Prevention

TAKE OUT YOUR PENCIL! ESCAPE OUTDOORS As the weather starts to cool, take advantage of these Goldilocks temps and get out in nature. A leisurely walk surrounded by greenery (a nearby forest, a local park, a community garden, you name it) is a proven way to make you feel calmer, as it can lower your body’s production of the stress hormone cortisol. Research also suggests that spending time in nature can lower blood pressure, decrease your risk of getting sick, and reduce your chances of developing heart disease. TO GET THE MOST OUT OF NATURE TIME, TAP INTO ALL FIVE SENSES. ON YOUR WALK, WHAT DID YOU……

TRY AN INDOOR PLANT. It might be nearing the end of outdoor-gardening season, but you can still reap the feel-good benefits by adding some greenery to your home. If you have trouble keeping things alive, see if your thumb is any greener with low-maintenance picks like aloe vera and snake plants (they can tolerate your occasionally forgetting to water them). UPGRADE YOUR TREATS. This Halloween, offer something healthier. The brand Date Better makes whole Medjool dates stuffed with nut butter and covered in 85% dark chocolate. With fiber and less than 1 g of added sugar per serving, they come in flavors like peanut butter crunch, hazelnut praline, and almond java crunch. EAT YOUR PUMPKIN. Why not double up on the Halloween spirit by decorating with, then cooking, a sugar pumpkin? This is the…

1 Pores can open and close—that’s why they look bigger sometimes and smaller at other times. A True B False 2 If you have oily skin, you can skip moisturizer and sunscreen. A True B False 3 When is the best time to apply lotion to your body? A Right before bed B In the shower C As soon as you finish showering 4 Doing this can damage your skin barrier. A Cleansing twice a day B Applying an overnight moisture mask C Using multiple active ingredients 5 Are facial misting waters hydrating? A Yes—spray your face regularly. B They’re just a marketing gimmick. C Only if you also moisturize with an oil or a serum ANSWERS 1 “A PORE DOES NOT OPEN AND CLOSE LIKE A VALVE,” says Ellen Marmur, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Marmur Medical in New York City. “It can’t be made…

FILL IN THE BLANK FOR EACH QUESTION. 1 There are _________ calories in 1 Tbsp of granulated sugar. 2 Sugar is a carb that is broken down into _________, your cells’ preferred energy source, in the body. 3 Swapping less-processed sugar sources like _________ for granulated sugar when making baked goods or sweetening beverages is helpful (but you still shouldn’t overdo it!). 4 There are two types of carbohydrates, complex and _________, and refined sugar is the latter kind. 5 _________, a type of sugar found in fruit, won’t spike blood sugar as much as some other sugars because fruit contains fiber, which slows its absorption (no energy crash!). 6 It’s smart to limit your consumption of added sugars (found, for example, in packaged products) to no more than _________ g per day. ANSWERS 1: 48. 2:…

1 Stand tall with your arms by your sides. 2 Step your left foot out to the side. Touch your right hand to the outside of your left foot and reach your left hand toward the ceiling. Look up in the direction of your left hand. Hold momentarily; return to the starting position. 3 Step your right foot out to the side. Touch your left hand to the outside of your right foot and reach your right hand toward the ceiling. Look up in the direction of your right hand. Hold momentarily. 4 Continue to alternate sides for 60 seconds. Check me off when you’ve tried the move!…

ANSWERS ▸ What makes a treat most exciting for your furry friend is not what the food is but that it comes outside of mealtimes. For pups, lean into chicken and beef, and add training bites that complement their food routine. Miller says cats often enjoy squeezable foods, which let you bond with them while they lick from the tube. Don’t give them human desserts, spicy foods, bones, grapes, or raisins. And remember, all good things in moderation. “Keep treats to 10% or less of a pet’s daily calories,” says Miller. CIRCLE THE TREATS THAT ARE VET-APPROVED FOR CATS AND DOGS. scraps of spicy food SWEETS & DESSERTS CHICKEN-STICK TREATS Squeezable puree treats GRAPES Kongs with xylitol-free peanut butter unprocessed bones RAISINS…