This article appeared in Nails Magazine and just thought it was interesting enough to share!
Foot-related injuries due to flip-flop wear are on the rise according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. "There are many flip-flops on the market that offer little to nothing in terms of arch support, stability and shock absorption," says the APMA's Dr. Ross Taubman. "Opting to wear a pair of cheaply constructed flip-flips puts the wearer at risk for injuries such as arch pain, tendinitis, and sprained ankles." The APMA urges wearers to select flip-flops that are made of high-quality soft leather, rather than plastic or foam. They offer the following five "don'ts" to reduce the risk of injury:
1. Don't re-wear flip-flops year after year. Thoroughly inspect older flip-flops for wear. If they show signs of severe wear in the soles, it's time to discard them.
2. Don't ignore irritation between toes, where the toe thong fits - this can lead to blisters and even worse irritation.
3. Don't wear flip-flops while walking long distances. Even the sturdiest flip-flops offer little in terms of shock absorption and arch support.
4. Don't do yard work while wearing flip-flops. Always wear a shoe that fully protects the foot when doing outside activities like mowing the lawn or using a weed-eater.
5. Don't ever play sports in flip-flops. You can easily twist your foot or ankle, leading to sprains or breaks.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Nails and Your Health
During a health check up, your doctor may examine your nails, which will often reflect not only the state of your health, but also what you're been eating -- and what you're lacking.
Thin, peeling nails, or nails with white spots or ridges, mean your body is running short of zinc. You should incorporate more legumes, beans, mushrooms, brewer's yeast, and whole grains into your meals.
Are your nails spoon -shaped or fluted ? This may signal a lack of iron and/or vitamin A. Load up on your greens, sprouts, carrots, melon and pumpkin. Eat small portions of iron -rich liver and other red meat.
Brittle nails may be a sign that you need more biotin, which is found in yeast, mushrooms, grapefruit, watermelon, bananas, and strawberries. It could also mean you need more iron --easily obtained from red meat, greens and carrots --or that you lack zinc.
Fragile nails and nails that show horizontal or vertical ridges could mean a deficiency in vitamin B. Carrots, spinach, brown rice, melon, and walnuts are good, natural sources.
Poor nail growth could mean you're not getting enough zinc. Hangnails can be painful and look red and inflamed. You may want to try adding foods that are high in folic acid like barley, bran, legumes, lentils, and mushrooms, vitamin C could also help: orange, citrus, guava, amla, and all green vegetables are good sources. Avoid taking supplements to improve nail health as too much of any single vitamin could also lead to brittle and fragile nails. Get your vitamin from food. When you nourish your whole body, nails will automatically begin to look healthier.
~ Information found at HandFootcare.com
NOTE: ALWAYS consult your doctor for professional health advice if you have any questions or concerns.
Thin, peeling nails, or nails with white spots or ridges, mean your body is running short of zinc. You should incorporate more legumes, beans, mushrooms, brewer's yeast, and whole grains into your meals.
Are your nails spoon -shaped or fluted ? This may signal a lack of iron and/or vitamin A. Load up on your greens, sprouts, carrots, melon and pumpkin. Eat small portions of iron -rich liver and other red meat.
Brittle nails may be a sign that you need more biotin, which is found in yeast, mushrooms, grapefruit, watermelon, bananas, and strawberries. It could also mean you need more iron --easily obtained from red meat, greens and carrots --or that you lack zinc.
Fragile nails and nails that show horizontal or vertical ridges could mean a deficiency in vitamin B. Carrots, spinach, brown rice, melon, and walnuts are good, natural sources.
Poor nail growth could mean you're not getting enough zinc. Hangnails can be painful and look red and inflamed. You may want to try adding foods that are high in folic acid like barley, bran, legumes, lentils, and mushrooms, vitamin C could also help: orange, citrus, guava, amla, and all green vegetables are good sources. Avoid taking supplements to improve nail health as too much of any single vitamin could also lead to brittle and fragile nails. Get your vitamin from food. When you nourish your whole body, nails will automatically begin to look healthier.
~ Information found at HandFootcare.com
NOTE: ALWAYS consult your doctor for professional health advice if you have any questions or concerns.
