Blog Posts by The Editors of Prevention

Even if your holiday feast didn't actually pack on pounds, eating more than you're used to (especially a lot of fat and sugar) can make you feel sluggish, bloated, and just plain blah. Bounce back with this RD-approved day after recovery plan. (Follow it for 2 or 3 days if you really overdid it!)

6:30 to 7 AM: Wake Up with Water

"Before you put coffee, tea, or food into your body, it's best to first break your fast with a glass of water with lemon," says Ashley Koff, RD, a nutritionist in Los Angeles and founder of ashleykoffapproved.com. When you sleep, Koff says, your body isn't abstaining from only food but water too. "Because many vitamins are water-soluble, having a glass before you eat will help your body better absorb nutrients from food."

Get the hydration your body needs with this drink

7 AM: Short Walk

This is your ideal fat-burning window, says Koff. A light bout of cardio soon after you wake up and before you eat-a 20-minute walk with the dog, jumping jacks, or running

If you want to give your brain a boost, get moving. "Exercise is as close to a magic bullet as brain fitness gets," says John Medina, PhD, director of the Brain Center for Applied Learning at Seattle Pacific University. Physical activity bathes neural tissue in oxygen-rich blood, increasing the production of chemicals that improve memory, attention, and problem-solving.

To create the ultimate brainpower workout, this 7-day plan-based on cutting-edge research-will wake you up above the neck while still delivering the calorie-torching, body-toning benefits of ordinary workouts. Follow along for a week's worth of workouts, then continue to use the strategies below as often as possible, whether you repeat the 7-day plan or incorporate the techniques into your own routine.

Day 1: Talk a Nature Walk
Why it's a brain booster: University of Michigan researchers found that memory and attention improved 20% when people walked in a park versus an urban environment. Natural settings have a

Walking is the safest, easiest form of exercise there is, and, of course, something you do everyday, even if it's just taking the few steps from the car to your front door. So the last thing you want is to feel pain. But many walkers have it-250,000 a year in fact. Here, 5 of the most common types of pain walkers experience, and how to fix it fast:

8 mistakes that make pain worse

1. You feel Soreness or swelling on the sides of your toes
Could Be: Ingrown Toenails

Tender tootsies can develop when the corners or sides of your toenails grow sideways rather than forward, putting pressure on surrounding soft tissues and even growing into the skin. You may be more likely to develop ingrown toenails if your shoes are too short or too tight, which causes repeated trauma to the toe as you walk, says Ward. If the excess pressure goes on too long, such as on an extended hike or walk, bleeding could occur under the nail and the toenail might eventually fall off.

Fix it: Leave wiggle room in

You probably know you don't look your best when you're under serious stress (ever catch the reflection of your furrowed brow in a window on a bad day?). Now science reveals all the ways the stress hormone cortisol literally gets under your skin, leading to dryness and other signs of aging. Use the following strategies to correct the top 5 stress symptoms and your complexion will look calm, cool, and collected-even if you're not.

Best anti-aging products that really work

1. Dryness
"Chronic stress increases the hormone cortisol, which damages skin's ability to hold on to water," says Peter Elias, MD, a professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco. The resulting moisture loss also diminishes luminosity, explains David Goldberg, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology and director of laser research at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Correct It: Look for hypoallergenic, fragrance-free products. "Their lower pH prevents further dryness and inflammation," says

Don't go out with wet hair. Cover your mouth when you cough. These classic "mom" cold and flu tips were recently put to the scientific test. The verdict: Most won't keep us safe from viruses, though a few do have merit, says Rachel Vreeman, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine. And Mom did get a couple of things right. Here, experts set the record straight on which motherly advice is worth taking.

1. You'll get sick if you go out in the cold with wet hair.
Truth: Exposure to viruses-not skipping the blow-dryer-causes cold and flu.
"Scientists have studied this really well," says Dr. Vreeman. "They've put cold viruses in the noses of two groups of people. One group was then exposed to cold/wet conditions, and people who were chilled were no more likely to get sick than those who weren't." Being outdoors can make your nose run (cold weather dilates blood vessels), but it doesn't make you more susceptible to viruses.

Worst habits that make

Nancy G. Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Prevention's guest blogger for October, on how her organization is pushing for early detection:


At Susan G. Komen, we believe women should have access to the early detection screening tools that may save their lives. In most cases when we talk about early detection screening tools, we are referring to access to a screening mammogram. Yet for women with dense breasts-that is, breasts that have a higher level of tissue compared to fat-traditional mammography alone may not be effective in detecting tumors. This is because tissues and tumors both show up as white on a mammogram, and when you have a lot of dense breast tissue, an abnormality can be hard to spot, even to trained eyes.

6 habits that can save your life

Dense breasts are fairly typical in premenopausal women. If you have dense breasts--and one-third or more of women over age 40 do--pay attention. More than 50 studies have been published highlighting that women with

Do you get worked up over a mixed message from your boss or freak out over every bump or bruise? Follow these tips to stress less:

1. Imagine the best-case scenario
Visualize yourself dealing with a problem head-on-and resolving it successfully, says Rallie McAllister, MD, MPH. If you don't know or can't fathom what the best-case scenario is, it becomes that much more difficult to achieve, she says.

As new worries or challenges pop up, seek out a silver lining. "Whenever a new situation arises, immediately ask yourself, What's good about this?" says Dr. McAllister. Anxious about a biopsy result from the doctor? Tell yourself that you're being proactive about your health, and no matter what happens, you're better off finding out now instead of in 6 months or a year.

10 silent body clues you're stressed

2. Give yourself a pep talk
A little self-encouragement may be all you need to snap out of a bout of worry. Sometimes we're our own worst enemies, Dr, McAllister says. To make nice

It's October and that means everyone is thinking pink. Prevention asked Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, to share her deeply personal story of how one of the county's most powerful health advocacy programs began.

Suzy died August 4, 1980.

She was thirty-six years old. Her children were ten and six. Mommy was with her. I was on my way, but Daddy met me at the airport, his eyes rimmed in red, his mouth drawn down to a tight line of self-control.

"She's gone," he said. There was a shock wave of agony, relief, guilt, and sorrow. Then a strange state of white noise settled in my head. With a numb efficiency, Mommy and I ordered flowers and discussed appropriate readings with the rabbi. We agreed that Suzy personified Solomon's good woman in the Song of Songs.

I am a rose of Sharon, I am a lily of the valleys.

The casket was to be closed during Suzy's funeral, but there was a private viewing for the family before the service. The absolute