of nearly two dozen studies by New Zealand researchers. One found that burns treated with honey healed, on average, in 11 days—4 days sooner than burns treated without it. The sweet stuff also reduced swelling and minimized scarring. To get the fastest results, follow the researchers’ method: Put some honey on sterile gauze, apply it to the wound, and change the dressing every 24 hours. Manuka honey from New Zealand is available in both pure and ointment forms at manukahoneyusa.com. For a product similar to what the researchers used, buy any locally farmed honey. COUGH Enjoy some chocolate. Theobromine, a chemical in cocoa beans, was more effective at calming persistent coughs than codeine was—without causing drowsiness. Opt for dark chocolate, which contains more theobromine than milk chocolate. How to Apply Sunscreen Sunscreen products can protect you from sunburn, but only when applied correctly. Rubbing sunscreen vigorously into the skin reduces its effectiveness by at least 25%, says Robert Sayre, PhD, a Memphis biophysicist. When in doubt, count: Six passes across the skin deliver the protection promised on the label. prevention.com 17 REPORT 3 CUTS, SCRAPES, AND OPEN WOUNDS To zap germs without harming your skin, first wash cuts with warm water, skipping the soap (suds can hurt). (Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or iodine; both kill bacteria but also destroy skin cells, which slows the healing process.) Then, apply a thin coat of bacitracin (in OTC antibacterial ointments such as Neosporin) and cover with a bandage, advises David Goldberg, MD, chief of dermatologic surgery at New Jersey Medical School. This will keep the area moist and prevent scabbing, which slows healing and can increase the risk of scarring. DIARRHEA One study found red or white wine worked as well as or better than Pepto-Bismol; the alcohol’s antibacterial properties killed off bacteria that cause traveler’s diarrhea within 20 to 30 minutes. Don’t overindulge—6 ounces is all you need. Keep some probiotic supplements on hand, too; doses of 5 to 10 billion live cultures of Lactobacillus bacteria have been shown to calm upset stomachs and stop diarrhea. And until you’re back to normal, stick to easy-to-digest BRAT foods: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Or think BRAT-Y and have some yogurt (plain, unsweetened, with live cultures) as well. 18 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS GAS As the outcome of a natural, healthy process, a little gas is unavoidable. But to keep it from becoming a painful embarrassment, follow large meals with a serving of herbal tea containing peppermint and caraway oils, which settle the stomach and aid digestion. A brisk walk may stimulate the gut wall, making it easier to pass gas, found one study. HEADACHES For headaches, you’ll get just as much relief from someone rubbing your feet as your head, says Brian Berman, MD, director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Acupressurists use points all over the body to treat headaches. The best results may come from massaging a third of the way down the sole of the foot, where the toes begin. Since stress is the most common cause of tension headaches, you can ease them with relaxation, says Jennifer Kriegler, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic. Try one of these tricks to nip them in the bud. • Deep rhythmic breathing Shallow breaths cause CO2 levels in your body to rise. This dilates the blood vessels in your head, which can cause pain. Count to five as you inhale through your nose, then count to five as you exhale through your mouth. Repeat 10 times. • Progressive relaxation Tension in your shoulder, neck, and back muscles can cause pain to radiate into your head. Working up from your feet, contract each major muscle group one at a time. Inhale, hold for 8 seconds, then exhale and release. INSOMNIA Say goodnight to sleeplessness with a trail mix of dried cherries and walnuts. Both are good sources of melatonin—the hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles—and can improve sleep quality, says University of Texas sleep scientist Russel J. Reiter, PhD. MOSQUITO BITES If you get bitten, dab on a roll-on antiperspirant such as Secret. It contains aluminum salts that help the body to reabsorb the fluid in the bug bite, reducing swelling and itching. Repellents containing picaridin, a DEET alternative, have been shown to be safe and effective. We like nongreasy Off! Skintastic Clean Feel. MOUTH SORES Recurring fever blisters (also called cold sores) can’t be completely cured—but they can be treated, and outbreaks prevented, with the amino acid L-lysine, found in ointments or tablets in health food stores, says Paul Horowitz, MD, founder of Discovery Pediatrics in Valencia, CA. If you’re among the 60 to 90% of Americans who carry the herpes virus that causes blisters, start taking 1,000 mg of the amino acid 3 times a day with meals as soon as you feel an outbreak coming on. (The supplement may not be safe for those with high cholesterol, heart disease, or high triglycerides.) Eat to Ease Arthritis Pain Experts recommend these eat-right tips to ease the ache. • Vitamin C Getting less than 150 mg of vitamin C per day tripled the rate of cartilage breakdown, found a 10-year Boston University study of 149 people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). High-C foods include bell peppers, strawberries, and citrus fruit. • Omega-3s Several clinical trials found that eating 3 g of fish fats a day relieved the joint pain, swelling, and morning stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and reduced the need for drugs. prevention.com 19 REPORT 4 Oral ulcers and sores (the nonviral kind) are frequent complaints of Horowitz’s cancer patients—they’re a common side effect of chemotherapy. “For them, I prescribe what we call a ‘magic mouthwash,’ ” he says: “A rinse-and-spit mixture of equal parts Maalox, Benadryl, and Xylocaine.” While Xylocaine requires a prescription, you can make a similar solution with the other two over-the-counter components. But don’t trust young children to spit it out, he cautions—instead, dab just a small amount onto the sore with an eyedropper. NAUSEA AND UPSET STOMACH Feeling queasy? Drink something sweet. “Take a look at the ingredients Soothe a Sore Throat in over-the-counter nausea remedies: Many are mostly sugar,” says Andy Spooner, MD, associate professor of clinical pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. “Save yourself a few bucks and use the fruit syrup from a can of peaches instead. For motion sickness, morning sickness, or stomach bugs, the last thing you need is a huge meal. But that syrup, or some flat soda, can take the edge off.” PAPER CUTS For tiny nicks, shaving cuts, and paper cuts, smudge on a bit of lip balm to act as a sealant. Seal-on, over-thecounter sprays and bandages contain a clinically tested form of cellulose that speeds up platelet formation and stops bleeding, pronto. A combo of marshmallow, licorice root, and slippery elm bark calms a sore throat by protectively coating irritated membranes, reports a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Sixty adults with inflamed throats drank either a tea containing these herbs or a placebo beverage four to six times a day for about a week. Those who downed the brew reported 48% less pain than the placebo group. Throat Coat, the tea used in the study, is available online and in health food stores. Some people are sensitive to the herbs in the mix; if you have allergies or high blood pressure, check with your doctor before steeping a mugful. 20 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS Look Younger Now: Hair, Makeup & More Even if you have the time and money to overhaul your image with cosmetic procedures, crash diets, and hair extensions, don’t. Looking great for your age isn’t about making other people think you have a good surgeon. It’s about letting the vibrancy you feel on the inside radiate out—so much so that people actually notice. In essence, you want to defy your age. “Defy is the perfect word; it implies taking an active role in caring for your appearance,” says Vivian Diller, PhD, a New York City–based psychologist. “You’re not throwing in the towel, but you’re not going to extremes. It’s a healthy, positive attitude.” The hair and makeup secrets that follow will help you turn back the clock while letting those around you know your time is now! The Root Cause Fifty percent of women experience some kind of hair loss by age 50. “It’s far more common than people realize,” says Robert Leonard, DO, founder of Leonard Hair Transplant Associates in Cranston, RI. But even though the problem is widespread, it’s only now that help is more readily available. “More women in my practice are addressing this condition,” says Mary Gail Mercurio, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Rochester. “That’s encouraging, because the sooner hair loss is diagnosed, the better the chances of finding its cause and successfully treating it.” “We all shed around 100 to 150 hairs per day,” says Paradi Mirmirani, MD, a dermatologist in Vallejo, CA, who specializes in hair disorders. But if you’re losing more than that (you can tell if you see clumps of hair in the shower drain), your part is getting wider, or your hair has become significantly finer, you may be dealing with female-pattern hair loss (FPHL), a genetic condition that affects 30 million American women. Although FPHL (also prevention.com 21 REPORT 4 called androgenetic alopecia) can begin as early as your 20s, it’s most common after menopause. “Multiple genes play a role, and they have an equal probability of being inherited from your mother’s or father’s side,” explains Mercurio. Although this type of hair loss doesn’t necessarily indicate a medical issue, you should consult your GP to rule out a thyroid problem, irondeficiency anemia, or an excessive level of male hormones (common when you have polycystic ovarian syndrome or when estrogen levels drop off around menopause); these conditions may cause a different type of hair loss or aggravate FPHL if left untreated. If your doctor determines that you don’t have these other, more serious health issues, or resolving them doesn’t minimize symptoms, your next stop is the dermatologist’s office. She will perform a scalp exam and take a detailed medical and family history to determine why your hair is thinning and help you develop a treatment plan. Natural Healing Although you can’t change your genes, there are some things you can do to protect the hair you have. But think lifestyle changes—not hope in a jar. EAT THIS WAY. If you’re vegetarian or anemic, you may lack adequate iron, Body Builders Hundreds of products promise to pump up thinning hair, so we did the research for you, sending the latest shampoos, conditioners, and stylers to Prevention readers to test. Check out their favorites below. Umberto Beverly Hills Volume Shampoo (Target) Our tester said this shampoo with hydrolized silk proteins left hair “full of body” and was helpful plumping strands “on the top of my head.” Full by Living Proof Root Lifting Spray (livingproof.com) “I use this every day,” said a tester of this spray with an MIT-developed polymer. “It makes hair look fuller and thicker.” Joico Clinicure Lifting Foam Volumizer (joico.com) Formulated with botanical extracts, this foam gives “extra lift on the crown area” while “controlling frizz.” Ojon Volumizing 2-Min Hair Mask (ojon.com) This whipped treatment “conditioned without weighing hair down” and “made combing easier,” which “helped to prevent breakage.” which is essential for strong, healthy hair. Make sure you’re eating plenty of leafy greens—such as spinach, kale, and chard—and beans, tofu, or lean cuts of red meat, which are all great sources of iron as well as biotin and zinc, two nutrients that may also play a role in hair growth. MASSAGE YOUR SCALP. Many pros suggest scalp massage for clients with thinning hair. “Use your fingertips and a bit of argan or coconut oil to rub in a circular motion for several minutes before you shampoo,” says John Masters, owner of John Masters Organic Salon. Mary Lupo, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane Medical School and a Prevention medical advisory board member, says the theory is that massage temporarily increases circulation to the scalp, which may pump hair follicles with the nutrients needed for hair growth. Doctors’ Orders Following a holistic approach that incorporates diet tweaks and other alternative therapies may thicken hair, but some women still need medical help to see significant regrowth. REACH FOR OTC CURES. Currently, the best (and only FDA-approved) treatment for hair loss—no matter what its cause—is topical minoxidil, the drug used in Rogaine, an OTC treatment available in mousse or liquid formulas. “It’s not clear exactly how minoxidil works, but studies show it lengthens the growth phase of your hair,” says Leonard. Applying 2% minoxidil to the scalp twice daily has been shown to produce minimal regrowth in 40% of women and