LifestyleThe GuardianHow we stay together: ‘It’s like the bow on a present or the icing on a cake’
How we stay together: ‘It’s like the bow on a present or the icing on a cake’ Jayne and Jodie first got together in a way they describe as ‘so unplanned and so random’, but two decades on they’re more settled than ever ‘Just having my best mate by my side, who I happen to be married to is a bonus, and the commitment means everything,’ says Jodie of her relationship with her wife Jayne. Photograph: Jodie Nancarrow and Jayne Watson
BusinessEat This, Not That!Coca-Cola Just Announced It Is Discontinuing This Soda
Coca-Cola might be among the most recognized brands in the world, but that doesn't mean every idea they launch is a success. Coke has just announced that they're backing out of a category they tried breaking into last year, as executives say low sales make this product cut prudent.CNN reported Saturday that Coca-Cola will no longer be distributing Coke Energy in North America. Given growing consumer interest in energy drinks, Coca-Cola had ventured into the realm with its January 2020 launch of the drink in this part of the world… however, the market quickly shifted with the pandemic, and reports suggest the brand wants to recalibrate what they concentrate on.RELATED: This Is the Best Supermarket in America, New Survey SaysCommenting on the announcement that they will no longer produce Coke Energy, Coca-Cola said: "An important component to this strategy is the consistent and constant evaluation of what's performing and what's not … As we scale our best innovations quickly and effectively, like AHA and Coca-Cola with Coffee, we need to be disciplined with those that don't get the traction required for further investment."Meanwhile, in January of 2020—just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic reached the U.S., Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey had said in an earnings call: "We're putting the full marketing muscle behind our Coke Energy launch in the US." They also spent boucou bucks advertising the energy drink during last year's Super Bowl as they billed Coke Energy as "It's the energy you want and the taste you love."Coke Energy had launched into international markets in 2019, but the brand says they will continue to distribute the drink into those territories.Meanwhile, when we evaluate what this means from a health standpoint, the North American farewell to Coke Energy is probably not a huge heartbreak. With Coke Energy's ingredients, Coke had made an honest effort to make the energy drink fit into the "functional beverages" box that has grown so popular in the past few years. Ingredients included guarana extracts, B-vitamins, and about four times the caffeine of regular Coke when comparing both in 12-ounce servings.But with 26 grams of carbs—all as sugar—and ingredients that created a taste some online buyers have described as "unusual" and "chemically," we don't think this is a Coke product most people will miss.Check out our list of the best and worst energy drinks in 2021, and also read:This Beloved Popcorn Is Being Recalled in 16 States4 Major Grocery Stores That Just Changed Their Mask RulesThe One Trick To Lose Weight Like Crazy, Celebrity Trainer SaysWhat Happens When You Drink Too Much Coke
NewsInStyleLori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli Asked a Judge for Permission to Travel to Mexico
The couple is requesting a five-day vacation to Cabo.
StyleTown & CountryMaria Grazia Chiuri: Couture Should Shine in the Bright Light of Day
Contrary to popular opinion, the Dior creative director says, couture isn't content to shine only under the chandeliers of a gala or red carpet, but "proudly displays its personality in the light of day."
HealthEat This, Not That!This Beloved Popcorn Is Being Recalled In 16 States, FDA Says
Popcorn is one of those snacks that can be healthy and festive, especially in these warm months when small gatherings are getting safer. But if you're about to pop some popcorn for a crowd or just your family—especially if you're avoiding what's now the biggest food allergy threat—check out which major popcorn brand has just issued a recall after a customer notified them that some packages had been filled with the wrong variety in a packaging mix-up.On Wednesday, Jolly Time Pop Corn issued a voluntary recall of select Healthy Pop Kettle Corn 100's in the four-count units. Especially dangerous for lactose-intolerant consumers, the Jolly Time Healthy Pop Kettle Corn contains milk ingredients that the brand failed to declare. In their announcement published on the Food and Drug Administration's website on Thursday, Jolly Time stated: "People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product contained inside the recalled bags."RELATED: Costco Foods You Should Always Avoid, According To NutritionistsJolly Time also says the Healthy Pop Kettle Corn products of concern were regionally distributed to select retailers and warehouses in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The brand says they did not distribute these recalled products to any other states, but as some companies call out, sometimes it's possible that the products may be distributed beyond those points.The FDA's recall advisory states that these Jolly Time popcorn products were manufactured on January 25, 2021. In the advisory, the brand explained:The recall was initiated after JOLLY TIME was notified by a customer that certain cartons of Healthy Pop Kettle Corn 100's (4 count) were inadvertently filled with another flavor of popcorn, potentially exposing consumers to undeclared allergen: milk.They stated no reactions had been reported to date, but that consumers with a milk allergy or sensitivity should not consume the product and discard it immediately.If you're catching up on the week's grocery news, don't miss:4 Major Grocery Stores That Just Changed Their Mask RulesA Leaked Memo Shows Walmart Is Losing Customers To These Grocery ChainsThe Homemade Pet Treat Everyone Is Trying
EntertainmentThe GuardianHollie McNish: ‘I have to psych myself up to share’
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StyleThe GuardianCrocs of gold: celebrity fans fuel frenzy to buy used ‘ugly clogs’
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StyleTown & CountryGiorgio Armani: Haute Couture is “The Peak of My World"
Everyone associates fashion's purest form with ornate evening gowns. But Armani begs to differ: He makes couture to wear in real life, albeit a very rarefied form of real life.
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HealthEat This, Not That!Simple Ways to Sleep Better Now, According to a Sleep Doctor
As a Yale medicine sleep physician with over 20 years of experience taking care of patients with sleep problems, I know that a lack of sleep makes people foggy, grumpy, hungry, and less attractive to others. It increases the risk of motor vehicle crashes and chronic disease. Sleep, on the other hand, makes people feel fabulous, look great, and function at peak performance and improves overall health and wellness. Here are my top 5 tips for getting your best night's sleep. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Symptoms Everyone Needs to Know About During This Pandemic. 1 Pick a Good Time Start with figuring out your required wake-up time during the week and try not to vary it too much on the weekends. 2 Set an Alarm—But Not the One You Think Set an alarm (on your phone if you like) 8-9 hours earlier than your desired wake-up time. When the alarm goes off, turn off light-emitting devices (e.g., cell phones, e-readers, and the like) and start to wind down by doing something relaxing. Develop a pre-bedtime routine. Avoid things like alcohol or nicotine that can impact sleep. 3 Go to Bed on Time If it takes a while to fall asleep at first, don't stress or "try" to sleep; just get up and go back to your pre-bedtime ritual until you feel drowsy. RELATED: 9 Everyday Habits That Might Lead to Dementia, Say Experts 4 Don't Hit Snooze If you set a morning alarm, set it for when you need to get up. Don't use the snooze button before your wake-up time, as this will just fragment your morning sleep. A morning walk outdoors, exercise, and/or breakfast with some protein can help strengthen your circadian rhythm. Start to cut down on caffeine, especially after noon. 5 It's OK to Nap! If, for some reason, you aren't able to get enough sleep one night, it's perfectly fine to nap in the day. Just keep it relatively short (20 minutes) to avoid waking groggy and relatively early in the day (before 3 PM) to avoid making it harder to fall asleep at night.RELATED: Signs You're Getting One of the "Most Deadly" Cancers 6 Why Your Best Night's Sleep is So Important Sleep deprivation is associated with decreased attention, prolonged reaction time, decreased vigilance, increased errors, decreased memory and learning, worse physical performance, and impaired mood. Medical disorders associated with lack of sleep or sleep disorders include obesity, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and depression, among others. Sleep deprivation has been linked to major disasters such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill, but also increases the risk for motor vehicle crashes and work-related accidents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that drowsy driving may result in up to 6,000 fatal crashes each year. Adequate sleep enhances attention, vigilance, performance, mood, learning, and memory and is critical for optimal health and wellness. And to get through life at your healthiest, don't miss: This Supplement Can Raise Your Cancer Risk, Experts Say.Janet Hilbert, MD is a Yale Medicine sleep expert and assistant professor of clinical medicine at Yale School of Medicine.
