Natural Remedy Info

Life Coach - Daily Telegraph

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:54:00 GMT
Bernadette Tynan writes: Whenever children encounter change this can happen, even if the school and parents are excellent and supportive. You need to get to the root of the problem ...

Dried Goji Berries vs Goji Juice

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:59:22 EDT
We believe that a quality goji juiceproduct is far superior to dried goji berries, for at least two reasons:...Which is better: dried goji berries or goji juice?...

goji berries fromLooking After Your Aging Feet

Footcare Advice

You tend to develop more problems with your feet as you get older because your skin becomes thinner and starts to lose its elasticity. You may have developed some degree of arthritis over the years due to old injuries and simple wear and tear. Also you may find that injuries take longer to heal.

Choosing suitable footwear

As you get older you need shoes which will provide adequate support by holding your foot firmly in place. Choose a natural material such as soft leather or cotton which is breathable and will mould to your natural foot shape. Make sure you get your feet checked for size, check both feet, and that your shoes are not too tight. Lace-up shoes or Velcro fasteners will probably be more comfortable than slip-on shoes.

You need to have enough support that your heel is held firmly in place and that you are not gripping with your toes to keep your sandals on. Look at buying open toes Velcro fastening sandals which may be more comfortable, particularly if your feet swell during the day. Go for shoes with lace-up fastenings or an adjustable strap: they keep the heel in place and stop the toes being pushed to the front of the shoe. Your feet should be able to keep their natural shape when in shoes. There should also be a centimeter between the end of your longest toe and end of shoe. Your shoes should also be roomy enough to accommodate any swelling, so go for a wide, deep pair if necessary.

Improving circulation and keeping warm

Exercise is the best way to improve circulation and warm your feet. If you are less mobile, even a small amount of walking, or armchair exercises are beneficial. You could try leg raises whilst sitting in your chair or try holding a bottle of water in each hand and raising your arms. Start off slowly and gradually increase to a level of comfort. These exercises will help to keep your arm and leg muscles mobile. There are also a number of portable mni exercise machine that will allow you to do so from the comfort of your own chair. Wear warm, natural fibre socks preferably non elasticated, or stockings but avoid seams rubbing on any corns. Bed socks at night are also a good idea to make you more comfortable. Avoid anything too tight, either socks or footwear which may restrict your circulation or cramp your toes, and don't get your feet too close to a direct source of heat, such as a fire as this can lead to chilblains. Massage will also help and can help lower your blood pressure.

Diet:

Beneficial foods & Nutrients

Garlic - improves circulation

Ginger - improves circulation

Goji Berries / Wolfberrries - Improves circulation

Pumpkin seeds - a good source of phytoestrogens which help improve circulation

Radishes - stimulate circulation

Sesame seeds / Tahini - a good source of phytoestrogens which help improve circulation

Tumeric - Improves circulation and inhibits blood clumping

Cayenne Pepper - Improves peripheral circulation and reduces blood clotting tendencies

Chlorophyll - naturally found in green plants and vegetables - improves circulation, especially to the legs

Irons - found in meat, poultry, pulses, helps transport oxygen throughout the body, which can alleviate the symptoms of fatigue, light headedness and weakness

Silicon - found in grains such as oats, barley and rice as well as vegetables. Helps keep blood warm and maintains the elasticity of arterial cell walls

Sulphur. Naturally found in eggs and lettuce, cabbage which stimulates circulation

Vitamin B3/Niacin is found in many products such as yeast, meat, fish, milk, eggs and improves the circulatory system

Vitamin E is found in plant oils such as soya, corn and olive oil and nuts and helps healing to the circulatory system

Iodine, most easily found in sea salt, conditions the hair skin nails and teeth

Zinc is found in pumpkin seeds, and red meat and is required to help in wound healing

Lastly avoid smoking, and eating excess salt, saturated fats.

Diabetes

If you are a diabetic you are fifteen times more likely to have a limb amputated or suffer with leg and foot ulcers. However the risk of complication is significantly reduced if your blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol are properly monitored and controlled.