moderate regrowth in 19%; possible side effects include itching and redness of the scalp. OR FILL A PRESCRIPTION. If you don’t respond to minoxidil, your doctor might prescribe antiandrogen medications, which may slow hair loss and even stimulate growth in some women. “They inhibit male hormones that can exacerbate hair loss,” explains Mirmirani. In select cases, she may prescribe finasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, which blocks an enzyme that regulates the production of androgens. Because the medication causes birth defects, it is FDA approved only for men. “In premenopausal women who are no longer childbearing, finasteride can be used off-label,” Mirmirani notes. Style Smarts Don’t underestimate the importance of the right cut, color, and styling routine. SWITCH YOUR PART. “Changing the direction of your part can really help prevention.com 23 REPORT 4 thinning hair,” says Nexxus Creative Director Kevin Mancuso. Hair tends to lie flatter against the scalp when brushed repeatedly in the same direction; if you typically part your hair on the left, flip it to the right so it’s more likely to stand away from your scalp and look more voluminous. KEEP COOL. In general, the less heat you use, the better. “Styling with heat can damage the hair shaft,” says Mirmirani. Air-dry whenever possible, and if you must use heated tools, pick those with adjustable settings and keep them on the lowest level. “This won’t affect hair growth, but you’ll see less of the breakage that makes hair look even thinner,” Mirmirani says. KEEP UP THE ACTION. Stop holding hot tools in one spot when you’re styling your hair. Heat damages the cuticle so it doesn’t lay smoothly or reflect as much light. The result? Dull hair. If you use a blow-dryer or flatiron, keep it moving at all times. BRUSH WITH CARE. Used in conjunction with a blow-dryer, round metal brushes can heat up significantly, and some brushes with hard plastic or metal bristles can cause breakage, according to Angelo David, owner and creative director of New York City’s Angelo David Salon. Instead, try a brush made of gentle boar bristles or flexible nylon. GET A VOLUMIZING CUT. In most cases, shorter cuts are kinder to thinning hair. “The longer your hair grows, the more likely it is that sections will separate and reveal your scalp,” explains Mancuso. Whatever length you choose, ask for interior layers, which are placed throughout your cut, not just on the ends, to add fullness. COLOR STRATEGICALLY. Bleaching or significantly lightening your hair color all over can cause damage or breakage, but well-placed highlights hide thinning by making your hair color more similar to the color of your scalp. Plus, the dye expands the hair shaft slightly so it appears thicker, according to David. WASH LESS—AND CUT MORE Shampoo (even the good stuff ) dries your hair, so limit yourself to three washes a week. And get a trim every 6 to 8 weeks to remove the dull, dry tips that really age you. “No product can make the ends as healthy as new hair growing in,” says Alastair Carruthers, MD. 24 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS A Younger You— Easy as 1-2-3 Improve Your COMPLEXION TONE It’s easy to prevent redness, age spots, and pigmentation issues that add unwanted years. 1. BE GENTLE. Avoid harsh scrubs and rough towel-drying—and don’t touch ingrown hairs or clogged pores. “Many women pick their skin, not realizing it can cause postinflammatory pigmentation and scarring,” says Heidi Waldorf, MD, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. 2. STAY AWAY FROM SMOKE. “Cigarette chemicals get into your bloodstream and find their way to your skin, making it sallow and spotty,” explains Alastair Carruthers, MD, a dermatologist in Vancouver. And avoid smoky rooms, as repeated exposure to smoke can also cause discoloration. 3. SAY YES TO DAILY SPF. You’ve heard it a million times, but have you gotten the message? “Even if you don’t sunbathe, you can get freckles and little broken capillaries simply from walking to the car each day without sunscreen,” says Carruthers. Smooth Your SKIN TEXTURE Saggy skin, wrinkles, and rough patches add digits to your perceived age. Here’s how to stay firm and smooth. 1. SLIP ON SHADES. “Large lenses help protect the skin around your eyes from sun damage and prevent you from squinting, which can worsen wrinkles,” says Ranella Hirsch, MD, a dermatologist in Cambridge, MA. Get your eyes examined too—squinting as you try to focus can also deepen lines. 2. MAINTAIN YOUR WEIGHT. If the choice is between constantly losing and gaining, or settling for a few extra pounds, do the latter. “As we age, the dieting cycle leads to an unfirm complexion because skin can’t bounce back as easily,” says Waldorf. 3. STOCK UP ON SUNSCREEN. It’s easy to make a connection between sunlight and sun spots, but rays can also weaken skin’s supportive structure, making it crepey and causing roughness. As Hirsch points out, there’s no reason to spend lots of money trying to firm up your complexion later when you can spend a little on sunblock now. Emphasize Your EYES These tricks will make your eyes appear rested and vibrant. 1. LIFT YOUR BROWS. High, full brows look youthful and help define all your features, says Los Angeles makeup artist Brett Freedman. Use a brow powder or pencil a shade lighter than your hair color to fill in sparse areas, then sweep a fine line right above the top of the arch. Try Wet n Wild prevention.com 25 REPORT 4 Wake Up Looking Younger! Studies show that sleeping on a pillow in the same position night after night creates wrinkles that can take hours to go away—or even become permanent. To the rescue: the Mumbani Fresh Face (mumbani. com), a cushioned pillow you wear like a sleep mask to minimize pressure on your face. Our tester woke up with fewer crinkles and claimed to have slept better, too. Independent research confirms her experience— 75% of users saw smoother skin, and more than half reported sounder slumber. 26 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS Eyebrow/Eyeliner Pencil (drugstores). 2. CAMOUFLAGE CROW’S-FEET. Nix heavy coverup, which makes lines more obvious, says Matin Maulawizada of Laura Mercier Cosmetics. Instead, brighten the area with concealer under the outer third of your lower lashes and a creamy highlighter such as Benefit Ooh La Lift (benefitcosmetics.com) just below any lines. 3. REDUCE “PARENTHESES.” To diminish the lines that run from your nose to your mouth, apply concealer one shade lighter than your skin over the shadow below the fold only, not over the entire crease, says Maulawizada. This pro trick reduces the appearance of a defined edge. Try Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage (lauramercier.com). Better Your BODY A spotted chest, wrinkly hands, and rough, dry arms and legs are true-age giveaways. Get back your youth with these fixes. 1. COOL OFF. “Every dermatologist would agree that dry skin can make you look older,” says Hirsch. Moisturizing helps, but there’s an even easier fix: Take shorter, cooler baths and showers because hot water dehydrates skin. 2. LIFT WEIGHTS AND DIG IN. Aerobic exercise is good, but strength training is better if saggy skin on your body is the issue. “Skin looks more taut over supportive muscles,” Hirsch says. If you’re hungry postworkout, eat! “After a certain age, a few extra pounds can actually help your face look younger,” she says. 3. DO MORE NAKED. Smooth on lotion or sunscreen after you dress and you may miss areas. Instead, apply products straight out of the shower so you remember to apply to your neck, chest, and hands, too. Apply Makeup Like a Pro How do makeup artists create a flawlessly blended look? We put our fingers on the answer! 1. FOUNDATION “After smoothing base on with your fingers, rub your hands together and press your palms to your face. The warmth helps spread the makeup so it looks perfectly blended.” —Mally Roncal, makeup artist and creator of Mally Beauty To disguise a double chin, apply a light layer of foundation or matte bronzer two shades darker than your skin under your chin, shading over any jowl. Try Rimmel London Natural Bronzer (drugstores). Blend toward your neck, using a sponge or brush. —Matin Maulawizada, Laura Mercier Cosmetics 2. BLUSH “Hold your three middle fingers firmly together and dip them into blush—creams work best. Swirl from the apple of your cheek up toward your temple. The edges will be seamless.” —Carmindy, makeup artist and author of Crazy Busy Beautiful 3. EYELINER “For soft definition, put the very tip of your pinky into a dark shadow and gently run it into the lash line with small back-and-forth motions. If your lashes wiggle as you do this, you’re doing it right.” —Raychel Wade, La Prairie Colour Ambassador 4. HIGHLIGHTER “Dip the pad of your pinky in a light-colored shadow and place at the inner corner to brighten and open the eye. This digit is the perfect size for the job.” —Eric Sakas, makeup artist and cofounder of Vapour Organic Beauty 5. LIPSTICK “After swiping it on, push in the formula by patting with your finger. This allows the color to settle into your lips so it lasts longer, bleeds less into fine lines, and looks effortless.” —Molly R. Stern, CoverGirl celebrity makeup artist Long-Lasting Lip Color What’s the best long-wear lipstick that won’t dry out your lips? We’ve found that the top performers are stain and gloss combos. The colored stains sink in and set, while the gloss toppers keep lips conditioned and color gleaming. Prevention editors’ faves: L’Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour Compact (drugstores), Jane Iredale Lip Fixation (shop.janeiredale.com), and Mark Gloss Gorgeous Stay-On Lip Stain (meetmark.com)—a clever 2-in-1 formula. prevention.com 27 REPORT 5 No-Surgery Mini Face-Lift High-powered resurfacing laser treatments are bringing lunch-hour rejuvenation closer to reality. One such product approved by the FDA for wrinkles around the eyes, as well as age spots, stretch marks, acne scars, and rough skin, is Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing, nicknamed Fraxel. It involves considerably less recovery time, redness, and discomfort than the high-powered CO2 resurfacing laser. The innovation The laser beam is split into thousands of microscopic treatment zones, selectively heating tiny dots of skin. (The pixilated effect isn’t visible to the naked eye.) Healthy new skin cells quickly fill the damaged areas in between treated spots. Healing is faster than when the whole top layer of skin is removed. What you get After a $400 to $5,000 session, depending on the number of body parts treated, you’ll see fresh new skin within a few days. In a few weeks, skin appears younger-looking, smoother, and more vibrant. Usually a wholeface treatment takes four to six 20-minute sessions, spaced 7 to 28 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS 10 days apart. Even with an anesthetic cream applied 45 minutes in advance, you’ll feel a mild prickling or burning sensation. For several hours afterward, skin will feel tight and appear sunburned. You can camouflage the redness right away with makeup. Mild to moderate flaking may last up to 2 weeks. When we tried it Without having to go through the week or so of recovery that comes with a CO2 laser treatment, this left our tester’s complexion as smooth as a baby’s bottom after the final treatment and also diminished age spots. What the experts say “Fraxel turns back the clock. It doesn’t turn it off,” says Roy Geronemus, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center. “It’s too soon to tell if it will be as effective a skin resurfacer as a CO2 laser. In some ways the two are similar, but the Fraxel may not tackle deeper wrinkles as successfully,” he adds. Where to find it At dermatologists’ and plastic surgeons’ offices. To locate a doctor near you, check out fraxel.com. Walk Off a Size Now Whether you want to melt fat, boost energy, lift mood, or just be a bit more toned in a few important places, we have the workouts for you. They’ve all been road-tested by Prevention readers and are ready to deliver fast results. Pick your goal and discover new, fun ways to achieve it. More Walking Rewards Practicing the walking routines in this report, you’ll be able to buy clothes a size smaller. Here are three other possible benefits when you commit to an exercise program. BODY CONFIDENCE The simple act of exercising—regardless of your weight or fitness level—can make you feel better about how you look, possibly due to the release of feel-good hormones, finds a review of 57 studies on exercise and body image. A FLAT BELLY Just two 40-minute workouts a week is enough to stop dangerous belly fat in its tracks, according to University of Alabama at Birmingham research. The waistlines of those who worked out less expanded an average of 3 inches. Exercise may lower levels of hormones, such as cortisol, that promote belly fat. HEALTHY BLOOD SUGAR Walking 2 miles 5 times a week may be more effective at preventing diabetes than running nearly twice as much, report Duke University researchers. Because fat is the primary fuel for moderate exercise, walking may better improve the body’s ability to release insulin and control blood sugar. prevention.com 29 REPORT 5 YO U R G OA L Flip Your Fat-Burning Switch! You could shrink a size (or more) this month by adding high-intensity walks to your routine. You’ll burn more fat during and after your workouts. And there are options to fit everyone’s needs—a 10-minute routine for busy days and an indoor option for rainy weather. For best results, do at least 20 minutes of highintensity walking (any combo of the workouts in this section or any of the hill or stair routines on pp. 36, 39, and 40—the longer walks will slim you down faster) on 3 nonconsecutive days a week. On alternate days, do moderate-intensity activity for about 30 minutes per session. ‹ 1 Perfect for the weekend! › Drop-It-Fast Sprint 25 to 30 minutes The quicker you walk, the farther you can go and the more pounds you’ll melt off. Here’s a fun routine that burns as many as 175 calories*. THE WORKOUT After warming up for 5 minutes, walk as fast as you can for 10 minutes. Note how far you went. Then turn around and walk back at a brisk pace, slowing your speed to cool down as you get closer to your starting point. Each time you do this workout, aim to walk faster and go farther than your initial turnaround point. 