Foot Fungus

A case of foot fungus can be very difficult to shake in part because of the enormous variety of fungi that make targeted medical treatments difficult to apply.

When you’re sick, sometimes the best course of action is to see a doctor—you know, for those times when you can’t remember what your original skin tone looked like underneath that rapidly-expanding purple rash.

Other times, however, you can feel safe taking care of things on your own and saving your physician some of her precious time and energy.

The following is a list of some common ailments for which some of the most effective remedies are probably already available in your medicine closet, kitchen, or elsewhere in your home.

Insomnia

* Turn off the laptop/iPad/iPod. Recent sleep research suggests that staring at an LCD screen (such as those prevalent on laptops, smartphones and tablet computers) before bedtime can disrupt the normal Circadian rhythm and keep you up past your bedtime. So make sure to give your eyes a rest for at least 30 minutes before bedtime.

* Set a bedtime and stick to it. Your body is meant to get a regular amount of sleep at regular intervals. Ever since the invention of fire, however, going to sleep based on daylight cues has become progressively more difficult, hence the necessity to self-regulate with a predictable daily sleep schedule.

* Get up when the alarm goes off. Overuse of the snooze button not only disrupts your last precious minutes (or hours) of sleep, it confuses your body as to when it should expect to be asleep and when it should be awake. If you don’t plan on getting up when the alarm goes off, then you’ll probably be better off setting the alarm for a later time. This article might be able to help you break the habit and stick to your  sleep schedule.

* Sleep in a cold room. Multiple studies have shown that a cool air temperature aids in sleep—chilling your bedroom down to the mid-60s (or colder depending on your tolerance) can help people to fall asleep more quickly and sleep more soundly throughout the night.

* Avoid stimulants in the late afternoon and evening. Caffeine, tobacco, or excessive amounts of sugar are all strong stimulants, and can all contribute to insomnia by ramping up your body’s metabolism just when you’re getting ready to call it a night. Switching to decaf 8 hours before your intended bedtime can make all the difference in the world (see the “Home Care” section for insomnia posted by the National Institute for Health).

Foot and Toenail Fungus

* Keep your feet dry. Fungi need a warm, moist environment in order to grow, and your shoes are prime real estate. Take a look at 911health.com for a list of around-the-house products you can use to keep your feet dry throughout the day…and maybe also to keep your hands dry for those oh-so-important business partner handshakes.

* Vodka. Vodka has practical many uses above and beyond drinking away your smelly-feet sorrows. A 10-minute foot soak in the stuff can do wonders for feet that have been around the block a few times too many, although the soak alone might not be enough to get at fungus that’s taken up residence under the toenail. Commercial mouthwash can work too, but the lower alcohol percentage means reduced effectiveness compared to 80-proof Vodka.

* Lemon juice or vinegar. Basically, anything acidic should do the trick when it comes to killing off an unwanted fungus. Beware of anything with too high of a sugar content (as this will simply provide your fungus with an alternate food supply), and make sure to rinse your feet clean afterwards.

* Google.com. A case of foot fungus can be very difficult to shake, in part because the infection has grown deep into your skin or under a toenail, and in part because of the enormous variety of fungi that make targeted medical treatments difficult to apply. Thousands of people out there on the web are more than happy to share their deeply intimate and personal foot fungus experiences, from vodka to cayenne pepper to baby powder to olive oil and tabasco—just go ahead and google “foot fungus remedy”.

Random

* Canker sores. Aloe rinse? Alum and baking soda? Tea tree oil and a gargle of salt water? Take your pick from a dozen possible home treatments for canker sores.

* Halitosis (bad breath). Beyond just a mint and some mouthwash, it might be time to do more about that terrible odor that everyone’s nose except your own is cringing from. Professional and popular advice, from fenugreek to avocado and even including whole diet make-overs can be found at home-remedies-for-you.com.

* Backache. Even a small strain in your lower back can cause a lot of pain in short order, mostly because it’s very difficult to give those muscles any kind of sustained rest. Really, what can you do without incorporating your lower back to some degree or another? This website provides some guidance on how to avoid back injuries, and a few around-the-home tips that can speed recovery time.

* Ingrown toenail. There’s really only one way out of an ingrown toenail, and that’s to cut it out and hope that it regrows properly. A few tips from grannymed.com, however, might help that process go a little more smoothly, with less discomfort, a cleaner cut, and a lower incidence of recurrence.

* Ingrown hair. The hairchick.com website provides a litany of tips for preventing ingrown hairs, reversing the effects of existing ingrown hairs, and working to reduce the irritation and itching associated with chronic cases.

See previous articles on The Common Cold and Headaches, Toothaches, Heartburn and Indigestion

Guest posts from Guide to Massage Therapy Schools

Photo: thomaspudding

PMS and Chocolate

For those on a diet, PMS poses more than a temporary halt in weight loss. Premenstrual syndrome may cause the dieter to abandon her diet.