There is a gradual condition called neuropathy which causes the loss of sensation in your toes and feet. This may lead to injury or damage to your feet whilst you are unaware of it. If unnoticed and not treated appropriately this can have potentially serious consequences and could lead to an amputation. This is less likely if you regularly visit a Chiropodist or Podiatrist who will check to see your ability to feel pressures on the soles of your feet and toes each visit. Prevention is better than cure and if you know that you have lost or are losing feeling then you will be able to reduce the risk of problems occurring, by taking daily inspections of your feet and by taking sensible precautions like not walking bare footed or sitting too close to fires.

Diabetes also affects the blood supply to your feet, and this can delay healing and increase your risks of infection and amputation.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is often called the 'wear and tear' arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage of a joint) becomes damaged. As the cartilage deteriorates, the bone underneath can thicken, causing pain, stiffness and swelling.

OA can affect any of your joints in the feet but most likely to affect the joint at the base of the big toes. This joint is more prone to wear and tear from the pressures of walking, especially if you roll your foot in excessively as you walk. Wear and tear at the ends of the bone cause the cartilage to erode and the bone ends may begin to join together. Eventually your big toe may become rigid (a condition called hallux rigidus) which makes walking difficult. Or your big toe may drift towards your other toes (hallux valgus) which may cause bunions.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a condition that causes inflammation in many joints of the body. Unlike osteoarthritis which is caused by wear and tear, rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease where a faulty immune system attacks the tissue that lines and cushions the joints, leaving them swollen, painful and stiff.

RA affects the smaller joints such as the fingers and toes first, so feet are often one of the first places to be affected. The joints may enlarge and become rigid, so they can no longer be fully extended. See: Arthritis Research Campaign

Deformities
Bunions

The proper name for a bunion is "Hallux valgus". Hallux valgus refers to the condition in which the big toe is angled excessively towards the second toe rulsting in a bunion. Posh Spice is famous for her bunions. A bunion is the the bony prominence on the side of the big toe. It may also have a large sac of fluid, known as a bursa, which can then become inflamed and sore. Unfortunately this condition can also encourage corns and calluses to develop. You may have a genetic tendency to having bunions if your parents or grandparents suffered from bunions. Women are also more likely to get them than men due to the hormones that tend to cause looser ligaments and more restrictive footwear styles, such as stilettos.

Hammer toes

This is where the becomes bent up in an inverted "V" shape and can't straighten out during walking. Corns develop where it rubs against the shoe. Wearing too-tight shoes and socks make the condition worse.

Corns

When we walk or stand, our body weight is carried first on the heel and then on the ball of the foot, where the skin is thicker, and more able to withstand the pressure. When this pressure becomes intense, growths, in the form of corns and callus, may appear. Hard corns always occur over a bony prominence, such as a joint, whereas soft corns form between the toes. You should never attempt to cut them out yourself. Many of the over the counter corn remedies will be ineffective and proper treatment should be sort from a registered Chiropodist

Verrucae

A verruca is simply a wart that is usually found on the soles of your feet, though they can also appear around the toes. A verruca can grow to half an inch in diameter and may spread into a cluster of small warts. It is caused by a virus known as human papiloma virus (HPV) and is highly contagious. You can buy effective self treatments from a pharamist but do not self-treat if you have diabetes or circulation problems If you do however, or find that the verruca appears to be getting bigger, consult your podiatrist.

The author has worked extensively in the Care industry in the UK, specializing with Alzheimers clients and has also been an employer of overseas Carers. With a former background as a Legal Executive she has developed a website http://www.independent-care.com to provide free information for those wishing to employ Carers in the UK, and those wishing to work, temporarily or permanently in the UK.

Shortbread: One of Life's Greatest Sensual Pleasures

Tasting, experiencing and writing about new food and drink is not just my livelihood. To me, it�s in the top five of life�s greatest pleasures... to be enjoyed slowly, purposefully, with all of the senses.

Next time you treat yourself to something as divine as home-baked shortbread, why not try this:

1. Find a softly lit, secluded spot where you can be alone with just the shortbread. Take a moment to breathe deeply and engage all five of your senses.

2. Gently lift the parcel of buttery goodness. Peel the protective wrap away, and behold the golden confection... ahh, shortbread. Simple. Elegant. Perfect.

3. Close your eyes, and lean in. Deeply inhale the gentle sweetness... the aroma of creamery butter... the unmistakable whiff of homemade freshness that delights your appreciative nose. With the tip of your finger, slowly and deliberately trace the baked-in heart and flower motif. Observe the way the pattern feels against your skin. Imagine how the same texture will soon be received by your tongue.

