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LUMANITY HARMONY TWOTIER BRASS STATEMENT CHANDELIER overstock.com ART DECO ARM CHAIR twistmodern.com

Art Deco Décor

Embrace the new year with sleek, geometric pieces that pay homage to the 1920s.

WINDMERE MEDIUM IRREGULAR GOLD ART DECO MIRROR The Home Depot, Paramus, 201.262.3344

ART DECO STYLED OVAL COFFEE TABLE bernadettelivingston.com

BOND CARAMEL DECO VELVET BARSTOOL mafillelamaison. co.uk

ART DECO STOOL BY HARRY & LOU EPSTEIN 1stdibs.com

POSSINI EURO DESIGN ART DECO FLOOR LAMP Target, Edgewater, 201.402.0252

EXERCISE TO STAY SMART

Researchers have found that the brains of folks who exercise regularly shrink less than the brains of those who don’t. That will help decrease the risk of memory loss and will aid cognitive function. Any physical exercise will do as long as it’s done regularly.

—Columbia University

JUST REACH OUT

Calling, texting or emailing friends and family is good for your mental health and has a positive effect on recipients. A recent study found that we underestimate how much others appreciate hearing from us.

—Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

RAISING GOOD CHOLESTEROL

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, also known as “good” cholesterol, helps remove other forms of cholesterol from your bloodstream. That’s why higher levels are good for your heart. One way to boost HDL: eating a lower carb diet. Research has shown that a diet consisting of less than 50 grams of carbs a day and one that’s high in unsaturated fats and low in saturated fats will help do the trick.

—American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Want to lower your risk of heart disease and cancer? Try cycling. A study found that people who regularly cycle reduced their risk of heart disease by 46 percent and cancer by 45 percent. —BMJ

BEWARE SNIFFLES, SORE THROAT

It could be COVID-19. A recent study found that 56 percent of asymptomatic people who tested positive for the virus during the Omicron surge had no idea they had the virus. So if you have even mild symptoms, test yourself to avoid spreading the virus to others.

—JAMA Open Network

ROAD TO A RAW DIET

Eating plant foods is good for you, but go easy, say experts. If you’re not used to eating this way, your gut needs time to adjust. A study found that twothirds of Americans have gastrointestinal issues that include bloating, constipation and heartburn, which raw foods can exacerbate. —American Journal of Gastroenterology

JAVA WOES

Single-serve coffee pods are handy. But research has shown that the brewing process can cause chemicals, such as benzophenone, an estrogenic chemical, to be part of your daily brew. Levels of the chemicals were well below safety limits, however, the effects of long-term exposure are yet to be determined. This class of chemical has been linked to cancer and endocrine disruption. —Toxicology Reports

SENIORS NEED THEIR SLEEP

Contrary to myth, people age 50 and older do not need less sleep than younger folks. In fact, those older adults who slept five hours or less increased their risk of chronic illnesses—arthritis, diabetes, cancer, depression, heart disease and others—by 30 percent compared with people who slept seven hours.

—PLOS Medicine

YOUR BODY A HEAD-TO-TOE GUIDE

More than the sum of your parts? Of course you are. But a part-by-part check can’t hurt. By Leslie Garisto Pfaff

Your body is an intricate assemblage of parts designed to work seamlessly together. And while it’s critically important to take care of the whole, it’s equally essential to make sure all those parts are in peak shape. We’ve combed through the research—and asked the experts— for info to help you maintain your body, part by part, so you can function like a well-oiled machine, throughout the new year and many years to follow.

SKIN: Cuts and scrapes are inevitable, but often scarring isn’t. Tamar Zapolanski, M.D., a dermatologist at Valley Health, advises that “when healing cuts and scrapes, keeping wounds moist has been proven to work better than letting them dry out.” Our instinct, she says, is to allow them to scab, but she warns that “airing out” wounds results in more scarring than covering them. “Good old Vaseline and a bandage is the best medicine,” Dr. Zapolanski notes. Change both daily after washing with soap and water.

