Baby pillows: safety rules

 Selecting the baby flat head pillow to give comfort
http://www.newmomstuff.com/3-baby-flat-head-pillow-picks-choose-the-best-for-your-baby

Whаt аrе thе safety rules rеgаrdѕ babies аnd pillows?

NEVER uѕе a pillow fоr a baby undеr оnе year оf age. Thе ѕаmе gоеѕ fоr duvets, quilts, baby nests, wedges аnd bedding rolls.

Wе hаvе bееn vеrу concerned tо rеаd ѕоmе оf thе discussions in thе Coffee House whеrе members hаvе reported thаt leading retailers аrе stocking baby pillows whiсh claim tо bе safe fоr uѕе frоm newborn. Thiѕ iѕ absolutely NOT thе case.

Thе brands wе hаvе bееn alerted tо include thе ClevaFoam baby pillow, manufactured bу Clevamama, аnd thе Lilla Kuddis baby pillows, but thеrе mау bе оthеr brands оf baby pillow оn thе market. Baby pillows ѕuсh аѕ thеѕе hаvе bееn аvаilаblе аt leading retailers in thе past, thоugh due tо safety concerns products ѕhоuld hаvе bееn removed frоm shop shelves. Hоwеvеr baby pillows аrе ѕtill readily аvаilаblе оn thе net, leading mаnу parents tо bеliеvе thеrе аrе nо risks related tо thеir use.

Furthermore, mаnу parents аrе mistakenly buying thеѕе pillows tо avoid оr correct flattening оf thе head оr 'plagiocephaly'. In fact, thiѕ common condition will uѕuаllу correct itѕеlf аѕ thе baby grows, раrtiсulаrlу if babies аrе encouraged tо liе оn thеir tummies in thе day, whilе playing undеr supervision. Thеrе iѕ nо rеаѕоn tо buy a product thаt claims it саn correct оr avoid plagiocephaly. If уоu аrе concerned аbоut flattening оf уоur baby's head consult уоur health visitor оr GP.

Whу dо pillows pose a danger tо babies undеr a year old?

Vеrу young babies саn suffocate if thеу hаvе a pillow in thеir cot. Aѕ thеir neck muscles аrе weak, a small baby саn easily gеt trapped within оr underneath a pillow, leading tо suffocation. Baby's head muѕt nеvеr bе covered оr bе аt risk frоm accidental covering during sleep.

Baby bottle sterilization

 

Check this best bottle sterilizer for your baby
http://www.newmomstuff.com/the-best-bottle-sterilizer-plus-3-more-top-rated-options

Shоuld Yоu Sterilize Yоur Baby's Bottles?

In thе оld days whеn water supplies wеrе nоt reliably clean, it made sense tо sterilize baby bottles. But now, sterilizing bottles, nipples, аnd water iѕ mоѕtlу unnecessary.

Unlеѕѕ уоur water supply iѕ suspected tо harbor contaminated bacteria, it iѕ аѕ safe fоr уоur baby аѕ it iѕ fоr you. Thеrе iѕ nо rеаѕоn tо sterilize whаt iѕ аlrеаdу safe.

Sterilizing thе bottles аnd nipples iѕ аlѕо unwarranted. Thоrоugh cleaning with soap аnd water gеtѕ rid оf аlmоѕt аll germs. And оnсе оn thе bottle, thе nipple begins tо pick uр аll thе germs in thе environment, ѕо a "sterile" nipple аnd bottle iѕ juѕt a pipe dream anyway.

Hanging an Infant Swing on a Porch

You can select the graco sweetpeace swing here,
http://www.newmomstuff.com/missing-the-graco-sweetpeace-swing-try-one-of-these-instead

Instructions

•     Choose a location fаr еnоugh аwау frоm walls, rails оr windows tо аllоw thе infant swing tо move. Allоw аt lеаѕt 2 1/2 feet bеhind thе swing. Onсе уоu knоw thе approximate location fоr thе swing, locate a сrоѕѕ beam оr ceiling joist fоr thе infant swing installation.
•     Measure thе width оf thе infant swing. Add 2 tо 4 inches tо thаt width аѕ уоu mark thе location fоr thе eye bolts оn thе сrоѕѕ beam оr ceiling joist. Setting thе eye bolts wider thаn thе swing helps prevent swaying оr twisting оf thе swing.
•     Drill pilot holes in thе сrоѕѕ beam оr ceiling joist slightly smaller thаn thе eye bolts уоu аrе using. Secure thе eye bolts intо thе сrоѕѕ beam оr ceiling joist.
•     Suspend thе infant swing frоm thе eye bolts. Adjust thе length оf thе chain оr rope ѕо thаt thе swing iѕ еvеn оn bоth sides. Thе swing ѕhоuld bе аt a comfortable level fоr аn adult tо push thе swing. Tip thе back оf thе seat back slightly ѕо thе infant саn swing comfortably.

