Four Reasons You Have Sore Feet

Got sore feet? Don't be surprised. Reports indicate that at around 75% of Americans have experienced or currently experience foot pain. Think about it: Each foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, 100 tendons, and countless things can go wrong. If you're on your feet at all, there's a good chance you'll experience foot pain at some point.
Four Reasons for Foot Pain
There are many reasons why and how foot discomfort happens. Here are some of the most common reasons why your feet may be sore:
You are wearing improper footwear. The mother of all foot maladies is footwear problems. Foot pain begins when shoes are cheaply made, lack proper heel cushioning, provide insufficient arch support, fit improperly, or fail to give balance. High-heeled shoes commonly create soreness, as do some tight-fitting dress shoes. It's easy to overlook similar problems that can occur with casual walking shoes or even athletic shoes. A proper fit and a quality shoe are essential for successfully fighting foot pain.
Pinched nerve. The foot operates on precision, but when it is impacted or squeezed by tight-fitting shoes, nerves may suffer.
Sprain. The many ligaments in the foot can become stretched due to over activity. A sprain creates nasty pain that can linger for weeks if not treated properly.
Stress fractures. Sometimes foot pain is caused by a tiny break such as a hairline fracture that goes unnoticed. Though the break may not be spotted, the pain is definitely present, and can create mobility problems.
Four Ways to Fix Foot Pain
The real question is this: How can you relieve foot pain? There is no one-size-fits all solution, just as there is no one-size-fits-all shoe. Nonetheless, there are some commonsense steps that you can take.
Eat well, drink a lot, sleep enough, and exercise frequently. The basic "fixes" for most health problems are the simplest - a good diet and regular exercise. This is the starting place for foot health.
Wear the right footwear. The importance of proper footwear cannot be overemphasized. Shoes provide the casing for the precision instruments that are your feet. Be careful that you select high-quality shoes. Don't hesitate to spend money on shoes. The purchase is important. In fact, your entire health depends on it.
Use custom orthotics. Orthotic devices may be exactly what you need to improve your foot health. Orthotic inserts adapt to the contours and pressure points of your feet, providing a custom solution to the soreness you experience.
Stay off it for a while. Finally, you may just need to put your feet up, quite literally. Staying off an irritated foot can give it opportunity to heal.
Sore feet aren't fun, but you don't have to live with the soreness for the rest of your life. By engaging the problem proactively, you'll experience relief.

Weight Loss Smoothies

There is no shortage of products and programs out there to help you drop pounds. From books to exercise videos, the fitness industry is a booming one. The problem arises when an individual needs to make a choice. There are so many options out there; it can be difficult to determine which way to go. Does it even matter? When it comes to products like weight loss smoothies, it does. Two products may purport to do the same thing, but a close look at the label (if you can find one) may tell a different story. Here are some things to look for when you go about choosing one.
Meal Replacement
Most weight loss smoothies are designed not to rev up your metabolism or create any other kind of magic, but rather to drink instead of a meal. Because they incorporate fewer calories-theoretically-than the meal you would have eaten otherwise, they can work well for a person trying to shed pounds. But this is only true when the premise is true, i.e., the drink actually has fewer calories than the meal you were going to eat. Just because a product shows a skinny woman on the packaging and advertises itself as being for those trying to lose fat doesn't mean it's actually low calorie. Read the labeling. Make sure you're getting what you think you're getting.
Nutrients
On the other side of the token, you could just replace your meals with a few glasses of water and drop pounds. The point of choosing a product like weight loss smoothies is that it provides you with the nutrients you need as well as something to fill your stomach. This is one of the tests that separate the good products from the bad ones. Make sure the drink you decide to use is going to give you the proper nutrients, a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fat, and any important vitamins you're missing from not eating a proper meal.
Monetary Value
Losing fat doesn't need to be an expensive proposition. Many companies seem to believe the opposite, however. Look for weight loss smoothies and other products that don't charge an arm and a leg to get on board. If you're spending more money on a 300-calorie drink than you would for a comparable meal, does that really make any sense? You shouldn't necessarily look for the cheapest product out there, but as long as it meets your nutritional and caloric needs, you don't need to spend a fortune, either.

A Detailed Overview of Pinched Nerve in the Neck

A pinched nerve in the neck occurs when a nerve in the neck is under too much pressure by surrounding tissues, like tendons, muscles, cartilage or bones. The function of the nerve is disrupted by this pressure, which can cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the neck. Recovering from a pinched nerve in the neck is possible within a couple of days or weeks with conservative treatments and rest. At times, it becomes necessary to undergo surgery to relieve the nerve in the neck.

