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Our Feet

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:14:00 -0500

THE VOICE OF THE BODY- THE FEET

Who Am I: I am your feet. My job is to provide you with a foundation.

Voice of The Feet: I am the voice of your feet. Like hands, I touch the earth. By design, there are two of me.
One of me supports your left side and one, supports right side. Each of me has 26 bones and 25 joints.
I let you know where you are through sensations coming from over 7,000 nerve endings in each of me.

My function is to provide you with foundation- a trampoline-like base with arches that run horizontally and longitudinally. I function best when your ankle joint is free and involved.
What keeps me healthy is being allowed to be naked and free to naturally settle into a relaxed, more elongated and expanded design. If I am confined, I get cranky and lock up.

I never work alone, but with my partner, the ankle joint. I provide stability and support from inner arch, made up of the big toe and the next two toes.
My arches give you a springboard. My toes, designed to lengthen and spread, need space and freedom.
At the back of me is my largest bone, the talus, and the smaller bones, the navicular, cuneiform, metatarsals, and my inner arches. I provide flexibility, power, and stability.

My Gift To You: I make it possible for you to receive energy from the earth, and to be touched as you walk, run, skip, hop, play sports, dance and live in your world.

Imagine Me: Visualize as a magic carpet, one you can ride on and are elegantly supported by from underneath.

When Dancing Through Life: Live in your feet and lovingly walk with them every step throughout your day.
Sense your ankle joints and feet as working together as one system. Wear shoes that fit and feel good, shoes that give your feet room to move and breathe.

Care for your feet. Massage them and pumice calluses off.
Give your feet the gift of a manicure. Keep them soft by applying lotion. Keep your skin sensory-alive by taking your feet out for a walk. Care for them most of all by visiting a Reflexologist on a regular basis.

FOCUS ON FEET

Foot- Fitness Routine

Give them a little down-to-earth care and attention and you’ll walk on air this summer.

A winter’s worth of neglect can leave your feet callused, rough and painful. Before you slip into pretty summer sandals, fine-tune your feet with our soothing and smoothing foot-fitness routine.

- Look after your feet

Every day give them a good soapy wash, using a soft nail-brush over the toenails, and an abrasive such as pumice or one of the “synthetic” versions to avoid a build-up of hard skin on your soles and heels.

Then dry them thoroughly (especially between the toes) and finish with dusting powder. Once a week (or twice if you can spare the time ): Treat your feet to a massage-cum-moisturising treatment – massage helps to boost circulation which can be fairly sluggish in the feet.

Simply spend about five minutes on each foot, rubbing in a rich hand cream or massage oil. Press and “knead” the whole foot- tops, soles, heels and each individual toe. It’s worth the effort.

Every 10- 14 days: you should treat your feet and spend half an hour on a pampering pedicure, following our simple step-by-step guide. (See box)

- Exercise your feet

Whenever you have a spare moment, do these exercises to build up strength and flexibility. These can be done while you’re sitting down or working on your computer:

- Roll a golf ball or an orange under the arch of each foot:

- Sitting upright (or slumped)”tap” feet gently on the floor, first toe, then heel;

- Place feet about 15cm apart on the floor. Raise heels, pointing toes but keeping the toes on the floor, then lower and relax.

Foot Freedom

There’s no truth in the idea: “New shoes are supposed to hurt”. Shoes that hurt are shoes that lead to foot complaints which develop as a protection against constant friction and pressure.
In fact, it’s estimated 95 per cent of foot problems can be traced to poorly designed shoes, incorrect foot care and neglect.

Ideally, say the experts, we should spend the first six or seven years of your lives barefoot – going barefoot whenever you can is the best way to maintain strong healthy feet.
Holidays are the ideal time to kick off your shoes and walk in the sand. The sand also helps clean nails and smooth skin.
Shoes must be flexible and not constricting: well-ventilated trainers are good, so low-heeled sandals.
Save high heels for occasional ear, since they throw the body out of balance; and make sure foot-wear for walking has a thick sole, a broad heel, and sufficient flexibility underneath the ball of the foot.

