From gynecology to internal medicine – experts advise for a healthier life

We certainly won’t be breaking anything if we say that it is important to apply sunscreen before going out in the sun, eat fruits and vegetables or exercise. But there are some lesser-known tips, ones that are very simple to implement and can work wonders for our body and mind, and also prevent various diseases among children, young people and adults.

Especially on the occasion of the opening of the year 2026, we spoke with 10 senior experts from various fields, and they were happy to provide their professional experience. Each of them chose to give less known advice, one that could really change your life for the better. ready?

Dr. Nitzan Ano, Director of Longevity, Maccabi Health Services: “In Israel, most of the drinking water is desalinated and therefore very low in magnesium – a very important mineral for muscles, the nervous system and sleep. Even normal blood tests do not always detect a slight deficiency, because most of the magnesium is found inside the cells.

Therefore, for healthy longevity, it is important to be aware of symptoms of fatigue, stress or cramps, and to consider together with a professional if there is a place for a nutritional supplement or a magnesium supplement.

Prof. Ronit Mechtinger, responsible for the clinic for girls and adolescents and the fertility clinic at Hod Hasharon United: “There is a belief that urinating after intercourse reduces the rate of urinary tract infections, especially in women. This is a custom that has not been scientifically tested in depth, but it makes sense. During intercourse, bacteria from the anus or vagina may enter the bladder through the vagina. Urinating immediately after intercourse can help wash these bacteria and remove them from the woman’s body. Therefore, theoretically, this simple action can reduce or even prevent the development of infections in the urinary tract”.

Cardiologist Prof. Yehuda Adler: “It is very important that we all go with aspirin pills in our pockets. Chewing aspirin during a heart attack can in many cases open the blocked artery and save our lives. Therefore, God forbid, when we are attacked by sudden chest pains, we take aspirin and chew it. If the pain does not go away, you can take another pill until the ambulance arrives to evacuate to the hospital. Go with aspirin pills in your purse. It can save your life. In any case, you should consult with a doctor. medical before taking”.

Dr. Daniel Horowitz, a senior physician working in the field of medical aesthetics: “Retinoids (such as retinol) have for years been considered the “gold standard” in aesthetic medicine for improving skin texture, reducing wrinkles and treating sun damage. The substance works in the cell tissue, encourages epidermal renewal and helps improve the quality of the skin. The key to success is consistency.

It is recommended to apply a small amount in the evening – two to three times a week. After about a week, if there is no skin irritation, you can gradually increase the frequency until daily use. It is important to remember: retinol is always combined with sunscreen in the morning and the substance is not suitable for pregnant women or breastfeeding women. You can get a prescription for retinol from your family doctor or a dermatologist, or buy from a reliable company. By the way, an expensive material is not necessarily more effective. If you use other active ingredients such as various acids, you can combine the use but gently and on separate evenings – pay attention to the reaction of the skin, if there is irritation – avoid simultaneous use.

Prof. Ido Wolf, director of the oncology system at Ichilov: “Significant weight loss does not always indicate success in a diet. When weight drops a lot without effort, without a significant dietary change and without medication, this may be a warning sign. Unexplained weight loss can be due to significant medical problems and requires clarification. The rule is simple: a loss of more than 5% of body weight within a few months, without an obvious reason, requires a medical investigation.”

Prof. Avraham Bigelman, Director of the Institute of Allergy and Immunology, Schneider Pediatric Center of the Klalit Group: “Studies from recent years show that early exposure to allergenic foods, such as peanut protein, eggs and milk, as early as six months of age, may significantly reduce the chance of developing a food allergy in childhood. Although in the past they used to avoid early exposure to these foods, it is now clear that their gradual combination, with a texture adapted to the baby’s age, contributes to the development of tolerance of the immune system and the prevention of food allergies. The recommendation is important for all babies, but especially for babies with Family background of allergies”.

Dr. Ludmila Chopin, senior neurologist of Klalit in Dan-Pat district: To keep your brain, don’t just learn things you’re already good at. The brain is strengthened not when we repeatedly solve crossword puzzles that we already know how to solve, but rather when we step out of our comfort zones. Learning a new language, playing an instrument we didn’t know, baking with exact recipes, traveling to work in a different route, dancing, reading a book in a foreign language or even dealing with new technology, force the brain to create new neural connections. This is what builds a ‘brain reserve’, which protects us over the years and slows down processes of cognitive decline. The challenge, not the comfort, is the key to brain health. Don’t just learn what’s easy for you, actually the effort is a good sign, it means that the brain works, gets stronger and stays sharp for a long time

New and challenging learning (language, musical instrument, unfamiliar app) builds brain reserve and slows down cognitive decline much more than solving crosswords or sudoku, for example.

Dr. Liron Berkowitz, ophthalmologist and surgeon specializing in corneal cataracts and laser glasses removal Dr. Levinger Medical Centers from the Danal Group:Staying indoors for a long time leads to a lack of natural sunlight. Studies have shown that children who spend more time outdoors have a significantly lower risk of developing myopia (myopia). Therefore, the recommendation is to be careful about two hours of being outside in daylight every day.

“The researchers believe that sunlight encourages the release of dopamine in the retina. Dopamine acts as an inhibitor of the elongation of the eyeball. When the eyeball elongates too much, myopia occurs. Artificial lighting inside buildings is simply not strong enough to stimulate this mechanism to the same extent.”

Dr. Lior Slok, Senior Pulmonologist, Director of the Program for Airway Diseases, Institute for Lung Health in Sheba: “As a pulmonologist, my best advice is to simply stop for a moment and be aware of breathing. Correct breathing is not only oxygen – it is fuel for all body systems and a key to calming the mind. I recommend switching to diaphragmatic breathing: make sure to breathe through the nose (it filters and warms the air), and consciously activate the diaphragm through what is known as ‘belly breathing’. Slow and deep breaths significantly improve the ventilation and oxygenation of the tissues, and at the same time They ‘turn off’ the body’s stress response. This is a free, available and very powerful tool for maintaining body health and mental resilience.”

Dr. Ilan Green, Director of the Department of Family Medicine at Leumit Health Services: “The most difficult disease these days in my eyes is loneliness. It affects both young people and adults. In recent years, many studies have been conducted on the effect of loneliness on aspects of physical and mental illness. Loneliness is associated with a significant increase in depressive symptoms, a higher rate of frailty. Some studies have even shown a higher mortality rate in those who are defined as lonely. Other studies have shown a higher rate of heart disease and stroke as well as rates of dementia. The possible reasons for the link between Loneliness for diseases is bad health habits such as a decrease in physical activity, high stress that leads to poor sleep and even an effect on the immune system.

The most important recommendation I can give is find friends! It can be a “parliament”, a group of friends or one good friend with whom you cultivate the relationship, a club, a running group, volunteering. Anything that will give you interaction”