Where to buy organic natto ? is it expensive ?

Where do I get natto? Is it expensive? 

Nattokinase actually is quite cheap I did a search for it on a supplement website.  I found many brands of Nattokinase , actually it is quite cheap I did a search for it on a supplement website you can choose from.I am not associated with any one of them I suggest you go through the reviews and ratings for each and decide for yourself.  Scrolling down the page this particular brand doctors best got my eye. It has the largest number of reviews and  an overall high rating from users around the world.Organic natto can be very helpful for your high blood pressure , check out how to use natto www.bpnutritions.com/nattokinase-for-high-blood-pressure-what-you-need-to-know

 Going through the reviews I found many that commented positively in Natto "s bp lowering effect. Some reviewers found a dose of Four, six  or  even eight capsules a day was needed to lower bp  but most others found two capsules a day or a total of 4000 FUs was all that was needed.  One reviewer said they could tolerate only half a capsule.  Minority reported nattokinase did not work for them at al. FUs by the way means fibrinolytic units.  It’s how the strength of the nattokinase  is measured. For this particular brand one capsule delivers 2000 FUs. So 2 capsules give 4000 FUs as you can see at this current price it is  not an expensive supplement. At a dose of 2 capsules a day this bottle will last you 6 weeks.

You might like to see How hibiscus extract can also be a boon in your high blood pressure cure. Check out this video to know more. And Visit this page bpnutritions.com/hibiscus-tea-for-blood-pressure-the-proven-link

Ways to avoid diabetes complications

Diabetic ketoacidosis

Some people find out that they have type 1 diabetes when they are admitted to a hospital for diabetic ketoacidosis. If their symptoms are severe, they may need to be treated in an intensive care unit.

Treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis includes fluids given through a vein (intravenous, or IV) to treat dehydration and to balance electrolytes, and insulin to lower the blood sugar level and stop the body from producing ketones.
The honeymoon period

If your blood sugar levels return to the normal range soon after diagnosis, you are in what is called the "honeymoon period."

This is a time when the remaining insulin-producing cells in your pancreascamera.gif are working harder to supply enough insulin for your body.

Treatment during this time may include:

    Keeping in close touch with your doctor.
    Testing your blood sugar level often, to see if it is rising.
    Taking very small amounts of insulin or no insulin. Even though you may not need insulin, some doctors prefer that you take small doses of insulin daily throughout the honeymoon period. This may decrease the stress on the pancreas.

Source :webmd.com/diabetes/guide/type-1-diabetes-treatment-overview

Diabetes is a serious disease. Following your diabetes treatment plan takes round-the-clock commitment. But your efforts are worthwhile. Careful diabetes care can reduce your risk of serious — even life-threatening — complications.

Here are 10 ways to take an active role in diabetes care and enjoy a healthier future.

1. Make a commitment to managing your diabetes

Members of your diabetes care team — doctor or primary care provider, diabetes nurse educator, and dietitian, for example — can help you learn the basics of diabetes care and offer support along the way. But it's up to you to manage your condition.

Learn all you can about diabetes. Make healthy eating and physical activity part of your daily routine. Maintain a healthy weight. Monitor your blood sugar level, and follow your doctor's instructions for managing your blood sugar level. Ask your diabetes treatment team for help when you need it.

2. Don't smoke

Smoking increases your risk of various diabetes complications, including:

    Reduced blood flow in the legs and feet, which can lead to infections, ulcers and possible removal of a body part by surgery (amputation)
    Heart disease
    Stroke
    Eye disease, which can lead to blindness
    Nerve damage
    Kidney disease

Talk to your doctor about ways to help you stop smoking or using other types of tobacco.

3. Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control

Like diabetes, high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels. High cholesterol is a concern, too, since the damage is often worse and more rapid when you have diabetes. When these conditions team up, they can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other life-threatening conditions.

