Healthy Living
You Are What You Eat, So Eat Well
'The news isn't that fruits and vegetables are good for you, it's that they are so good for you, they can save your life.'
A stupendous insight of civilizations past has now been confirmed by today's investigative, nutritional sciences. They have shown that what was once called 'The Doctrine of Signatures' was astoundingly correct. It now contends that every whole food has a pattern that resembles a body organ or physiological function and that this pattern acts as a signal or sign as to the benefit the food provides the eater.
Here is just a short list of examples of Whole Food Signatures.
A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and science shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.
Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? .... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.
Grapefruits, Oranges , and other citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.
David Bjerklie, TIME Magazine
Who Needs To Take Vitamins?
Do you need vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplements for your health? If you do, which vitamins should you take? Most of us are willing to concede the necessity of having a good balance of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in our daily diet for healthy living, but many of us wonder if it is necessary to use vitamin pills and other dietary supplements to do this. Can't we get enough of the vitamins we need from our daily diet?
I suppose that some of us might be in good enough health not to need additional vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements, but IF YOU FALL INTO ONE OF THE GROUPS BELOW, you might want to consider adding at least a daily multivitamin supplement to your diet on your quest for a long, "healthy living" life.
If you are a woman: Women are possibly deficient in such minerals as magnesium, folic acid, zinc, calcium, and in some cases, iron. If you are pregnant or using birth control, you may require additional vitamin or mineral supplements for good health.
If you diet for weight loss or follow a fairly limited diet or restricted nutritional regimen: Important vitamins and minerals are scattered widely across a broad range of nutritional options (i.e. foods), and if you are limiting your intake by volume or by type, you are likely limiting your intake of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients vital to healthy living.
If you eat the normal American diet: Actually, the normal American diet is not very normal, nor is it good for your health! It is, however, terribly lacking in the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, hormones, and other nutritional elements a healthy body needs. Additionally, if your diet does contain all of these in optimal quantities, you are probably eating way too much food - Catch 22!
If you smoke or drink alcohol often: Smoking and excessive drinking (roughly more than two drinks a day - which is GOOD for you), depletes certain vitamins and other nutrients.
If you are already NOT in good health, physically or mentally: Your body may not be processing the vitamins, minerals, etc. that your are providing in your diet. Also, the EXTRA vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients you provide with supplements may have a positive affect on the condition. It goes without saying that an appropriate supplementation program MIGHT HAVE PREVENTED or lessened the impact of the health problem in the first place.
If you love junk food and it tends to be a major part of your diet: Once again, you are probably not getting the dietary balance of vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional elements necessary for good health. Sadly, many of the constituents of these types of food, particularly refined sugar, actually leach vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from your body, or prevent the effective use, tranport, or absorption of these nutrients.
If you cannot afford a steady diet of the foods that you realize are most valuable to your health: A multivitamn pill costs only a few cents a day, and without changing another single fact of your life, can contribute significantly to your health and well-being.
If you are over 65 years of age: You have specific deficiencies and needs, as well as a possible array of health problems. Odds are that you are lacking in B-12, Vitamin D, Vitamin K, folic acid, zinc, Vitamin C, and other vitamins and minerals. As our bodies age (I'm 60, so I can talk), they become less efficient at processing nutrients of all types, so even if your typical diet contains all the nutrients you need, your body is probably not getting the complete benefit from them. I mentioned some possible deficiencies above. Let's look at only one - Vitamin D deficiency - as this is very common in folks over 65. This vitamin deficiency may contribute to some forms of cancer (including breast and colon cancer), muscular weakness, joint pain, and the well published one - osteoporosis. Again, a daily multivitamin can go a long way towards promoting healthy Living in the years both before and after age 65.
OKAY, WHO'S LEFT!
If you are male, under 65, in excellent mental and physical health, exercise regularly, have a nutritionally rich and diverse diet, do not smoke or drink, and are NOT QUITE CERTAIN that YOUR DIET contains all the vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional elements necessary for good health: You MIGHT want to tilt the odds in your favor with a good daily multivitamin supplement.
EVERYBODY ELSE CAN LEAVE!
You have a healthy living lifestyle.
You don't need to supplement your present diet with vitamins and minerals. Your health is fine.
Plantar Splint
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of localized heel pain and is the most common foot problem seen in medical practices. More than 2.5 million new cases of plantar fasciitis are reported each year.
Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a ligament structure that supports the arch of the foot. The plantar fascia is a tough, fibrous band of connective tissue that runs from the heel bone to the ball of the foot. It plays an important part in the normal foot mechanics during walking and running.
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia is strained as a result of increased or over activity, poor foot biomechanics, or in association with the normal aging process. The ligament is typically strained repeatedly, over time before the onset of plantar fasciitis. As the ligament stretches beyond its normal extension it causes the soft tissues of the fascia to tear, usually at the point where attached to the heel bone. This leads to inflammation, heel pain, and possible growth of a bone spur (calcaneus) at the heel bone attachment.
Causes of Plantar Fasciitis
In active young and middle aged adults plantar fasciitis is typically caused from running, jumping or walking on hard surfaces. Runners, tennis players and basketball players are often affected by plantar fasciitis. Biomechanic factors of the foot can cause plantar fasciitis. People will high arches, flat feet, or tight tendons (Achilles tendons) are susceptible to developing plantar fasciitis. Excessive inward twisting (pronation) can cause tension on the plantar fascia as the arch lowers during standing or walking. Aggravating factors, such as being overweight or wearing poorly cushioned shoes with no arch support can also contribute to development of plantar fasciitis. In the natural aging process tendons, ligaments and muscles start to lose their normal elasticity and resilience making them more prone to strain just during normal daily activities. Plantar fasciitis is very common in the active elderly which often requires night splints, (Plantar Splint) for relief.
