Hello Yahoo Life readers! My name is Caitlin and I bring you the best health tips on the internet.
August is drawing to a close, and fall is just around the corner, signaling the arrival of Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte. (Just be careful not to overdose on caffeine: It’s an espresso-based drink.) If the end of summer means back-to-school season for you and your kids, read on for expert parenting tips to help you navigate it.
Check the weather in your area, consult your horoscope, and read on for some tips to stay healthy in the week ahead.
🦷 Take good care of your teeth
You may brag to your dentist about how you floss and brush your teeth regularly, but are you doing it in the right order? Flossing before brushing can remove stains from your teeth before they are removed by brushing, reducing the chance of bad breath and gum disease.
Whatever you do first, dental hygiene is important, and not just for protecting your shiny white teeth: good oral hygiene can also reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other serious health conditions.
🧦 Pack this for your next flight
You’ve got your eye mask and noise-canceling headphones, but do you really need compression socks on a long flight? Experts say wearing compression socks is a good idea. Dr. Leo Liep, a hematologist at Ascension Michigan, told Health magazine that during flights, especially those lasting four hours or more, “blood slows down in your veins and pools in your legs,” which can increase your risk of blood clots. Compression socks gently compress your legs, which helps maintain blood flow and reduces swelling and the risk of blood clots.
There are other things you can do to reduce your risk of blood clots: get up and move around on the plane, even if it’s just a few stretches in the aisle. Staying hydrated also reduces your risk, so bring a water bottle with you and sip regularly. (Have to get up to go to the bathroom? Great, you’re already moving more!)
😋 Eat prunes as a snack
Prunes are high in fiber, which makes them ideal for keeping your digestive tract active, but that’s not the only reason to eat them: They’re also packed with antioxidants, which may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, and their phenolic compounds, vitamin K, and potassium may help protect bone health.
You don’t have to eat this fruit whole to enjoy it: try chopping it up into a salad or oatmeal, or blending it into a smoothie to add some natural sweetness.
🏃 Join a running club and meet new people
Running clubs are all the rage right now, and they’re a great way to train for a marathon or improve your overall fitness level. But if you’re single, there’s another reason to join: Theresa DiDonato, an associate professor of psychology at Loyola University Maryland, previously told Women’s Health that you’re more likely to hook up with someone who acknowledges your interest. Maybe your running buddies will blossom into something more serious.
🦘 Fuel your evening routine
While a relaxed evening is important, a new study published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine suggests that short bouts of exercise can help improve the quality of your sleep. When researchers had participants interrupt four hours of sedentary TV watching with three minutes of weight-bearing exercise every 30 minutes, they slept nearly 30 minutes longer that night than participants who stayed up and still. Though the study was small, the researchers believe the benefit may be related to improved blood sugar regulation. While you’re glued to an NFL game this season, why not sneak in a few squats?
🍕 Avoid leftover pizza (sorry!)
Haven’t cleaned up after a pizza party and are craving a slice for breakfast? Experts warn Yahoo Life that pizza sits in the “danger zone” (between 40°F and 140°F, where bacteria multiply quickly and the risk of food poisoning increases) for too long. From now on, try putting away leftovers within two hours and wrapping each slice in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This will prevent the pizza from taking on a fridge taste (that’s gross) and avoid any potential food poisoning.
🧘 Flexibility is key
Flexibility may be related to longevity, according to a new study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Sports Medicine and Science. If you’re feeling a bit stiff, there are a few ways to improve your flexibility. One easy thing to incorporate into your routine is foam rolling, which helps release tight muscles and fascia, increasing your range of motion and reducing stiffness. You could also sign up for (or find online) a Pilates or Tai Chi class, both of which are practices that can help maintain and improve your flexibility.
If you’re looking for something you can do right now, try this front door stretch: Stand in your front door with your arms bent at 90 degrees and step forward with your forearms against the doorframe. Lean back until you feel a stretch in your chest and shoulders, hold the position for 30 seconds, then step back. Repeat as needed.
🎮 Play video games for your mental health
Is it time to break out the PlayStation? A Japanese study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that playing video games for a few hours a day reduced psychological stress, increased life satisfaction and improved mental health. However, these positive effects disappeared when people played for more than three hours a day.
The study was conducted during a pandemic, so the researchers note that the results may have been different under other circumstances, but if you’re already a gamer, this is the perfect excuse to get gaming in. To get the most out of your gaming, you just need to limit it to three hours or less.
🐟 Eat fish with your vegetables
According to a study from Loma Linda University, eating fish and vegetables may be the best option for reducing the risk of death, especially in older adults. The researchers found that participants who followed a pesco-vegetarian diet had an 18% lower risk of death compared to those who followed a non-vegetarian diet. While following a strict vegetarian diet in midlife has health benefits, consuming only vegetables in old age may be associated with a slightly higher risk of neurological diseases. The researchers found that adding fish provided a “small but significant benefit.”
Want to try a pesco-vegetarian diet? Start simply by replacing other meats with canned fish. Canned fish has plenty of nutritional benefits, including bone-protecting calcium and brain-healthy omega-3s. Plus, canned fish is shelf stable and less expensive than fresh fish, making it easy to incorporate into meals like Caesar salads and pasta dishes topped with anchovies.
