Every newspaper/magazine I read with a health section in it, I always look for recommendations in which I can help my self with my feet/nerve problems. Here are some of the interesting facts I have found that I would like to share with you.
From The Sun newspaper, dated Thursday 13th July 2006
Secret Health Signs Your Body Gives Out
Feet
Small feet mean a narrow pelvis for women. Doctors used to measure a mum-to-be’s feet to see if she was likely to need a caesarean. A small size suggests a small-boned skeleton, which could make natural delivery difficult. Flat feet increase the risk of stress fractures and bunions. Beat the odds: If you’re carrying a big baby, ask about the possibility of an elective caesarean.
Hair
People with red hair may be flamboyant and fiery, but they are more sensitive to pain. So they often need more anaesthetic during operations than other patients, according to new research. “Red hair is the first visible human trait linked to anaesthetic requirement, “ says Edwin Liem, of the University of Louisville, US.
Everyday Remedies In Your Fridge
Food
: Vinegar Problem: Infection. Vinegar has been used as an effective weapon against bacteria for centuries. Even in the First World War, soldiers’ wounds were washed in vinegar. And soaking your feet in it is also effective against athlete’s foot.Food: Oranges Problem: Arthritis. One glass of juice a day could stave off arthritis. A study at Manchester University found sufferers ate very low levels of carotenoids - compounds that give fruits and vegetables their distinctive orange or yellow colouring. Certain carotenoids have been shown to protect against joint inflammation.
Food: White Wine Problem: Arthritis. White wine usually gets second billing to red in the health stakes, but a report by Italian scientists show several Italian and German whites contain the chemical tyrosol and caffeic acid, which can suppress rheumatoid arthritis.
Food: Olives Problem: Pain. American researchers found a small bowl of olives is equivalent to a tenth of a dose of ibuprofen. That’s because they contain oleocanthal, an anti-inflammatory chemical that seems to dampen down pain receptors in the body.
Food: Chillies Problem: Insomnia. Chomping on a chilli could be the secret to a good nights sleep. The University of Tasmania gave volunteers 30mg of chilli a day and monitored their sleeping patterns. As well as sleeping better, they ere more alert during the day. A chemical called capsaicin is thought to be the key, as it binds to brain receptors which dictate sleeping patterns.
Food: Mint Sauce Problem: Digestion. Mint has been used to treat gastric upsets for centuries. More recently, carefully controlled studies have confirmed it relieves Irritable Bowel Syndrome. There is evidence that it works as a muscle relaxant. Danish researchers found 68 per cent of people with IBS can benefit from eating mint.
From issue 27 of Bella magazine dated 4th July 2006
Periods and Pain
Oestrogen increases a women’s pain sensitivity. Just before a period, when oestrogen levels peak, pain thresholds dive - if you have a wax at this time you’ll feel it! Action: Work around your hormones. Go for a wax just after your period. And take painkillers containing codeine - a recent study found they worked better for women than anti-inflammatories.After surgery
If you need an operation check your monthly cycle. High oestrogen levels slow the time it takes for blood to clot. Action: Ask for surgery the week after your period - your blood may clot faster.
Immune systems
Men have 30 per cent more colds and flu than women. But women are more likely to develop autoimmune diseases - where immune cells attack the body’s tissues. That’s why women are three times as likely to get rheumatoid arthritis and twice as likely to get multiple sclerosis. Action: Autoimmune diseases tend to strike after periods of stress. During stressful times, take 3g of vitamin C every day.
The blues
Depression is more common in women, as we produce half the amount of depression-preventing serotonin as men. Action: Exercise increases your serotonin. Do an hour of exercise three times a week.
About three times as many men get the more common form of ankylosing sodalities - an autoimmune disease in which the hip joints and vertebrae of the spine fuse together.
New help for restless legs
Up to four million people in the UK, most of them women, suffer from a sleep disorder called restless legs syndrome. Sufferers feel an unpleasant creepy-crawly sensation in their legs and get an urge to keep them moving. It’s worse at night and can make it hard to sleep - leading to tiredness. Lack of concentration and even depression, according to consultant neurologist Ray Chaudhuri. Two new medications to stop restless legs have just been released. Mirapexin (pramipexole) and Adartrel (ropinirole) are daily tablets that work by stimulating dopamine receptors in the brain, an effect used to treat Parkinson’s disease too. They’re available only on prescription. Restless legs are also linked with low iron levels, which may be caused by heavy periods, pregnancy or a vegetarian diet. In this case, taking iron supplements for several months should restore iron levels - and banish symptoms.