The Perfect Pedicure

Get your “tool-kit “together.

You will need:

- Nail scissors or clippers
- Emery board
- Orange stick
- Pumice stone or other rough skin remover
- Epsom salts, lemon slices or camomile tea bags
- Cider vinegar/ witch-hazel
- Cuticle cream (or petroleum jelly)
- Hand cream
- Cotton-wool balls
- Nail varnish and remover
- Top coat, if using

1. Remove old nail varnish, and soak your feet in warm water for five to ten minutes. Add to the water Epsom salts( a good soother for tired feet) lemon slices or camomile tea bags (both are good for corns and calluses, and camomile is also reputed to reduce perspiration).After soaking, dip feet into cold water for half a minute to stimulate circulation- this is also excellent for chilblains.

2. Using scissors or clippers, cut nails straight across so that the outer edge is almost parallel to the top of the toe. Smooth the edges with an emery board without rounding off the corners. Carefully clip away any dead skin around the nail.

3. Apply cuticle cream or a little petroleum jelly and massage it into the skin at the sides of the nail as well as the cuticle back very gently with an orange stick.

4. Use a hard-skin remover on areas that need treating. If using pumice or other hard stone, dip the feet in the bowl of warm water again. It may take several treatments to remove hard skin.

5. Massage feet with hand cream or other good, rich moisturiser. Allow it to soak into skin for a few minutes. Then refresh with an astringent rub such as cider vinegar or witch-hazel.

6. Separate toes with tissues or cotton wool. Wipe nails with varnish remover to get rid of any stray cream. Apply two coats of varnish, finishing with a clear top coat to protect against chipping. When the varnish is completely dry, remove the toe separators.

Healthy Digestion

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:24:00 -0500

PUT A BOUNCE BACK IN YOUR STEP

Healthy Digestion

Keep Your Digestion In Tip-Top Condition

Research suggest that many of the chemicals we ingest daily through food, water, and air can become deposited in fat cells in our bodies.
A diet that lacks certain nutrients may also impair our natural ability to detoxify chemicals, which in time build up in the body. It is very important to provide nutrients to support and protect the liver, the main organ involved in detoxification.

Health is Wealth and nothing is more valuable than your health.

DETOX

It’s the latest craze to hit Godzone, but what are the benefits of this new age cleansing diet?

Nowadays, more and more kiwis are turning to ‘detox’ everyday, they are not just saving it for the post-festive season, but more as a bi-annual ritual.
So what exactly is a detox and why are more Kiwis embracing it as ‘the’ way to cleanse their bodies?

Detox (short for detoxification) is the process of removing toxins from the bloodstream.
Toxins are harmful substances that our bodies regularly encounter through the air, the environment, food and alcohol. All of these factors cause the body’s natural detoxification process to slow down.

In a nutshell, it’s a lifestyle choice. Most turn to detox after a bout of overindulgence on fatty foods, increased alcohol consumption and poor diet in general.
A detox reduces the craving for fatty and sugar foods, so a balanced diet is easily achieved with a weight loss programme.

The first thing to do is ask yourself what you want to get out of a detox? Do you have the time to attend clinics or do you prefer to follow a plan at home? Also ask yourself how much money do you want to spend?
It is good to think about these factors before you start your plan.

THE SIMPLE APPROACH

Traditionally , products like herbal teas and body cleansing juices have been the most common approach to detox. Diet also plays an important part in the process.

Natural supplements, how can they help? A high level of vitamins are also key to a successful detox. B-complex vitamins such as B6 , Folic Acid and B12, aid in liver detoxification by energising the metabolism.
In addition, Vitamin C also helps protect against free radical damage.
The herb such as Milk Thistle, which is rich in antioxidants, is known for its liver-cleansing properties, while Cascara and Ginger are effective in stimulating healthy digestion and bowel movements.