HEAD: To avoid tension headaches, you don’t have to retire to an ashram. But do make sure that you’re getting sufficient vitamin D. Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland discovered that chronic headache sufferers had levels of vitamin D below the threshold for deficiency. Your primary care doctor can measure your D levels through a simple blood test. If yours is low, he or she may suggest you take a supplement.

BRAIN: If you’re looking for a way to amp up your ability to commit facts to memory, look no further than your kitchen coffeemaker (or your neighborhood barista). Neuroscientists have long known that caffeine, in moderate amounts, can improve brain function overall, but a new study out of Johns Hopkins University found that participants who were given 200-milligram tablets of caffeine (roughly equivalent to two cups of brewed coffee) after looking at a series of images were significantly better at remembering those images than their noncaffeinated counterparts. Just make sure that your daily intake doesn’t exceed 400 milligrams, the amount deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration.

TEETH:

Teeth need healthy gums to stay healthy themselves, and an analysis of eight recent studies published in the journal Clinical Oral Investigations showed that omega-3 fatty acids can help keep gums in the pink. You’ll find omega-3s in supplement form, as well as in fish such as mackerel, wildcaught salmon, herring, bluefin and albacore tuna, lake trout, whitefish, bluefish, halibut and sea bass.

HAIR: These days, everyone is talking about the gut microbiome—the microscopic flora and fauna that live in the intestines and, in balance, promote good health and overall immunity. Turns out our scalp is home to a microbiome of its own, and, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, coconut oil can supply the vitamins and amino acids necessary to keep that microbiome happy—which, in turn, can help banish scalp itch, dry scalp and dandruff and promote healthier hair in the process.

EYES: To protect against macular degeneration, the leading cause of age-related blindness, go for the goji. Researchers at the University of California–Davis found that eating a handful of goji berries five times a week increased the eye pigments that ward off the disorder. The same wasn’t true for goji supplements, so toss an ounce or so of gojis in your cereal, smoothie or yogurt parfait to perfect those pigments.

EARS: If you’re like most Americans, you’ve never had a baseline hearing test. But the folks at the American Academy of Audiology say it’s the best way to monitor the health of your hearing, now and over time. You needn’t see an audiologist unless you suspect you’ve suffered significant hearing loss; just ask your family doctor to perform the test at your next checkup.

SHOULDERS: To avoid those all-too-common shoulder injuries, Rami Alrabaa, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with the Englewood Health Physician Network, cautions against “going from zero to 100.” “Tendon injuries and tears often occur in ‘weekend warriors,’ people who are not accustomed to regular exercise or those who pick up an aggressive activity without an appropriate warmup,” he says. “For example, lifting excessively heavy weights during shoulder abduction exercises can place significant strain on the rotator cuff.” Besides taking it slow, the best way to avoid this kind of injury is to stay active and maintain a consistent exercise routine, says the doctor.

NECK: Sitting is a pain in the neck—literally. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Alrabaa advises those of us with sedentary jobs to take frequent breaks to stand up and walk around. And, he notes, when we’re seated, especially when facing a computer monitor, “it’s easy to slouch and forget about engaging your back and abdominal muscles. You can avoid strains in the musculature around the neck and shoulder area by maintaining a good posture. Engage your abdominal and back muscles when seated for prolonged periods of time to ensure that you are in an upright position while sitting.” Sleeping can be just as hard on your neck as sitting. Dr. Alrabaa cautions against using a pillow that’s too large or rigid, which can cause excessive strain on the neck.

WRISTS: When you think of strength training, you likely don’t envision your wrists. But a 2023 study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research showed that building up the muscles of the wrist protected against the development of common disorders such as wrist tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Yes, you can pump iron—two small dumbbells—to develop your wrist muscles. Ask your doctor or orthopedist for recommended exercises using light weights and involving extension, flexion, supination and pronation.

HEART: Want to boost heart health? Get to bed on time. For years, the American Heart Association maintained a list of seven lifestyle factors associated with heart health: nicotine exposure, diet, physical activity, weight, blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure. In 2023 the AHA added an eighth factor: sleep. To support a healthy heart, they recommend that adults get between seven to nine hours a night (and even more for kids, depending on age).