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LifestyleEat This, Not That!Burger King Brings Back These Beloved Chicken Nuggets After 10 Years
It seems like the Burger King brand knows how to appeal to their longtime loyal customers. While Burger King executives recently announced that they were eyeing plans to take their breakfast bigger, BK is now bringing back a chicken nugget menu item that fans loved royally a decade ago.QSR has reported that due to popular demand, Burger King will bring back their Crown-Shaped Chicken Nuggets on Monday, May 17. This will mark the first time that the fast-food chain will feature the Crown-Shaped Chicken Nuggets on their menu since they dropped them in 2011.RELATED: 7 New Fast Food Chicken Sandwiches Everyone Is Talking AboutReportedly, the white-meat nuggets will be available in a 10-piece order for the budget-friendly price of $1.49. It may sound good, but there's a catch: Burger King is testing this menu item temporarily, only until May 25, and the Crown-Shaped Chicken Nuggets are not available nationwide—in fact, at this time, they will only be available in select locations within the Miami metropolitan area. (This happens to be where Burger King's headquarters are based.)Any parent knows that chicken nuggets in fun shapes are a great way to get a kiddo to eat their protein. If you've ever wondered how fast-food places get their chicken nuggets to perfectly fit the mold, don't miss This Little Known Fact About McDonald's Chicken Nuggets Stuns Customers.Wondering which fast-food chicken nuggets won our recent taste test? Check out We Tasted Five Fast-Food Chicken Nuggets and These Are the Best. And, we hate to tell you, but these are the unhealthiest chicken nuggets.
HealthEat This, Not That!20 Signs Your Tooth Pain Is Signaling Something More Serious
You unwrap your favorite ice cream bar and can already taste that creamy vanilla ice cream with the hard chocolate coating. You take that first bite, mouth watering, and…OUCH!An intense, throbbing pain shoots through your molar—and throughout your entire body. Maybe you just banged your tooth. Maybe it's something worse.Occasional mouth pain may just indicate a sensitivity to hot or cold, which can become increasingly common as you get older. But different types of toothaches—and other symptoms associated with this pain—can be indicators that you're developing one of several serious health conditions that need immediate treatment.Don't just pop an ibuprofen and assume it'll go away. Read on to learn about 20 signs that indicate you need to take your tooth pain seriously. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Symptoms Everyone Needs to Know About During This Pandemic. 1 It Hurts When You Chew If your tooth sends a sharp, shooting pain when you take a bite of something, it may be cracked or damaged. If you don't remember some kind of trauma—getting hit in the mouth, biting down on a Gobstopper—this crack may have occurred from grinding your teeth at night or clenching your jaw too intensely. Exposed nerves from a cracked tooth produce this pain and if left untreated, can cause the spread of bacteria and lead to an infection.It might also hurt to chew because your tooth enamel has worn down. Tooth enamel protects your teeth's nerves from outside factors that can cause pain. If the enamel wears down, you'll notice increased sensitivity to hot or cold foods, which can cause that instant zing of pain when you chew. Depending on the pattern of your enamel disappearance, it may also be related to chronic acid reflux or a poor diet. According to a study published in the International Journal of Dentistry, dentists may be the first to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) because they can spot these tooth erosion patterns.The Rx: A cracked tooth must be addressed immediately to prevent infection or decay. Visit your dentist so he or she can fix it. If you're experiencing a loss of tooth enamel, you'll need to examine your dietary habits and gastrointestinal health. There's no way to get tooth enamel back once it's gone, so the sooner you make healthy lifestyle changes, the less likely you are to experience pain when chewing in the future. 2 Your Gums Bleed When You Floss Bloody gums while flossing may be a sign of gum disease, a buildup of plaque and bacteria on the gums that causes your gums to recede from your teeth. According to the U.S. Department of Health And Human Services, most adults in the U.S. have some form of this disease but it's more likely to occur in adults who are 30 to 40 years of age. In the most mild cases, it results in bloody and slightly receding gums. In severe cases, it can lead to tooth loss and decay.The Rx: Regularly brushing at least twice a day and flossing once a day (don't lie to your dentist! She knows when you do!) can generally prevent gum disease. A professional deep clean once every six months can also keep this disease at bay. If your tooth pain is associated with bloody gums, visit your dentist. He or she may suggest additional oral health care, such as a daily mouthwash, or a procedure to save your teeth in severe cases. 3 You Feel an Intense Throbbing Pain An intense, throbbing pain in your tooth that isn't associated with eating may indicate you're dealing with a tooth infection. A tooth infection occurs when bacteria invades the tooth's pulp, which is the inner part of the tooth, where the connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels are located. Infections are serious because they can spread to other parts of your body if left untreated. According to the Mayo Clinic, poor dental hygiene, dry mouth, or a diet that's high in sugar can cause a tooth infection.The Rx: If you're feeling an intense, throbbing pain in your tooth, make an emergency dentist appointment as soon as you can. Your dentist needs to treat the infection so it doesn't spread, which may mean draining the abscess and prescribing antibiotics. 4 You Feel Pressure If your tooth pain is associated with pressure, it may indicate that your wisdom teeth are giving you trouble. According to a study by Dr. Jay W. Friedman, DDS, MPH, 10 million wisdom teeth are extracted every year in the United States. Your wisdom teeth do most of their growing and changing when you're 16 to 23 years of age.If they seemed to grow normally throughout these years, your dentist at the time may have opted to let them stay in. However, when you get older, they can still begin to crowd your other teeth. If your wisdom teeth grew in at an angle, they're more susceptible to infections or tooth decay, which can cause other problems in your mouth if they aren't taken out.The Rx: Go see your dentist so he or she can take x-rays of your mouth and see what's going on with your wisdom teeth. If they're starting to crowd your other teeth or don't look healthy, you may need to get them removed for your tooth pain and pressure to finally go away. 5 Your Mouth Is Dry Saliva protects you from bacteria and a dry mouth can exacerbate any problems you're having with your teeth, since it allows bacteria to grow; the bacteria has a perfect environment to thrive in. Dry mouth can be caused by certain medications and can make it hard to spit, talk, or speak.The Rx: According to the National Institute on Aging, you should avoid cigarettes, alcohol, and caffeine because they can make your dry mouth worse. Practice regular brushing and flossing and try to keep your mouth salivated by sipping water or sucking on sugar-free hard candy. Visit your dentist immediately so he or can find the source of your tooth pain. Your dentist can also prescribe medications to counteract your dry mouth and keep your teeth healthy. 6 Your Jaw or Neck Are Swollen If you recently underwent dental surgery, your jaw may swell a bit as you heal. However, if you haven't had any work done recently and you notice a swelling of your jaw or neck in addition to your tooth pain, it can be a sign that you have a tooth abscess. Your tooth is infected and has caused a buildup of pus and bacteria, which has spread to your jaw or neck. The infection can also spread to other teeth, surrounding bones, and in severe cases, your ears or brain.The Rx: If your tooth pain is accompanied by jaw or neck swelling, you need to seek emergency dental treatment. An abscess never goes away on its own. Your dentist must provide treatment, which may involve a root canal or tooth extraction, and you may need to take antibiotics to stop the infection from spreading. 7 You Notice a Chip Any tooth you have is susceptible to chipping, but according to a study published by the Journal of Endodontics, the lower second molar is the most frequently chipped tooth. This may be because it takes the most pressure when you chew or bite down. If you don't address the chip in your tooth, you may suffer from extreme sensitivity to hot and cold foods and a toothache forever. A chipped tooth can indicate that your roots and nerves are exposed to the air, making your mouth extremely sensitive to anything it comes in contact with.The Rx: Visit your dentist as soon as you can for a treatment plan to fix your chipped tooth. He or she may suggest a crown, bonding, or a veneer to make your tooth whole again. Not only will this alleviate your tooth pain, it'll also help improve your smile. 