FOODS TO INCLUDE IN THE PLAN:

- Beans and lentils
- Brown rice
- Fresh fish
- Fruits and Fruit Juice
- Herbal or Fruit teas
- Oats
- Olive oil
- Tofu
- Unsalted nuts and seeds
- Vegetables
- Water (at least 2 litres per day)

FOODS TO AVOID:

- Alcohol and Fizzy drinks
- Caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee and energy drinks
- Cakes and pastries
- Chocolate and sweets
- Dairy products
- Sugar and white flour

6 WAYS TO HELP YOUR BODY DURING A DETOX:

- Dry body brushing, from the ends of the limbs toward the heart, including the abdomen, repeating daily until the crisis passes.

- Reduce stress. You may need to evaluate your daily stress level, poor diet, smoking, caffeine, sugar, white flour and other lifestyle elements that have contributed to poor health over the years.

- Elimination, Toxins trapped in the body will be eliminated through the intestines.

- Drink plenty of water (6-8 glasses per day), exercise regularly , eat lots of fruit and lightly steamed vegetables and whole grains.

- Exercise will help the detoxification process. Walking is a very efficient exercise. Walking 20-30 minutes , four to six times a week.

- Detoxifying Bath... Add 2 cups of baking soda or Epsom to the water. And soak for ½ -1 hour. Drink water while soaking to replace the fluids being drawn from the body.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Do NOT take a detox bath if skin problems or high blood pressure symptoms are present.

A healing crisis can develop up to three months after a positive change in lifestyle has been adopted.
A young person will detoxify more quickly that an older person. You may experience more than one healing crisis to fully discharge toxins from your body. You will feel more energetic and a greater physical well being.

THE 4 METHODS OF ELIMINATIONS ARE:

Skin - Perspiration
Lungs - Respiration
Kidneys/ Bladder - Urination
Bowels - Defecation

THE HERING'S LAW OF CURE:

The healing crisis has been expressed over the years by the following definition, which has gained widespread acceptance.
“All cure starts from the head down, from within out, and in reverse order as the symptoms have appeared.”

First head down, you decide to do something different to effect a change.
In reverse order, the body will decide which organs need healing internal organs such as the heart, liver, brain will take precedent over the tonsils.
The healing process usually happens with a 72 hour window after a reflexology treatment is the body’s response to the invitation to heal.

“The art of Medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the dis-ease”
Voltaire(1694-1778)

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEBSITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Online entrepreneur Caroline A. Lawrence, “The Reflex Pro”, health and business coach, writer and speaker.

You can learn more about Happyfoot ,her free tips, articles and her courses, programs and products at : http://www.happyfootreflexology.co.nz

The Immune System

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:49:00 -0500

A HEALTHY AND STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM EFFECT

The immune system is closely connected to virtually every other system of the body. When it’s not functioning at its best , the rest of your body suffers, leaving you vulnerable to a host of foreign invaders.
And like every other part of the body, the immune system needs nutrients to function optimally.
If you treat your body badly with junk food, little or no exercise and a stressful lifestyle, your immune system is forced to work overtime to protect your body.

Inflammation is the immune system’s immediate response to an infection or injury, such as when you get a cut on your arm.
In most cases, as the immune system deals with the problem , the immune cells then retreat from the area and inflammation, redness and swelling go down.
But occasionally, the immune cells do not withdraw and the inflammation continues, creating a chronic problem within the body.
Chronic inflammation has gained recent attention within the medical and scientific communities because of its role in driving many of the most feared illnesses of middle and old age.
Scientific research supports that managing the inflammatory responses and supporting the immune system in the first place is the best approach for lifelong health.

NATURAL KILLER CELLS :THE IMMUNE SYSTEM’S FIRST RESPONSE

Recent research has uncovered interesting characteristics about natural killer cell, or NK, cells provide a crucial first defense against infectious agents and diseased cells.
Until now , scientists took for granted that NK cells came equipped with the ability to do their job properly.
In the February issue of The Journal of Immunology, researchers led by Christian Munz, Ph.D. and Guido Ferlazzo, Ph.D. of Rockefeller University, published two separate papers exploring their findings that NK cells require
education from another source to learn how to search out and destroy diseased cells.
They further hypothesize that natural killer cell function can be “tailored” or “targeted” toward specific immune support activity.

