Foot Care And You

Your feet are multifarious structures, which may reflect your general health and comfort. Symptoms such as persistent pain or soreness are warning signs. If, for example, you neglect a painful joint, it can deteriorate and become acutely painful. Then you may start walking badly to avoid the pain and that can lead to more serious postural problems.

• Wear footwear that supports the foot properly, reducing the chance of injury.
• Don't wear the same shoes every day.
• Choose footwear made of natural materials to help your feet to breathe.
• Air trainers before and after exercise to prevent build up of bacteria.
• If you suffer from knee, hip or back pain, which has resisted treatment, consider visiting a state-registered chiropodist. Sometimes a small structural or functional imbalance in the foot may cause problems further up the body. What you wear on your feet can affect you further up your body.
• Change stockings or socks at least once a day. Choose socks containing at least 70 per cent cotton or wool. Some socks made from man-made fibers can help keep sweat away from the skin, keeping the skin dry and reducing odor.
• Calf stretches help to keep feet supple and keep a good range of movement. To stretch your calf and heel, stand facing a wall with feet hip width apart and slightly bent at the knee. Take one step forwards, and using your arms to lean against the wall, keep your leg in front bent and the leg behind straight. Both feet should be flat on the ground. Lean in towards the wall, as you do, you should feel your muscles stretching in your calf and heel. Hold and slowly return to a standing position. Do this with each leg about five times. Seek further help if you experience problems doing this exercise.
• Vary your heel heights from day to day, one-day wearing low heels, and the next day slightly higher heels.
• Vary shoe types.
• For everyday use, keep heel heights to about 2cm.
• Consider wearing shoes with a strap or lace over the instep rather than slip-ons. This will help stop your foot sliding forward, a bit like a seatbelt in a car.
• Diabetes can affect the feet. People suffering from diabetes may experience poor circulation and sensation in their feet. Even the smallest injury can lead to infection, which, if not treated promptly, may lead to serious complications. If you have diabetes, it is important to examine your feet daily. Anyone with diabetes should consult their podiatrist regularly and have a full annual review and assessment.
• To refresh feet, massage gently with a foot roller, or better still, ask you partner to massage your feet.
• Sitting with your feet up for 10 minutes after a long day helps circulation.
• Your feet can mirror your general health - conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and neurological and circulatory disorders may show initial symptoms in the feet.
• Circle your feet ten times in each direction, keeping your leg as still as possible.
• Consciously straighten your toes and wriggle them around.
• Raise, point and then curl your toes for five seconds each, repeated ten times which is particularly good for your toe cramps or hammer toes.
  Circle the alphabet with your feet. (A good exercise you can do while sitting at your desk in the office.)
• Visit a registered podiatrist/chiropodist for advice. You can take your shoes with you for specific advice on footwear.

Five Reasons Why You Should Stock Up on Yogurt

1. Just one cup of yogurt will help blemishes clear up thanks to the zinc it contains. Look for varieties that do not contain a lot of fat or sugar. Yes, they do exist and they offer lots of taste.
2. For menopausal women, it offers more calcium than milk, which is a good thing to know for those who don't care for the taste.
3. Plain yogurt is often used as a facial mask. I would avoid the flavored varieties, for obvious reasons, but plain yogurt will cleanse the skin quite nicely. Skin however needs to be free of makeup. Yogurt is good... but it's not that good!
4. It is also often used to soothe an itchy scalp. And while it is soothing the scalp, it is also working on your dandruff. Apply, wrap hair in a towel and then rinse after 15 minutes.
5. Your hands and nails can also benefit from yogurt. Simply combine 8 ounces of plain yogurt with the juice of one lemon. Return to the refrigerator for several hours and then use to massage your hands and nails. Rinse and pat your hands dry and you should notice the difference. Hands should be soft and supple. *Keep mixture in refrigerator and use within 2 weeks or so.

Quick and Easy Tips

Can you ever have enough beauty advice? Be sure to stop by and learn something new each day I have about a zillion beauty tips to share.

How To Slow Down Aging With BananasFrom About.com
This has to be the closest thing to the perfect food. It contains virtually no fat and should be on your daily food list.

Here's How:
1. No time to rush out and purchase a facial mask? Mash 1/2 of a banana and apply. Relax for a half hour and then remove with cool water. Bananas are rich in oils that will keep the skin from drying out.
3. If you are looking for an exfoliating mask, blend a mashed banana with white cosmetic clay and apply. This mask is both moisturizing and nourishing.
5. South American women often use mashed bananas to help relieve dry skin.
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7. For damaged hair, combine a ripe banana with a few drops of almond oil. Massage into your hair and then allow to work it's wonders for about 15 minutes. Rinse with soda water and then shampoo and condition as usual.
8. Bananas are rich in vitamins, potassium, calcium and manganese. There isn't an inch of you that doesn't benefit from bananas.
9. Your hands can benefit from bananas as well. Mash a banana with a little butter and then rub the mixture into your hands. That is all there is to it.
10. Did you know that 8 oz of milk contain the same amount of potassium as a banana?
11. Apparently, The Body Shop used 250,000 bananas each year for their banana products.