4. Break off a small wedge of the shortbread. Lift the bite ever so slowly to your mouth, and prepare to welcome the thin layer of sweet raspberry jam, sandwiched between layers of moist, buttery, decadent cookie. Smile in knowing anticipation of what's to come.

5. Again, close your eyes, fully engaging all of your senses. Take a deep breath for one last pregnant pause... then deliver the shortbread cookie to its rightful home... your eager mouth! Inevitably, time will seem to stop as the shortbread melts upon your tongue, spreading its luxurious flavor. You may find that an involuntary groan slips from your gratified lips.

6. Resist the urge to gnaw off inappropriately large slabs of this sinful treat and gobble them with reckless abandon. Instead, repeat steps one through five, savoring every precious second of the shortbread sensory experience.

In all likelihood, your shortbread session will be totally orgasmic.

Copyright 2006 Ann Zuccardy. All rights reserved. This article edited by www.Wordfeeder.com Copywriting and Marketing Services.

Ann Zuccardy, creative entrepreneur, food lover and owner of the Vermont Shortbread Company, invites you to sample a taste of her buttery-rich, authentic Vermont Shortbread. Place your online order for shortbread boxed fresh from the oven and shipped right to your doorstep at http://VermontShortbread.com

Sugar - The Truth!

Let's talk about the not-so-sweet truth about sugar and how it sabotages your health. First of all, did you know that the average American gets 20% of their calories from sugar? It is estimated that the average person eats a whopping 136 pounds of sugar a year! Unfortunately many young people eat an even greater amount. Sugar is an empty calorie food, meaning that you are taking in calories that have no nutritional value to fuel your body.

Have you ever noticed that once you have something sweet it leaves you wanting more and more? You've just hopped on the sugar treadmill. You get the sugar high and then crash, as your blood glucose levels swing wildly up and down. Sugar is the drug of choice for many people and it is not without consequences.

Refined sugar depletes your body of all the B vitamins; it also leaches calcium from your hair, bones, blood and teeth. If that is not enough, sugar also affects your body's digestion. Sugar ferments in your stomach. It stops the secretion of gastric juices and inhibits the stomachs ability to digest. Weight gain, mood swings and irritability are a few more side effects from consuming too much sugar. Sugar plays a major role in altering one's mood. Refined sugar has a chemical reaction on the brain, releasing serotonin, the 'feel good' hormone; this tricks the body into a temporary lift as well as causing a rise in blood glucose levels. This 'feel good' lift is then followed by the crash where you feel tired, irritable and even depressed. So what do you do about it?

Removing sugar, or at least reducing the amount, from your diet can and probably should be done in steps. First of all, make a decision to cut out all added sugar that you use from the sugar bowl. If this sounds impossible, please give it a chance. When you stop adding extra sugar to your foods you can actually taste the food your eating. Give your taste buds a week to adjust and I'll bet you will actually appreciate the flavors of your food more without the sugar. Another step to take is to read your labels. Food manufacturers add high fructose corn syrup to most packaged foods. You can start by cutting out all foods with this dangerous ingredient. This may seem daunting but let's face it; real food does not come in a box anyway. Packaged and processed foods are rarely a wise choice for optimal nutrition. When you get a sugar craving try to satisfy it with a natural sugar source like fresh fruit or dried fruit.

You want to avoid the processed sugars that have become so common place in our society. They are white sugar, brown sugar, blackstrap molasses and corn syrup. There are better choices out there like maple syrup, honey, cane juice, rice syrup and sorghum molasses. Many people use artificial sweeteners to avoid sugar. I'm sorry to say that this is no better. Many artificial sweeteners have been proven to have negative side effects. Studies have also shown that eating an artificially sweetened item will still leave you wanting something sweet just as if you had eaten real sugar.

There is no reason to use artificial sweeteners. The right way to deal with our natural desire for sugars is to get them from whole foods, from starches, vegetables and fruits. So I would like to challenge you to reduce your sugar intake. Give it just one week and you will see that you can do it and that you will feel better and more balanced.

Barry Lovelace is creator of Exercise4 Every Body circuit training DVD's. Co-owner of FitQuest Fitness in Allentown, Pa.. a personal trainer, speaker and all around fitness enthusiast.

Visit Barry's website: http://www.fitquestlv.com Contact Barry: barry@barrylovelace.com

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