4LIFE TRANSFER FACTOR

4Life Transfer Factor Advanced Formula and 4Life Transfer Factor Plus Advanced Formula are unique , effective supplements that give your immune system unprecedented support.
They educate your immune system to promote balance and stay healthier throughout your life.

4LIFE TRANSFER FACTOR ADVANCED FORMULAS:

- Promote your immune system’s ability to remember past invasions, allowing your body to more quickly respond to similar health threats.

- Educate naive immune cells about a present or potential danger and equip them with a plan for action.

- Shorten the recognition phase of an infection.

- Boost your immune response or balance it by suppressing an overactive immune system.

- Teach your immune system how to better manage the inflammatory response.

The first time your body is exposed to particular viruses or bacteria, it takes time for your immune system to recognize the invading organisms and to figure out how to kill them.
During this elapsed time, bacteria and viruses grow exponentially, increasing the amount of time it takes to completely eliminate the infection

The second time the body is exposed to a particular virus or bacteria, the immune system recognizes the invading organism more quickly and immediately knows how to fight it off.
Because the amount of time required is shorter, the infection can be eliminated more quickly.
4Life” Transfer Factor” triggers a secondary immune response by borrowing the immune memory from the Transfer Factors derived from cow colostrums and chicken egg yolks.

The first time your body is exposed to particular virus or bacteria, it takes time for your immune system to recognize the invading organisms and to figure out how to kill them.
During this elapsed time, bacteria and viruses grow exponentially increasing the amount of time it takes to completed eliminate the infection.

The second time the body is exposed to a particular virus or bacteria, the immune system recognizes the invading organism more quickly and immediately knows how to fight it off.
Because the amount to time required is shorter, the infection can be eliminated more quickly. 4Life “Transfer Factor” triggers a secondary immune response by borrowing the immune memory from transfer factors
derived from cow colostrums and chicken egg yolks.

Lotus Himalayan Crystal Salt

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:15:00 -0400

SALT IS GOOD FOR YOU

Lotus Himalayan crystal salt is essential!

- Use on your food and in your cooking as per table salt.

- In drinking water, add a pinch to your glass of water first thing in the morning

- Use a handful in the bath. For a full detox, use 500g to 1kg and dissolve in warm water and Soak for 35 minutes

- Use for bruising and wounds, soak a bandage in brine(sole)

- Sole solution: Add a handful of salt to a container of water and leave until salt fully dissolved.

- Use 1-5 ml in a glass once or twice a day.

- Add a small amount of the sole solutions to hair shampoo and skin lotions.

Symptoms that Lotus crystal salt will help:

- Ezcema, psoriasis and many other skin conditions

- Low energy, chronic fatigue ,ME

- Helps to replace essential minerals

- Detoxification of heavy metals, and pesticides.

- Assist the kidney and liver functions.

- Arthritis, aches, strains and inflammation.

Ostrich Oil

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:15:00 -0400

Ostrich Oil

Oil from ostrich has been used for centuries. It is natural and soothing oil, highly penetrating, with natural anti-inflammatory characteristics offering natural pain relief, with excellent moisturizing capability. The ostrich oil is also available in “natural” to use as is or you may add your own favorite aromatherapy oil. Try it for: arthritis, rheumatism, skin moisturizer, acne and pimples, muscular aches, joint pains, sprains, massage, multiple sclerosis, antiseptic, burns, dry chapped skin, cracked heels, dry hair, and insect bites.

