Easy ways to beat brain fog and more

Keeping blood sugar steady helps you stay focused, clearheaded and healthy, cutting the risk of illness by as much as 67%, report University of Pittsburgh scientists. “With COVID-19 concerns, there’s never been a better time to get blood sugar under control,” says Mark Hyman, M.D., author of Food Fix. And it’s simple! Just… ✓ Postpone your shower

Up to 85% of us are getting 20 minutes of sun exposure daily, and Boston University researchers say the vitamin D-3 your skin produces when it’s bathed in sunlight heightens blood-sugar control by 33%. For best results, wait 60 minutes before showering so newly formed D-3 isn’t washed off before it’s absorbed.

✓ Enjoy wine with WW

Great news! Kicking back to read this magazine right now heightens your blood-sugar control by 45%. The reason? Daily stress breaks quash production of cortisol, a stress hormone that hinders your body’s ability to use sugar-controlling insulin, says Dr. Hyman. For an extra boost, sip a little glass of wine or beer while you read. Researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville say small doses of alcohol prod your pancreas to release insulin, improving blood-sugar control by as much as 32%.

✓ Munch on popcorn

All that probiotic-rich yogurt we’re eating is good for our gut and overall health! When those healthy bacteria settle into the intestines, they release hormones that boost blood-sugar control by 40%, says endocrinologist May Han, M.D. The surprising snack that boosts the effects of those beneficial bugs? Popcorn! Finnish researchers say fiber fuels and energizes gut bacteria, heightening blood-sugar control for 90% of women studied.

✓ Dress up your salad

Fresh summer salads are brimming with compounds (carotenoids) that help your pancreas make sugar-controlling insulin— and you can triple your carotenoid absorption just by adding yummy fats to your fresh greens, say Ohio State researchers. Try a splash of olive oil, a few cheese cubes, chunks of avocado or 1⁄ cup of your 4 favorite nuts!