It's finally here...not the final chapter in the Harry Potter series, but the conclusion of our equally thrilling series on how to heal your feet after an unfortunate encounter with uncomfortable shoes.
It's important to keep the skin on your foot moisturized, as rough areas develop on pressure points and can be painful. Even after a few hours of wearing high heels and cramped shoes, dry patches of skin may occur. The ball of the foot takes the most impact with high heels, and the foot can become quite callused in this area. Thicker calluses may become painful, especially if they are cracked and fissured. The top of the toes may develop corns that can also be painful in a closed toe shoe. The back of the heel is notorious for becoming irritated and one can develop blisters and soars with dry skin. SmartToes Toe Stretchers provide for hammer toe and bunions relief and aid plantar fasciitis treatment.
Moisturizers dedicated to the feet are often best, as the skin of the bottom of the foot is thicker and actually has an additional layer of skin compared to skin elsewhere. Try moisturizers that are made with Jojoba oil, a liquid wax from a seed extract. Jojoba oil has anti-fungal properties and has been studied for anti-inflammatory properties as well. Moisturizing creams should be applied after a foot bath for maximal penetration.
It's also important to allow your feet to 'rest' after wearing high heels. The ball of the foot takes the most pressure from high heels and you could develop tears in the ligaments that support the toes on the bottom of your foot, and/or develop stress fractures. Well-cushioned sneakers work the best and you can wear padded socks for extra cushion. Try the Smartsole Exercise insole for extra comfort and added fitness. If you can't wear sneakers, try to limit the amount of time your foot is exposed to a high heel, and wear flip-flops or sneakers to and from your destination.
Both SmartSole Exercise Insole and SmartToes are now available at Duane Reade.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Just So You Know: Diet Soda Edition
A University of Minnesota study of nearly 10,000 adults ages 45 to 64 found that drinking a single can of diet soda a day led to a 34 percent higher risk of developing a collection of health problems that includes high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and high levels of belly fat. Diet soft drinks have also been linked to an increase in diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. One study of more than 2,500 people found that those who drank diet soda daily had a 61 percent increased risk of cardiovascular events compared to those who drank no soda, even when accounting for smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption and calories consumed per day.
Another study found that women who drank water sweetened with sugar and water sweetened with Splenda couldn't taste a difference, but MRI scans showed that their brains reward center responded to real sugar "more completely" than it did to the artificial sweetener. Your senses tell you there's something sweet that you're tasting, but your brain tells you it's not as much of a reward as you expected. So you chase that no-calorie soda with something more caloric, like a salty snack. The sweet taste could also trigger your body to produce insulin, which blocks your ability to burn fat.
So, moderation. Any more than three cans a week, and you're looking for trouble. Why don't you go out and get some exercise. How about a nice walk. Try SmartSole Exercise Insoles to help you burn more calories with every step and turn your everyday footwear into toning shoes...Now Available At Duane Reade.
Another study found that women who drank water sweetened with sugar and water sweetened with Splenda couldn't taste a difference, but MRI scans showed that their brains reward center responded to real sugar "more completely" than it did to the artificial sweetener. Your senses tell you there's something sweet that you're tasting, but your brain tells you it's not as much of a reward as you expected. So you chase that no-calorie soda with something more caloric, like a salty snack. The sweet taste could also trigger your body to produce insulin, which blocks your ability to burn fat.
So, moderation. Any more than three cans a week, and you're looking for trouble. Why don't you go out and get some exercise. How about a nice walk. Try SmartSole Exercise Insoles to help you burn more calories with every step and turn your everyday footwear into toning shoes...Now Available At Duane Reade.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Chocolate And Broccoli
Together again for the first time in our continuing series of good food that's also good for your skin.
Chocolate offers a wealth of antioxidants, that according to the National Academy of Sciences and the European Journal of Nutrition, works to improve hydration, skin density and circulation of blood to skin tissues, for a more youthful and glowing complexion. Scientific American and the Journal of Investigative Dermatology report that chocolate is also a supreme source of procyanidins, which counter skin damage and help protect it while stimulating cellular growth and renewal. Dark chocolate offers the most beautifying benefits per bite. Look for 65 percent or higher cocoa content, and of course keep the portions small to manage calorie and fat intake. FlaxVibrance with flax hull lignans and milled chia seeds is another great source of antioxidants.
Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, like, kale, Swiss chard and radishes -- are loaded with skin-beautifying compounds. According to the National Academy of Sciences, its sulfur-containing phytonutrients boost the body's natural detoxification enzymes to combat and repair damage to skin. Low in calories, these mineral-dense and antioxidant-rich veggies are packed with carotenoid antioxidants, which help neutralize carcinogens and oxidative stress on skin, reduce inflammation, and bolster immune response. They also contain isothiacynates, which research published by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows, specifically guard against breast cancer. FitFlax with golden roasted flax seed and chia seeds is a great source of both soluble and insoluble fiber and a better topping for broccoli than chocolate.