Ostrich oil has excellent penetrating qualities. It goes right through the skin barrier with the ability to carry other active ingredients with it deeply into the body.
Ostrich oil is naturally high in essential fatty acids, which are required by the body for health.
Linolenic Acid(Omega 3) can provide temporary relief of joint pain and aches and sprains. Another component, Oleic Acid(Omega 10)has a local anti-inflammatory effect on dermal tissues which helps stop the itch of poison ivy, rashes, insect bites. Together these fatty acids can restore the balance in cell membranes. Nerve cells thus rejuvenated are believed to have resulted in improvements to patients with multiple sclerosis.

Essential Fatty Acids

The fatty acids that are necessary for health and cannot be made by the body itself are called Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’S.”Every cell, every tissue, and every organ of the body needs essential fatty acids, ”states Udo Erasmus, Ph.D, an internationally recognized authority on essential fatty acids. The Omega-3 and the Omega-6 oils are two essential fatty acids that together form the membranes of every one of the billions of cells in our bodies control the way cholesterol works in our system are the only fats that become prostaglandin, which play key roles in regulating the cardiovascular , immune, digestive, and reproductive functions, inflammation and healing, functioning of the brain, and the body heat and calorie burning (weight loss)
REF:(“Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill,” Udo Erasmus,PhD)
REF: (”Flax Facts,” Flax Council of Canada)

History Facts

Western Europe , including Belgium, has been conquered with the Romans, 2000 years ago. They already knew the qualities of ostrich oil in skin protecting. As they conquered Europe , there of course of injuries. They healed their wounds with ostrich oil. They knew the, benevolence of massage with ostrich oil. That’s history , not fairy tales!

The ancient Egyptian Queen, Nefertiti, was the wife of Pharaoh Akenarten, who ruled Egypt form 1353- 1335 BC. Nerfertiti was the mother of the Pharoh Tutenkamen whose tomb was discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 1922. Among the many artifacts found in Tutenkamen’s tomb were the remains of healing ointments which contained an oil believed to be obtained from ostriches.
Queen Netertiti, reputedly favoured cosmetics made from ostrich oil, because of the oil’s ,moisturizing and emollient properties and because it kept her looking youthful.

Recent Reports
A report of the University of Boston (USA) written by professor dermatology Michael Holick: “Test results confirm the growth with 20 percent in reproduction of skin cells when ostrich oil is applied on a regular basis. Human skin becomes more elastic and younger.”
Studies done at Texas A&M comparing ostrich oil and emu oil have found that ostrich oil is higher in oleic and linoleic essential fatty acids - the skin condition.

The Acai Berry Is Nothing Short Of A Nutritional Miracle

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:13:00 -0400

Acai Berry is Nothing Short Of a Nutritional Miracle

Grown in rich, fertile soil of Brazilian Rainforest, the nutritious acai has been prized by the locals for its ability to support immune response, energize your body and balance free radicals.
Nicknamed “nature’s energy fruit” acai is popping up on lists of the best super foods across the country.

Not only is the berry rich in antioxidants with anthoganins 10-3- times more powerful than the antioxidants in purple grapes.
But it is also boasts a balanced complex 7 essential fatty acids, and valuable trace minerals.

A Liquid Powerhouse ....4Life Transfer Factor Riovida

Taste Life!

The nutritional secret of the Amazon lies deep beneath the forest’s mossy floor in its fertile, untapped soil.
The wholesome fruits grown in this soil, particularly the deep purple richness of the acai berry, inspired 4Life entrepreneur David Lisonbee to consider the wellness partnership of the century- a union of 4Life Transfer Factor’s E-XF with pure juice.
By adding the rich nutrition of acai, blueberries, pomegranates, elderberries and purple grapes to the energizing flow of transfer factor, Riovida delivers a powerful rush of vitality.

Key Points

- Transfer Factor E-XF: Transfer factors are tiny molecules that transmit, or transfer healthy immune knowledge to your body. Transfer factors support natural immune responses, including your body’s ability to remember past invasions.

- Developed exclusively by 4Life using patent and patent -pending technology, the Transfer Factor E-XF blend calls upon the immune knowledge of two sources, providing an enhanced combined effect of transfer factors from both cow colostrums and egg yolks.