8 Your Tooth Feels Loose If you have tooth pain and the tooth itself feels loose, it's a sign of advanced gum disease, also called periodontal disease. We already know how bad this disease is for your mouth and the trouble it can cause when it spreads, so it's important to get it taken care of right away. A loose tooth can also occur if you have a cavity or tooth decay that you haven't had treated.The Rx: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in every 5 adults who are aged 65 or older have lost all of their teeth. Don't become a statistic! Visit your dentist so he or she can figure out if you have periodontal disease or cavities. The sooner you get treatment for the problem, the more likely it is your tooth can be saved. 9 Your Jaw Is Sore or Clicking A jaw that's consistently sore or that clicks when you open your mouth may indicate that you're developing temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly referred to as TMJ. This disorder can occur if you clench or grind your teeth frequently. It may also be a result of arthritis or simply caused by genetics. According to the Mayo Clinic, in addition to a sore or clicking jaw, you may also feel:Pain around your ears.Difficulty chewing.Locking of the jaw, making it hard to open or close your mouth.Facial pain.This condition can lead to the worsening of arthritis, jaw injury, or damage to the connective tissues around the jaw.The Rx: Make an appointment with a specialist if your jaw is sore, clicking, or generally causing you pain. He or she can provide you with strategies to combat or alleviate the symptoms of TMJ. He or she may also take an x-ray to understand the extent of your TMJ and surgery may be recommended if it's severe. 10 The Pain Is Dull and Consistent A constant and persistent toothache is not only annoying, it can also be a sign of something more serious. If your consistent pain is centralized to one area and accompanied by swollen or inflamed gums, it could indicate you have a foreign substance stuck in your gums. Try to floss thoroughly and see if you feel better.If your dull pain is generalized throughout your entire mouth, it may mean you're grinding your teeth at night. This can be dangerous because it can lead to chipped or broken teeth or the onset of TMJ.The Rx: Try to record when and where you feel this dull, consistent toothache. Visit your dentist so he or she can investigate further and provide you with the right treatment. Your dentist might find an infection or abscess that needs to be treated. If teeth grinding is to blame, he or she or may recommend wearing a nightguard.RELATED: The #1 Cause of Obesity, According to Science 11 Your Gums Look Inflamed Inflammation is an indicator that your body is fighting off bacteria and infection, and inflamed gums along with tooth pain are clear signs that you have gum disease. If your gums are swollen, your gum disease may already be severe and regular brushing and flossing just won't cut it. According to a study published in the Journal of Periodontology, women who carried bacteria that's known to cause periodontal disease were more likely to have more severe oral bone loss than women who didn't carry these pathogens.The Rx: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, severe gum disease affects about 9% of adults and it can ruin your oral bones and gums, leading to tooth loss. It must be treated by a dentist, so you'll need to make an appointment right away to seek treatment. 12 You're Sensitive to Hot and Cold Mild sensitivity to hot and cold is normal for many people, especially as you age. However, intense, throbbing pain when biting into hot or cold food is something to be concerned about.According to Dr. Mark S. Wolff, DDS, Ph.D., from Penn Dental Medicine, this sensitivity may be due to an exposure of the root structure in one or more of your teeth. This leaves the nerves of your teeth completely exposed, so it makes sense that hot or cold would trigger a painful reaction.The Rx: Be sure you aren't brushing too hard and try to stay away from extremely hot or cold foods. Use a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth and go see your dentist as soon as possible to see if you have exposed roots that can be fixed.RELATED: I'm A Doctor And Warn You Never Take This Supplement 13 Your Alignment Has Changed Although they're attached to your jawbone with a periodontal ligament and cementum, your teeth can move and shift in your mouth at any time. According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), teeth generally move forward with age, but other factors can cause them to move faster.A decrease in tooth enamel can affect the movement of your teeth, the alignment of your bite, and even the shape of your pearly whites. As your teeth move, change, and shift, they can create small spaces and crevices that are hard to reach with floss or a toothbrush. This makes it easy for bacteria to grow, which can cause gum disease and infection. Your tooth alignment change may be what's causing your toothache to begin with.The Rx: If bacteria has caused tooth pain, your dentist will need to get involved. You may need an antibiotic and a deep cleaning to prevent the spread of the infection. If your alignment has changed drastically, you may need braces to prevent overcrowding or tooth damage. 14 Your Teeth Look Flat and Worn Down If you notice that your teeth look flat and worn down, you might be grinding them at night. This condition is also referred to as bruxism and according to the American Sleep Association, it affects 10% of adults and 15% of children. It can be caused by stress or genetics and usually decreases with age for most people.You may not even realize you grind your teeth at night, but jaw or tooth pain, along with a flatter bite can be good indicators that you're a nightly grinder. Bruxism can wear down your enamel, cause TMJ, and in some severe cases, it can even break your teeth.The Rx: Try to eliminate possible stressors from your life so you can get more restful sleep. You'll also need to consult your dentist about teeth grinding. If he or she agrees with your diagnosis, you may be fitted for a custom mouthguard to wear at night. This will prevent your teeth from making contact and can save you from broken teeth, tooth pain, or a sore jaw. 15 You Also Have a Fever A fever along with tooth pain indicates an infection. If you notice pain in a centralized location, there may be a tooth or gum infection from a food particle or a buildup of bacteria and plaque. You may even be able to see a bump on an area of your gums. This is an abscess that's filled with pus from the infection. In addition to your fever, you may also experience nausea and vomiting.The Rx: If your tooth pain is accompanied by a fever, your tooth infection is severe and you may need to seek emergency treatment. According to the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), over 900,000 emergency department visits and nearly 13,000 hospital inpatient stays in one year were related to dental conditions. Your abscess may need to be drained and you may need to be placed on antibiotics. You may also be required to visit your dentist for a root canal or to get your tooth pulled if it's not salvageable. 16 You Also See White Sores in Your Mouth If you notice white sores on your mouth or tongue, it may indicate a type of oral cancer. According to the National Institute on Aging, oral cancer is more common in people over the age of 40 but it's always a good idea to have your dentist check at every exam. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reported about 40,000 new cases of cancer of the oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers. Oral cancers are more common in those who smoke or drink heavily. If left untreated, oral cancer can spread to other parts of the body and be life threatening.The Rx: If you notice white spots or sores around your mouth, on your gums, or on your tongue, make an appointment with your doctor. In the meantime, avoid spicy foods, tobacco products, and alcohol. Your doctor will examine these areas and may need to biopsy them. If you're diagnosed with oral cancer, you may need to get surgery to remove these cancerous cells. You may also need to undergo additional treatment, such as radiation or chemotherapyRELATED: The #1 Cause of Obesity, According to Science 17 It Hurts When You Eat Sweets If your toothache is only brought on by sugary foods, a weakening of your tooth enamel may be to blame. Our tooth enamel disappears as we age. But if you brush too intensely or with a hard-bristled toothbrush, you could be making your tooth enamel wear off prematurely. Without this enamel protecting your teeth, the sugar in sweet foods can make direct contact with the nerve endings in your teeth, causing you pain.The Rx: Ask your dentist about your sensitivity to all things sweet. You may need to use a toothbrush with softer bristles and you may need to adapt a more gentle brushing technique. Your dentist may also suggest toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth to ensure the rest of your enamel isn't threatened.RELATED: 9 Everyday Habits That Might Lead to Dementia, Say Experts 18 Your Breath Smells Bad If your tooth pain is accompanied by bad breath that won't go away, it's another indicator that you're suffering from gum disease. When bacteria grows on your gum line and your gums begin to recede from your teeth, it can produce an unpleasant smell. Even if you don't notice any changes in your gum line, your dentist can identify gum disease with a tiny ruler that measures small pockets in your gums.While bad breath doesn't seem like a threat to your health, gum disease and a mouth full of bacteria can increase your risk for serious health conditions. According to the Mayo Clinic, poor oral health can be linked to an increased risk for:Endocarditis. Excessive mouth bacteria can cause an infection in the inner lining of your heart chambers or valves.Pregnancy and birth complications. Severe gum disease may be linked to low birth weight and premature birth.Cardiovascular disease. Some scientists believe there's a link between gum disease and heart disease, stroke, or clogged arteries.Pneumonia. If certain mouth bacteria are pulled in your lungs, it can cause pneumonia or other respiratory conditions.The Rx: If you have chronic bad breath, visit your dentist for a thorough cleaning and x-rays. If gum disease is the culprit, you need to stick to a stricter oral health routine that includes regular flossing and brushing. Regular cleanings and checkups are also important to prevent gum disease from getting worse. Your dentist may be able to prescribe mouthwash or toothpaste designed to kill the bacteria causing your gum disease and bad breath. 