Blog Posts by The Editors of Prevention

No matter if you say sub, hero, or hoagie, a sandwich is a lunchtime staple that's here to stay. But not all sammies are created equal: If you layer on fatty meats, heavy cheeses, and rich spreads, you could be consuming a day's worth of calories and fat before your midafternoon snack. Here are seven sandwiches that will seriously derail your diet and seven healthy and delicious Prevention alterntives.

1. Ridiculous: Turkey Club Sandwich
This turkey club sandwich tallies up to 730 calories and 33 g of fat, thanks to the heaping portions of turkey, Cheddar, bacon, and mayo served between two thick slices of country white bread.
Ridiculously healthy: Give your club a healthy dose of monounsaturated fats with a spoonful of mashed avocado, plus some red onion for added zing. To cut down on your cancer risk, swap the regular bacon for a nitrate-free variety.


2. Ridiculous: Southwest Tuna Wrap
Think you're being healthy by ordering a tuna wrap? Think again. This mayo-filled tuna salad

It's really hot. We know. But don't let your desperation to cool down short-circuit your better judgment. Not all swimming situations are created equal, and some can get you into downright hot water when it comes to your health. Lakes, pools, and even the ocean can be dangerous places that land you in the emergency room if you aren't careful. So before you pack your beach bag and cooler, review this list of red flags. These six signs are clear warnings that what might look like a day of summer fun could spell big trouble.

1) The Attendant Seems Distracted
Pools need a lot of attention, and the manager on duty should be vigilant. Monitoring the chemicals is especially crucial to healthy waters. A pool's chemical levels should be tested at least twice a day. A texting addict or a flirty teenager are just two species of distracted pool attendants who can forget to test and fail to make adjustments to keep swimmers safe. If you're not sure the pool's chlorine level is being carefully

Cool off with refreshing sips that help keep your abs flat too

That ice-cold lemonade may hit the spot on a 90-degree day, but it's not doing your waistline any favors. A 20-ounce Minute Maid Lemonade contains 250 calories and 68 g of sugar. Fortunately, there are plenty of refreshing summer sips that you can drink without guilt-and they may actually help you lose weight. Here are six ways to quench your thirst without packing on pounds.

9 Summer Activities That May Make You Fat


1) Flat Belly Drink: Flavored Water
Staying hydrated is important when you're trying to trim down. Drinking plenty of water helps your body maintain proper fluid balance, stops water retention (a big cause of bloated bellies), and even increases the feeling of fullness so you eat less overall. But if plain water bores you, spruce it up with fresh herbs, citrus fruits, and other low-cal flavor enhancers (sliced cucumbers work well too) to encourage you to drink up.



Try This Simple Flavored-Water Recipe




2) Flat

It's not called a beauty "routine" for nothing: Once we find a set of makeup products we like--say, in our 20s--too many of us avoid switching things up, sometimes for years on end. In fact, in a recent Prevention.com poll, over 30% of respondents said they "hadn't changed a thing" about their beauty routine in more than 10 years! Meanwhile, trends evolve, colors go in and out of style, and the products and application techniques that flatter young, firm skin do us no favors as we age--not to mention, many of us just aren't sure how to minimize fine lines, dark circles, and other signs of aging in a way that's fresh and flattering. Here, Nicole Pearl, founder of TheBeautyGirl.com, and other beauty experts reveal the most common makeup missteps women make--and the secrets and new products that will get you back on track.

Get A Youthful Glow Naturally

1. Makeup Mishap: Foundation Foul-Up When fine lines settle in and sun spots multiply, many women reach for foundation, layering it on

Salad should be a healthy-eating no-brainer, but all too often, ordering a plate of mesclun at a restaurant results in a plateful of lettuce drowning in creamy dressings, full-fat cheeses, and high-calorie croutons. Here are six sneaky salad abominations and their skinny (yet still satisfying) counterparts.


1) Ridiculous: Chicken Caesar Salad
This menu staple is known for its ultra-heavy dressing, hefty serving of cheese, and signature crunchy croutons. Dig into this salad and you could down 750 calories, 50 g of fat, and more sodium than a bag of potato chips.

Ridiculously Healthy: This version has all the familiar flavors of a classic Caesar, complete with juicy chicken breasts and a tangy, creamy dressing, but amounts to a fraction of the fat and calories.


2) Ridiculous: Shrimp Salad
A shrimp and spinach leaf salad sounds healthy enough, but some versions can be a calorie bomb in disguise. If the 1,010 calories and 69 g of fat don't scare you off, the 2,650 mg of sodium sure

Who doesn't want a flat belly, stat? Yet hours of crunches, cardio, and superstrict dieting aren't realistic-or a whole lot of fun-for many of us. Luckily, it is possible to flatten your belly and look slimmer almost immediately.

"Your stomach is the one part of your body that reacts quickly to dietary changes-good and bad. If you want to look thinner fast, avoid gassy veggies, chewing gum, salt, carbonated beverages, and any foods with sugar alcohols," says Erin Palinski, RD and certified personal trainer. These foods will lead to water retention and bloating, she explains. If you normally eat three larger meals a day, Palinski recommends cutting those portions in half and eating smaller meals every two to three hours. Want more instant fixes for a flatter belly? Here are 8 ways you can feel trimmer and slimmer-in some cases, nearly overnight.

1. Stand Up Straight Standing up taller can make you look 5 pounds slimmer, says Deborah L. Mullen, a certified strength and conditioning

Can you really sip away worry-without drinking alcohol? According to the makers of so-called relaxation drinks, it's quite possible. And consumers are stocking up. More than 350 varieties of these beverages have hit the shelves, with revenues expected to reach $73 million this year.

Feel Happier in Minutes With This Trick

But do they work? Prevention investigated and found some unpleasant surprises with these "serenity sips." Because they're not FDA regulated and many labels cite a proprietary blend, a buyer has no idea how much of each active ingredient-melatonin, valerian, L-theanine, and others-is actually captured in the can or bottle. There's also limited research on how these relaxants interact with one another. Nor are they all shelf stable: Some of these compounds degrade in liquid.

We sent five popular brands (two samples of each) to chemistry professor Joe Vinson, PhD, at the University of Scranton for analysis. He found that the amounts of active ingredients often differed

If you've ever had a run-in with poison ivy (or its brethren, poison oak or sumac), chances are you remember the encounter all too well. The red, itchy blisters of the accompanying rash are unpleasant at best and unbearable at worst. The only good news is that you're not alone in this misery: More than 85 percent of people react to this pesky plant the same way.

More Natural Cures That Work Like Magic

What most people don't realize is that a poison ivy outbreak is actually an allergy--contact dermatitis, to be precise. And the trigger is an oil secreted by the plants called urushiol. Some people are more sensitive to urushiol oil than others. And a few lucky people are not sensitive to it at all--they can literally roll in the stuff and not get a reaction. But our experts don't advise it. Sensitivity to urushiol can develop at any time. "We're not exactly sure why some people are sensitive to it and some aren't, but it seems to relate to exposure to certain chemicals," explains