What are the symptoms of pinched nerve in the neck?

The signs and symptoms of a pinched nerve in the neck include:

- Decreased sensation or numbness in the neck supplied by the nerve.
- Burning or sharp pain, which might radiate outward from the neck. Since the nerve is most likely coming directly from the spinal cord, the pain will be aggravated by sneezing or coughing.
- Paresthesia or "pins and needles", tingling sensations.
- Twitching or muscle weakness in the neck.
- Frequent feeling that the neck has "fallen asleep".

When you are asleep, the problem might become worse.

What are the causes of a pinched nerve in the neck?

When a nerve in the neck is excessively compressed or is under too much pressure by surrounding tissues, this can cause the nerve to get pinched. In certain cases, this tissue can be cartilage or bone in the neck because of which a nerve root in the area is compressed. In other cases, tendons or muscles might be the culprits.

Numerous conditions might cause tissue to compress nerves or a nerve in the neck. Some common factors that cause or contribute to nerve pressure in the neck include an injury, hobby, obesity, osteoarthritis, poor posture, sports activities, and stress from repetitive job.

The function of the nerve in the neck is disrupted by this pressure and results in inflammation of the nerve. Typically, there is no permanent damage if a nerve is pinched merely for a short time. However, permanent nerve damage and chronic pain can occur if the pressure continues.

What are the treatment and drugs to cure pinched nerve in the neck?

Resting the neck is a treatment that is recommended the most. Any activities that aggravate or cause the compression will have to be stopped. In order to immobilize the neck, a neck brace might be required. Other treatment options for a pinched nerve in the neck include:

- Physical therapy
- Medications
- Surgery

How to prevent nerve pain in the neck?

A pinched nerve in the neck can be prevented with the help of the following measures:

- Maintaining good posture.
- Incorporating flexibility and strength exercises into your regular exercise routine.
- Taking frequent breaks after indulging in such activities and limiting repetitive activities.
- Maintaining a healthy weight.

Prevent Depression and Stress Through Yoga Online

Experiencing a little down and on the low recently? Are you in an emotionally problem in your life and still have uses up the fun things to do? When your answer is yes to these issues, don't give up just about yet since there is certainly a good way about how you can handle all of these. When followed effectively and done on a regular basis, you will definitely be capable to deal with depression and tension with the help of yoga online.
These solutions have been completely tried and tested by millions of people from many parts of the world. In case you are hesitant, you might like to give it a try because yoga online remains safe and secure and you do not need any skills at all to execute the yoga online poses when you will be trained how. Here are some guidelines which you might fight handy.
• Focused Breathing and Awareness. Whenever you conduct yoga, you may actually be trained to work with breathing tactics. The breathing techniques are also a method for you to learn how to increase knowledge and concentrate during yoga.
• When you do yoga, you probably put out all the tension and stress that has build-up inside you and this is actualized after you do stretching and twisting when you do one posture to another. These positions are termed as asanas. It is actually a method of "untying" the knots inside you and merely let your back, neck and various muscles in the body relax and let out.
• Doing frequent physical movements actually helps endorphins. These endorphins are natural hormones and even called "happy hormones" as they are one reason why we feel better and uplifted.
• The breathing techniques that yoga has are not just the common breathing that we do daily. This entails deeper breaths that in some way fill the blood stream with oxygen and helps in controlling blood pressure. With the deep breathing tactics moreover, you may learn to take control on your breathing and this is definitely the effective way of working with pressure.
• These yoga postures are said to be the language of the body as this permits us to reconnect and unify our mind and body. The deeper awareness present in performing yoga online actually instructs us to manage our mind and body. From the frequent practice of yoga, we will be able to become more conscious of the connection of both (mind and body) and consequently go deeper and reunite with the spiritual factor too. These are what we need to have a balance in our life so when there is balance we feel more content and happy.
A number of poses that we may make use of for releasing anxiety and sadness. Yoga poses for example the corpse pose, child's pose, crocodile pose and tree pose are several good examples. So give yourself a break and get into yoga online and fight off those blues away.