19 It Hurts When You Suck in Air If you feel pain when you suck in air, it means your tooth enamel is worn away, which can be an indication that you have a cavity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 90% of adults aged 20 to 64 years had at least one cavity. Cavities occur when plaque and tartar are left on your tooth enamel. As bacteria consume this plaque and tartar, acid is produced, which wears away at your tooth enamel and creates a tiny hole in your tooth.This tiny hole can be the source of that sharp pain you feel as your suck in air or bite down on food. In some cases, however, you may not even feel pain when you have a cavity. If left untreated, cavities can lead to tooth decay or an infection.The Rx: Once you have a cavity, there's no home remedy to get rid of it. You must visit your dentist so he or she can drill out the decay within the hole and replace it with a filling.RELATED: Signs You're Getting One of the "Most Deadly" Cancers 20 Your Filling or Crown Is Cracked If the source of your tooth pain is a cracked or damaged filling or crown, don't ignore it. While it may seem like an ailment that can wait, damage to your filling or crown can cause deeper, more serious issues. If your dental work is compromised, it leaves your teeth vulnerable to bacteria. When your crown is loose or your filling has been cracked, you simply can't reach these small crevices with floss or your toothbrush, so bacteria continues to fester and multiply. Before you know it, your tooth can become infected, which can cause severe tooth pain and other problems.The Rx: If your filling has been cracked or damaged, your dentist may need to start over and replace it with a new one. If the tooth itself has damage, you may also need a crown to ensure there are no exposed cracks for bacteria to thrive. A loose crown may also need to be removed and replaced to ensure there's solid contact between the tooth and the material. And to get through life at your healthiest, don't miss: This Supplement Can Raise Your Cancer Risk, Experts Say.
EntertainmentThe GuardianOn my radar: Richard Osman’s cultural highlights
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LifestyleYahoo Canada StyleTired of dealing with slow-healing maskne? Try these bestselling pimple patches
"They work better, stay on longer and come off without pulling on sensitive skin. I love these."
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HealthEat This, Not That!Sure Ways to Never Forget Anything, Say Experts
Ever walk into a room and forget why you went in there? Or stare at a colleague's face for 20 seconds before you remember his name? Or try to remember the name of that movie, the one you loved, starring that guy—it's on the tip of your tongue! (It's Jeff Goldblum. The Grand Budapest Hotel.)Forgetfulness is normal and if you feel like you've noticed it more recently, you're not losing your marbles. You're just getting older. According to Harvard Health, there are seven types of normal forgetfulness. These include:Transience. Forgetting facts over time.Absentmindedness. Forgetting because you're not paying attention.Blocking. The inability to retrieve a memory.Misattribution. Only remembering part of something.Suggestibility. Misconstruing facts about an incident.Bias. Adding your personal bias to facts about a memory.Persistence. Memories that won't go away.Unless your memory loss is extreme or persistent, there's no need to worry about Alzheimer's or other serious memory diseases. (Dr. Gary Small, MD, a professor on aging at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, says "About 40% of people aged 65 or older have age associated memory impairment—in the United States, about 16 million people.") But if your forgetfulness is simply driving you crazy, check out these simple strategies, techniques, and lifestyle changes you can make to improve your memory. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You Had COVID and Didn't Know It. 1 Keep Repeating It Repetition is one of the easiest and most effective methods for remembering things. According to the University of Illinois, the Spaced Interval Repetition (SIR) technique was developed in the 1960's by famous psychologist, Hermann Ebbinghaus. It uses repetition at specific intervals to ensure you remember a fact or name. After you learn something and you want to continue remembering it in the short-term, repeat the fact to yourself:Right after you learn it.15 to 20 minutes after you initially learned it.After six to eight hours.24 hours later.If you want to memorize something in the long-term, you'll need to repeat it to yourself after one day, after two to three weeks, and then again after two to three months. 2 Try Learning in the Afternoon Even if you think you function better in the morning or late at night, studies show that it's easier to retain information if you learn it and review it in the afternoon. A study published in the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research proved this theory. 68 undergraduate participants were provided with words to remember. One group was asked to only study in the morning while the other group only studied in the afternoon. The results concluded that, "The subjects who acquired information in the afternoon had better performance than those who acquired it in the morning." 3 Write it Down We don't mean a note in your smartphone or a doc on your computer. Put an actual pen or pencil to paper. Researchers at the University of Oregon conducted a study to see if physical newspaper readers comprehend better than those who read their daily news stories online. The study concluded that "Print news readers remember significantly more news stories than online readers."Reading online and from a computer screen is harder to recall than when it's written on physical paper. If you truly want to remember a fact or name, write it down on a piece of paper and review it by physically picking it up and reading it. 4 Use the "Chunking" Method The "chunking" method of memory is just as it sounds. You can chunk together tidbits of information to make it easier to remember, relating the info on some common ground. For example, if you're trying to memorize the items you need on a trip to the grocery store, you could chunk together items by where you'll find them in the store. So, apples, potatoes, and lettuce would all be chunked together as "produce" while soups and tomato sauce would be chunked together as "canned goods." Categorizing these items together makes them easier to recall than looking at a long list of unrelated items."The benefit of a chunking mechanism is that it mediates the amount of knowledge that one can process at any one time," claims an article published in Frontiers in Psychology. By using the chunking method on a large amount of data or a long list of items, you may be able to more easily commit this information to your short-term memory. 5 Make Up a Story or Scene In order to remember something, you have to be interested in it. If your brain is bored, it can be hard to make it engage and truly learn new information. When you're stuck trying to learn boring material, you'll need to find a way to make it intriguing for your brain. Sometimes making a story or creating a scene that includes this information can be just what you need to engage your brain.A study published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) analyzed how people reacted to scenes that were created. The study concluded, "The subjects were far more likely to remember high-value scenes than low-value scenes." If you're going to use this visual strategy to remember information, it's important to create a scene or story in your head that's interesting to you or ridiculous enough to keep your brain involved. For example, "One day, I went on vacation to Budapest and who did I see in the lobby, reading a newspaper? Jeff Goldblum! What a grand hotel!" 