By: Judith J. Wurtman.

Dieters face situations that threaten their will power or even their ability to get the foods they are supposed to be eating. Catered business lunches, Sunday dinners at a relative’s home, birthday parties, lack of time to go to the supermarket: These are only a handful of the obstacles that stand between the dieter and her food plan. These problems are so common that advice on how to deal with them is standard in most weight-loss books and group programs.

But there is a threat to the female dieter that cannot be overcome by food lists and will-power and that is Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS.

PMS is a monthly disturbance in mood and appetite brought on by hormonal changes a few days before menstruation. Not all women experience it and even those who do may find that certain months are worse than others. But when it hits, it can be like a tidal wave, knocking down eating control, exercise programs and emotional stability. PMS removes a sense of emotional well-being and deposits in its place anger, irritability, confusion, exhaustion and depression. These unpleasant moods are often accompanied by an impulsive, uncontrollable need to eat. The foods craved during the last days of the menstrual cycle fall either into the greasy, salty, crunchy, starchy category or the fatty, creamy, sugary category.

Although it has been clear for millennium that something was happening to women each month that altered their mood, sleep, energy and eating, the explanations were often closer to witchcraft than science. Even in the latter part of the last century, remedies were suggested that turned out to be totally ineffective or actually worsened the condition. For instance, chocolate craving is a hallmark of PMS as in “I could kill for chocolate.” So well-meaning PMS therapists assumed chocolate was causing PMS and forbade it. It was believed that water on the brain (this was actually mentioned in the scientific literature) was affecting mood so diuretics were prescribed. Because the hormone progesterone increases in relation to estrogen at the end of the menstrual cycle, well-intentioned physicians prescribed even more to offset the PMS symptoms. This went on until carefully controlled research showed that progesterone made the symptoms worse. And even today, women’s magazines tell their readers to exercise, drink water, and eat fruits and vegetables to reduce the severity of the symptoms. This advice sounds good but it is impossible to follow by women who are exhausted, weepy, angry, and craving salty, greasy french fries.

Women with premenstrual syndrome do indeed eat more at that time than during the other weeks of their menstrual cycle. We monitored the calorie intake of women during their menstrual cycle in a study carried out at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Women lived in the Clinical Research Center during the first few days of their cycle and then returned three weeks later when they had PMS. The normal weight volunteers consumed about 1100 calories more when they were premenstrual than they did at other times of the month. And to no one’s surprise, the extra calories came from chocolate, potato chips, cookies and crackers.

Our volunteers had no problem returning to their healthy way of eating once the PMS passed and they easily lost the pound or two they may have gained from their premenstrual munching. But for dieters, PMS poses more than a temporary halt in their weight loss. Premenstrual syndrome may cause the dieter to abandon her diet.

One of our weight-loss clients described the effect of PMS on her weight loss: “For three weeks I am in control, and my food choices follow the diet plan exactly. Then one day, during the fourth week of my menstrual cycle, I wake up with an uncontrollable urge to eat junk food. I simply can’t stop myself. This goes on for three or four days until I get my period. So of course my diet is blown, and I am three or four pounds heavier than I was a week earlier.”

Yet it is possible to stop PMS from destroying a diet.

The solution is to increase the production of serotonin, the brain chemical involved in regulating mood and weight. We discovered at MIT that serotonin activity is diminished during PMS so simply increasing serotonin production reduces the unpleasant mood and overeating during this time of the month.

Increasing serotonin is easy. The brain chemical is made when a non-fruit carbohydrate is eaten. Here is all that needs to be done:

Twice a day (or more if necessary) eat a snack containing 30-35 grams of a starchy or sweet carbohydrate. Choose foods that have no more than 2 grams of protein and 2 grams of fat. Protein prevents serotonin from being made, and fat just adds calories.

Eat the foods on an empty stomach or three hours after a meal.

The snacks should be regarded as edible therapy for the PMS, not as a source of nutrition. Make sure you take your usual vitamin and calcium supplements and eat as many fruits, vegetables, low or non-fat dairy products and lean protein as your PMS cravings will allow.

Good snack choices include popcorn, fat-free fudge sauce (for PMS chocolate cravers), sweetened breakfast cereal, an English muffin with jam, oatmeal with brown sugar, graham crackers, low-fat granola bars, very low-fat ice cream or frozen yogurt, low-fat rice or soy crackers, pretzels, low-fat meringue cookies, low-fat biscotti and cotton candy (in case you have PMS while at a county fair).

A few caveats:

• * Alcohol is not a substitute for the carbohydrate.
• * Eating fruit will not lead to serotonin production.
• * Soda and other foods made with high fructose corn syrup sweeteners do not lead to serotonin production.
• *Restrain yourself from munching on fat-filled brownies, chips, ice cream, and chocolate. Your brain doesn’t know the difference but your scale will.