Know Your Nail Type
Fed up with spending time on your nails only for them to snap minutes after your manicure? Well, if the products you're using aren't right for your nail type, you could actually be killing your nails with kindness. Truth is, just like skin and hair, nails come in types- five, in fact. Nail care can be dry, brittle, damaged, sort or normal, and they need to be treated accordingly. Here's how to diagnose your particular nail type - and how to treat it property.
Dry Nails
Dry nails lack lustre and look dull; plus, if you run you r thumb over the nail, it will drag slightly instead of sliding cleanly across. The secret to treating dry nails is to rehydrate them - vitamin E is fantastic for this (just like it is on dry skin) so open vitamin capsule and rub it directly onto the nails morning and evening. It'll also help if you always wear a moisturizing base coat to hydrate the nails twenty - four/seven and prevent further drying by switching from soap to hand washes. Finally, steer clear of pearlized polish. The ingredients used to make them sparkly can be dehydrating.
Brittle Nails
Gently press the sides of your nails together. If your nail doesn't bend, chances are you have brittle nails. These have no moisture left in them at all. Which also means they have no flexibility and shatter as soon as they bash on something. This causes most people to reach for the nail hardener, but this is the worst thing you can do as it makes the nail even more rigid. It's better to boost flexibility by oiling the nails nightly with almond oil instead. The shape of your nails will also add strength. The best is a squoval shape ( where the sides of the nail are left straight and only the top is rounded ), as this helps the nail absorb shocks better.
Damaged Nails
If your nails are flaking or splitting, you have damaged nails. These are most commonly caused by severe dehydration. Help them with a treatment base coat to heal the nail, but make sure that, as you apply it, you stipple it into any flaky spots (just like you would cover peeling paint). This will prevent air bubbles forming under the polish and stop flaking - which is important, as flaking polish takes nail cells with it, increasing damage. You also need to ensure that the cells that grow through next time are strong and healthy, so use cuticle oil twice daily; if the cuticle is supple, the new cells can push through more easily so they arrive at the nail bed in the best of health.
Soft Nails
If your nails bend at the slightest touch and rarely grow past your fingertip you've got soft nails. To get them back into shape, you need to harden them up. The simple way to do this is to apply a nail hardener or try rubbing in a little essential oil of elemi (order this at health food stores). In fact, any oil will help strengthen soft nails as it keeps out their main enemy, water, which softens them even further. Always wear gloves when you're washing up and apply hand cream after washing your hands.
Normal Nails
If you have none of the above problems - your nails bend slightly when pressed, look pink and shiny and will grow easily - you're lucky, you naturally have normal nails. Try to keep them that way by moisturizing them regularly with hand creams, and avoiding harsh detergents and overly hot water.
Dry Nails
Dry nails lack lustre and look dull; plus, if you run you r thumb over the nail, it will drag slightly instead of sliding cleanly across. The secret to treating dry nails is to rehydrate them - vitamin E is fantastic for this (just like it is on dry skin) so open vitamin capsule and rub it directly onto the nails morning and evening. It'll also help if you always wear a moisturizing base coat to hydrate the nails twenty - four/seven and prevent further drying by switching from soap to hand washes. Finally, steer clear of pearlized polish. The ingredients used to make them sparkly can be dehydrating.
Brittle Nails
Gently press the sides of your nails together. If your nail doesn't bend, chances are you have brittle nails. These have no moisture left in them at all. Which also means they have no flexibility and shatter as soon as they bash on something. This causes most people to reach for the nail hardener, but this is the worst thing you can do as it makes the nail even more rigid. It's better to boost flexibility by oiling the nails nightly with almond oil instead. The shape of your nails will also add strength. The best is a squoval shape ( where the sides of the nail are left straight and only the top is rounded ), as this helps the nail absorb shocks better.
Damaged Nails
If your nails are flaking or splitting, you have damaged nails. These are most commonly caused by severe dehydration. Help them with a treatment base coat to heal the nail, but make sure that, as you apply it, you stipple it into any flaky spots (just like you would cover peeling paint). This will prevent air bubbles forming under the polish and stop flaking - which is important, as flaking polish takes nail cells with it, increasing damage. You also need to ensure that the cells that grow through next time are strong and healthy, so use cuticle oil twice daily; if the cuticle is supple, the new cells can push through more easily so they arrive at the nail bed in the best of health.