2 3 Treadmills are the perfect excuse buster—no need to worry about weather, traffic, or darkness. Seeing your speed increase as you become more fit is also a huge motivator. Try this routine from Lee Scott, creator of the DVD Simple Steps for a Great Walking Workout, to blast more than 150 calories* in half an hour. Hour-plus workouts can crank up your postexercise calorie burn nearly fivefold, compared with a 30-minute walk. That’s on top of the nearly 350 calories you’ll melt during your walk. This can also get you in shape to take on a bigger goal, such as a half marathon (13.1 miles) or a multiday fund-raising walk. It’s also a social way to slim down: Plan your route so you meet up with friends, and walk with each for part of your route. “Meeting someone along the way helped keep me from getting bored,” says Prevention reader Kim Kline of Jefferson City, MO. Treadmill Slimmer 30 minutes Megacalorie Burner 60+ minutes TIME ACTIVITY SPEED 000–4:59 WARMUP 3.4 mph** 5:00–10:59 PHASE 1 (repeat intervals below for 6 min) 60-sec speed interval 4.0 mph 60-sec recovery interval 3.4 mph 11:00–15:59 PHASE 2 (repeat for 5 min) 40-sec speed interval 4.2 mph 20-sec recovery interval 3.4 mph 16:00–20:59 PHASE 3 (repeat for 5 min) *Calorie burn estimates in this section are based on a 150-pound person and will vary depending on weight, walking speed, and workout duration. 30-sec speed interval 4.4 mph 30-sec recovery interval 3.4 mph 21:00–25:59 PHASE 4 (repeat for 5 min) 20-sec speed interval 4.6 mph 40-sec recovery interval 3.4 mph 26:00–30:00 COOLDOWN 3.4 mph **Start at a comfortable speed. Increase 0.6 mph from there for Phase 1 speed intervals. For each subsequent phase, increase your speed intervals by 0.2 mph. 30 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS prevention.com 31 REPORT 5 ‹ › 4 TIME SAVER! Belly-Busting Walk 10+ minutes High-intensity workouts like the ones in this section can shrink 5 times more belly fat than moderate-intensity workouts. To zero in on shaping your abs, use these toning tips during any walk. • Focus on drawing your abs in toward your spine. Try to maintain the contraction throughout your walk, but don’t hold your breath. • Imagine that your legs extend up above your navel. As one leg swings forward and back, that hip should follow. This slight hip swivel causes your lower torso to rotate, activating more ab muscles to tone your midsection faster. YO U R G OA L 5 More Energy & a Brighter Mood Super Fat Blast 10 minutes Crank up the intensity with metabolismrevving bursts of high-impact activities. You’ll burn nearly 70% more calories than if you walked at a steady pace. TIME ACTIVITY 0:00–2:59 Warmup, easy to moderate pace 3:00–3:59 Brisk walk 4:00–4:29 Jog 4:30–5:29 Fast walk 5:30–5:59 Jumping jacks 6:00–6:59 Fast walk 7:00–7:29 Side jumps, feet together 7:30–8:29 Fast walk 8:30–8:59 Jog 9:00–10:00 Cooldown, easy pace Even a 10-minute stroll can instantly recharge your energy by increasing circulation. Go for 30 minutes and you could get a whopping 85% energy boost, research shows. And to really wake up your body and brain, try these stimulating walks that get your mind and senses working, too. The good feeling may last up to 12 hours! Anytime you need a quick pick-me-up, try one of these routines. These workouts can also help if your goal is to lose weight or firm up. ‹ 6 targets inner thighs! › Happiness Walk 10+ Minutes Revitalize your mind and body with an easy walk of any length that includes these stress-busting techniques from Carolyn Scott Kortge, author of Healing Walks for Hard Times. Says Prevention reader Lisa DiMarzio of Ware, MA: “When I tried it after a tense meeting, I felt calm almost immediately instead of reliving the event that made me stressed.” Step 1 Focus on your feet. Feel the firm ground beneath you as each foot rolls from heel to toe. Try to hold awareness of your steps for 2 to 3 minutes. Step 2 Turn your attention to breathing. Lift your torso to stand upright and increase lung space. As you inhale, imagine you are drawing in renewed energy. Exhale tiredness and pain. Let fresh life flow into your lungs and your cells. Step 3 Coach yourself. Thinking Fresh air in, stale air out as you breathe can help you maintain focus. 32 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS prevention.com 33 REPORT 5 YO U R G OA L 7 Brainpower Booster UNDER 20 MINUTES Changing direction as you walk—forward, backward, or sideways—keeps your mind alert, turns up your calorie burn, and activates some often-underused muscles, such as inner and outer thighs. This routine is best done on a school track (most are ¼ mile around). THE WORKOUT Lap 1 Start at the beginning of a curve on the track. Walk as you normally would to warm up for a full lap. Lap 2 • Turn sideways so right foot is in front. Sidestep or shuffle around the curved part of the track. • Walk backward on the straight section. • Sidestep through the next curve with left foot in front. • Walk forward on the straight section. Lap 3 Repeat lap 2, walking sideways, backward, sideways, and forward. Lap 4 Walk forward, slowing your pace to cool down. This is a 1-mile walk if you use a ¼-mile track. You can do more laps to extend it or work up to doing half or even full laps of each type of walking. 34 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS 8 Head for the Trees! 5+ Minutes A dose of nature can boost your mood and energize you in just 5 minutes. If you exercise in a natural setting and go longer (a lunchtime stroll in a park or an all-day hike in the mountains), you can improve your memory and attention 20% more than you can by walking in an urban environment. That’s because there are fewer distractions and it’s more relaxing. To find offroad walking routes in your area, go to trails.com. Firm Your Arms, Butt & Thighs By adding some toning moves or techniques to your routine, you can turn walks into total-body workouts and shape your legs and butt even faster. Aim to target each body area 2 or 3 times a week. For example, do the Sculpt All Over (p. 39) once or twice a week, and do a lower-body and an upper-body routine (or two) on alternate days. Don’t work the same muscle groups on back-to-back days. For speedier firming, do walking routines from other sections on in-between days to melt flab and show off your sexy muscles. 9 Double-Duty Toner Use a pair of walking poles ($90 and up). Research shows they can boost calorie burn by up to 46% and get your arms and core involved for all-over firming. The poles also reduce impact on your joints. Go to nordicwalkingna. com for more information. 83593.jpg 15% prevention.com 35 REPORT 5 ‹ 10 Treadmill Booty Blast 25 minutes No outdoor hills to give your glutes a workout? Here’s a fun treadmill routine from Tracey Staehle, a Connecticutbased trainer and creator of the DVD Walking Strong. Reports Prevention reader Carrie Pasquale of Petal, MS: “I could really feel it in my butt.” You can do the full 25-minute routine or just 1 or 2 of the 5-minute hill climbs for a shorter session. 36 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS do it on your lunch break! › 11 ACTIVITY TIME SPEED (mph) WARMUP 0:00–4:59 2.5 % INCLINE 0 Increase speed 0.2 mph and incline 1% each minute. 3.3 5 GRADUAL ASCENT 5:00–9:59 ROLLING HILLS 10:00–10:59 3.4 5 11:00–11:59 3.5 5 Maintain speed but increase incline 1% each minute. 12:00–12:29 3.7 7 12:30–12:59 3.7 5 13:00–13:29 3.8 8 13:30–13:59 3.8 5 14:00–14:29 4.0 10 14:30–14:59 3.5 5 STEEP CLIMB 15:00–19:59 2.6 10 COOLDOWN 20:00–25:00 Maintain incline as you increase speed 0.3 mph each minute. 3.4 4 Decrease speed 0.2 mph and incline 1% each minute. ‹ OUTDOOR CHALLENGE! › Arm Shaper 20 minutes Grab an exercise band and do these moves while you walk to firm your upper body. THE WORKOUT Start with 4 minutes of PV-1010-WALK09_01.tif 11% PV-1010-WALK09_02.tif 10% easy walking. Then pick up your pace to a moderate intensity A B and do the first exercise for 25 reps. SHOULDER SHAPER Loop band around back. Hold each When you’re finished, end with palms up, elbows bent in at waist, forearms drape band around angled out to sides (A). Keeping shoulders down and neck and speed up back, press hands up and away from body to about to a brisk pace, like shoulder height (B). Slowly lower to start position. you’re in a hurry, for 2 minutes. Repeat the 25-rep toning/2-minute brisk-walking intervals until you’ve done all the exercises. Cool PV-1010-WALK09_04.tif 10% down with 4 minutes PV-1010-WALK09_03.tif 11% of easy walking. You can make moves A B harder by placing hands closer together CHEST CIRCLE With band around back, extend arms so you’re using less in front, crossing wrists (A). Circle arms out to sides band, or easier by (B), bend elbows, and bring hands in to chest. Repeat, separating hands crossing opposite arm on top. for more slack. prevention.com 37 REPORT 5 12 BACK PULLDOWN Hold band wide overhead (A). Lower arms, keeping elbows bent slightly (B), and pull band down behind head. Slowly return to start position. TRICEPS TONER Hold band at shoulder height in front of you, hands wide, elbows bent 90 degrees (A). Keeping upper arms still, straighten arms and press hands out to sides (B). Slowly return to start position. 38 Butt Firmer 16+ minutes PV-1010-WALK10_01.tif 12% PV-1010-WALK10_02.tif 11% A B PV-1010-WALK10_03.tif 13% PV-1010-WALK10_04.tif 11% A B SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS Walking uphill activates 25% more muscle fibers for faster firming than strolling on flat terrain. For best results, find a hill that takes 2 to 2½ minutes to climb and try this workout from Judy Heller, a certified personal trainer and master racewalker in Portland, OR. THE WORKOUT Warm up at an easy pace for 5 to 10 minutes. Then walk up and down the hill; follow with 2 minutes of brisk walking on a level surface. Repeat the hill and level walk for your desired workout length. Finish with 5 minutes of easy walking to cool down. ‹ › 13 EASY HOME ROUTINE! Sculpt All Over 25 to 40 minutes During this workout, you’ll intersperse strength moves as you walk, for cardio plus toning. Using the lottery approach (below) from Lee Scott to pick your exercises will prevent boredom and challenge new muscles. NEWS0301.jpg 19% FLOP THE WORKOUT Write at least nine no-equipment strength moves (unless you’re walking indoors and have equipment handy) on pieces of paper. Choose a variety of exercises that will hit all the major muscle groups; include walking lunges, bench pushups, triceps dips, planks, and power jumps (for more, go to prevention.com/strengthtraining). Drop them in a jar and draw three out before a walk. Warm up at an easy pace for 3 to 5 minutes, then walk briskly for 5 to 10 minutes. Stop and do one of the strength moves. Repeat the brisk walking (5 to 10 minutes), followed by the next strength move. Repeat once more to complete the final move. Cool down for 5 minutes at an easy pace. prevention.com 39 REPORT 6 Supplements Worth a Second Look 14 Indoor Leg Toner 5 minutes Do this quick workout anywhere there are stairs to double your calorie burn. Prevention reader Barb Best of Erie, PA, posted it at the bottom of her stairs as a reminder to do it. 1. Walk up and down one flight normally. 2. Slowly walk up sideways, crossing bottom foot over top. Keep head up. Walk down normally. Repeat, facing the opposite direction. 3. Step up on first stair, then down, starting with right foot (right up, left up, right down, left down) 10 times. Repeat, starting with left foot. 4. Climb stairs two steps at a time; come down quickly using each step. 5. Run up; walk down normally. PV-1010-WALK12_01.tif 19% 6. Repeat numbers 4 and 5 another four times. 