Eating a healthy, reduced-fat diet and exercising regularly can go a long way toward controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol. Your doctor may also recommend taking prescription medication.

Source : mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-management/art-20045803

What causes high blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into the arteries (blood vessels), which carry the blood throughout the body. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body and contributes to hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, and to the development of heart failure.

What Is "Normal" Blood Pressure?

A blood pressure reading has a top number (systolic) and bottom number (diastolic). The ranges are:

    Normal: Less than 120 over 80 (120/80)
    Prehypertension: 120-139 over 80-89
    Stage 1 high blood pressure: 140-159 over 90-99
    Stage 2 high blood pressure: 160 and above over 100 and above
    High blood pressure in people over age 60: 150 and above over 90 and above

Source : www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/blood-pressure-causes

Primary (essential) hypertension

For most adults, there's no identifiable cause of high blood pressure. This type of high blood pressure, called essential hypertension or primary hypertension, tends to develop gradually over many years.
Secondary hypertension

Some people have high blood pressure caused by an underlying condition. This type of high blood pressure, called secondary hypertension, tends to appear suddenly and cause higher blood pressure than does primary hypertension. Various conditions and medications can lead to secondary hypertension, including:

    Kidney problems
    Adrenal gland tumors
    Thyroid problems
    Certain defects in blood vessels you're born with (congenital)
    Certain medications, such as birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs
    Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines
    Alcohol abuse or chronic alcohol use
    Obstructive sleep apnea


Source : www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/basics/causes/con-20019580

Raw food and Weight loss

Have you heard of Freelee the Banana Girl? The fruitarian became an internet sensation after she created the Raw Till 4 Diet, a regime that encourages people to eat only raw food until 4pm each day. While her take on the raw food diet is a fairly extreme one - read eating up to a dozen bananas a day, there are elements of truth inside this diet trend that we can adopt and use in our own diets.

There are a great deal of benefits to sticking to a raw food diet: Eating only raw fruit and vegetables, seeds and nuts means that there is very little cooking to do, your complexion will reap the benefits of the vitamins and nutrients you are consuming, your energy levels will rocket and it will reduce any bloating from your stomach. It is a healthy way of slimming down fast and after ten days, you should see noticeable changes.

There are several variations of the raw diet plan. Yoga expert Siri Datta created The Delicious Raw Food Diet to sort out her own health problems. It then grew into a programme that has changed the lives - and the shape - of many others.

A fashion designer come yoga teacher, Siri was diagnosed with Candida, an overgrowth of yeast in her intestines. 'I was told it would take years to resolve my health problem and I was determined to experiment to see whether I could restore myself back to awesome good health with a raw diet that was at that time a bit of a fad in California.

Source : womanandhome.com/diet-and-health/341241/raw-food-diet

What Can I Eat?

Raw food weight loss allows you to eat just about anything from the fruit and vegetable realm, as well as sea vegetables and some soaked nuts and seeds.  If you think about it the list is endless, just take a stroll at your local Farmers Market or in the produce section of your local grocery and let your imagination take flight. 

The recipes range from simple salads to gourmet meals and everything in between. Consuming greens is very important because they are alkaline, loaded with nutrients, and act as a broom for the intestines. Since many people can’t handle the raw greens right away mixing them in the blender with fruit will make them more palatable. Eventually you’ll want to be at least 50/50 with greens and fruit.

Juicing is another wonderful way to get great nutrition while you kick start your weight loss program. There are loads of great juicing recipes that are simple and quick to make. I have owned 4 different juicers over the years, but find the Hurom juicer to be the best for everyday use. It’s easier to use and clean, which is really important because if it’s a pain to clean then it won’t get used. It is also able to juice leafy greens which I feel is very important. I have two juicers now, and the one that gets used the most is the Hurom vertical slow juicer.

Source : raw-foods-diet-center.com/raw-food-weight-loss.html

Does Your Diabetes Diet Give You What You Need?

1. Eat more fruit and vegetables
   Aim for at least five portions a day to provide you with vitamins, minerals and fibre to help you to balance your overall diet. One portion is, for example, a banana or apple, a handful of grapes, a tablespoon of dried fruit, a small glass of fruit juice or fruit smoothie, three heaped tablespoons of vegetables or a cereal bowl of salad.
2. Include more beans and lentilsFor example, kidney beans, butter beans, chickpeas or red and green lentils.
   Try adding them to stews, casseroles and soups, or to a salad.