6 Make it Rhyme "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." When you were a child learning the months of the year or the states, chances are your teacher sang you a little song to help you commit the complex concept to memory. You probably still remember these songs or rhymes and you might have even used them to help teach your kids the same concepts.You can still use rhymes or songs to remember information as an adult, as long you're ready to tap into your creative side. Take a recognizable melody, such as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and set the information you need to remember to the beat. If this isn't working for you, create a rhyme that you can easily repeat using the information. According to The Memory Institute, "Rhyme, rhythm, repetition and melody will help you remember by taking advantage of auditory encoding and your brain's impressive ability to store these audio triggers." 7 Keep Things in Your "Memory Palace." You can create your own "memory palace" when you begin to associate memories and things you want to remember with physical items in your environment. This learning method is also referred to as the method of loci (MOL). It was developed in Ancient Greece and has been used ever since. You can tap into this learning method by associating a physical item in your current location with one concept you're trying to learn. When you attempt to recall this piece of information, you'll need to visualize the room you were in when you were learning it. By envisioning the item, your memory should recall the fact you want to remember.A study published in Advances in Physiology Education observed 78 second-year medical students as they learned about endocrinology while using the "memory palace" method. The students found the method helpful in retaining information. The study concluded, "When asked to report whether they found the MOL helpful, all participants agreed. About 85.7% of the participants agreed that it helped them understand the topic better." 8 Test Yourself When your grade school teachers used to spring pop quizzes on the class sporadically, they were really on to something. Quizzing yourself periodically can be one of the most helpful techniques for remembering information. According to Rosalind Potts, Ph.D., from University College London, "People often think testing is useful because it tells you what you know and what you don't. But the more important power of testing is giving you practice retrieving information you've learned and establishing that connection in the brain."You don't have to create a formal test just to remember your grocery list. Simply take the time to periodically quiz yourself on the relevant information you want to retain. 9 Focus on One Thing at a Time As humans, especially adult humans, our brains are going a mile a minute. In an instant, your brain may simultaneously be thinking about whether you turned off the stove, what time your meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, and if there are any good movies out. According to Psychology Today, you have about 70,000 thoughts per day. With all this happening in your head at one time, no wonder it's hard to remember things.If you're learning something that you know you want to remember, you'll have to block these thousands of thoughts out. To focus and remember, the Mayo Clinic suggests quitting the multitasking while you're trying to learn something new. You should also:Stop thinking about what you need to do after you focus.Take moments to practice focusing on specific subjects.Learn the time of day when you're the best focused and cut yourself slack in the moments you know you aren't.Stay away from distractions when you're focusing, including co-worker chit-chat, the TV, radio, or your smartphone.When you've mastered the ability to focus on one thing at a time, you may find improvements in both your memory and your productivity. 10 Use Acrostics or Acronyms Acrostics and acronyms are mnemonic devices that you can use to remember streams of words or phrases. One of the most popular acrostics you may remember if you ever learned how to play a musical instrument is "Every Good Boy Does Fine." This acronym helps you to remember the order of the treble clef, which is EGBDF. If you were ever tasked with learning the names of the Great Lakes, your teacher may have used the acronym "HOMES," which stands for Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Eerie, and Superior.According to the University of Denver, both acrostics and acronyms are helpful when you need quick memory aids. However, using these word associations may only be useful for memorization and usually can't help you to remember in-depth concepts or context and meaning behind phrases. 11 Relate New Concepts to What You Already Know Since we already know that re-learning is much easier than learning from scratch, it can also help to relate new concepts you want to remember to those you already know. This learning concept is formally referred to as "relational learning."For example, if you're trying to remember that an acquaintance works as a teacher, you could try to associate a characteristic of this person with one of your previous teachers. By relating a new concept to something you already know, it can be easier to remember. 12 Try New Hobbies Your brain function deteriorates if you don't use it. Learning new things is important for brain health, but you don't have to read a math textbook to keep your brain sharp. When you take on a brand-new hobby you've never tried before, there will be a learning curve. You'll have to learn new terminology and movements that you'll need to memorize and practice.A study published in Psychology Science Journal had some of its 200 elderly participants learn new skills, including digital photography and quilting, while others performed familiar hobbies, such as putting together puzzles or listening to music. Cognitive skills were tested both before and after engaging in activities. "Overall, the results suggest that learning digital photography, either alone or in combination with learning to quilt, had the most beneficial effect on cognition, and that the positive impact was primarily on memory function." 13 Say it Out Loud One of the best ways to commit something to memory is to get physically involved in the learning process. By reading out loud or repeating a fact verbally, it's more likely the memory, name, face, or tidbit will stick.Colin M. MacLeod from the Department of Psychology at Waterloo, says, "When we add an active measure or a production element to a word, that word becomes more distinct in long-term memory, and hence more memorable." Repeating phrases out loud is a different way to present the information to yourself and commit it to your long-term memory. 14 Get a Good Night's Sleep The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Not only does an uninterrupted, solid night of sleep help your body to recharge, it can also help with your brain's memory and cognition. A study published in Physiological Reviews concluded that, "Ensuing REM sleep may stabilize transformed memories."Sleep was also found to help your brain process memories, which may allow you to keep them for longer. The study found that "Sleep benefits memory not only in the neurobehavioral domain, but also in the formation of immunological long-term memories, stimulating the idea that forming long-term memories represents a general function of sleep." 15 Do Yoga Yoga is a great way to get your daily exercise and calm your mind. But downward dog can also improve your brain function. Yoga is proven to improve your brain's gray matter, which helps with:Muscle control.Sensory perceptions, including speech.Decision making.Memory.Sight.A study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that participants who practiced yoga for just 20 minutes a day had increased brain function. This resulted in these participants scoring better on brain functioning tests that measured how quickly they could relay information about their memories and how accurate the information was. Adding yoga to your exercise routine may help your memory to stay sharp and your brain functioning clearly. 16 Meditate Meditation can help you get in touch with your inner thoughts, and sometimes that's all you need to feel more confident in your brain power and memory. A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease observed participants who attended an 8-week meditation program. "Most subjects reported that they subjectively perceived that their cognitive function was improved after the 8-week program."Meditation can help to strengthen and exercise the components in your brain that are responsible for memory. By meditating for just 10 minutes per day, you're forcing yourself to practice laser focus and control of your thoughts. This works your mental muscle, keeps your brain young, and may prevent you from dealing with memory loss. 17 Re-learn Things We already know that repeating information we want to remember can help us in the memorization process. Spacing this repetition out in different increments can cater to either your short-term or long-term memory. But if you haven't kept up with your repetition game to put something in your long-term memory bank, you may need to re-learn it.Re-learning is different than the first time you learn something because your memory may be jogged at any point while you're completing the task. You're not really starting from scratch and you may still have faint memories or information relating to the subject you're trying to re-learn. Therefore, it's easier for this information to "stick."As Mark Hübener