3 Bariatric Foods That Make Dieting Easy

When people hear the term "bariatric foods", they think of specialized diets for those who have had weight loss surgery. Broken to its core, though, the term simply encompasses those things you can eat to help you lose weight. Now, contrary to the principle of so-called "zero-calorie" vegetables and such, anything you eat is technically not going to burn calories. That said, there are certainly choices you can make that will make your diet much less of a struggle. This means avoiding things that wreak havoc on your metabolism and create cravings where they didn't exist. Here are three things you can incorporate to boost your success.
Beef
Believe it or not, beef can help you lose weight and it belongs in any reasonable discussion of bariatric foods. The key is to find lean cuts that aren't dripping with fat. That boosts the calorie content and it could have unfortunate effects on your health. Some nutritional experts advise looking for grass fed beef, which is free of many hormones and steroids found in the average beef-raised cattle. Why is beef a good choice? Because of the protein. Granted, you can find protein in chicken and other fish and fowl-and you should-but don't avoid red meat just because you think it isn't healthy. Eaten in moderation, it can be a big help to your plan.
Green Tea
Much has been written about the multitude of health benefits found in green tea. While the jury is still out on some of these claims, there is certainly evidence that it deserves a mention when it comes to bariatric foods. A rich source of antioxidants, it is also known to raise the body's temperature, which in turn raises the metabolism. Your metabolism is the process by which your body burns calories. The faster it is moving, the more calories you are burning. That is the point of exercise. When you're running, your metabolism is burning through energy, preventing your body from storing it as fat. Green tea can help you do the same thing (to a lesser extent) without the sweat.
Grapefruit
In the 1970s, the grapefruit diet was all the rage. Pairing grapefruit with a diet high in meat was supposed to turn your body into a fat fighting furnace. The fad may have died out, but there is strong scientific evidence to show that incorporating grapefruit into your diet can have positive effects on your weight loss. Researchers aren't sure as of yet exactly what it is about the melon that contributes to weight loss, but the effects have been proven. Try using this and other bariatric foods to make the battle of the bulge a little bit easier.

Fitness and Health for Senior Citizens

When you grow old you assume that being fit is no longer a priority. But in reality you need to be fit more than ever. As you grow old you are more likely to catch an illness, by being physically fit a person's energy increases, this helps you control the symptoms of your illness.
As you grow older the body tends to weaken, you suffer from various illnesses doing exercise is instrumental of being strong, energetic and most importantly healthy. Keeping healthy is not all about going to the gym and doing hours and hours of weightlifting, but is also about being active allowing yourself to move about even simple exercises can make a lot of difference in your life.
Many people cant accept the fact that their body is changing rapidly and are not prepared to do anything about it, by not doing anything illnesses are just being invited into the body. Changes to a person's body as the person grows older are inevitable and old people should accept that fact.
Tips for seniors
1. Look for easy ways to be active, for example instead of using a lift go up or down by using the stairs, instead of using a car to get to places walk to places like the grocery store. Be more active in your everyday life like doing shopping, house cleaning, and gardening.
2. Do exercise in your free time jogging a short distance, yoga, swimming, riding bike. Yoga is a big step yoga improves your flexibility it makes you mentally strong, it reduces stress etc.
3. Start slowly, there is no point doing severe training this can harm you find something to do that is within your capacity.
4. Enjoy yourself while you're doing things, take a friend with you or you can listen to music while doing exercise, this can make things a lot easier.
5. Make a timetable of what you will be doing, this has to be within your range, don't go over the top this is because it will be less likely for you to stick to the timetable.
6. Read books and magazines this will motivate you to exercise and keeping yourself fit, this will also increase your knowledge about fitness and how important it is to everyone.
7. Check with your doctor if it is okay to do certain things, some activities might be outside of your range, so it's very important that you talk to your doctor before doing a certain activity.
8. Choose activities that you might really enjoy this is significant if you have a passion of doing things, it makes things easier for example playing sports such as tennis, badminton, etc.
9. Join different classes and make friends meeting new people will make you
More entertained and make life much more happier.
These are all tips that can make you successful on achieving your goals on being fit. So why wait start now!

Asif Ladha is an intuitive and very dedicated person on the articles he writes. He provides valuable information that can help a person significantly.