GUT: Boosting the good bugs in your gut and banishing the bad ones does more than promote gastrointestinal health; it also revs up immunity; protects against inflammation, cancer and diabetes; helps with weight loss; delays the onset of Crohn’s disease; and extends life. Two recent studies in the journal Gut found that one of the best ways to boost the health of your intestinal microbiome is to follow a Mediterranean diet, high in fresh fruits and veggies, fish, legumes, whole grains and nuts.

SPINE: A surprising study out of Berlin’s Humboldt University found that elite athletes suffer from lower back pain as often as the rest of us, most likely because they, too, have weak lower back muscles. To strengthen these muscles and gain greater control of the spine, the study’s lead author, Maria Moreno Catala, recommends incorporating Pilates into your fitness routine. In another study, Catala found that adding some instability to your workout, like trying to balance on a workout ball, actually relieved lower back pain. (As with any exercise regimen, consult your doctor before trying this.)

LEG MUSCLES: If you experience spasms or cramps after a workout, you may be dehydrated, pushing yourself too hard or doing something incorrectly, warns J. Christopher Mendler, M.D., director of the sports medicine program at Holy Name Medical Center. “Be sure to properly hydrate, try easing up next time you work out and make sure you’re using the correct techniques,” he advises. If you do cramp up, he suggests using a cold pack on the affected area and gently stretching it out. Massage and compression can also help. Be sure to check in with your medical team if you have any additional concerns.

LIVER: From 2012 to 2019, the number of annual hepatitis C cases in the U.S. more than doubled, from to 24,700 to 57,500. Because untreated hep C, a viral inflammation of the liver, can lead to liver disease and even liver cancer, and because in its early stages it’s asymptomatic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended that every American be tested at least once for the disease and that women be tested during each pregnancy.

KIDNEYS: Want to avoid kidney stones? Stay hydrated. Andrew Siegel, M.D., a urologist in Maywood and

Teaneck, notes that dehydration is the single greatest contributing factor to the development of the painful condition. The National Kidney Foundation recommends consuming at least eight cups of liquid a day, in any form, including water, tea, soup, juice, etc. And if you’ve been sweating a lot—in warm weather, during exercise or hot yoga, in a sauna—you should drink even more. A bonus: Staying hydrated helps protect against urinary tract infections as well. In addition, don’t take too much supplemental vitamin C. “In the body, C is converted into calcium oxalate,” he notes, “which is the key component of most kidney stones.” COLON: Want to do your colon a favor? Forget cleanses (research shows that they do little good and could even be harmful) and eat yogurt instead to keep your colon clean— of the polyps that can be precursors to cancer. A recent analysis of data from the famous Nurses Study revealed that regular consumption of yogurt—one or more servings per week—was associated with a decreased risk of colon cancer. (And if you want another reason to snack on the fermented milk product, it’s been shown to help protect against colds as well.)

BUTT: At the height of the pandemic, as The New York Times reported, doctors received a record number of complaints of buttock pain. It turns out that the pain in the butt, for most, was brought on by long hours spent sitting on soft surfaces (think “pandemic couch potato”). If it feels like your derriere is in need of repair, consider switching to a more supportive seat.

FEET: Whether, like 12 million Americans, you suffer from toenail fungus or, like pretty much everyone else, you’d like to avoid it, taking good care of your feet is a must. Don’t wear shoes that press on your nails, and do wear socks that wick away moisture. (Manmade fibers are actually better at this than 100-percent cotton.) If you use a common shower (at the gym, say), always wear flipflops or shower shoes. And use separate nail clippers for infected and uninfected nails.

KNEES: Walking has often been touted as the perfect exercise, and if your knees could talk, they’d almost certainly agree. A British

study published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research indicated

that walking 6,000 steps a day could stave off the development of osteoarthritis in the knee—a cause of knee pain and disability in 27 million

Americans and 250 million people worldwide. In addition, recent research out of Northwestern University’s Northwestern Medicine suggested that just one hour a week of rapid walking—the kind you do when you’re late for an important appointment—can decrease the chance of disability in people already suffering from knee osteoarthritis. If you don’t have a solid hour free for brisk walking, don’t worry—researchers say you can break those 60 minutes into six 10-minute intervals per week.