from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology explains, "Since an experience that has been made may occur again at a later point in time, the brain apparently opts to save a few appendages for a rainy day." So, while re-learning may seem like a hassle, you should find it easier than when you reviewed information about a subject for the first time. 18 Read Every Day Whether you're into sci-fi, romance novels, or self-help books, the act of reading can keep your brain sharp and memory loss at bay. Since reading engages your brain, keeps it active, and strengthens your cognitive function, just a few minutes every day can help improve your ability to remember things.A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S. concluded that participants who engaged their brains through puzzles, reading, or chess were 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those who participated in less stimulating activities, such as watching TV. When you practice focusing on one activity, such as reading, your brain may also get the same positive effects as if you were meditating, which is proven to help strengthen your memory.RELATED: 9 Everyday Habits That Might Lead to Dementia, Say Experts 19 Meet New People An article published in Psychology Today blames our inability to remember people's names after just meeting them on stress and cortisol. You may be psyching yourself up so much to remember names that you blank out under pressure. Try to combat this stress by focusing on the people you meet instead of your body's reaction to the situation. To remember a new person's name or details, Susan Krauss Whitbourne Ph.D., recommends that you:Process the name as soon as it's said.Repeat the name back to the person.Listen to his or her name correction, if there is one.The more people you meet, the more you can practice committing these personal details to memory. You can strengthen this part of your brain and eventually, you'll feel more confident about your memory in social situations. 20 Pay Attention It may seem simple, but a reminder to pay attention can sometimes be all you need to improve your memory. We already know that multitasking makes memorizing and learning less efficient, which is why it's also important to quiet your brain as you attempt to remember or learn something new.According to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), "Attention generally begins as a passive process—the brief unfocused reception of the multitude of molecules and rays that continually bombard our body's specialized sensory receptors with information on the outside environment." Since paying attention starts as a passive process, you'll have to make a conscious effort to forget everything else that's going on and solely focus on the concept you want to learn or remember. You'll know your attention has been captivated when unexpected distractions don't disrupt your focus. 21 Play Brain Games Crossword and sudoku puzzles aren't just fun activities to pass time. They may also be able to slow down a decline in memory and cognitive function as you age. Commercial brain game apps on your smartphone or computer have also taken off in popularity and for good reason. According to a study published in Neurology, "More frequent cognitive activity across the lifespan has an association with slower late-life cognitive decline."The more active you keep your brain, the slower your cognitive decline. But you don't have to study complex math concepts to engage your brain. Glenn Smith, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist at the Mayo Clinic, conducted a study on brain games and geriatric participants with no prior cognitive problems. He had some participants engage in brain games while others simply watched educational videos for an eight-week period.Mr. Smith found that "Those who completed the computerized training showed significantly greater improvements in general tests of memory and attention, even though those abilities weren't explicitly trained for." Those who participated in the computerized brain games also reported less daily problems with memory in the weeks that followed than study participants who only watched educational videos for the eight weeks. 22 Teach Other People You must have a clear understanding of a concept before you can teach it to someone else. So, if you task yourself with reiterating facts about a person you know or your daily schedule to another person, you'll need to first be sure you have a good grip on it.Teaching is a great way for you to review what you want to remember and can be useful if you're trying to get a memory or concept to stick with you. A study published in Contemporary Educational Psychology used two groups of students to put the concept of teaching as a learning method to the test. Some students were asked to simply study material for a test later while others were asked to study with the intention of teaching other students about the concepts they learned.While both groups of students learned the material, the students who were tasked with teaching others still remembered these concepts when tested weeks later. 23 Eat Healthy Foods A healthy diet not only nourishes your body, but also your mind. Have you ever overindulged on an unhealthy snack, like ice cream or potato chips, and instantly felt slow and groggy? If your body is full of bad food, it can be hard for your brain to focus and retain information. According to Harvard Health, "Diets high in cholesterol and fat might speed up the formation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. These sticky protein clusters are blamed for much of the damage that occurs in the brains of people with Alzheimer's."If you're eating foods high in saturated and trans fats, a gene called apolipoprotein E, or APOE, may be to blame for your increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. This gene is related to high cholesterol and is found in those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. While these fats are bad, mono- and polyunsaturated fats may be helpful for preserving memory. To be sure you're getting enough of these memory-boosting fats in your diet, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. 24 Stop Stressing Stress makes it easy to forget things, usually because you're focused on too many things at once. If you live a life full of stress, you can also be prematurely slowing down your memory performance and brain function. According to a study published in Experimental Gerontology, animals that had prolonged exposure to stress hormones experienced adverse effects on their brain's hippocampus. This is the area of the brain that's associated with memory and learning.When it comes to humans, it was found that those exposed to several days of stress and increased cortisol experienced memory issues and impairment. Researchers also conclude that extreme stress can make sufferers more likely to develop anxiety or depression disorders. These types of disorders are directly related to a decline in memory loss. If you want to make sure your brain stays sharp, it's important to eliminate daily and chronic stress from your life. 25 Create Your Own Visuals Assigning a visual characteristic to something you want to remember can be a great way to keep it accessible. For example, say you're attending a video networking event. You're introduced to a group of people all at the same time. That's six names you've heard while saying "hello"! How do you remember them all? Pick out one defining visual characteristic for each person and associate it with the name he or she told you. Then, when you need to recall the person's name, that characteristic should trigger your memory and the name should come flooding back to you.You can also create an imaginary visualization. For example, you put your car keys down on the coffee table and obviously need to remember where they are later. Create a visual of your keys dancing on the table and when you need to recall where they are hours later, this vision should come back to you. According to Psychology Today, "It requires mental effort to do this, but if you practice you'll be surprised how quickly you can come up with creative ways to generate these images." 26 Summarize Into in Your Own Words Memorizing something that someone else said or wrote can be difficult. In most cases, the way one person communicated information isn't necessarily the way you would have communicated the same information. Also, in most cases, the information given to you is in long-form and can be wordy. If you can summarize it in your own words into brief concepts you understand, it's more likely that you'll remember it longer.According to The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, summarization can make it easier to retain information and is an important skill to master. "If you are unfamiliar with the material you're analyzing, you may need to summarize what you've read in order to understand your reading and get your thoughts in order." Since summarization forces you to identify only the most important elements, it can be a helpful step in memorization of important facts. 