No more puffy ankles

Hooray for sunny days! The hitch? Warmer weather dilates blood vessels, triggering leg and ankle swelling called edema. Thankfully, these tips work

Tiptoe to the kitchen

The next time you’re getting up for a snack, tiptoe to the kitchen. “The calves are a key player for healthy circulation in the legs, helping pump blood back to the heart,” says Fred Pescatore, M.D. This way, blood doesn’t pool in the feet and ankles. Indeed, Brigham and Women’s Hospital research suggests that for 43% of folks with edema, working the calf muscles by tiptoeing reverses leg and ankle swelling entirely. The trick: Walk on the balls of your feet for five steps, then take five normal steps, repeating for

1 minute every few hours.

Spoon up ‘nice cream’

Bananas are packed with potassium, and the mineral—which 98% of us don’t get enough of—helps flush excess sodium that leads to fluid retention. “That’s particularly helpful this time of year,” says Dr. Pescatore, since even a small uptick in temperature can lead to mild dehydration and perspiration that can trigger a sodium imbalance. One delicious fix: Spoon up frozen banana “nice cream ,” which harnesses the potassiumboosting benefits of the fruit to nix swelling. To do: Slice 1 banana and freeze for 2 hours; blend until smooth and enjoy! Bonus: Its naturally sweet taste and creamy consistency are as delicious as traditional ice cream, but with 70% fewer calories!

Try a French seaside cure

Bark from a tree found along the French seaside (aka Pycnogenol) erases all traces of leg swelling for 60% of patients, according to an Italian study in Phytomedicine. “Research shows this unique supplement has antiinflammatory benefits and aids in the production of nitric oxide, which helps regulate blood-vessel dilation,” says Dr. Pescatore. One to try: Life Extension Pycnogenol (Lifeextension.com/ww).