The effects of eating a low or fat-free carbohydrate snack on your mood and appetite should be felt within 45 minutes or even sooner. After eating the snack, relax, meditate, read a book or contemplate that when you reach menopause, all this will be over.

© 2010 Judith J. Wurtman, PhD, co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet: Eat Carbs — Nature’s Own Appetite Suppressant — to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain

About the Author:
Judith J. Wurtman, PhD. co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet: Eat Carbs — Nature’s Own Appetite Suppressant — to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain, has discovered the connection between carbohydrate craving, serotonin, and emotional well-being in her MIT clinical studies. She received her PhD from George Washington University, is the founder of a Harvard University hospital weight-loss facility and counsels private weight management clients. She has written five books, including The Serotonin Solution, and more than 40 peer-reviewed articles for professional publications. She lives in Miami Beach, Florida.

Photo: Eszter

Woman's Hair Loss

A person’s activities, diet, medications, natural hormones and childbirth, use of birth control pills, improper hair care and certain diseases can contribute to hair loss.

By: Natasha Morgan

Baby-boomer women have enough changes in their physical appearance without the added burden of hair loss. In my search for solutions I contacted the experts over at Bosley, a hair restoration firm with offices all over the U.S. and Mexico, who provided me with some answers to my questions about hair loss.

What causes hair loss in women?

Hair loss or baldness is a genetic trait, but how much of it is genetic, varies from one individual to another. Hair loss with genetic predisposition is called “androgenetic alopecia.”

Factors such as a person’s activities, diet, medications, natural hormones and childbirth, use of birth control pills, improper hair care and certain diseases can contribute to hair loss, but these factors may affect an individual more than another. While chemical treatments, pollution, hair-styling products and blow-drying have not been found to directly cause hair loss, they can dry and weaken hair, increasing breakage and perpetuating hair loss.

Are there some hair products worse than others?

There are a couple of hair products that could cause hair damage and escalated hair loss, if used excessively. One is hair dye, especially one with bleach ingredients. The harsh chemicals that most hair dyes contain can dry the hair strands excessively, result in split ends and ultimately cause some hair loss in many people.

The other is Perms—also known as a permanent curl.  Hair loss from a perm occurs when the solution is left on the hair too long, when too much solution is used, or when the chemicals in the solution are too strong for the individual’s hair type. Hair damage from perms is more prevalent if the hair wasn’t in good condition in the first place.

Are there other factors that cause hair loss?

The lack of good blood circulation to the scalp may also contribute to hair loss. When the hair root is well supplied with blood it is stronger and less susceptible to the shrinking effects caused by hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone).

Good blood flow strengthens and rejuvenates the small blood vessels in the scalp. Stronger blood vessels Increases the longevity of the hair follicles specially in thinning areas and encourages hair growth.

Finally, you cannot fight the effects of aging. As you age, your hairs tend to break more easily, and hair follicles do not grow as much hair.

Does hair loss occur primarily in older women or can younger women suffer from it?

In women, hair loss usually begins at menopause. Although hair loss in females normally occurs after the age of 50 or even later when it does not follow events like pregnancy, chronic illness, crash diets, stress among others, there has been rare cases reported, in which hair loss affects women as young as 15 or 16.

The balding process and rate vary with each person. Whether it is slow or rapid, the individual would usually notice. Hair loss tends not to be something people ignore.

What suggestions can the hair loss experts offer to give hope to women suffering from hair loss?
Visit us in two weeks for the answer to this and other questions on hair loss.

* Please keep in mind that hair loss and its treatments are medical considerations. And with everything of the medical nature, you and your readers should seek the opinions of your qualified physicians.

Health care reform

By 2014, we can shop for health insurance in new exchanges offering comparisons between different plans that insurance companies provide.

By: Dora Calott Wang, M.D.

As mothers, daughters, wives and leaders of households, women often steer the health care choices of families. Thus in the coming years, women will also be a major force toward implementing health care reform and the landmark Affordable Care Act.

Whenever we enroll a child into newly available health insurance, whenever we convince parents to get mammograms or colonoscopies that will be free under Medicare in 2011, each time we appeal an insurance company’s denial of care, or when we choose health insurance in new marketplaces beginning in 2014 — we will be helping to shape the future of health care in America. In fact, much of the ACA depends upon the actions and choices of patients, with women often taking the lead.

Many ACA laws are already in effect. For example, nursing mothers in most workplaces are now entitled to time and private space to pump breast milk for a child’s first year of life. Did you ever think the feds would mandate this? It’s a new era.