Chocolate offers a wealth of antioxidants, that according to the National Academy of Sciences and the European Journal of Nutrition, works to improve hydration, skin density and circulation of blood to skin tissues, for a more youthful and glowing complexion. Scientific American and the Journal of Investigative Dermatology report that chocolate is also a supreme source of procyanidins, which counter skin damage and help protect it while stimulating cellular growth and renewal. Dark chocolate offers the most beautifying benefits per bite. Look for 65 percent or higher cocoa content, and of course keep the portions small to manage calorie and fat intake. FlaxVibrance with flax hull lignans and milled chia seeds is another great source of antioxidants.
Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, like, kale, Swiss chard and radishes -- are loaded with skin-beautifying compounds. According to the National Academy of Sciences, its sulfur-containing phytonutrients boost the body's natural detoxification enzymes to combat and repair damage to skin. Low in calories, these mineral-dense and antioxidant-rich veggies are packed with carotenoid antioxidants, which help neutralize carcinogens and oxidative stress on skin, reduce inflammation, and bolster immune response. They also contain isothiacynates, which research published by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows, specifically guard against breast cancer. FitFlax with golden roasted flax seed and chia seeds is a great source of both soluble and insoluble fiber and a better topping for broccoli than chocolate.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Cruel Shoes: Part Three
Welcome to part three in our exciting series on foot relief after a bad shoe experience. Here are two more tips:
Soak your feet in a Mineral Foot Bath. Aside from being relaxing, Epsom salt soaks have long been used to soothe sore body parts, especially the feet. Epsom salt is actually not a salt, but rather a natural mineral of magnesium and sulfate, and can be absorbed through the skin. Magnesium is important for the body to build and repair tissues as its used in more than 300 enzymatic reactions. Warm water allows for the dilation of the body blood vessels and opens the skins pores.
Get a pedicure. The presence of improperly cut toe nails or ingrown nails may cause pain after wearing high heels and pointy toed shoes. And thick focal calluses themselves may be painful. Having a pedicure may directly alleviate these painful areas. SmartToes Toe Stretchers also provide for hammer toe and bunion relief and aid plantar fasciitis treatment.
Soak your feet in a Mineral Foot Bath. Aside from being relaxing, Epsom salt soaks have long been used to soothe sore body parts, especially the feet. Epsom salt is actually not a salt, but rather a natural mineral of magnesium and sulfate, and can be absorbed through the skin. Magnesium is important for the body to build and repair tissues as its used in more than 300 enzymatic reactions. Warm water allows for the dilation of the body blood vessels and opens the skins pores.
Get a pedicure. The presence of improperly cut toe nails or ingrown nails may cause pain after wearing high heels and pointy toed shoes. And thick focal calluses themselves may be painful. Having a pedicure may directly alleviate these painful areas. SmartToes Toe Stretchers also provide for hammer toe and bunion relief and aid plantar fasciitis treatment.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Fiber Up
Fiber is the part of a plant food that your body cannot digest. It travels intact through your stomach, intestines and colon and exits from your body. There are two kinds of fiber, and both are good for you. Insoluble fiber, which does not dissolve in water, adds bulk to the material moving through your digestive system and is good at relieving constipation. It's found in whole wheat, nuts and many vegetables. Soluble fiber, as the name implies, dissolves in water, forming a gel-like substance. In addition to oats, soluble fiber can be found in beans, barley, flax seed and certain vegetables and fruits.
Soluble fiber, a substance that can help your heart by reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol, in your blood. Research shows that a moderate increase in the amount of soluble fiber in a person's diet is likely to lower his or her risk of developing heart disease. It can also slow the progression of heart disease once it has begun. Soluble fiber can also help lower the risk of developing diabetes. A 2009 study showed that soluble fiber helps reduce a child's risk for future chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease and diabetes by helping to maintain normal blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
Soluble fiber acts like a cholesterol "sponge" by soaking up cholesterol-laden bile salts in the small intestine and eliminating these salts along with waste. That not only removes harmful cholesterol from your body, it also keeps bile acids from being "recycled" back to the liver. As a result, the liver must produce new bile acids, and to do that, it pulls LDL cholesterol out of the bloodstream. That reduces "bad" cholesterol levels even further, which is good news for your heart. If there's less bad cholesterol floating around in your bloodstream, it means there's less that can collect on the walls of the arteries, where it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
The benefit of soluble fiber doesn't stop with cholesterol reduction. Soluble fiber can also lower triglycerides -- fats in the blood that contribute to heart disease. According to a 2010 study, it may also help reduce blood pressure and that's good for your heart health. Soluble fiber can also benefit people at risk for diabetes by regulating blood sugar. It slows down the body's absorption of sugar, reducing the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and helping to control existing cases of diabetes. And emerging research shows that certain forms of soluble fiber may enhance the body's immune function.
If you're like many Americans, you probably need to boost your intake of both kinds of fiber, soluble and insoluble. FitFlax with golden roasted flax seed and chia seeds is a great source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. On average, children and adults in the U.S. consume less than half of the recommended amount of fiber. The USDA suggests that adult women get about 28 grams of total dietary fiber a day and adult men consume 36 grams a day. Children one year and older should consume 14 grams for every 1,000 calories in their diet.