Tip For All Nail Biters

Ordinarily, most methods, though useful and effective don't guarantee permanent results. This however will.
Close your eyes and visualize the way your nails will appear when you have finally achieved your goal of quitting nail biting.
Suppose you are driving a car, if you keep looking in the back mirror you will not know where you are heading. What will be the point of your journey then? Similarly, when you are working towards attaining a certain objective, it is very essential that you know the outcome of your struggles. This is why it is necessary to have a mental picture of the beautiful nails you will own in the future.
Take as much time as you want as you go into the imaginary world, where you will not have uneven, ugly and chipped nails but smooth, finely shaped and pretty nails. You may encounter some problems while trying to envision the perfect nails. In such a case, just take some scissors and cut out a photograph from a magazine. Or print it out from the internet. This will assist you in making your vision clearer and more realistic.
Once you have accomplished the task of creating the image of impeccable nails in your mind, imagine a situation where you are accompanied by your family and friends having a good time and where you will not have to worry about others catching a glimpse of your unkempt hands. What a relief that would be! You can even conjure up an image of yourself receiving compliments from your favourite people on the way your unappealing nails have drastically transformed into attractive ones.
This technique of visualizing the outcome of your efforts is one which has been proved by well-known athletes. They took advantage of it and earned a victory in the end. Similarly, by envisioning your future nails, you can trick your brain into thinking that those imaginary nails are actually the real ones. In this way your brain will robotically start working on achieving your ideal nails.
Keep working on this technique until the time you obtain success. After all, you do not start growing muscles on your first visit to the gym!
This may sound like a simple tip, but in combination with many other techniques, this will make a big difference and can be a determining factor between you following through on what you had set out to do.

Too Many Questions About Diet

Where Do We Start?
In the beginning there was fat, and fat was good and we ate it... abundantly... with relish (and other sauces)... and we grew to larger proportions. And then we wanted to be less than we had become and so we paid others to tell us what to eat (or not) and how to move (or not) and when to do all of this. And what supplements to take and foods to eat more and foods to eat less... and where has it gotten us?
We eat processed food, we eat fast food, we eat bio-engineered food, we eat food and food products from animals that have been genetically modified and from plants that have been genetically modified, we eat foods that have been chemically altered, we consume poisons and we wonder why our health is suffering.
How can we begin to change our habits and patterns when we are inundated with the continuing misinformation everywhere we go. Fast food companies wanting us to super-size and not wait (even though we seem to wait in their lines to order and again to pick up what we've ordered). We go to gyms and other forms of exercise and are "motivated" or "mis-motivated" by individuals who don't take our circumstances or limitations into consideration, it is all about "just do it" and not about "do what you can today and a bit more tomorrow" and so we feel bad and eat more.
Do I Have a Solution?
My solution is that I choose what I eat from things I cook (not from a package) and move myself in ways that don't over-stress my ailing parts and enhance my not-so-ailing parts. I take some supplements that seem to be beneficial (found a new one this week - for anti-aging). We've been doing Pilates and just joined the Gold's Gym so I can do it my way. My shopping choices tend to prefer the things called "organic" or "natural" and I detest the fact that they think I should pay more.
Good health and good eating habits begin in that wonderful place I call "between your ears and behind your eyes" and that is the beginning of anyone's journey to wellness. Want me to say that more simply? OK... YOU HAVE TO WANT TO CHANGE BEFORE MEANINGFUL CHANGE WILL OCCUR. That means you have to stop drinking the stuff with "high fructose corn syrup" and stop eating the things with chemical names you can't pronounce and stop using products with chemical names you can't pronounce (any product that has a thing with "laureth" in the name is a poison). YOU have to take control of your life and your existence and want to have, be and do better.
Your Task, Should You Choose to Accept!!!
Make one tiny change in your life. Drink less soda or use less sweetener or eat a little less "stuff from a box, can or freezer" and see if you can replace these with "better choices" like make green tea (go and buy some) or anything that changes what you eat. And then, move a bit more than you usually do. Walk around the block, go to a large mall and walk it (if you live in a hot or cold place, then find the indoor one). Make your own difference - stop eating at the fast food places, find a traditional ethnic alternative. Eat better and live happier.

Human Stomach

Stomach is a vital organ in a human being. It is made up of muscles and looks like a pear-shaped bag. It is elastic in nature - human stomach changes it size and shape according to the position of the human body and the amount of food present inside the stomach. The stomach of a normal human being is about 12 inches long and 6 inches wide at its widest point. The stomach plays a vital role in digesting the food we eat. It also releases various enzymes and protects our lower intestine from harmful organisms. It is located in the upper part of the abdomen just below the left rib cage.

Common Stomach Disorders in Humans

• Gastritis
• Gastroparesis
• Cancers
• Peptic Ulcer Disease
• Dyspepsia

Causes of Common Stomach Diseases

Gastritis - In the stomach there is a delicate balance between acid and the wall lining which is protected by mucus. When this mucus lining is disrupted for whatever reasons signs and symptoms of acidity result. This may result in upper abdominal pain, indigestion, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and heartburn.