The ACA’s main goal is for nearly every American to have health insurance. New opportunities are already available, and uninsured members of your family may qualify. If someone in your family has been denied health insurance because of a pre-existing illness, check out the new “high-risk pool” insurance plans available now. Log onto Healthcare.gov to find local options, and get your loved one covered. Medicaid has been expanded, so someone in your family may be newly eligible. By September 23, you can insure your children under your own health plan until they are age 26, and insurance companies will have to accept all children under age 19 with pre-existing illnesses.

Patients (and the women often guiding them), might possibly exert the most influence on health care reform through two important ACA measures — appeals processes that should be in place by Sept. 23, and the new health insurance marketplaces in effect by 2014.

In the words of President Obama, the ACA aims to protect patients against the worst abuses of health insurance companies. The ACA provides many safeguards against insurance companies denying coverage. Yet the devil is still in the details when it comes to holding insurers more accountable toward paying for care. To fight against insurance companies taking our premiums, then trying not to pay for medical care, the federal government is cracking down on fraud, waste and abuse. The ACA eliminates life-time caps on health insurance benefits, while mandating that insurance companies now must spend at least 85 percent of their dollars on medical care, rather than on profit and administration.

We the public can do our part to keep insurance companies honest through new appeals processes which should be in place by Sept. 23 for new insurers. If you feel your new insurer is unfairly denying care, or is stalling on time-sensitive care, you will be able to appeal to the insurer itself, but also to an external review process. The ACA leaves it up to individual states to institute these appeals processes, but the federal government will hear grievances if state processes are inadequate.

These appeals processes will be an all-important aspect of health reform — which will be driven by patients making appeals, and therefore reliant upon all of us.

Another crucial step is that by 2014, we can shop for health insurance in new exchanges offering comparisons between different plans. So if we see an insurance company hiking rates by 70 percent in one year, for example, or if an insurance company has a reputation of not paying for care (yes, this will still happen under the ACA), the new exchanges will offer options. Collectively, by choosing insurance for our families, we’ll determine which insurers succeed or fail, and thus shape the landscape of American health care.

The lady of the house has always had a large role in steering the health care choices of her family. Now with the new Affordable Care Act, the actions of women on behalf of their families will collectively shape the future of health care in America.

For more information about the ACA and its timeline, log onto the excellent website, Healthcare.gov.

© 2010 Dora Calott Wang, M.D., author of The Kitchen Shrink: A Psychiatrist’s Reflections on Healing in a Changing World

About the Author:
Dora Calott Wang, M.D., is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. A graduate of the Yale School of Medicine and the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, she received her M.A. in English literature from the University of California, Berkeley, and has been the recipient of a writer’s residency from the Lannan Foundation. Her memoir, The Kitchen Shrink:  A Psychiatrist’s Reflections on Healing in a Changing World was published by Riverhead Books, The Penguin Group.

For more information please visit www.doracalottwang.com and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo: Insurancetips

Tums are antacids

Don’t eat too soon before going to bed. Lying down and eating are two leading triggers for sudden onset of heartburn symptoms.

When you’re sick, sometimes the best course of action is to see a doctor—you know, for those times when you can’t remember what your original skin tone looked like underneath that rapidly-expanding purple rash.

Other times, however, you can feel safe taking care of things on your own and saving your physician some of her precious time and energy.

The following is a list of some common ailments for which some of the most effective remedies are probably already available in your medicine closet, kitchen, or elsewhere in your home.

Headaches
* Find the root cause. The best cure for a headache is prevention—small comfort once it’s already set in, but following these handy guideline from health911.com can at least give you the chance to reduce future incidence.

* Find the root cause (migraines). This handy guide to migraine headaches can help you to better understand and prevent the occurrence of migraine headaches specifically. Much more intense and compromising than normal headaches, migraine sufferers can have a lot more to worry about, and a lot more to gain, from getting a good grasp on the fundamentals.

* Hydration. A headache can be your body’s way of asking for a drink. Water and electrolyte-rich beverages, such as Gatorade or fruit juice, can take the edge off most headaches, but beware anything containing caffeine or alcohol, as these beverages are diuretics and will have the net opposite effect of ridding your body of precious water.

* Hold and cold compresses. An ice pack held to the forehead can numb the pain of a headache, while a warm towel held to the same area can have a relaxing effect. If one doesn’t work, the other might, just don’t jump back and forth between them too rapidly.

* Herbal supplements. Although not medically proven to be effective, certain herbal remedies and supplements have a long track record of being used for lessening the severity of headaches. The number of available treatments is as diverse as the number of people suffering from headaches, so don’t be discouraged if results vary on your first few tries

Toothaches
* Brush regularly. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so the saying goes, and this is especially true with your teeth. Tooth pain is usually the result of long-term damage to the outer mineral layer of your teeth, which can only be repaired properly by a visit to your dentist. The only good home remedy for this kind of damage is preventative—brush, floss, gargle and repeat twice daily.