7. At bottom, place right foot on first or second step, bend knees, and lower into a lunge. Keep right knee directly over ankle as you do so. Push off with right foot to return to start. Repeat with left leg. Alternate legs for 20 lunges, total. 8. Walk up and down normally one time. Michele Stanten, former fitness director at Prevention and author of Walk Off Weight, designed several of these workouts. 40 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS The foods we eat—or don’t—may speed certain physical and mental changes along, aging us before our time. The reason is simple. “We eat too many processed foods,” says David Katz, MD, director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center. “They’re often high in calories and low in nutrients, so we end up with islands of deficiencies in a sea of excess.” These inadequacies can result in symptoms such as those below. Work with your doctor to determine whether adjusting your diet or adding a supplement can help you look—and feel—younger. You Have Less Energy You May Need More: Vitamin B12 Found only in foods that are derived from animals, this nutrient helps regulate your metabolism and energy production and is key to maintaining a healthy brain and nervous system. “Fatigue is a classic sign of B12 deficiency, which usually occurs in people who don’t eat very much animal protein,” says Danine Fruge, MD, director of women’s and family health at the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa in Miami. Chewing a lot of antacids to relieve heartburn can also lead to B12 deficiency because antacids interfere with B12 absorption. HOW YOUR DOCTOR KNOWS Your GP will ask about what you eat, whether you’re getting enough sleep, and the medications you take. If you don’t eat many (or any) meat or dairy foods or take supplements containing B12, you sleep 7 to 8 hours each night, and you’re physically active, odds are good that your low energy is due to a B12 deficiency. FOOD FIX Have two servings of “nonfat dairy foods, such as fat-free milk or nonfat yogurt, and 3 to 4 ounces of lean protein daily. Good sources of B12 include seafood, such as fish, clams, oysters, and mussels, as well as lean beef and prevention.com 41 REPORT 6 pork, chicken, and fortified cereal. SUPPLEMENT SOLUTION Take 500 to 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12 in tablet form every day to raise and maintain your B12 levels. Your Joints Ache You May Need More: Manganese and Copper Because manganese and copper are both essential for maintaining joint cartilage and flexibility, “in most cases, supplementing these nutrients reverses the joint deterioration and eliminates the pain,” says Dale Peterson, MD, founder of the Wellness Clubs of America. “The body can actually repair a significant amount of damage if it’s given the proper support.” HOW YOUR DOCTOR KNOWS Using a simple blood test, your physician can easily determine whether your joint pain is related to garden-variety wear and tear or a more serious inflammatory condition. “If the result is normal, you can be assured that the joint pain isn’t caused by serious rheumatic disease,” says Peterson. FOOD FIX Nuts, beef, and spinach are good sources of these nutrients, but you won’t be able to eat enough to get all your copper and manganese, so opt for a supplement, Peterson advises. SUPPLEMENT SOLUTION Take 2 mg of copper and 5 mg of manganese 42 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS 044350_Quesad_01.JPG 28% FLOP each day. Within 2 to 3 months, your joints should feel less painful. You’re More Forgetful You May Need More: Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids “These fatty acids are part of the brain’s building blocks,” explains Andrew Weil, MD, director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. “If you’re not getting enough in your diet, the architecture of the brain becomes weak, and brain function, including memory, suffers.” But it’s not only the amount of omega-3s that’s important; the balance between omega-3s and omega-6s is equally crucial. “Our diets are flooded with omega-6 fatty acids, mostly from processed foods,” says Weil. “The more omega-6s you eat, the more omega-3s you need to balance your levels. Most of us aren’t eating enough omega-3s and are eating too many omega-6s.” HOW YOUR DOCTOR KNOWS A quick review of what you eat is all she needs. “If there’s no fish, walnuts, or freshly ground flaxseed in your diet, and the fats you eat come mainly from meat, you’re not getting any omega3s,” explains Manuel Villacorta, RD, an American Dietetic Association spokesperson in San Francisco. FOOD FIX First, reduce the amount of refined and processed foods you eat as much as possible, and cook with olive or canola oil. Then, eat 3½ ounces of wild salmon and 3½ ounces of herring, sardines, or halibut each week. Add 2 tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed to cereal, whole grain side dishes, or shakes daily, and garnish salads or cereal with 1 tablespoon of walnuts 5 days a week. Finally, enjoy 9 to 12 almonds 4 times a week. SUPPLEMENT SOLUTION Take at least 2,000 mg of fish oil daily. Look for 1,000 mg capsules of combined docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosaentaenoic acid (EPA). Your Blood Pressure Is Rising You May Need More: Potassium “Having too little potassium in your diet magnifies the toxic effects of excessive salt intake,” Fruge says. Most processed foods have added sodium but no extra potassium, so if your meals come from boxes, you’re likely at risk. Worsening the situation, when your kidneys try to flush out the salt, you lose even more potassium. “The imbalance damages blood vessels, driving up blood pressure,” Fruge notes. “Eating better can correct the problem—I’ve seen people drop 30 points in 3 days.” HOW YOUR DOCTOR KNOWS A review of your diet reveals all your GP needs to know. If there’s any doubt, your doctor can evaluate your cardiovascular function with blood tests to check blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and kidney function, along with stress tests, body-fat measurements, and ultrasounds of your heart and arteries. FOOD FIX Cut your sodium consumption to no more than 1,500 mg per day, and eat seven to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day. SUPPLEMENT SOLUTION Potassium supplements can lead to arrhythmia or other cardiac problems, says Fruge. Stick with produce to avoid those side effects. Good sources of potassium are bananas, broccoli, citrus fruit, dried apricots, potatoes (especially their skin), squash, sweet potatoes, and milk and yogurt. prevention.com 43 REPORT 6 Weight Loss Supplements to Consider Research shows the nutrients you need to stay healthy may also regulate hunger. Experts recommend getting them through food first, but because many women fall short, consider these supplements for extra insurance. Slimming Supplement Recommended Intake Health Bonus Vitamin DPeople who have high vitamin D levels at the start of a diet lose more weight, suggests research presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting. Get 1,000 IU through fatty fish and fortified cereal, juice, and dairy products or by taking a D3 supplement daily. Vitamin D fights cancer and helps your body absorb bone-building calcium. Prebiotics Overweight adults who took a prebiotic supplement lost an average of 2 pounds over 12 weeks, compared with those on a placebo, found Canadian researchers. Aim for 4 to 20 g daily from foods such as garlic, onions, artichokes, and fortified yogurt, or supplements. Prebiotics stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria (probiotics) in the gut to regulate digestion. Calcium When women deficient in calcium took 1,200 mg of calcium daily for 15 weeks, they lost 4 times as much weight as those who took a placebo. Get 1,000 to 1,200 mg daily from low-fat dairy and leafy green vegetables or a 500 or 600 mg calcium carbonate or citrate supplement taken twice a day. Calcium builds and maintains strong bones to prevent injury and osteoporosis. Multivitamin In a 15-week study, women who popped a daily multivitamin felt 45% less hungry than those who took a placebo. Eat plenty of colorful fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean protein daily, and take a multi that provides no more than 100% of your daily value for each nutrient. The wide range of nutrients in multivitamins plays a critical part in immune function. 44 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS Herbal Supplements against Arthritis Safety tips: Unusually large amounts of turmeric imbrfs-00082829-001.jpg 35.5% may cause stomach upset. Medicinal Turmeric turmeric preparations Most Americans should not be given to think of turmeric children under 2. For (Curcuma longa) as older children and people an ingredient in Indian over 65, start with low-strength curry. But Indians also preparations, and increase the think of it as a healing herb. strength if necessary. A great deal of scientific research proves turmeric has antiWild Dog Rose inflammatory, antioxidant, and The rose hips of the wild dog rose antitumor properties. In one animal (Rosa canina) can help conquer trial, a turmeric compound was the ache of arthritic joints. When almost as effective as cortisone at researchers in Denmark gave treating acute inflammation. Several 112 osteoarthritis sufferers either studies also show that curcumin, dried rose hip powder capsules or an active chemical in turmeric, has a placebo once a day, 66% of those anti-inflammatory action—even taking the rose hip reported less being as effective as ibuprofen in pain and stiffness after 3 months. treating osteoarthritis of the knees. (Only a third of the placebo group Since Indian research shows that felt better.) Rose hip acts as an even a teaspoon of turmeric has anti-inflammatory to relieve medicinal value, it makes sense to joint swelling and pressure. The season foods with it. Turmeric tastes supplement in the study was pleasant, but in large amounts it LitoZin, available as I-flex from becomes somewhat bitter. swansonvitamins.com. prevention.com 45 REPORT 7 REPORT 7 The Salt Addiction That Can Make You Fat It’s no secret that a high-sodium diet raises blood pressure, which in turn can cause heart attacks and strokes. But studies show that salt is even more dangerous than we thought: Eating too much has been linked to osteoporosis, dementia, cancer, and other serious health problems (see “The Silent Killer,” p. 50). It can also add inches to your waist. Based on this research, the US government is revisiting its sodium guidelines. The new thinking: Adults should consume no more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day (two-thirds of a teaspoon), down from the previous limit of less than 2,300 mg. This adjustment means that Americans are seriously overdosing on salt, getting 3,436 mg a day— more than double the recommended amount. Where’s all that sodium coming from? The greatest concern isn’t the salt you shake on at the table—it’s the salt that’s already in your food. The biggest culprits are processed and packaged foods, which load up on salt for flavor, but also for color and texture and to prevent spoilage. About 80% of the sodium in our diets is found in the premade crackers, cookies, cereals, soups, frozen dinners, and pasta sauces we eat at home. And that doesn’t even cover fast food and other restaurant meals. Here’s how a single ingredient with zero calories can be such a major cause of weight gain and killer health problems—and how you can sleuth out hidden sodium to protect your health. Excerpted and adapted from The Salt Solution by Heather K. Jones, RD, with the editors of Prevention (Rodale ©2011). 