27 Stick to a Healthy Weight Dr. Small warns, "People with excess body fat have a greater risk for such illnesses as diabetes and hypertension. These obesity related conditions increase the risk for cerebrovascular disease, which often leads to memory decline and dementia." Maintaining a healthy weight can not only keep your risks for developing certain diseases low, it can also preserve your memory and cognitive abilities.High-fat diets that include a lot of processed food are known to contribute to memory loss and other unhealthy side effects. However, a study published in Neurology found that diets high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) could help protect against cognitive decline. The study stated, "In an elderly population of Southern Italy with a typical Mediterranean diet, high MUFA intakes appeared to be protective against age-related cognitive decline."If you want a diet that protects your memory and is also heart-healthy, consider following a Mediterranean diet. This diet emphasizes the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats daily. Limited portions of red meat and dairy are usually eaten on the Mediterranean diet. 28 Let Go of the Stuff You Don't Need Your brain will never be so full that it can't take on new information. However, what's the point of filling your brain with stuff you don't need? While it's great to challenge your memory, if you don't necessarily need to memorize something, consider keeping certain information as a note in your smartphone or just letting it go completely.According to Scientific American, "The human brain consists of about one billion neurons. Each neuron forms about 1,000 connections to other neurons, amounting to more than a trillion connections. Neurons combine so that each one helps with many memories at a time, exponentially increasing the brain's memory storage capacity to something closer to around 2.5 petabytes (or a million gigabytes)." That's a ton of space! But as we age, information can get cluttered and crossed, making it hard to recall certain memories or tidbits when we need them. Consider "offloading" some of the information you have so you don't feel as much pressure to store it in your brain. 29 Don't Drink Too Much Alcohol can have a negative effect on your long-term memory and overindulging can make it nearly impossible to commit facts to memory. If you're heading for a night out but want to remember the new people you meet for a while, keep your drinking to a minimum. If you drink too much alcohol too soon, you may experience the dreaded "blackout." If you have a blackout, you won't remember conversations or actions you took part in the next day.According to a study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, "Alcohol impairs different brain functions at different rates, and cognitive and memory performance are differentially impaired by ascending versus descending blood alcohol concentration." So, if you drink in rapid succession, you're more likely to experience a blackout.And you and your friends may not even know you're blacked out at the time because there usually aren't any physical symptoms. "Cognitive and memory impairment occurs before motor impairment, possibly explaining how a drinker appearing fully functional can have little subsequent memory." If you want to remember your night out, take it easy on the booze. 30 But Maybe Drink a Little While getting black-out drunk is obviously bad for your memory, light to moderate alcohol consumption may be linked with a lower risk of developing memory loss. A study published in Lancet used 7,983 study participants who were 55 years of age or older and showed no signs of dementia or memory loss. Some of these participants didn't drink alcohol at all or drank heavily, while some lightly or moderately consumed alcohol. In a follow-up with these participants six years later, it was confirmed that, "Light-to-moderate drinking (one to three drinks per day) was significantly associated with a lower risk of any dementia."The reason alcohol protects the brain from the effects of dementia isn't fully understood. However, Dr. Small hypothesizes that "it may involve an antiplatelet effect that lowers the blood's tendency to clot and cause tissue damage." The study also showed that the type of alcoholic beverage consumed had no differential effects on the outcome. 31 Associate Facts with Movements If you want to memorize something, it can be tempting to sit down and think about it. After all, you want to eliminate as many distractions as possible so you can focus on committing something to your long-term memory. But many studies have shown that actually moving around is better for your memory than sitting in one spot.An article published in Frontiers in Psychology confirms the importance of getting your body involved with your mind. "Embodied cognition approach suggests that motor output is integral to cognition, and the converging evidence of multiple avenues of research further indicate that the role of our body in memory processes may be much more prevalent than previously believed." If you're trying to memorize facts or a long list of items, walking while studying may be more beneficial than sitting still. 32 Record Your Voice If you think you're an auditory learner, you learn best by hearing information. A study published in Current Health Sciences Journal claims that about 30% of the population learns best through listening. According to this study, auditory learners "require verbal lectures and discussions, role-playing exercises, structured sessions and reading aloud. In other words, written information may have little meaning until it is heard."So, if you're studying a written list of grocery items or a group of people's names, you may find it hard to memorize on paper. Instead, record yourself reading the information you want to remember. You can easily do this on your smartphone or computer. Play your audio back as frequently as possible and focus on what you're saying or repeat it back to yourself. With this technique, it can be easier to commit information to memory. 33 Exercise Physical activity is proven to keep your brain sharp, making it easier to remember things. Not only is daily exercise great for your body and can ward off chronic conditions and diseases, it may also help you remember to stop by the post office tomorrow or wish your cousin a happy birthday. According to Dr. Small, "A recent study of healthy adults between ages 60 and 75 found that mental tasks involved in executive control—monitoring, scheduling, planning, inhibition, and memory—improved in a group taking aerobic exercise but not in a control group."A study published in Psychology and Aging found that study participants showed an improvement in memory and cognitive processing after only a 15-minute exercise session. If you want to keep your memory on point, add exercise to your daily routine. 34 Go to School Education can help you to develop learning and memory strategies. With coursework, you're forced to quickly determine your favored learning method and work on focusing so you can succeed. If you had the ability to figure out how you learn best when you're younger, you may find it easier when you're older to memorize a phone number or the names of your colleagues at a new job.Skimping out on your education not only makes it harder to develop these learning skills, it can also increase your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. A study published in the Journals of Gerontology found, "Case-control analyses with prevalent cases showed low education to be a risk for Alzheimer's disease." In this study, "low education" participants were those who had six years or less of schooling. Use your school experiences to tap into the learning methods that work for you so you can keep your memory sharp.RELATED: I'm A Doctor And Warn You Never Take This Supplement 35 Make a List Have you noticed the increasing popularity of lists as a way to provide information? (You're reading one!)Your brain can more easily retain concepts when they're organized and a list can help your brain to feel it's looking at information that isn't overwhelming. An article published in Psychology and Information confirms that there is a "Human tendency to locate information spatially." The way information is organized and where it is on the page may be directly related to your ability to understand and remember it.If you're trying to memorize a chunk of information, your brain may not know where to go first. Consider re-organizing it into a list, maybe even a numbered list, so you can focus on one thing first, another thing second, and so on. 36 Understand the Context of What You're Memorizing If you just need to keep a few facts, names, or tidbits in your head for a bit, you should be able to get away with using memorization tactics. However, if you're looking for something to stick in your long-term memory, you'll have to delve deeper and try to understand the context of the information.An article published in Higher Education discusses the differences between learning information through memorization and learning through context. "Using a deep approach a student has the intention to understand. Information may be remembered, but this is viewed as an almost unintentional by-product."To understand the context of a fact, you'll need to read it and relate it to the world. Instead of simply trying to memorize names, dates, or numbers associated with the information, applying it to your life and knowledge of the world can better help you to achieve the context.RELATED: The #1 Cause of Obesity, According to Science 37 Make it a Priority If remembering something is important to you, make it a