* Herbs and plants. Depending on the severity and exact location of the pain, a variety of herbal remedies have been known to help reduce the amount of discomfort you may be feeling. Very few of these remedies have the backing of solid science, but if you’re really hurting and can’t make it to the dentist, then they’re probably worth a shot.

* Reduce oral tobacco use. Smoking, chewing, and using snuff are all strong predictors of gum disease, which tends toward the very painful. Avoiding these products can boost the health of your teeth and make those visits to the dentist more pleasant and infrequent

Heartburn and Indigestion
* Don’t eat too soon before going to bed. Lying down and eating are two leading triggers for sudden onset of heartburn symptoms. Put them together with a large meal right before bedtime and it’s asking for trouble.

* Moderate portion sizes. Reflux, heartburn and other related digestive ailments can be exacerbated by large, infrequent meals. Eating smaller portions at shorter intervals is easier for your stomach to handle—and also may contribute to weight loss.

* Prilosec. For recurrent cases of heartburn or gastroesphageal reflux disease (GERD), the novel pharmaceutical Prilosec has been proven effective at reducing recurrence over long periods of time. On the plus side, long-term suppression of symptoms. On the negative side, no instant relief—Prilosec must be taken regularly for two weeks to get the full effect.

* Antacids. Pepcid, Tums, Maalox, and a variety of other over-the-counter medications can provide rapid relief from the symptoms of indigestion. Make sure to avoid Advil or other ibuprofen-based painkillers for treating any stomach conditions, as this class of medications will only serve to aggravate the problem.

See previous article on The Common Cold

Visit next week for Natural Home Remedies for  Insomnia - Foot Fungus-Random

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Photo: Lens Creep

Designer Handbag

Like all Hollywood beauties, the handbag is expected to work. Whether in a starring or a supporting role, the handbag is often in the spotlight.

By: Dorothy Howell

Fashion is a major player in Hollywood. Wardrobe departments spend tireless hours perfecting the right “look” for their actors. Celebrity stylists live or die by the image they craft for their clients. Magazines and television shows devote themselves to photos and descriptions of celebrity clothing and accessories.

From the style and elegance of fashion icons such as Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn during Hollywood’s Golden Era, to pics of celebs like Jennifer Aniston and Reece Witherspoon hitting the trendy L.A. shops, the public is fascinated by what they’re wearing.

Regardless of current styles, situations or occasions, no actress or fashion icon would be caught in public without one indispensable fashion accessory — her handbag.

This year’s Oscar night saw pastels and bright colors, along with ruffles and trains, outside the Kodak Theater; most accompanied by a gorgeous clutch. The different shapes and sizes decorated with jewels glistening under the lights, made it the accessory to watch.

Anna Kendrick, a first-time nominee, carried a jeweled Judith Leiber clutch. Elizabeth Banks accessorized her Verace gown with a gray snakeskin and silver crystal clutch from Salvatore Ferragamo. Diva Demi Moore, ruled the red carpet with a gold leather envelope clutch, while Kate Winslet rocked an Yves Saint-Laurent silver satin bag. These Hollywood fashionistas proved nothing completes a red-carpet look like a handbag.

Yet for all their glamour and prestige, today’s top handbag designers had decidedly unfashionable beginnings. Louis Vuitton made travel trunks in the 1800s, while Hermés crafted horse harnesses for Europe’s aristocracy. Prada, Fendi, and Gucci were known for their leather baggage.

These houses made the jump to light speed, fashion wise, by looking into the future and adapting to changing times, and today they give us some of the most sought-after handbags in the world.

Purses aren’t just another glitz and glamour accessory. Like all Hollywood beauties, the handbag is expected to work. Whether in a starring or a supporting role, the handbag is often in the spotlight.

Sarah Jessica Parker’s character Carrie Bradshaw, on the Sex and the City television show, received a Judith Leiber handbag from Big. The cupcake purse by this famed designer made an appearance in the SATC movie. Samantha Jones, played by Kim Cattrall, ran afoul of Lucy Liu over a long awaited Birkin bag.

Ruth Buzzi turned her purse into a weapon and fought off her hapless, would-be attacker on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. A decades-old skit so funny it can still be viewed on YouTube.

Who can forget Jamie Farr’s portrayal of Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger and his desperate attempt to get discharged from the Army by dressing in drag on the long running television show M*A*S*H? He went about his duties wearing a dress, hat, gloves, high heels and, of course, carrying a handbag.

The style, glitz and glam of a Hollywood-worthy purse are available to the everyday fashionista. Retail, discount, and online stores abound. Be the star of your own show with the handbag of your dreams.

© 2010 Dorothy Howell, author of Shoulder Bags and Shootings: A Haley Randolph Mystery

About the Author:
Dorothy Howell, author of  Shoulder Bags and Shootings: A Haley Randolph Mystery, was inspired to write Handbags and Homicide by her crazed obsession with designer purses. She lives in Southern California, where there is, thankfully, no rehab program for handbag addiction, and is hard at work on her next Haley Randolph mystery. Visit her Website at www.DorothyHowellNovels.com.