46 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS Why Salt Is Addictive Your body does need some sodium— to maintain the right balance of fluids, transmit nerve impulses, and contract and relax your muscles— but only about 500 mg per day. When you eat far more than that, your brain chemistry is altered. Research shows that consuming salt triggers the release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with the brain’s pleasure center, making salty foods as addictive as nicotine and alcohol. Therefore, as with any addiction, eating salty foods makes you crave more. Since so many of them—like french fries and fast-food sandwiches—are also high in fat and calories, OD’ing on salt packs on the pounds. Loading up on salt also increases thirst. This wouldn’t be an issue if we usually turned to water—but we don’t. Research has found a close link between the consumption of salt and intake of sugary beverages. (Diet sodas aren’t the answer: They’re full of sodium!) Eating too much salt may cause weight gain in less-noticeable ways too—by changing how your body makes and metabolizes fat. Studies show that a high-salt diet boosts the production of insulin, the hormone that tells the body to store excess sugar as fat. Simply put, the more insulin you have, the more fat you store and the more weight you gain. Kicking Your Salt Habit You can cut back on sodium in the next 2 weeks, which will boost your metabolism and increase your energy. You’ll also feel thinner because you’ll drop water weight from bloating. Losing those pounds and inches will help motivate you to make low-salt eating a way of life as you reset your taste buds to enjoy low-sodium foods. The good news is that your palate will adapt quickly. Most of us have about 10,000 taste buds, each one made up of 50 to 150 receptor cells that live for only 1 to 2 weeks and then are replaced by new receptors. So after eating a cleaner diet for 2 weeks, you’ll not only begin to taste and enjoy more subtle flavors, you’ll also have less of a craving for salt. Here are the basics for this 14-day “salt cleanse.” • Clear your home of salty snacks and other sodium-riddled temptations. • Stock up on fresh vegetables and fruits and on low- or no-sodium ingredients. • Eat three 300-calorie meals per day, each with less than 300 mg sodium. To find suggestions for saltsolutionbook.com to buy a copy of the book prevention.com 47 REPORT 7 Berry-Mango Smoothie: A Mineral Boost Juice Combine 1 cup chopped kale, ¾ cup frozen mixed berries, ¾ cup fat-free milk, ½ medium frozen banana, ½ cup fresh or frozen mango cubes, and 2 teaspoons honey in a blender. Puree until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes. Calories: 321, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sodium: 191 mg, Potassium: 934 mg, Calcium: 526 mg, Magnesium: 88 mg PV-0409-FOUR0201.JPG 34% prevention.com/mineraljuice for two more Mineral Boost Juice recipes 48 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS recipes, go to prevention. com and search “salt solution recipes.” Or go to saltsolutionbook.com to buy the book this information is excerpted from. • With each 300-calorie meal, enjoy as many nutrient-dense, low-calorie vegetables (beet greens, cabbage, carrots, celery, kale, onions, spinach, and more) as you like. When steamed, microwaved, roasted, or boiled without added sauces and/or salt, they add bulk without adding many calories. • Drink a 300-calorie Mineral Boost Juice daily, which provides potassium, calcium, and magnesium to help rid your body of excess sodium. (Berry-Mango Smoothie recipe, this page, is just one scrumptious example.) • Eliminate processed and packaged foods, as well as alcohol. • Steer clear of sauces and dressings that may contain added oil, sugar, salt, and calories. Try new herbs and spices to add zip to your food. • Measure all your food portions. • Keep a food journal. For each meal, track calories, sodium, saturated fat, and fiber. Want Some Chips with Your Salt? Most regular chips have 160 to 180 mg of sodium per 1-ounce serving (about 15 chips). Watch out for flavored chips, which can contain compounds of sodium not found in other chips. The worst offender of all: salt-and-vinegar. Of 12 varieties, these are the Prevention picks: PV-0111-SALT04_09.tif 7.5% PV-0111-SALT04_11.tif8% PV-0111-SALT04_10.tif 7.5% Lay’s Lightly Salted 90 mg Wise Lightly Salted 80 mg Terra Original 50 mg PV-0111-SALT04_12.tif 8% Kettle Brand Unsalted 5 mg There’s Salt in That? In a typical day, the sodium adds up fast—hidden in foods you probably didn’t even know were salty. BREAKFAST 1 whole grain bagel (490 mg) with 2 Tbsp fat-free cream cheese (211 mg) and 6 oz yogurt (95 mg) = 796 mg SNACK 2 Tbsp peanut butter (147 mg) on 6 wheat crackers (194 mg) = 341 mg LUNCH Sandwich with 2 slices low-sodium turkey (432 mg), 1 slice American cheese (266 mg), and 2 tsp mustard (114 mg) in a flour tortilla (490 mg) with 1 dill pickle spear (306 mg) and 1 c vegetable soup (960 mg) = 2,568 mg SNACK 1 wheat pita (340 mg) with 2 Tbsp hummus (114 mg) = 454 mg DINNER ½ c pasta (4 mg) with ½ c jarred tomato sauce (480 mg) and 2 meatballs (232 mg), 1 slice garlic bread (400 mg), and salad with reduced-fat ranch dressing (336 mg) = 1,452 mg DESSERT Homemade apple crisp (495 mg) with ½ c vanilla ice cream (53 mg) and 2 Tbsp caramel sauce (60 mg) = 608 mg Total 6,219 mg, more than quadruple the daily recommended amount! REPORT 8 The Silent Killer It’s no longer just heart attacks and strokes you need to worry about if you eat too much salt. Evidence now connects sodium to other serious health problems, including: Cancer Salted foods are linked to a 15% increase in cancer risk, 29639.jpg 42% FLOP according to a 2010 Japanese study. In other research, high salt intake has been associated with deaths from stomach cancer. Salty foods irritate the stomach lining, which can cause infection by H. pylori bacteria, which lead to stomach cancer. Osteoporosis High-salt diets have been shown to increase calcium loss, which weakens bone and leads, over time, to osteoporosis. A 2-year study of postmenopausal women connected a decrease in hip bone density to sodium intake. Diabetes Eating lots of salt may promote insulin resistance. Diabetes already puts you at greater risk of hypertension and heart disease—and a high salt intake only raises these risks. Dementia Hypertension may also affect your brain. Results of the 2010 Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study, which took MRI scans of 1,400 women age 65 or older, revealed that those with high blood pressure had more abnormal brain lesions 8 years later. Other research shows that people with hypertension are up to 600% more likely to develop stroke-related dementia. Sleep Apnea High blood pressure is a villain here, too. It is a vicious cycle— sleep apnea causes sleep deprivation, which can increase blood pressure. Kidney Disease Hypertension eventually damages blood vessels throughout your body, including the kidneys. The damage can be gradual: Symptoms may not occur until kidney function is less than 10% of normal. 50 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS Bone- Building Breakthroughs “When an adult fractures a bone, it should be a call to action to prevent the next one,” says John Bilezikian, MD, professor of medicine and specialist in metabolic bone diseases at New York’s Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. That’s why the National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that adults who suffer a low-trauma fracture (such as breaking a bone after falling from ground level or a low height) have a bone-density test, followed by medications if necessary. According to the National Institutes of Health, 50% of women age 50 and older will suffer a fracture. And Bilezikian notes that the vast majority of fractures in adults over age 40 are highly predictive of future fractures. “Having a fracture at least doubles your risk of sustaining another fracture within a year.” Americans suffer an estimated 300,000 hip fractures every year, and recovery is painful and difficult: After a hip fracture, only 15% of patients can walk across a room unaided after 6 months; 25% require long-term care and may become disabled. While there are steps you can take to stop osteoporosis—and even help rebuild fragile bone—the key to longterm health is assessing how strong your bones are now. Testing, Testing You need to be tested to know where you stand, says Bilezikian. If you have risk factors, such as a family history of osteoporosis, get a bone mineral density (BMD) test—a quick, painless measurement of the hip, arm, and other skeletal sites—earlier than age 65. That means getting checked at the onset of menopause or when you stop hormone therapy. Depending on the results, your doctor may recommend a more comprehensive dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), which measures the spine, hip, or total body. prevention.com 51 REPORT 8 It’s also important to be aware of the side effects of medications you take regularly. Drugs can leach calcium from bones. Be wary of overuse of steroids; medications for thyroid problems; some drugs for rheumatoid arthritis, as well as heart and gastrointestinal diseases; and antiseizure medications. Constant dieting is also a concern because you lose muscle and bone, not just fat. High-protein diets, in particular, can be a problem. “Avoid excessive protein intake—more than 60 g a day—since protein is acidic, and calcium is diverted from the bones to neutralize it,” Bilezikian warns. Bone Boosters Lifestyle changes are still your first line of defense against osteoporosis: Stop smoking, limit alcohol to one drink daily, and exercise 20 minutes or more three times a week (mix strength training and weightbearing cardiovascular workouts, such as bicycling or walking). Here are more suggestions. Enrich Your Meals Everyone over 50 should get 1,200 mg of calcium and 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily. Such measures may slow bone loss. Low-fat milk products, fortified juice, and soy milk can add calcium to your diet. Even someone who’s 52 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS lactose-intolerant can eat more tofu, leafy greens, blackstrap molasses, dried beans, and chickpeas. Sardines are also packed with calcium. Vitamin K and potassium are also vital bone nutrients. Olive and canola oils and leafy greens can bring you K (you need 90 mcg a day), while raisins, bananas, and potatoes have potassium (aim for 4,700 mg per day). Sip Smart Caffeine and alcohol have both been shown to limit calcium absorption and increase osteoporosis risk. Stick to one alcoholic beverage a day (two for men) and curb your soda habit. If you must have your morning cup of coffee, drink it with milk; 1 teaspoon per cup offsets the calcium loss. Once-a-Year Bone Protection Keeping weak bones healthy could become very simple: Reclast, a treatment for osteoporosis, requires a 15-minute infusion just once a year. Women who received it had a 70% lower risk of spinal fractures and a 40% lower chance of hip fracture than others who got a placebo, found a 3-year international study of 7,736 women. That’s comparable to the protection provided by current daily pills. The drug binds to bone cells and stays there, say the researchers, slowing the natural breakdown of skeletal tissue. Note: Do not use Reclast if you have a history of or risk factors for kidney failure. 60-second run in the middle of your walk should be enough to signal bones to add mass, he says. The main point is to Add Zip to subject your bones Your Walk to more impact than Walking is great what they’re used to. for your heart, So if you’re inactive, but it may not start walking. And if be enough to you’re already walking, strengthen your add a 60-second jog. bones and fend off (Or start with 10 osteoporosis. 043920_jump_jacks_b.JPG 85% seconds and increase.) But you can Hate running? add 60 seconds Then try jumping of bone-building jacks, tennis, swing power to your dance, step aerobics— walk. When anything that’s higher various activities impact than you’re were tested for used to and that varies their ability to your routine. Or give stimulate bone Milgrom’s idea of growth, running “zigzag walking” a scored three whirl: Mix in side-totimes higher side strides, or take than walking and forward and suddenly backward steps. other nonimpact exercises like stair The surprise change in direction may climbing and stationary cycling, also help build stronger bones. which had almost no effect. You don’t have to abandon your daily stroll for a strenuous jog or See a Pro resign yourself to weak bones, assures Ask your doctor about what else you Charles Milgrom, MD, study author can do to keep your bones strong and and member of the orthopedics healthy. And, for more information, department at the Hadassah visit the National Osteoporosis University Hospital in Jerusalem. A Foundation (nof.org). prevention.com 53 REPORT 9 REPORT 9 Drug-Free C ures for Back Pain Back pain affects up to an estimated 80% of all Americans at some time or other. It’s typically due to strained muscles—caused by strenuous lifting, bending, or twisting when muscles are tight. A sore back can also result from inactivity, which allows your back muscles to weaken and become stiff. When back pain strikes, nonpre scription pain relievers can be very effective. But some people can’t tolerate their side effects, which can include stomach upset. If your doctor has told you that your backache isn’t serious, you can safely try these easy, natural techniques. Done regularly, some can even help keep your back from ever getting out of whack again. Simple Stretches for Back Pain Stretching can relieve a sore back by elongating muscle tissues, improving blood flow, and speeding delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the back. It also helps decompress the vertebrae. SITTER’S RELIEF STRETCH When you sit for a long time, the muscles in the back of your legs contract. Then, when you stand up, these muscles resist returning to their normal length and “yank” on the back of the pelvis. As a result, your lower back muscles also get pulled. Try this exercise to feel better fast. Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Grasping your hands around your right thigh, gently pull one leg in toward your chest, keeping your other leg slightly bent. Go only as far as is comfortable. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds and release. Repeat with the other leg. If your pain becomes worse, stop the exercise. ADVANCED SITTER’S RELIEF STRETCH Once you can easily do the previous exercise, try doing it with your inactive leg straight, but not locked. Hold a towel or rope around your leg to gently pull it toward you. Go only as far as is comfortable. Acupressure Antidotes ea_lybackstretch_a_f.JPG 37% FLOP 54 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS It sounds too good to be true: By placing pressure on a certain point on your body, you can make your back pain subside or even disappear. That’s a simple description of acupressure, a traditional Chinese technique that uses the same theory as acupuncture, but without the needles, to release painful blockages of energy in the body. The Western explanation? Acupressure may work by increasing the production of endorphins, hormonelike pain relievers the body makes in response to injury. Many massage therapists are trained in acupressure; find one in your area via amtamassage.org, or call the American Massage Therapy Association toll-free at 877-905-0577. Here are three ways to try acupressure yourself. Press each point with the tip of a mechanical pencil or the tip of your index finger. LIP PRESSURE BACK-SAVER Center the pencil tip or your fingertip between your nose and upper lip. Apply deep pressure, hold for several seconds, and release. Repeat 5 to 10 times until the pain begins to release. ACHILLES PRESSURE BACK-SAVER Place the pencil tip or your fingertip between your inner anklebone and Achilles tendon, the large tendon running from your heel bone to the calf muscle. Apply deep pressure, hold for several seconds, and release. Repeat 5 to 10 times. PINKIE PRESSURE BACK-SAVER Make a fist. On the outside of your hand, next to the pinkie finger, locate the spot where the skin folds and bulges. That’s your acupressure point. Place the pencil tip or your fingertip there, apply deep pressure, hold for several seconds, and release. Repeat 5 to 10 times. prevention.com 55 REPORT 10 Herbal Alternatives a backache during stressful periods. It’s best to start using valerian root at Herbs provide a natural alternative the onset of the difficult time—before to OTC pain relievers without the the backache sets in. undesirable side effects, says James Look for valerian root capsules or A. Duke, PhD, Prevention advisor and tablets. Follow the instructions on author of The Green Pharmacy. If the product label, and use it for the you know what’s causing your back duration of the stressful period. pain, try one of the following herbal remedies. SOOTHING SALVE Ointment with comfrey extract, which has antiMUSCLE RELAXATION TEA For back inflammatory properties, helped ease pain caused by strain and overuse back pain in a study. After applying of muscles, Duke recommends it to sore spots for 5 days, 95% of cramp bark (Viburnum opulus), a subjects reported improvement, muscle relaxant that soothes spasms. compared with 38% Add 1 teaspoon of the bark to in the placebo group. 1 cup of boiling water. Keep in mind: The Steep 10 minutes. herb has alkaloid Strain and drink the compounds that can tea three times daily. cause liver damage, NATURE’S STRESS which is why RELIEVER Back you should pain caused fdc922198.jpg 20% not use it by tension orally. Limit and stress topical use to can be eased 10 days or less, and with valerian root don’t apply to broken skin. (Valeriana officinalis), which blocks the transmission of stress from The study’s brand, Kytta-Salbe f, is available at smallflower.com. the brain to the body. Some people get Get a Leg Up Three out of four people with chronic lower back pain may have one leg that’s slightly shorter than the other. The easy-tomiss discrepancy: as little as one-fifth of an inch. Easy solution: a shoe insert. 56 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS How to Make Sure You Never Have a Heart Attack Heart disease is the biggest killer of women. It kills more women than breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer combined. Even worse, 64% of women who die suddenly of heart attack or stroke have no previous symptoms. For decades, doctors could offer nothing more sophisticated than a stress test to predict heart risk. You’d run on a treadmill while hooked up to an EKG as he evaluated your heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure as the intensity of the workout increased. When the stress test was over he’d tell you whether you have coronary artery disease. The only catch: For women taking the test, there’s a 35% chance the test results are wrong. Most often, the test reveals false positives, meaning healthy women are told they have heart disease. Less frequently, but obviously far more dangerously, the test can fail to detect clogged arteries that could, in fact, cause a heart attack. Fewer men are misdiagnosed. Possible reason for the gender gap: Phases of the menstrual cycle and birth control pills have been shown to throw off results, indicating that estrogen’s effects on heart cells might be a factor. The Best Heart Attack Predictor “You don’t have to have a heart attack,” insists preventive cardiologist and Prevention advisory board member, Arthur Agatston, MD. He developed the widely known South Beach Diet and has written The South Beach Heart Program, a comprehensive guide to avoiding heart attacks. In addition, Agatston and Warren prevention.com 57 REPORT 10 Janowitz, MD, developed the first CT scan heart screening—the cardiac calcium scoring test (see “Cardiac Calcium Scoring,” below). Agatston argues that by combining this screening test with other sophisticated new ones, Americans can identify their heart risk years or decades earlier—and with more precision—than ever before. The scan distinguishes between hard plaque, the calcified patches where Cardiac Calcium Scoring Here’s what to expect if you have the CT scan heart screening. How it works A CT scanner checks for atherosclerotic plaque (made up of calcium, cholesterol, and scar tissue) in your heart’s arteries. After electrodes are attached to your chest and to an EKG machine that monitors your heartbeat, you lie on an exam table that slides into a short, doughnut-shaped tunnel and hold your breath for 10 to 20 seconds. Cost: $99 to $399. Duration: 10 minutes. Why it’s heart smart Calcified plaque—a major warning sign of coronary artery disease, the leading cause of heart attacks— shows up at least 10 years before a heart attack or stroke hits. By catching the problem early, you can treat it before the buildup narrows arteries so severely that it triggers a heart attack. Get it if You’re 50 or older with risk factors—or you’re younger with a family history and several risk factors. Since the test involves X rays, women shouldn’t have it if there’s any chance they might be pregnant. What the results mean You’ll get an Agatston Score, which indicates the total amount of hard and soft plaque in your heart’s arteries. A score of zero means you have no calcium deposits and a low risk of heart attack in the next 5 years. A score of 400 or more puts you at high risk of a heart attack within 10 years; a score of 1,000+ means you have up to a 25% chance of having a heart attack within a year without medical treatment. Next steps If your score is 200 or higher, your doctor may advise lifestyle changes, a statin to lower cholesterol, or a diabetes drug to lower blood sugar—all of which will also reduce plaque. cholesterol lining the arteries have ruptured and healed over, and more dangerous soft plaque, the source of new, potentially lethal ruptures. “Calcium scoring is the number one best predictor of a future heart attack,” says Agatston. “I call this test a mammogram for the heart.” More Cutting-Edge Tests In addition to the cardiac calcium scoring test, Agatston recommends the following. “These tests are the best ways to tell who is in danger, because they can catch cardiovascular disease 20 to 30 years before it gets severe enough to cause a heart attack or stroke. At our clinic, and at other top heart clinics across the country, our patients almost never have heart attacks,” says Agatston. “We only see one or two a year—and those are primarily in patients who don’t take their meds.” These tests are available at most major medical centers and hospitals. If your doctor doesn’t request them for you, demand the ones that are recommended for women in your age group and risk category. CAROTID INTIMAL MEDIAL THICKNESS TEST This 15-minute “ultrasound of the neck” measures the thickness of the carotid arteries’ lining. Get it if you’re 40 or older—or you’re under 40 and have a close relative (parent or sibling) who had a heart attack or stroke before age 55. HIGH-SENSITIVITY C-REACTIVE PROTEIN TEST A blood test measures CRP, a protein in your blood that’s a strong indicator of inflammation throughout your body. Get it if you’re 40 or older. Eat Walnuts to Wipe Away LDL Nuts give sweet or savory dishes flavor, crunch, and a heart-healthy punch. And walnuts score highest of all nuts in the omega-3s that protect against heart disease. You only have to eat three whole walnuts to get your daily goal for omega-3 fats. And their stores of fiber and unsaturated fat can help you lower “bad” LDL cholesterol naturally. To preserve taste and prevent spoiling, keep shelled nuts refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 6 months or in the freezer for up to a year. ADVANCED LIPID PROFILE AND LIPOPROTEIN(A) TEST The advanced cholesterol blood test looks 58 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS prevention.com 59 REPORT 10 at particle size (small particles raise risk). The Lp(a) blood test analyzes a specific type of cholesterol that can triple heart risk. Get it if you have a family history of heart disease. A1C BLOOD GLUCOSE TEST This blood test indicates your average level of blood sugar over the prior 3 months, a simple way to predict your future risk of diabetes. Get it if you’re 45 or older—or earlier if you’re overweight and have one or more diabetes risk factors, such as family history, high triglycerides, or low HDL. GENETIC TESTS A blood sample is tested at a lab for mutations of the KIF6 and APOE genes to determine your genetic heart disease risk. Get them if you’re 40 or older. STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY This test is an improvement over the standard stress test because it adds an ultrasound both before and after exercise to evaluate blood flow to your heart’s pumping chambers and check for blockages in the arteries that supply the heart. Get it if you have signs of heart disease, regardless of your age. “If you experience shortness of breath, chest pain, neck pain, or any other symptom, you need this test,” says Agatston. (See “7 Symptoms Women Ignore,” p. 61.) Your Best Heart Attack Prevention Plan Agatston stresses lifestyle changes to all his patients, beginning with exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. Although he developed the South Beach Diet—a meal plan that is rich in heart-healthy foods—to help his patients slim down and control cholesterol, he’s open to any weight loss plan so long as it follows these principles: 1. Load up on good carbs (whole grains and a variety of fruits and vegetables) instead of bad carbs (white bread, pretzels, cakes, and other highly processed foods that have been stripped of fiber and nutrients). 2. Eat primarily unsaturated fats, low-fat dairy, and lean sources of protein. 3. Get an even bigger heart boost by eating at least two weekly servings of fatty fish like tuna, salmon, or mackerel. 