Health Tips Line

The United States turned 250 this summer, and to celebrate, we shot off fireworks and went to parades and, above it all, waved the American flag . Why is that? “Every country on Earth, for the most part, has evolved a national flag,” says James Ferrigan, a vexillologist (aka flag expert and historian) and the current treasurer of the North American Vexillological Association. “It’s kind of their one chance to send a nonverbal message to the world, like, ‘Hey, we’re over here! This is us!'” That desire to be seen—across the land or ocean, as well as more philosophically—helps explain why, even though there’s no law requiring countries to develop a flag, we all do it. “No one wants to be left out,” he says. “It’s almost like we’re hardwired for it, you know?” But choosing a color? That posed a problem—for a while, at least. “Let’s say I want to turn this fabric into a new colo...

We absolutely adore Princess Diana, we really do, but this story is a tough one to swallow. In fact, this revelation about the late Princess of Wales broke our hearts a little, and we’re still processing the news that came to light when a 40-year-old letter written by King Charles was recently auctioned off by Chiswick Auctions in London for £656 ($880). But let’s start from the beginning. Diana and Charles seemed like the perfect couple on paper, but as we now know, they were a mismatch from Day One. Even before they tied the knot on July 29, 1981 , they were having problems. That being said, they really tried to make it work, and Charles made a huge sacrifice for Diana—and, if you ask us, quite a drastic one. He gave up one of his absolute favorite companions, a yellow Labrador retriever named Harvey, because Diana wasn’t a fan. (We know.) Read on to find out what happened—and whether Diana ever embarked on a puppy-redemption arc. Get  Reader...

Think your driver’s license is just a card you pull out when you need to prove your age or board a flight? Think again. A recent data breach may have exposed the personal information of millions of drivers, and there’s a chance your info may be caught up in it. We’re used to hearing about stolen credit card numbers and hacked bank accounts, but this type of breach could create a whole different set of problems. That’s because the very detailed information on your driver’s license could give criminals another piece of the puzzle they need to impersonate you or target you with scams. So what happened, who may be affected and what should you do if your information was exposed? Read on for everything you need to know about the breach and how to check if you’re on the list. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more news, scams, fun facts, humor, cleaning, travel and tech all week long. What happened, exactly? An insurance...

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but having zero summer trips booked in July doesn’t mean you’ve missed your chance to get away. Every year, I tell myself I’m done planning vacations, and then I realize there are still a few weekends left on the calendar or a destination catches my eye. Before I know it, I’m comparing flights and convincing myself that one more weekend getaway is totally justified. The good news? If you haven’t booked your summer vacation yet, there’s still plenty of time. According to Expedia’s new 2026 Destinations of the Summer report, a handful of U.S. destinations deserve a spot on your travel radar this season. The list features everything from sunny beach escapes and outdoor-adventure hubs to charming smaller cities. And if you’re hoping to keep things easy with a road trip or a quick flight, you’re in luck—Expedia found that domestic destinations within driving distance or a short hop on a p...

Is there anything better than kicking back outside on a sunny day with your favorite people nearby, the grill fired up and the irresistible smell of burgers, steaks and barbecue filling the air? Grilling is one of America’s favorite pastimes, and with outdoor grills in about 65% of households, it’s easy to see why. There’s just something about that sizzle of a steak hitting the grill and the anticipation of that first delicious bite. While many of us reach for classic favorites like juicy burgers and all-American hot dogs, you might be surprised to learn that grilling tastes vary from state to state. According to a recent study from Innerbody, Americans aren’t all putting the same foods on their grills. Some places can’t get enough of chicken wings, others fire up the grill for carne asada and some even have a surprising love for grilled onion rings (which, honestly, might need to make their way onto my next cookout menu). Read on for the most popular gri...

Somewhere in Harlan Coben’s New Jersey home, you can find all 36 of his mega-popular thriller novels . They’re just not located where you think. “I usually have them piled haphazardly in my office,” he says. “I don’t think I would probably like myself if I displayed them, so they’re on the floor.” But while speaking to Reader’s Digest, he makes eye contact with one, in particular: a new paperback edition of his 2023 bestseller I Will Find You , featuring Sam Worthington on the cover. As he puts it, “It’s dominating.” Oh, yes, it is. Since its June 18 launch on Netflix, the eight-episode series has become the TV smash of the summer, with more than 60 million viewers worldwide (and counting) hooked on the drama. Worthington stars as David Burroughs, a man languishing in prison for the murder of his young son. When David receives evidence that his boy may still be alive, he embarks on a prison break and goes on a ques...