Follow the author on Facebook.

Photo: crazyshopper

Common cold

The following is a list of some common ailments for which some of the most effective remedies are probably already available in your home.

When you’re sick, sometimes the best course of action is to see a doctor—you know, for those times when you can’t remember what your original skin tone looked like underneath that rapidly-expanding purple rash.

Other times, however, you can feel safe taking care of things on your own and saving your physician some of her precious time and energy.

The following is a list of some common ailments for which some of the most effective remedies are probably already available in your medicine closet, kitchen, or elsewhere in your home.

The Common Cold – Headaches – Toothaches – Heartburn & Indigestion – Insomnia - Foot Fungus -Random

The Common Cold

• Fluids. Maintaining proper hydration helps keep down congestion—The Mayo Clinic recommends “water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey” as the most fundamental and important way to keep mucus under control.

• Get some rest. Feeling crappy is your body’s way of telling you to slow down and take it easy. Keeping yourself warm and staying home allows your body to focus its resources on clearing you of infection (and also keeps you from spreading germs to anyone else).

• Antihistamines. These medications address the symptoms of a cold by suppressing inflammation, helping to keep airways open and clear. Depending on the systemic (body-wide) effects of this anti-inflammatory response, however, it might be wise to try this one last.

• Saltwater gargle. Not as much fun as warm lemon water with honey, but much more effective for a wham-bam instant phlegm clearing. The effect on congestion is instant, even if it only lasts 5-10 minutes. Visit eHow.com for details.

• Cough medications. Over-the-counter medications can be quite effective at treating the symptoms of a cold, but the underlying viral infection will still need to run its course. Over-the-counter products are also to be avoided in young children, and can actually worsen symptoms if taken for more than a few days, or if taken above the recommended dosage. Antibiotics are useless at best and counterproductive at worst, since the infection is not bacterial.

• Humidity. In a similar vein to fluids above, breathing warm, moist air can take the edge off of uncomfortable congestion. Just be careful not to breathe in steam too close to the source, or you might risk burning your nose.

• Nasal drops and sprays. In essence, a less-intense version of the saltwater gargle that promotes mucus flow, and can be exceptionally useful for children too young for other methods to work. Visit About.com for details.

• Chicken soup. A good salty vegetable soup can work the same cold-curing wonders if you’re ethically challenged in the chicken-eating department. In any case, The Mayo Clinic has conducted some interesting research into the merits of chicken soup, and it turns out your mother does know what she’s talking about when she serves it up to you in bed.

• Blow gently. It’s important to clear your nose regularly when you have a cold, but be careful of clearing your nose too forcefully. Excessive nose-blowing can send bacteria up into your sinuses (air-filled cavities between your brain and nose), which can lead to further congestion, earaches, and other undesirable outcomes.

  Visit next week for Natural Home Remedies for Headaches – Toothaches – Heartburn & Indigestion – Insomnia - Foot Fungus -Random

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  Photo: mcfarlandmo

]]> http://www.notjustthekitchen.com/health-beauty/great-home-remedies-that-take-care-of-everything/feed/ 1 http://www.notjustthekitchen.com/health-beauty/one-good-reason-to-become-a-vegetarian/ http://www.notjustthekitchen.com/health-beauty/one-good-reason-to-become-a-vegetarian/#comments Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:16:44 +0000 rita morgan http://www.notjustthekitchen.com/?p=3430

Vegetarian Diet

Vegetarians may make smarter dietary choices and could generally be healthier and happier. Give me some minutes and I’ll give you one very good reason to become vegetarian.

By: Louise Infante

While fish can serve as the most important dietary supply of the long-chain omega-3s eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, which have been shown to be essential in supporting brain health, low intake of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in vegetarians doesn’t adversely affect mood, based on a new study.

A study team from Arizona State University conducted a cross-sectional study to compare the mood of vegetarians who never eat fish with the mood of healthy omnivorous adults.

A total of 138 healthy Seventh Day Adventist adults residing in Arizona and California (64 vegetarians and 79 non-vegetarians) were enrolled in the study and completed a health history questionnaire, food frequency questionnaire and two psychometric tests, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and also the Profile of Mood States..

Vegetarians had significantly lower mean intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and also the omega-6 arachidonic acid; they had higher intakes of the omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid and the omega-6 linoleic acid.

“Seed oils are the richest sources of α-linolenic acid, notably those of rapeseed (canola), soybeans, walnuts, flaxseed (Linseed oil), clary sage seeds, perilla, chia, and hemp.”

However, the vegetarians also reported considerably less negative emotion than omnivores in psychometric tests. Mean total psychometric scores were positively related to the mean intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid , and inversely associated with alpha-linolenic acid and linolenic acid intake.