4. Add these especially heart-healthy foods: apples, oat bran, legumes, and, in moderation, red wine, nuts, and monounsaturated fats, such as olive and canola oils. 7 Symptoms Women Ignore Heart attack symptoms aren’t unisex. Marianne Legato, MD, director of the Partnership for Gender-Specific Medicine at Columbia University. In fact, 43% of women having a heart attack don’t experience chest discomfort at all. Women also wait longer to go to the ER than men do. (Their top fhe032.jpg 14% reason for hesitating: They don’t want to bother anyone.) But that can be fatal: Your odds of surviving improve by 23% if you get treatment within 3 hours and 50% within 1 hour. If you have any of these warning signs, act fast. As Legato says: “It’s better to be embarrassed than dead.” Fatigue In the weeks before an attack, 71% of women have flulike symptoms. Days before, you may feel too tired to lift your laptop. Non-chest pain Rather than an explosion in your chest, you may feel lesssevere pain in your upper back, shoulders, neck, or jaw. Sweating You may find yourself suddenly drenched in perspiration for no apparent reason, and your face may be pale or ashen. Nausea or dizziness During an attack, women often vomit or feel like they’re going to pass out. Breathlessness Almost 58% of women report panting or inability to carry on a conversation. Sleeplessness In the month before a coronary, nearly half of women have trouble sleeping. Anxiety “Many women experience a sense of impending doom or fear before a heart attack,” says Legato. “That’s your body telling you to pay attention. Trust those instincts.” prevention.com/heart for Agatston’s latest advice prevention.com 61 REPORT 11 Report 11 Dance Off Pounds Dance is hot! More than 24 million people tune in weekly to shows like Dancing with the Stars. Zumba, a Latininspired dance workout, attracts 10 million–plus participants weekly. Congress has even gotten into the act, officially recognizing July 31 as National Dance Day. All the attention isn’t surprising when you consider that a good beat can get just about everyone tapping their feet or swinging their hips. Moving to the music subtracts stress and adds joy. You’re not counting reps or watching the clock. You’re out meeting people; it’s entertainment. But dance is also a total-body workout that has all the benefits of a long run or a session on the elliptical—and then some. In a 1-hour 62 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS You’ve seen what dance can do—some DWTS contestants have lost more than 40 pounds, all while having a great time. You can do it too, even if you have two left feet or achy joints. Most adult beginner classes are gentler than ones for traditional types of exercise. You just need to find the right dance style for you, says Deborah Vogel, dancer and director of the dance education website thebodyseries.com. Here, our guide to help you shimmy into your best body ever. No matter which style of these dances you choose, you’ll get a totalbody workout. ‹ Latin Learning curve* ★★★ ★★ › TARGETED MUSCLES: Front and side abs and back PV-0411-DANC05_01.tif 34% class, you can burn as many as 400 calories. Do that three times a week and you could drop nearly 20 pounds in a year without dieting. You’ll also tone nearly every muscle in your body, improve balance, and boost brainpower. The dance at a glance Quick, sharp steps, lots of hip action, and a fiery attitude set Latin dances like salsa, merengue, and cha-cha apart from the rest. Most require a partner, but there are solo options like Zumba. Why it’s healthy Abs—from transverse to obliques—and the muscles that support your spine get a 360-degree workout from the twisting, pulling, and constant back-and-forth movement. A stronger core improves posture and helps prevent lower-back pain. You’ll love it if You have a sexy wiggle in your walk and aren’t afraid to use it. Latin dances are set to a fast beat (160 to 210 beats per minute), ensuring a higher-than-average calorie burn and plenty of body heat between partners. PV-0411-DANC03_01.tif 24% Do-at-home DVD Partner Dancing 101: The Latin Dances (gaiam.com) or, for solo dancing, Dance Off the Inches: Sizzling Salsa (collagevideo.com) *The level of difficulty is based on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 1 equivalent to slow dancing at the high school prom and 5 a Cirque du Soleil routine. prevention.com 63 REPORT 11 Masala Bhangra ‹ Learning curve ★★ ★★★ › TARGETED MUSCLES: Front and back of upper arms and shoulders; upper back PV-0411-DANC04_01.tif 23% The dance at a glance The Masala Bhangra is India’s Electric Slide—it’s the dance American audiences loved in Slumdog Millionaire. But no need to don a sari to partake. In Masala Bhangra, your arms do a lot of the dancing—one move has your arms in a U shape while you turn your wrists as though you’re screwing in two lightbulbs—making it ideal for any level of exerciser. Why it’s healthy All the upperbody action shapes sexy shoulders, arms, and back. It also strengthens the small, easily injured rotator cuff muscles in your shoulders. Note: All the overhead action raises your heart rate. If it feels too intense or your arms ache, simply lower your hands below your heart while still dancing. You’ll love it if Your tastes run to the exotic and you love to swing your hips. Because the style isn’t as rigid as other types of dance, it’s a lowpressure workout to try solo or with girlfriends. Do-at-home DVD Bollywood Dance Blast (acacialifestyle.com) Plain Old Fun = Better Health A study shows that people who relax with family and friends, make time for vacations, and play sports—they schedule pleasure into their busy calendars—have lower blood pressure and levels of damaging cortisol, lower BMIs, and smaller waists. “When it comes to health, pleasure can be protective,” says George B. Stefano, PhD, director of the Neuroscience Research Institute at the State University of New York. Jazz TARGETED MUSCLES: Front of thighs The dance at a glance If Latin is hot, then jazz is cool. Moves are a blend of sharp kicks and sultry slides, all performed with a “look at me now” attitude—think Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago. The goal is to create a striking silhouette. Why it’s healthy The fat-blasting combo of cardio, strength, and power moves boosts your metabolism for faster weight loss. It improves agility and gait for better balance, Tap TARGETED MUSCLES: Calves and shins The dance at a glance In tap, you wear shoes that have metal plates attached to the heel and forefoot; these make a percussive sound when you rhythmically touch or stomp on the floor. Compared with other dance styles, there’s less coordination between your arms and legs and only a little hip action, so tap dancing is actually easier than it looks. Why it’s healthy Even in a beginner’s class, you’ll be doing enough small hops and jumps to strengthen bones. And, according to a study in the Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, tap dancing has ‹ Learning curve ★★★ ★★ › studies show. And all the bending and rotating of your torso helps tone your midsection. You’ll love it if You’re a Broadway-musical fan and have a big personality. Form is important, but so is self-expression. Classes are typically high-energy affairs involving large, dynamic moves that use the entire body. Do-at-home DVD Musical Theatre Dance (bobrizzo.com) ‹ Learning curve ★ ★★★★ › less impact than running, making it a joint-friendly activity. Tap also increases the foot’s range of motion and strengthens fast-twitch muscles (the ones required for explosive actions such as jumping). Off the dance floor, these improvements help you to be surer on your feet and protect you from injuries like ankle sprains. You’ll love it if You’re the fingersnapping, rhythm-keeping type. And being clumsy’s okay because the style hides a lack of grace. Do-at-home DVD Tap Dance Made Easy, Vol. 1 (bobrizzo.com) prevention.com 65 Report 12 Ballet TARGETED MUSCLES: Hips and feet The dance at a glance While ballet is so graceful and fluid it appears almost effortless, it actually requires tremendous power and control. Though it doesn’t have to entirely consume you as it did Nina in Black Swan, ballet does demand a good deal of commitment. ‹ Learning curve ★★★★ ★ › that ballet dancers outscored swimmers on 7 out of 10 fitness tests, including strength. Calorie- Burning Dinners You’ll love it if You dressed up in tutus as a child or PV-0411-DANC07_03.tif 18% prefer methodical exercise, such as Pilates. Ballet requires more discipline than any other dance, and the Why it’s healthy steps call for total-body precision, Ballet increases flexibility from including how you position your head to toe more than other dance fingers, toes, and head. If you like styles. And the focus on posture will rules, then this style is for you. have you standing taller and moving more gracefully even off the dance Do-at-home DVD New York City Ballet floor. A study from England showed Workouts (collagevideo.com) Dance with Your Star Take some lessons with your spouse. Dancing combines physical exercise, social interaction, and the mental challenge of following new steps, according to a McGill University study of seniors who improved cognitive function by learning the tango. Enlist your couple friends to join. Having them involved will add to the fun and enhance your commitment to learning the steps. Calories. You count them. You save them. You burn as many of them as you can. But is your strategy working? If you’re like 67% of women who are constantly (and not so successfully) trying to lose weight and keep it off, the answer is no. The reason: What you think you know about calories is simply not true. Ever since you learned what a calorie is, you’ve been told that they are all alike: Whether you eat 500 calories’ worth of celery stalks or crème brûlée, your body will burn or store them equally. Right? Wrong. New science shows that when it comes to weight loss, calories are nowhere near alike. Some foods take more work to eat—and therefore burn more calories while you’re digesting them. Just the act of chewing foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean cuts of meat can increase your calorie burn by up to 30%! And then your stomach and intestines do their jobs. In a Japanese study, researchers found that women who ate the foods that required the most work to digest had significantly slimmer waistlines than those who ate the softest, easiest-to-eat foods. The fiber and protein in such foods take so much effort to digest that your body doesn’t absorb some of their calories. Still other calories from sources you might never consider—that are so easy to add to your meals!— can give you an even bigger burn. Caffeine and other compounds in coffee, tea, and spices such as chiles, cinnamon, and ginger fire up your central nervous system and can boost your metabolism by as much as 12%. Put these foods and drinks together and you get the Active Calorie Diet—a smart plan that takes Excerpted and adapted from The Active Calorie Diet by Leslie Bonci, RD, with Selene Yeager and the editors of Prevention, © 2011 by Rodale Inc. For the complete program, visit activecaloriediet.com to purchase the book. 66 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS prevention.com 67 REPORT 12 In addition to advantage of 043855_kidsplatethis3 1.JPG 44.5% being chewy, all the new these Active knowledge Calories are about calories. packed with By choosing fiber, take up more more Active room in your belly Calories and fewer (compared with other Couch Potato Calories foods of the same number (see p. 69), you’ll set your of calories), and leave less room for fat-burning engines on high all day second helpings. long so you’ll lose more weight— without feeling hungry. When 15 ENERGIZING FOODS (coffee, black and women tried the diet, they lost up green tea, dark chocolate). You can to 14 pounds and 4 inches off their get metabolism-boosting caffeine in waistlines in just 4 weeks! coffee and black tea; just be careful not to load them up with milk, cream, or sugar. Green tea doesn’t have much Fire Up Your Meals caffeine but does contain catechins, an antioxidant that raises resting Eating requires lots of energy if you metabolism by 4% (about 80 calories choose the right foods. By choosing a day). Dark chocolate contains both foods that actually burn calories catechins and caffeine, but stick to while you chew, you can blast off 1 ounce per day to limit fat and calories. belly fat, curb your appetite, and drop 2 sizes fast. WARMING FOODS (peppers, cinnamon, These four types of Active Calories ginger, garlic, cloves, mustard, stimulate your body to burn more vinegar). Dieters taking capsaicin, calories. (Bonus: They also curb your the chemical that gives peppers appetite.) their burn, doubled their energy expenditure for several hours after CHEWY FOODS (lean meats, nuts, eating, according to a new study from whole fruits and vegetables). These calories make your body work right off UCLA. Even mild peppers contain the fork. To maximize the chew factor, compounds that help erase up to 100 calories a day by binding to nerve choose food in its most whole state—a receptors and sending fat-burning tuna steak instead of canned tuna, signals to your brain. Not much of a apples instead of applesauce. pepper person? Cinnamon, cloves, HEARTY FOODS (fruits, vegetables, bay leaves, and garlic help, too. brown rice, whole grains and cereals). 