Common Causes of Plantar Fasciitis:
Increased or athletic activity
Running, jumping, walking or standing on hard or uneven surfaces
Flat feet or high arched, rigid feet
Poor supporting shoes
Large weight gain, pregnancy or overweight
Tight plantar fascia ligament or Achilles tendon
Normal aging
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
Generally the first tell-tale sign of plantar fasciitis is heel pain during the first steps after getting out of bed or sitting for a long period of time. The degree of heel pain can sometimes lessen with activity, leading to a false sense of relief. The pain often returns after prolonged rest or extensive walking. Pain often progresses if the condition is left untreated and can become excruciating and persistent as the ligament is more severely strained. Heel pain is usually located on the medial (inside) area of the heel.
Common Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis:
Starts as a dull, intermittent heel pain or arch pain, progressing to a sharp, persistent pain. A sharp, piercing pain and/or inflammation through heel and foot that usually occurs in the morning or after resting and gradually disappears with walking.
Tightness in calf muscles or Achilles tendon.
Noticeable heel pain after long periods of standing or walking.
Heel pain worsens when climbing stairs or standing on the toes.
Heel pain lessens with activity but returns during rest.
Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis
Most cases of plantar fasciitis can be treated with relatively simple conservative methods. Only in rare cases is surgery actually necessary. Conservative methods such as a combination of a night plantar splint, rest and ice, orthotics, and stretching exercises have been repeatedly proven to be effective in treating plantar fasciitis.
Even though treatment is simple it may take several months for symptoms to resolve themselves. Remember that a strained ligament occurs after repeated stress and will take repeated rest and treatment to heal. Also, the longer the symptoms have been present and the more severe the heel pain, the even longer the treatment course.
The first step is to eliminate the activity that caused the strain. Modify your activity or exercise patterns to reduce stress on the foot, rest and elevate the foot whenever possible, and start daily plantar fasciitis stretching techniques.
Severe or persistent plantar fasciitis should be diagnosed by a medical professional. Podiatrists treat conditions of the foot and ankle including plantar fasciitis. During diagnosis a Podiatrist will review the history of your symptoms, determine where your heel or foot is tender, check your flexibility, and may take an x-ray of your heel.
Plantar Fasciitis Night Splints
The most effective and simplest part of any plantar fasciitis treatment plan is the use of a plantar splint at night. Night splints have been proven to speed healing and reduce the associated heel pain and inflammation from plantar fasciitis. Also, a plantar splint will help reduce the heel pain during those first steps in the morning.
Healwell Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint
Removable Liner Treated With Microban®
Adjustable Straps Control the Amount of Stretch
Padded, Adjustable Straps Quick Release Buckle
Flexible Plastic Material
Worn while sleeping or at rest, this splint flexes the foot to provide a gentle stretch to the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon. This gentle stretch helps reduce the muscle contracture, inflammation and associated pain due to repetitive strain. Adjustable straps control the amount of foot flexion (0-10 degrees) and three padded straps with lock buckles keep the splint against the leg. Constructed of plastic with a removable liner that pulls moisture into a foam inner layer treated with Microban®, an antimicrobial agent to help prevent the growth of bacteria, yeast, and fungi. The sole of the splint has a non-slip surface. Color: Black/Blue. HealWell® brand. Complete wearing and care instructions are included
Healwell Cub Plantar Fasciitis Resting Comfort Slipper
Soft, Cool, Breathable Material - Easy to Sleep In
Half the Bulk and Twice the Comfort
Lateral Side Support with Opening Around Ankle
Built-in Toe Wedge and Non-Slip Bottom
A Night Splint Actually Comfortable Enough to Sleep In… Half the Bulk and Twice the Comfort! Radical, patent-pending new design to comfortably position the foot for treatment of plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, and painful night muscle cramps. Made of cool, breathable foam material, this night splint is lightweight with less bulk than other night splint devices for superior comfort. Inner shell provides lateral side support with an opening at the ankle to prevent irritation on the ankle bone. Hinge adjusts the amount of dorsiflexion from 0 to 10 degrees, and a built-in toe wedge gives an additional 5 degree plane for even greater stretch across the plantar fascia. Easy and quick to apply and comfortable enough to sleep in. Non-slip bottom helps prevent slipping on flooring -- intended for sleeping, NOT for walking. Color: Black. HealWell® Cub™ brand
Plantar Fasciitis splints are typically called night splints because they are worn at night during sleep or during rest after activity. Often the most severe pain and inflammation of plantar fasciitis is experienced in the morning, which could cause the first few steps to be excruciating. The position of the feet and ankles as we sleep promotes cramping of the fascia and calf muscles. When feet are pointed under the weight of blankets the plantar fascia is contracted (shortened). Those first steps in the morning are painful because the fascia which as been contracted all night is suddenly stretched and pulled.
Thr Plantar Splint is designed to comfortably position the foot in a controlled amount of dorsiflexion to provide a gentle stretch to the plantar fascia and Achilles Tendon. This gentle stretch helps reduce the muscle contracture, inflammation, and associated heel pain, and helps promote healing of plantar fasciitis. Night splints have also been clinically proven to reduce symptoms of plantar fasciitis.
A Plantar Splint worn at night can be used to treat the following conditions:
Plantar Fasciitis
Achilles Tendonitis
Plantarflexion Contractures
Heel Spurs
Equinous Conditions
Pronation Syndromes
Muscle Tightening and Runner's Cramp
Knee braces, Knee pain, Back supports, Back pain, Wrist support ...
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