The research team noted there is also the chance that vegetarians may make smarter dietary choices and could generally be healthier and happier.

If you would like to try it out, the following is an example of vegetarian recipe according to Italian cuisine:

Italian Spaghetti with Zucchini

Ingredients:

* 17 oz. Spaghetti

* 24 oz. Of thin sliced zucchini

* A half cup of walnut oil

* Some basil leaves

* 2 tablespoons of yeast flakes

* Salt and pepper

In a large skillet heat the oil and when hot, add garlic and zucchini. Raise the heat and stir often to complete their cooking. They need to be golden and crispy outside and tender inside. Cook the pasta, drain and sauté in pan with zucchini, basil and yeast. Serve immediately.

Zucchini contain fewer calories and possess no fat. However they are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin e, ascorbic acid, folate, lutein and zeaxanthin.

These types of nutrients are extremely sensitive to heat and to enjoy their benefits you should find a quick way to cook or even eat raw in salads.

From the therapeutic point of view, zucchini have laxative, refreshing, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and detoxifying action.

About the Author:
Louise Infante writes for the vegetarian menu blog , her personal hobby blog dedicated to vegetarian cooking tips to help individuals live better.

Photo: Happy Sleepy

Designer handbag

There’s no need to deny yourself the joy of sporting a designer handbag when so many places offer great merchandise and outstanding discounts.

By: Dorothy Howell

You don’t have to dress less-than-glam during these hard economic times – not when shopping centers and Internet sites are flush with places to snag a genuine designer handbag at a deeply discounted price.

Stores selling discounted handbags range from small, intimate vintage and consignment shops to large department stores, and even larger outlet malls. Internet sites offer a wide range of styles, colors, and designer names.

The Premium Outlets and the Tanger Outlets far and away have the largest concentration of discounted designer merchandise. Along with handbag stores such as Coach, Judith Leiber, Kate Spade and Dooney & Bourke, you’ll find a fantastic array of designer stores. Michael Kors, Liz Clairborne, Prada, DKNY, Gucci, Calvin Klein, Burberry, along with many others, carry everything from clothing to shoes, and a sampling of their handbag lines.

The Premium Outlets have over 40 locations nationwide, along with malls in Puerto Rico, Japan, Korea, and Mexico. Tanger Outlet has over 30 locations in the U.S. Both offer AAA and AARP member discounts. Join their VIP Club and visit their Web sites for coupons and special offers. Check out their seasonal sales weekends and national promotions for extra savings in addition to everyday discounts.

First, and in some cases, second quality merchandise is available. You’ll have to bring along a magnifying glass to find flaws, though. Most are detectable only to the factory-trained eye.

These outlet stores are great places to shop. There’s no digging through clearance bins or blowing the dust off of merchandise that’s been sitting around for months. The stores are immaculate, the shelves are orderly and well stocked. The staffs are knowledgeable and helpful, the same as you’ll find in their retail stores. Many times, after making your selection, the clerk can bring you a “fresh” bag from the stock room. Care is taken to wrap your treasure in the store’s signature tissue paper, and deposit it into their trademark shopping bag.

Discounts typically run 20% to 40% off the MSRP, with deeper cuts of up to 65% off of sale and clearance items. Many of these stores offer a full guarantee on their products, plus a money back return policy. But, as with any store, ask before you buy. Keep in mind that these outlet malls are
huge, so wear comfortable shoes and plan for a full day of shopping.

Great bargains can be found in retail giants such as Macy’s and Dillard’s Department Stores. These discounts are usually offered seasonally so you’ll have to watch for them. The selection of these bags will be limited, but you can expect to pay from 20% to 30% off their retail prices.

Leading discount department stores such as Ross Dress For Less, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls offer designer handbags. The selection varies. You might find a Diane von Furstenberg, Betsy Johnson or a Fossil bag mixed in with their non-designer bags. Merchandise varies from location to location. These are no-frills stores. If you don’t mind digging for a good deal, you can expect to save 20% to 60% off of department store prices.

Some of the most sought-after designer brands are offered at Websites such as Rue LaLa and Gilt Group. These sites offer members-only pricing on luxury brands, usually for a limited time. Shop early. Expect to pay sales prices of up to 70% off retail.

The website e-bay, along with many other online sites, offers designer handbags at considerable savings. The selection is wide and varied. New as well as used purses are available. You’ll have to pay shipping costs, in most cases, so take that into consideration when looking at their prices.

Consignment stores and vintage shops are also good places to find a handbag at a low price. Keep in mind these purses are gently used. Designer names and selection will vary widely. Inventory fluctuates so it’s good to check back often. Savings can be considerable.