Soft Nails
If your nails bend at the slightest touch and rarely grow past your fingertip you've got soft nails. To get them back into shape, you need to harden them up. The simple way to do this is to apply a nail hardener or try rubbing in a little essential oil of elemi (order this at health food stores). In fact, any oil will help strengthen soft nails as it keeps out their main enemy, water, which softens them even further. Always wear gloves when you're washing up and apply hand cream after washing your hands.
Normal Nails
If you have none of the above problems - your nails bend slightly when pressed, look pink and shiny and will grow easily - you're lucky, you naturally have normal nails. Try to keep them that way by moisturizing them regularly with hand creams, and avoiding harsh detergents and overly hot water.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Caring for your feet
How well do you know your feet? Do you treat them with kindness, or do you neglect and abuse them?
According to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), ailments of the foot are among the most common, and most neglected, health problems. Seventy-five percent of Americans will experience foot problems; and women have about four times as many foot problems as men have.
It is important to consider the relationship between foot health and overall health. Your feet may be the first part of your body to show symptoms of arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other serious medical conditions. The APMA offers practical suggestions for the care of your feet: wear properly-fitted, protective footwear; avoid going barefoot; use ice (cold) to treat an injury and reduce swelling and pain; and seek medical treatment at the first sign of injury or infection. If your feet require medical treatment, I recommend that you consult with a licensed podiatrist. Podiatrists, also known as podiatric physicians, specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of foot disorders resulting from injury or disease.
~ Thanks to Jaime Schrabeck, Ph.D. of Precision Nails.com for providing this information.
According to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), ailments of the foot are among the most common, and most neglected, health problems. Seventy-five percent of Americans will experience foot problems; and women have about four times as many foot problems as men have.
It is important to consider the relationship between foot health and overall health. Your feet may be the first part of your body to show symptoms of arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other serious medical conditions. The APMA offers practical suggestions for the care of your feet: wear properly-fitted, protective footwear; avoid going barefoot; use ice (cold) to treat an injury and reduce swelling and pain; and seek medical treatment at the first sign of injury or infection. If your feet require medical treatment, I recommend that you consult with a licensed podiatrist. Podiatrists, also known as podiatric physicians, specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of foot disorders resulting from injury or disease.
~ Thanks to Jaime Schrabeck, Ph.D. of Precision Nails.com for providing this information.
Pamper your feet and erase your headache!
Pounding temples getting to you? Put your feet in warm water, place an ice pack around your neck and relax for 15 minutes. "This causes blood to move away from your head toward the feet, relieving the head pain," says Mark Stengler, N.D., author of Prescription for Natural Causes.
HOW TO DO IT: Use a large bowl or basin for your feet and scent the water with lavender, peppermint or rosemary aromatherapy oil.
HOW TO DO IT: Use a large bowl or basin for your feet and scent the water with lavender, peppermint or rosemary aromatherapy oil.
Salt baths keep toes pretty!
Salt baths help keep toes pretty! How? By preventing toenail fungus! "Fungi love heat and humidity, which Epsom salts counter by acting as a powerful drying agent," says nutrition researcher Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Everyone's heard that soaking in an Epsom salt bath can help relieve sore muscles. But isn't that just an old wives' tale? NO! New research reveals that magnesium from the salt is absorbed from the bathwater through your skin. That's exciting news for 2 reasons: First, magnesium relaxes muscles throughout the body, and second, statistics show that 75% of us don't get enough of this critical mineral!
HOW TO DO IT: Add 1-2 cups of Epsom salts to warm bath water and relax in the tub for at least 12 minutes.
Everyone's heard that soaking in an Epsom salt bath can help relieve sore muscles. But isn't that just an old wives' tale? NO! New research reveals that magnesium from the salt is absorbed from the bathwater through your skin. That's exciting news for 2 reasons: First, magnesium relaxes muscles throughout the body, and second, statistics show that 75% of us don't get enough of this critical mineral!
HOW TO DO IT: Add 1-2 cups of Epsom salts to warm bath water and relax in the tub for at least 12 minutes.
My first Blog....
Well, I am so excited to find this space. I wanted a place that I could post some interesting information, ideas and facts! I wanted to publish a small newsletter, however, I think this will work better!
Hopefully, this will grow well and provide some knowledge along the way!
Thanks for reading!
Hopefully, this will grow well and provide some knowledge along the way!
Thanks for reading!
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