Research shows the immune effects of this transfer factors blend are more potent than that colostrums or egg sources alone. In fact, in an independent study, the 4Life Transfer Factor E-XF blend increased human Natural Killer (NK) cell activity 283 percent!

- Potent Antioxidant Protection: The Riovida formula was developed to both excite the senses and nourish the body with an intense concentration of active ingredients.

Offering exotic blend of “superfoods”, the fruit found in Riovida also contains powerful phytonutrient antioxidants called anthocyanins, omega fatty acid, flavoniods, ellagic acid and tannins, all that support healthy cardiovascular, digestive, urinary and immune system functions.

- Vitamin C and lactoferrin, a beneficial milk protein, were added for their fortifying antioxidant properties and increased immune system support

- Effective and convenient: 4Life Transfer Factor Riovida is the first liquid dietary supplement with the immune-support ability of Transfer Factor E-XF.

Its smooth and refreshing delivery system is perfect for people on the go, and makes it easier than ever to receive your daily supply of immune-enhancing 4Life Transfer Factor with a potent source of free-radical fighting antioxidants.

With Riovida’s fantastically exotic flavour, health never tasted so good!

Did You Know?

Antioxidants are nature’s way of rebuilding and restoring molecular health. By bonding with free radicals, the natural by-product of oxygen, sunlight, and other environmental conditions, antioxidants promote balance and molecular regeneration in the body.

Technical Points:

- Austrian endocrinologist Dr. Sepp Porta tested the influence of elderberries in promoting healthy stress levels.
Dr. Porta found that a 10-day concentrated dose of elderberries was considerably effective in regulating stress levels.

- Free radicals are caused by oxidation and result naturally from sunlight and exposure to the oxygen in the air. Once formed, they can do damage to both DNA and cell integrity.
For this reason are known to interfere with good health and promote aging.

- Antioxidants are nature’s way of protecting and restoring molecular health. Antioxidants interact safely with free radicals and stop their chain reaction.
Because the body cannot manufacture antioxidant nutrients, it’s vital they be supplied through diet.

- Test results obtained from a blind study directed by Dr. Anatoli Vorobiev at the Russian Academy of Medical Science.

Reflexology and the human machine

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:13:00 -0400

Reflexology and the human machine

•   Your heart beats 103,689 times
•   Your blood travels 168,000,000 miles
•   Your breathe 23,040 times
•   You inhale 438 cubic feet of air
•   You eat 3 ¼ pounds of food
•   You drink 2.9 pounds of liquids
•   You lose in weight 7.8 pounds of waste
•   You perspire 1.43 pints
•   You give off 85.6 degrees F
•   You turn in your sleep 25-30 times
•   You speak 48,000 words
•   You move 750 major muscles
•   Your nails grow..000046
•   Your hair grows .01717
•   You exercise 7,000,000 brain cells

If you happen to be an adult of about average weight , this is what you do in 24 hours.

The human body is a delicately balanced machine that is synergetic everything working together for the benefit of all . It can be compared to a racing machine which works best when it is in tune.. all parts in harmony to make the machine work at optimum capacity.

The Organs... The Inside Story
Like a suitcase packed with the necessities for travel, the body is also packed with vital organs in somewhat the same manner. Everything packed on top of everything else.

Benefits of Reflexology

•   Reduces pain and discomfort
•   Improves blood circulation
•   Reduces stress and tension
•   Reduces oedema and toxicity
•   Improves sleep pattern
•   Promotes relaxation
•   Increases energy and vitality
•   Boost the Immune System

Happy Foot highly recommends the daily use of Reflexology to maintain good health in your machine.
(c)Happy Foot Reflexology

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEBSITE? You can as long as you include this complete blurb with it.
Online entrepreneur Caroline Lawrence. Get her FREE SPECIAL REPORT,"3 Simple Secrets to publishing an ezine That Makes You Money” and her FREE online marketing how-to tips at www.happyfootreflexology.co.nz