At least 5 to 10 grams of your total daily fiber intake should consist of soluble fiber if you want to reap its cholesterol-lowering benefits.
Soluble fiber, a substance that can help your heart by reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol, in your blood. Research shows that a moderate increase in the amount of soluble fiber in a person's diet is likely to lower his or her risk of developing heart disease. It can also slow the progression of heart disease once it has begun. Soluble fiber can also help lower the risk of developing diabetes. A 2009 study showed that soluble fiber helps reduce a child's risk for future chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease and diabetes by helping to maintain normal blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
Soluble fiber acts like a cholesterol "sponge" by soaking up cholesterol-laden bile salts in the small intestine and eliminating these salts along with waste. That not only removes harmful cholesterol from your body, it also keeps bile acids from being "recycled" back to the liver. As a result, the liver must produce new bile acids, and to do that, it pulls LDL cholesterol out of the bloodstream. That reduces "bad" cholesterol levels even further, which is good news for your heart. If there's less bad cholesterol floating around in your bloodstream, it means there's less that can collect on the walls of the arteries, where it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
The benefit of soluble fiber doesn't stop with cholesterol reduction. Soluble fiber can also lower triglycerides -- fats in the blood that contribute to heart disease. According to a 2010 study, it may also help reduce blood pressure and that's good for your heart health. Soluble fiber can also benefit people at risk for diabetes by regulating blood sugar. It slows down the body's absorption of sugar, reducing the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and helping to control existing cases of diabetes. And emerging research shows that certain forms of soluble fiber may enhance the body's immune function.
If you're like many Americans, you probably need to boost your intake of both kinds of fiber, soluble and insoluble. FitFlax with golden roasted flax seed and chia seeds is a great source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. On average, children and adults in the U.S. consume less than half of the recommended amount of fiber. The USDA suggests that adult women get about 28 grams of total dietary fiber a day and adult men consume 36 grams a day. Children one year and older should consume 14 grams for every 1,000 calories in their diet.
At least 5 to 10 grams of your total daily fiber intake should consist of soluble fiber if you want to reap its cholesterol-lowering benefits.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Straighten Up And Fly Right
Up to 80 percent of Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives, and each year 15 percent of all adults are treated for such problems as herniated discs or lumbar pain. The majority of back pain is the result of muscle and ligament strain or weakness, and can often be prevented by developing core strength and proper posture. Maintaining good posture not only helps you look better, it improves muscle tone, makes breathing easier and is one of the best ways to stave off back and neck pain. If your spine is not balanced, you will inevitably have problems in your back, your neck, your shoulders and even your joints.
If you sit at a desk all day, the center of your computer screen should be at eye level, and the desk height should allow your forearms to rest comfortably at a 90-degree angle. Work with your feet flat on the floor and your back against the chair. Whether you work in an office or at home, get up and stretch every 30 to 60 minutes.
Sitting for long periods puts pressure on discs and fatigues muscles. Stand up and place your hands on your lower back, as if you were sliding them into your back pockets. Gently push your hips forward and slightly arch your back. Sit back down and circle your shoulders backward, with your chin tucked, about 10 times. Solutions to get your feet feeling better fast include yoga toes stretching and foot exercises. Yoga is an excellent method to stay stretched. SmartToes Toe Stretchers also provide relief for hammer toe and bunions and aid plantar fasciitis treatment.
If you sit at a desk all day, the center of your computer screen should be at eye level, and the desk height should allow your forearms to rest comfortably at a 90-degree angle. Work with your feet flat on the floor and your back against the chair. Whether you work in an office or at home, get up and stretch every 30 to 60 minutes.
Sitting for long periods puts pressure on discs and fatigues muscles. Stand up and place your hands on your lower back, as if you were sliding them into your back pockets. Gently push your hips forward and slightly arch your back. Sit back down and circle your shoulders backward, with your chin tucked, about 10 times. Solutions to get your feet feeling better fast include yoga toes stretching and foot exercises. Yoga is an excellent method to stay stretched. SmartToes Toe Stretchers also provide relief for hammer toe and bunions and aid plantar fasciitis treatment.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Energy Drinks Not So Good
According to a recent report by the Associated Press, potential harms from some energy drink may include: irritability, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, seizures and strokes. That's some bad energy.
Last year, the American Association of Poison Control Centers began tracking energy drink overdoses and side effects. Since the study began, more than 1,000 cases have been reported.
While studies have focused on the effects of ingredients like caffeine and guarana, which contains roughly twice the caffeine found in coffee beans, they fail to highlight another concern,sugar. Many energy drinks contain more sugar than a big donut or chocolate bar... A much better choice is a protein shake with the flax seed and chia seeds blend in FitFlax.
Last year, the American Association of Poison Control Centers began tracking energy drink overdoses and side effects. Since the study began, more than 1,000 cases have been reported.
While studies have focused on the effects of ingredients like caffeine and guarana, which contains roughly twice the caffeine found in coffee beans, they fail to highlight another concern,sugar. Many energy drinks contain more sugar than a big donut or chocolate bar... A much better choice is a protein shake with the flax seed and chia seeds blend in FitFlax.
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