priority. Prepare yourself to focus on what you need to remember and don't let distractions get in your way.For example, if you're attending a social event and your priority is to make new friends, focus on getting attendees' names and personal tidbits and making them stick in your brain. Don't let the environment or your inner thoughts take you away from listening and remembering what you're learning about your new acquaintances. If you can identify the information as a priority that you want to remember and can keep other thoughts or distractions at bay, you're more likely to maintain focus and commit these tidbits to your long-term memory.RELATED: Signs You're Getting One of the "Most Deadly" Cancers 38 Take Ibuprofen (Only if You Already Are) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are found in ibuprofen and are what can help stop your aches, pains, or headaches. Some studies also show that a small daily dose of these NSAIDs can ward off the onset of Alzheimer's disease. A study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience claims, "Meta-analysis demonstrated that current or former NSAID use was significantly associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease compared with those who did not use NSAIDs."However, most doctors don't recommend starting an ibuprofen regimen just to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease since the results simply aren't significant enough to outweigh the risks. If you're already taking ibuprofen regularly for another ailment, such as arthritis, you may also be decreasing your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease. But there are other negative side effects associated with daily ibuprofen use, such as stomach bleeding. So don't start taking it every day unless you've been instructed to by your doctor. 39 Quit Smoking Smoking can increase your risk for developing serious chronic conditions and deadly diseases, including cancer and heart disease. But this bad habit can also negatively affect your memory. A study published in Neurology linked smoking directly to the onset of Alzheimer's disease.The study concluded that "Smokers had double the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease than people who never smoked." Smoking increases your risk for memory loss as your body ages. However, if you quit smoking, no matter what age you are, you can instantly reduce your risk. 40 Figure Out Your Learning Method Everyone has their own way of remembering details. You may be able to remember things better when you can visually see them while another person may find it easier to remember concepts after hearing about them orally. The only way to figure out which senses trigger your memory is to try out different learning methods.According to the Center for Learning and Development, you should try out several learning and memory methods, such as relational learning or acronyms. While you may be able to identify one learning method that seems to work best for you, certain concepts may be better memorized using a different learning method, so you'll need to be open. For example, you may respond best to relational learning. However, if you're attempting to remember all the U.S. state capitals, you may find it easier to use a rhyming method to jog your memory. And to get through life at your healthiest, don't miss: This Supplement Can Raise Your Cancer Risk, Experts Say.
HealthEat This, Not That!The Safest States During COVID-19 Revealed
In the latest WalletHub survey, the safest state during COVID-19 was named. "In order to find out the safest states during the COVID-19 pandemic, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics," wrote Financial Writer Adam McCann. "Our data set includes the rates of COVID-19 transmission, positive testing, hospitalizations and death, as well as the share of the eligible population getting vaccinated." Read on to see if your state made the list, as we count down the top 10 (well, 11, because they counted D.C.)—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You Had COVID And May Not Have Even Known It. 11 Utah Score: 64.73The CDC said vaccinated people can go maskless pretty much everywhere except when traveling or in hospitals or prisons. Masks won't be required at schools in Utah. "So give kids an opportunity to see their teachers, to see their friends, to spend that last week together without masks, if they so choose," Gov. Spencer Cox said Thursday. 10 California Score: 65.03The state was hit hard but ended up being one of the safest. And soon: "We're not wearing face coverings. We're not restricted in any way, shape or form from doing the old things that we used to do, save for huge, large-scale indoor convention events like that, where we use our common sense," Gov. Gavin Newsom said in an interview with Fox 11. 9 Washington D.C. Score: 66.50"Fourteen months after the Washington region's first reported case of the coronavirus, daily infections and deaths are trending down as vaccinations take hold," reports the Washington Post. "Hospitals are seeing far fewer critically ill patients, and funeral homes are receiving fewer covid-19 victims. A union chief in D.C. says it's been two months since he's had to call a bereaved family to brief them on their loved one's life insurance policy." 8 Connecticut Score: 66.95"Indoor masking will still be required for the unvaccinated for a little while longer," Gov. Ned Lamont said. "I think that's the right thing to do." As for how to tell who's been vaccinated: "I think every store, business, restaurant may have their own rules that way. At this point, I think people are going to self-attest. We hope they are going to do the right thing," he said. 7 Rhode Island Score: 67.29Fully vaccinated Rhode Islanders can follow the CDC's latest advice. And the whole state opens up soon. "So we reset Rhode Island at 100% capacity beginning May 21," said Gov. Dan McKee. "100% capacity in our retail stores, 100% capacity in our gyms, 100% capacity in our offices, and no limits to social gatherings." 6 Alaska Score: 68.83The state is happy to have vaccinations open to those 12 and up. "While children tend to do very well with COVID, they tend to be asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. We still see kids get sick, we still see kids hospitalized, and we know that they can spread it to adults," Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska's chief medical officer, told reporters this week.RELATED: 9 Everyday Habits That Might Lead to Dementia, Say Experts 5 New Hampshire Score: 71.18Vaccination walk-ins will happen soon, as might incentives. "We are looking at working with different businesses, with Commissioner (of Business and Economic Affairs Taylor) Caswell and Perry Plummer, looking at what opportunities there are for us to set up pop-up clinics or mobile activities all around the state at different types of events where there might be some opportunities for incentives," Dr. Beth Daly, the chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control, said. "They're not going to be anything significant, but maybe a free hot dog or ticket to something." 4 Maine Score: 75.36Gov. Janet Mills will ease COVID protocols on May 24th. As for the latest CDC guidance on masks: "Notwithstanding the latest guidance from the U.S. CDC … Mask wearing remains critical, regardless of the venue," Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah said this week. "When we do see [the U.S. CDC guidance], we will review it carefully, and proceed accordingly," Shah said, "but we just learned about and have not yet received it or reviewed it—that's gotta be step number one. Where we go after that, I can't speculate."RELATED: The #1 Cause of Obesity, According to Science 3 Massachusetts Score: 77.69"The new @CDCgov guidance is great news. We will be updating our reopening plans early next week," tweeted Gov. Charlie Baker this week. "Massachusetts is on track to vaccinate more than 4 million residents soon. Please stay safe while we prepare next steps to return to our new normal." 2 Vermont Score: 85.59Vermont waited until it had a low baseline of cases before re-opening fully. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical advisor to the President and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, once called Vermont a "model" of how to handle a pandemic. "This should be the model for the country – how you've done it," Fauci said, "Notwithstanding that this is a small state, but it should be the model of how you get to such a low test positivity that you can actually start opening up the economy in a safe and prudent way."RELATED: Signs You're Getting One of the "Most Deadly" Cancers. 1 And the #1 Safest State During the Pandemic Is….Hawaii Score: 85.70Hawaii is "close" to reaching herd immunity, according to at least one epidemiologist. But Gov. David Ige isn't resting easy. "At this point in time with the majority of our community not vaccinated, and we are not able to determine whether someone is vaccinated or not, we will continue to maintain the mask mandate here in the state of Hawaii," Ige said at a press conference. "The challenge is it's impossible to determine who's vaccinated and who's not vaccinated." As for yourself, get vaccinated, and to get through life at your healthiest, don't miss: This Supplement Can Raise Your Cancer Risk, Experts Say.
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