Complications That come with High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) can quietly damage your body for years before symptoms develop. Left uncontrolled, you may wind up with a disability, a poor quality of life or even a fatal heart attack. Fortunately, with treatment and lifestyle changes, you can control your high blood pressure to reduce your risk of life-threatening complications.

Here's a look at the complications high blood pressure can cause when it's not effectively controlled.
Damage to your arteries

Healthy arteries are flexible, strong and elastic. Their inner lining is smooth so that blood flows freely, supplying vital organs and tissues with adequate nutrients and oxygen. If you have high blood pressure, the increased pressure of blood flowing through your arteries gradually can cause a variety of problems, including:

    Artery damage and narrowing. High blood pressure can damage the cells of your arteries' inner lining. That launches a cascade of events that make artery walls thick and stiff, a disease called arteriosclerosis (ahr-teer-e-o-skluh-ROE-sis), or hardening of the arteries. Fats from your diet enter your bloodstream, pass through the damaged cells and collect to start atherosclerosis (ath-ur-o-skluh-ROE-sis). These changes can affect arteries throughout your body, blocking blood flow to your heart, kidneys, brain, arms and legs. The damage can cause many problems, including chest pain (angina), heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, stroke, blocked arteries in your legs or arms (peripheral artery disease), eye damage, and aneurysms.
    Aneurysm. Over time, the constant pressure of blood moving through a weakened artery can cause a section of its wall to enlarge and form a bulge (aneurysm). An aneurysm (AN-yoo-riz-um) can potentially rupture and cause life-threatening internal bleeding. Aneurysms can form in any artery throughout your body, but they're most common in the aorta, your body's largest artery.


Source : mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20045868

Circulatory System

The circulatory system transports oxygenated blood throughout the body. Healthy arteries stretch slightly as blood is pumped through them. High blood pressure may cause the arteries to stretch too much, leaving them vulnerable to damage. Over time, small tears form scar tissue within the arteries.

Narrowed arteries, called atherosclerosis, can trap plaque and cholesterol, causing coronary artery disease. If the left ventricle of the heart thickens, its ability to pump blood can be severely limited. Trapped blood can result in blood clots that narrow or block arteries, causing a stroke or heart attack. Blood clots can also block the flow of blood to other vital organs. Weak or bulging arteries and blood vessels are more likely to rupture.

Chest pain (angina) and irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) may accompany high blood pressure. Chronic high blood pressure forces the heart to work harder and grow weaker, increasing the likelihood of heart failure.

Any part of the body that doesn’t receive enough oxygenated blood is at risk. Pain or numbness may be a sign of impaired blood flow to your limbs, resulting in peripheral artery disease. This increases the chance of infection or tissue death, called gangrene.

Central Nervous System

Your brain cannot function without a steady supply of oxygenated blood. Narrowed arteries or a blood clot can briefly block the flow of blood to the brain. This is called a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or mini stroke. People who have a TIA are at increased risk of a full-blown stroke, an event in which the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, causing brain cells to die. Stroke can cause severe, sometimes irreversible damage, depending on the part of the brain involved. The biggest risk for stroke is high blood pressure.

Other potential effects of high blood pressure are mild cognitive impairment and vascular dementia, a brain disease caused by an interrupted blood supply to the brain. Symptoms include problems with memory, reasoning, and speaking.

Retinopathy occurs when damage occurs in the small blood vessels that bring blood to the eyes. It can cause bleeding or a buildup of fluid under the retina, which is called choroidopathy. Damage to the optic nerve (optic neuropathy) can actually kill nerve cells in the eyes. These conditions can result in impaired vision or even permanent vision loss.


Source : healthline.com/health/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/effect-on-body

Plant Based Raw Food Diet For Beginners

The thrust of the raw food diet is the consumption of unprocessed, whole plant-based, ideally organic foods. A minimum of three-quarters of the person's diet should consist of uncooked food. A Raw Foodist- somebody who follows the raw food diet - believes that the higher the proportion of raw foods in our diet, the healthier we will be.

A significant proportion of raw foodists are also vegans - no foods of animal origin are consumed. Some raw foodists consume raw meat and raw animal products.