No matter where you choose to shop for your designer handbag, it’s important that you can distinguish a genuine bag from a knock-off. Read product descriptions carefully. Do your homework. Know the tell-tale signs of a counterfeit bag. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

There’s no need to deny yourself the joy of sporting a designer handbag when so many places offer great merchandise and outstanding discounts to the everyday fashionista. Get out and see what’s available. Shopping for your new bag is half the fun!

© 2010 Dorothy Howell, author of Shoulder Bags and Shootings: A Haley Randolph Mystery

About the Author:
Dorothy Howell, author of  Shoulder Bags and Shootings: A Haley Randolph Mystery, was inspired to write Handbags and Homicide by her crazed obsession with designer purses. She lives in Southern California, where there is, thankfully, no rehab program for handbag addiction, and is hard at work on her next Haley Randolph mystery. Visit her Website at www.DorothyHowellNovels.com.

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Photo: Metropol

Fruit and Vegetables

Benefits from an anticancer diet are immediate. Within months, we can see our blood sugar go down, our waist thinning and our blood pressure improve.

Diet is one of the major risk factors for cancer in Western societies. But it’s not just about what we eat too much of. It’s also about the foods we should learn to add to our table every day.

In his $40M laboratory at the University of Montreal, Dr. Richard Beliveau used to test new drugs that may help treat cancer. One day, tugged by children with leukemia who stopped him in the corridor of the hospital to ask if he had something new for them to use, he started experimenting with simple food extracts. Beliveau discovered that many simple food extracts had anticancer properties as powerful as many of the drugs he had been testing for the past 30 years.

Lenny, one of his friends, learned that he had pancreatic cancer. His wife begged Beliveau to help her design an anticancer diet. She fed Lenny, every day, three times a day, with foods that all had been tested for their anticancer properties. Lenny lived five years beyond his prognosis.

Today, the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the largest cancer research institution in the world, is also exploring this avenue. Long used in Ayurvedic medicine in India, the common spice turmeric (one of the main spices in curry) has been found to contain the most potent natural anti-inflammatory ever described — the molecule “curcumin”. Researchers at MD Anderson have shown that it inhibits cancer growth by not only reducing inflammation (necessary for invasion of neighboring tissues) but by inducing cancer cell death (”apoptosis”), slowing down the growth of new blood vessels necessary for tumor expansion (”angiogenesis”), and increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy. This research was recently reviewed in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2008).

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute (which awards the Nobel Prize) in Sweden have also shown that the polyphenols of green tea inhibit the progression of cancer. It can increase, too, the efficacy of radiotherapy. Women in Japan who drink more than three cups of green tea per day reduce their risk of breast cancer relapse. Men reduce their chance of seeing prostate cancer advance to a dangerous stage.

Eating at least five fruits and vegetables per day contributes greatly to the reduction of cancer risk.

The World Cancer Research Fund confirmed in its October 2007 report that 40% of cancers could be avoided with a more adequate diet and a bit more physical activity. And that these same life-style choices should be an integral part of any treatment of cancer. It stated as a goal no more than 12 ounces of red meat per week. The current American diet is close to 11 ounces per day.

The single most important feature in an anticancer diet is to reverse the proportions of a typical American meal: make the core of your plate vegetables (and fruits), and use meat only to enhance flavor. Legumes (peas, beans, lentils, etc.) and soy (tofu, tempeh, miso, edamame etc.) offer the same proteins as meat but combined with cancer fighting phytochemicals.

It’s also important to replace desserts (refined sugar) with fruits as often as possible. Berries, for example, contain anthocyanidins that directly help kill cancer cells and reduce the growth of abnormal blood vessels. Tangerines and their special flavonoids also act against cancer cells. All brightly colored fruits contain flavonoids that contribute to slowing down cancer growth. Agave syrup (which does not raise blood sugar or insulin) is a wonderful way to replace sugar for those who can’t do without the sweet taste.

All omega-6 oils (soybean, corn, sunflower) should be reduced or eliminated and replaced with olive oil, canola oil, or flaxseed oil. Omega-3 butter or margarine is also acceptable.

Animal products (meat, dairy, eggs) should be grass-fed or labeled “omega-3 rich”, and preferably organic so as to avoid growth hormone (that can stimulate cancer cell growth too).

Organic vegetables and fruits are preferable to non-organic, but, as Dr. Beliveau likes to point out, “it’s better to eat broccoli with a few residues of pesticides on it than to not eat broccoli.”

And benefits from an anticancer diet are immediate. Within months, we can see our blood sugar go down, our waist thinning, our blood pressure improve, and we feel more energetic and less afflicted by little pains of life we had started to take for granted such as heart burn and joint pains . . . It’s not just about cancer. It’s about nourishing life in us.

©2008 David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD

About the Author:
David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD, is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and cofounder of the Center for Integrative Medicine. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Paris, France.  He has been a cancer survivor for 16 years, and is the author of the International Best-Seller Anticancer: A New Way of Life, coming from Viking September 2008.

Photo:  khancafee