68 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS Couch Potato Calories These foods are so easily digested that you’re likely to absorb every calorie and store it as fat. The result: Even if you don’t overeat, you may still gain weight. The Pantry Stuffers The Impostors The Binge Brigade Refined and sugary foods take zero energy to digest. Check packaged foods for added sugar that goes by other names, most ending with -ose, such as fructose, maltose, and sucrose. Also watch out for corn syrup, molasses, honey, and juice concentrate. Beware of processed foods that are advertised as the real thing but are anything but. There’s really no meat or substance left, and they’re fattened up with fillers. Once you start, you just can’t stop eating these starchy, high-carb foods. •B readed chicken patties • Pasta • White rice • Refined bread • Muffins • Bagels •C hicken nuggets • French fries •B urgers that aren’t 100% beef or turkey • Biscuits • Doughnuts • Soda •V eggie burgers (okay on occasion, but don’t make them a frequent meal) • Sweet tea • Bologna • Candy bars and candy • Fruit punch or fruit juice cocktails • Sweetened cereals • Potato chips • Cookies, pie, pastries • Ice cream • Salami • Hot dogs prevention.com 69 REPORT 12 Breakfast Lunch Snacks Dinner DAY 1 6 oz Greek yogurt with ¼ c almonds, ½ c berries, ⅓ c high-fiber cereal, ¾ c fat-free milk; coffee or tea Tuna sandwich: 3 oz can of tuna, ½ c cannellini beans, and 1 tbsp feta cheese on sm whole wheat pita with 2 Tbsp bottled vinaigrette; ½ c grape tomatoes; 1 orange ¼ c wasabi-roasted soybeans with popcorn (100-calorie serving) Orange-Sesame Chicken (see recipe, p. 77) DAY 2 1 hard-boiled egg, 1 apple with 1 Tbsp peanut butter, ¾ c high-fiber cereal (at least 5 g fiber), ¾ c fat-free milk; coffee or tea Tropical salad: 2 c spinach, ½ c cut-up mango, 3 oz cooked chicken, 2 Tbsp nuts (any kind) with 1 Tbsp balsamic vinaigrette; 10–15 whole grain crackers 4 oz vanilla Greek yogurt, blueberry Soyjoy bar Bean burrito: 1 c vegetarian refried beans or black beans, ¼ c shredded reduced-fat Cheddar, and 1 c lettuce on corn tortilla, topped with ¼ c salsa DAY 3 ½ c oatmeal (made with ½ c 1% milk and cinnamon to taste), ¾ c cottage cheese with 3 Tbsp almonds, 1 banana; coffee or tea Healthy Choice, Weight Watchers, or Lean Cuisine meal; 4 oz Greek yogurt with cinnamon; 6–7 baby carrots; 1 apple 4 oz Greek yogurt with honey (mixed with a splash of lemon juice and vanilla, if desired), 2 Tbsp slivered almonds 4 oz cooked-weight steak, 2 c broccoli (sautéed with garlic), 1 sweet potato with 2 tsp butter; green tea DAY 4 Breakfast burrito: 2 scrambled eggs; ¼ c shredded reduced-fat Cheddar; ½ sm green bell pepper, chopped; and ¼ c salsa wrapped in 6" high-fiber tortilla; 1 orange; coffee or tea Black Bean Burger (see recipe, p. 78) 2 mini Babybel cheeses, 1 med apple 4 oz cooked-weight fish (any kind), ½ c fire-roasted tomatoes and 1½ c green beans sautéed with 2 tsp olive oil and hot pepper to taste, ½ c brown rice; green tea DAY 5 Your 5-Day Meal Plan 2 frozen whole wheat waffles topped with ½ c part-skim ricotta and 1 Tbsp fruit spread, mixed; ½ c berries; 1 Tbsp slivered almonds; and sprinkling of cinnamon; coffee or tea Fast-food meal: Sm Wendy’s chili and ½ Wendy’s baked potato, plain ¼ c mini bocconcini (fresh mozzarella balls) and ½ c grape tomatoes topped with balsamic vinegar to taste Shrimp Scampi Linguine (see recipe, p. 75) FOR MORE BURN-BOOSTING MEALS AND RECIPES, SEE P. 74. 70 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS prevention.com 71 Power Up Your Plate Despite all the talk about calories, you won’t be counting them on this diet plan. You should consume all four types of Active Calories each day. You’ll eat mostly Chewy and Hearty foods, plus at least one Energizing or Warming food. You can have a daily snack that contains at least one type of Active Calorie food. Healthy fats such as nut butters, avocados, and salad dressings can also help boost fat burn; just limit them to 1 tablespoon for nut butters and salad dressings and ⅟₈ of an avocado. And drink two glasses of water with every meal to prevent digestive problems from all the protein and fiber. Your 5-Day Meal Plan is on p. 70. Remember, the more Active Calories you include in your diet, the more calories you’ll burn and weight you’ll lose. Protein (¼ of your plate, as shown here) boosts postmeal calorie burn by 25 to 30% and keeps you satisfied longer than carbs or fat. The result: You can lose nearly a pound a week without doing anything else. Fruits and vegetables (½ of plate) up your calorie burn by 20%. They’re also lower in calories and higher in fiber than other carbs, so they digest more slowly to keep you full longer. Vegetables are so rich in Active Calories that you can eat as many as you want. Foods high in fiber (¼ of plate)—whole grains, legumes, and starches such as potatoes and corn—fill you up faster and give you a bigger bump in calorie burn (10%) than refined carbs, like white bread. 72 5 Active Calorie Recipes PV-0311-FOOD08_01.tif 38% Fuel your metabolism with the right foods, and you’ll zoom down the road to lasting weight loss. There’s an abundance of these multitasking foods—which contain Active Calories—in the following recipes. You’ll enjoy making these meals—and your family will love eating them. Recipes adapted from The Active Calorie Diet by Leslie Bonci, RD, with Selene Yeager and the editors of Prevention © 2011 Rodale Inc. SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS prevention.com 73 REPORT 12 Steak Sandwich with Peppers & Onions Shrimp Scampi Linguine Slicing your own beef (instead of using fat-riddled frozen shaved steaks), bulking up your sandwich with vegetables, and putting it all on a hefty whole wheat roll will give you more to chew on and boost your calorie burn. You need minimal ingredients and time to make this hearty homemade meal with fatburning impact. High-protein shrimp cook quickly, and whole wheat linguine supplies 60% more fiber than regular pasta. Garlic and red-pepper flakes add heat and rev your metabolism. WORK TIME: 20 MINUTES / TOTAL TIME: 25 MINUTES / SERVINGS: 4 WORK TIME: 15 MINUTES / TOTAL TIME: 15 MINUTES / SERVINGS: 4 ½lb flank steak, thinly sliced 2Tbsp chopped cilantro leaves 2 cloves garlic, minced 1red onion, thinly sliced 1green bell pepper, thinly sliced 1poblano or Cubanelle pepper, thinly sliced ¼ tsp salt 4sm whole wheat submarine rolls 4slices reduced-fat provolone or Swiss HEAT oven to 350°F. Combine steak, cilantro, and garlic in medium bowl and toss to coat. HEAT large frying pan coated with cooking PV-0311-FOOD01_01.tif 22% spray over medium-high heat. Add steak and cook, turning twice, until edges are lightly browned but center is still pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate. COAT same skillet with cooking spray and add onion, bell pepper, chile pepper, and salt. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until peppers are soft, 7 to 8 minutes. PUT rolls on baking sheet and lay 1 cheese slice on each. Warm in oven until cheese melts, about 5 minutes. 5 ADD steak and onionpepper mixture to rolls and serve immediately. NUTRITION (per serving) 367 cal, 25 g pro, 40 g carb, 6 g fiber, 12.5 g fat, 5.5 g sat fat, 735 mg sodium 74 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS 9oz whole wheat linguine 1Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1lb medium shrimp, peeled 4 cloves garlic, minced ½tsp red-pepper flakes 1pt cherry tomatoes, halved ½ c dry white wine Juice of 1 lemon ½ tsp salt 3c packed baby spinach leaves ¼c finely chopped parsley ½ c grated Parmesan PREPARE pasta per package directions. HEAT oil in large frying pan over medium heat while pasta cooks. Add shrimp, garlic, and redpepper flakes and cook until shrimp start to turn PV-0311-FOOD04_01.tif 24% pink, about 2 minutes. ADD tomatoes, wine, lemon juice, and salt. Cook until tomatoes start to soften, about 1 minute. Add spinach and parsley and cook until spinach wilts, about 1 minute. DRAIN pasta and add to pan. Toss to coat and serve sprinkled with cheese. NUTRITION (per serving) 483 cal, 38 g pro, 50 g carb, 11 g fiber, 12.5 g fat, 3 g sat fat, 665 mg sodium prevention.com 75 REPORT 12 Honey-Glazed Pork with Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Roasted Broccoli Choose comfort food wisely and the calories will work for you! Pork requires more energy to chew and digest than a ground-meat dish, such as meat loaf. Potatoes supply resistant starch, which helps you feel satisfied. Cook your broccoli until it’s just tender to preserve as much bite as possible. WORK TIME: 25 MINUTES / TOTAL TIME: 50 MINUTES / SERVINGS: 4 ½ c apple juice 2 Tbsp honey 1Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce 4 cloves garlic, minced 1½lb pork tenderloin, trimmed ¼ tsp cayenne 4 c broccoli florets 2 Tbsp olive oil ½ tsp salt 1½lb Yukon gold potatoes ½c reduced-fat sour cream ¼ c chopped parsley HEAT oven to 400°F. Combine apple juice, honey, soy sauce, and half of the garlic in small bowl. Sprinkle pork with cayenne. 76 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS TOSS broccoli with 1 tablespoon of the oil on baking sheet. Sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon of the salt. HEAT remaining 1 tablespoon oil in medium ovenproof frying pan over high heat. Add pork and cook, turning once, until browned, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Pour juice mixture over pork and transfer to oven along with the pan of broccoli. Bake until pork and broccoli are done, 25 to 30 minutes. PUT potatoes in medium pot while pork and broccoli cook and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until tender, 20 to 25 minutes. 5 LEAVE broccoli on baking sheet and transfer pork to cutting board. Return frying pan to high heat and cook juice mixture until a thick glaze forms, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat. 6 DRAIN potatoes and return to pot. Add sour cream, parsley, remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, and remaining garlic. Mash until smooth. 7 SLICE pork and put on plate. Drizzle with glaze and serve with mashed potatoes and broccoli. NUTRITION (per serving) 481 cal, 42 g pro, 46 g carb, 7 g fiber, 15 g fat, 4.5 g sat fat, 560 mg sodium Orange-Sesame Chicken This simple stir-fry fills you up with nutty brown rice and crunchy vegetables, which are made delicious with flavor-enhancing, fat-fighting ingredients, such as vinegar, ginger, and red-pepper flakes. WORK TIME: 30 MINUTES / TOTAL TIME: 35 MINUTES / SERVINGS: 4 ⅔c short-grain brown rice ¾ c orange juice ¼ c cider vinegar 2Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce 1 Tbsp brown sugar 2 tsp cornstarch 2 Tbsp sesame oil 1½lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1Tbsp minced fresh ginger 1tsp red-pepper flakes 4ribs celery, thinly sliced 4 carrots, thinly sliced 2c frozen peas, thawed 2Tbsp toasted sesame seeds PREPARE rice per package directions. COMBINE orange juice, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch in small bowl while rice cooks and whisk until smooth. HEAT 1 tablespoon of the oil in large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken, garlic, ginger, and red-pepper flakes. Cook until chicken begins to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to plate. ADD celery, carrots, and remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Cook until celery begins to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. 5 RETURN chicken to pan and add peas. Reduce heat to low and add juice mixture. Cook PV-0311-FOOD09_02.tif 36% Angle -10 degrees 2 to 3 minutes longer, scraping up any browned bits on bottom of pan. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve immediately with the rice. NUTRITION (per serving) 532 cal, 45 g pro, 53 g carb, 8 g fiber, 14.5 g fat, 2 g sat fat, 625 mg sodium prevention.com 77 REPORT 12 Black Bean Burger Satisfy your burger craving with this tasty meatless meal that supplies nearly half of your daily fiber needs. Adding jalapeño chile peppers, onion, and garlic to the mix stokes your calorie-burning engine. WORK TIME: 10 MINUTES / TOTAL TIME: 20 MINUTES / SERVINGS: 4 6oz mushrooms, quartered ½ red onion, quartered ½c packed cilantro leaves 6Tbsp whole wheat bread crumbs 2 cloves garlic 1jalapeño chile pepper, seeded 1 egg white 2tsp reduced-sodium soy sauce 1can (15 oz) no-saltadded black beans, rinsed and drained 1 Tbsp canola oil 4slices reduced-fat pepper Jack 4sm whole wheat sandwich rolls, toasted 4 lettuce leaves 1 sm tomato, sliced COMBINE mushrooms, onion, cilantro, bread crumbs, garlic, chile pepper, egg white, 78 SUPER-HEALTH REPORTS More Ways to Eat Yourself Thin Here are some quick and easy switches to include more Active Calories (see p. 68) in your diet. INSTEAD OF HAVE Oatmeal with sugar Oatmeal with cinnamon A burger with french fries Flank steak with baked potato Turkey on wheat with mayo Turkey on rye with salsa Overripe banana Slightly green banana Sweet-and-sour chicken with white rice Chicken and broccoli with brown rice Chicken nuggets Grilled chicken breast sandwich Macaroni salad Black bean or 3-bean salad Buttermilk waffles/pancakes Buckwheat waffles/ pancakes with pears Bagel with cream cheese 2 scrambled eggs Diet soda Red wine PV-0311-FOOD10_01.tif 26% and soy sauce in food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add beans and pulse until coarsely chopped (10 to 15 pulses). Divide mixture into quarters and form into patties. HEAT oil in large frying pan over medium heat. Brown burgers 3 minutes per side. TOP each burger with a slice of cheese. Cover pan and melt cheese, about 4 minutes. PUT burgers on rolls and top with lettuce and tomato. prevention.com/active-calorie-diet to learn how to burn more calories at every meal NUTRITION (per serving) 406 cal, 21 g pro, 56 g carb, 11 g fiber, 13 g fat, 4.5 g sat fat, 680 mg sodium prevention.com 79 Say Yes to Dessert! Hundreds of decadent recipes that fit your diet Course/Dish Type Health Concerns Dietary needs Main Ingredient Cuisine Diabetes Friendly Low Calorie Heart Health Gluten Free High Fiber Occasion Low Fat Cooking Method Cook/Prep Time Find a recipe NOW! prevention.com/ recipes .com NOW SMARTER THAN EVER 201995401 Printed in USA k Printed on Recyclable Paper 01DZ