Gastroparesis - The stomach motility disappears and food remains stagnant in the stomach. The most common cause of gastroparesis is diabetes. It can also occur from a blockage at the distal end of stomach, a cancer or a stroke. Symptoms of gastroparesis includes abdominal pain, fullness, bloating, nausea, vomiting after eating food, loss of appetite and feeling of fullness after eating small amounts of food.

Cancer - Stomach cancers usually occur due to fluctuations in acidity level. Symptoms are vague which include abdominal fullness, weight loss and pain. The exact cause of stomach cancer is not known but has been linked to infection with H.pylori, pernicious anemia, Menetriere's disease and nitrogenous preservatives in the food we consume.

Peptic Ulcer Disease - This is commonly known as PUD. It is an ulcer on the gastrointestinal tract which is acidic and hence very painful. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, waterbrash, nausea, loss of appetite resulting in loss of weight etc.

Dyspepsia - Commonly known as indigestion or stomach upset. It is a medical condition characterized by chronic or recurrent pain in the upper abdomen, upper abdominal fullness and feeling full earlier than expected when eating.

Treatments of Common Stomach Diseases

Most stomach problems are linked to smoking and tobacco consumption; hence the intake of tobacco (directly or through cigarettes) should be stopped. Experts recommend a healthy diet consisting of fruits and vegetables. One should avoid meat and diary products.

Endoscopy - This procedure is performed as an outpatient and utilizes a small flexible camera. The procedure does require intravenous sedation and takes about 30-45 minutes; the endoscope is inserted via the mouth and can visualize the entire swallowing tube, stomach and duodenum. The procedure also allows the physician to obtain biopsy samples. In many cases of bleeding, the surgeon can use the endoscope to treat the source of bleeding with laser, clips or other injectable drugs.

4 Effective Ways To Treat Shin Splint Pain at Home

Shin splints are not the exclusive preserve of those who do a lot of running, play strenuous sports and perform dance steps. It is true however that these individuals stand a greater risk of having injuries related to the shins. However, normal people are far from being exempted from these complaints. You can develop this complication by just working up a hill or even harmlessly bending down to pick up a pencil from the floor.
Shin splints generally occur after running when excessive weight has been put on the shins or the tissues that link up with the muscles of that bone. The end result is to cause acute pain and a swelling of the tissues around the shinbone. You should not ignore and allow it aggravate into something more serious. We never know for sure when shin splints are around the bend. Here are 4 effective ways you can treat shin splints from home when they do occur.
1# Get Some Tape
Using a bandage or special sleeve that fits comfortably over the lower leg region, helps to reduce pain and swelling. Furthermore, it bolsters your tissue area, improving flexibility and good conditioning around the adjoining muscles.
Ensure that you work gingerly, never hurriedly (that's if the pain permits you). You can use a walking stick if the pain seems unbearable. This stimulates healthy blood to the damaged tissue area and also removes surplus fluid caused by the swelling.
2# Use an insole
Shin splints happen because of the continuous jarring of your joints and shins during intensive work outs or heavy impact activities. When you have shin splints, start wearing a padded insole with your shoes. This has been known to offer great relief. A padded sole helps to cushion the blow of your foot every time it thumps on the ground, especially on hard or uneven surfaces. You can get insoles at specialty stores or at the sport section of any other store.
3# Ice Treatments
Ice therapy reduces swellings and inflammation fast and is a reliable method that will provide relief from shin pain. Break ice in a towel and apply on the affected area for 10-15 minutes every day. Do this dutifully at least 3 times daily. If you do not want it to affect your other activities or chores, use an ice pack held in place with an elastic bandage. Never apply directly to your shin; it does more harm than good! Are you having trouble, finding the specific tools for the job? You can turn to the kitchen for a solution to your throbbing splint by opting for a bag of frozen legumes or vegetables. They work as well.
4# Pop the Painkillers and Rest Up
Taking Aspirin, Acetaminophen and ibuprofen with water will help relieve shin pain by reducing swellings and inflamed muscles. These painkillers, along with rest, gradually help to return your body to full activity. Pregnant women or nursing moms need to check in with their doctors first before using these medications as they are known to have possible side effects.
Remember that the seriousness of each shin splint case determines the level of treatment to be applied to each leg. You should stop and try your doctor for a more accurate diagnosis if there are no improvements within a week.