This article is part of a series called What Are The Eight Most Popular Diets Today?
There are four broad branches of raw foodism:

    Raw vegetarians - only animal products consumed are eggs and dairy; most foods consumed are raw
    Raw vegans - no animal products consumed at all; most foods consumed are raw
    Raw omnivores - both plant-based and animal based foods are mainly consumed raw
    Raw carnivores - meat products are eaten only raw

Ten Steps to Eating Well

This leaflet is provided by Diabetes UK, the leading charity that cares for, connects with and campaigns on behalf of every person affected by, or at risk of diabetes.

Reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes includes following a healthy balanced diet. You can still enjoy a wide variety of foods but the food choices you make and your eating habits are important. This leaflet is a starting point to help provide you with information on eating well.

Ten Steps to Eating Well

    Eat regular meals
    Avoid skipping meals and space your breakfast, lunch and evening meal out over the day. This will help control your appetite.

    Include starchy carbohydrates as part of your diet
    The amount of carbohydrate you eat is important especially if you are managing your weight. Try to include those that are more slowly absorbed (have a lower glycaemic index). Better choices include: pasta, basmati or easy cook rice, grainy breads such as granary, pumpernickel and rye, new potatoes, sweet potato and yam, porridge oats, All-Bran® and natural muesli. The high-fibre varieties of starchy foods will also help to maintain the health of your digestive system and prevent problems such as constipation.

    Cut down on the fat you eat, particularly saturated fats, as a low-fat diet benefits health
    Choose unsaturated fats or oils, especially monounsaturated fat (eg, olive oil and rapeseed oil) as these types of fats are better for your heart. As fat is the greatest source of calories, eating less will help you to lose weight if you need to. To cut down on the fat you eat here are some tips:


Source : patient.co.uk/health/type-2-diabetes-healthy-eating-sheet

Carbs

Carbs give you fuel. They affect your blood sugar faster than fats or protein. You’ll mainly get them from:

    Fruit
    Milk and yogurt
    Bread, cereal, rice, pasta
    Starchy vegetables like potatoes, corn, and beans

Some carbs are simple, like sugar. Other carbs are complex, like those found in beans, nuts, vegetables, and whole grains.

Complex carbohydrates are better for you because they take longer for your body to digest. They give you steady energy and fiber.

You may have heard of “carbohydrate counting.” That means you keep track of the carbs (sugar and starch) you eat each day. Counting grams of carbohydrate, and splitting them evenly between meals, will help you control your blood sugar.

If you eat more carbohydrates than your insulin supply can handle, your blood sugar level goes up. If you eat too little, your blood sugar level may fall too low. You can manage these shifts by knowing how to count carbs.

One carbohydrate serving equals 15 grams of carbohydrates.

A registered dietitian can help you figure out a carbohydrate counting plan that meets your specific needs. For adults, a typical plan includes three to four carb servings at each meal, and one to two as snacks.

You can pick almost any food product off the shelf, read the label, and use the information about grams of carbohydrates to fit the food into your type 2 diabetes meal plan.

Source :webmd.com/diabetes/guide/eating-right

A raw diet consists of foods

The way its proponents talk, raw food can sound like a magic potion served in a salad bowl. "When I transitioned to an all-raw lifestyle," says Karyn Calabrese, a restaurateur in Chicago, "I felt like I could walk on water. I didn't just stop aging; I began to feel as if I were actually growing younger." The 64-year-old—who could easily pass for 40—is brimming with energy. It's enough to make you want what she's having, which might be a portobello napoleon with "blue cheese" made from cashews, or an avocado puree with wakame and olives wrapped in nori.

A raw diet consists of foods (typically produce, grains, seeds, nuts, and beans) that haven't been heated above a certain temperature, usually somewhere between 104 and 118 degrees. Cooking destroys enzymes that raw foodists believe are essential to human health; without those enzymes, the thinking goes, we're not getting the full, life-supporting benefits of our food.

But this theory overlooks an important fact, says Andrea Giancoli, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "While it's true that cooking causes enzymes to unravel, the same thing happens to those enzymes as soon as they hit the acidic environment of your stomach." She says raw foodists enjoy so many health perks for a simpler reason: They're eating a lot of plants. Comprehensive lifestyle studies—like the China-Cornell-Oxford Project, which lasted 20 years and followed 6,500 participants—have found that plant-based diets greatly reduce the risk of chronic diseases and conditions.

Source : www.oprah.com/food/Should-You-Go-on-a-Raw-Food-Diet-Raw-Food-Diet-Benefits

Weight Loss, Detox or Health - The Benefits of Raw Food Diet Are Many...
What's Your Motivation?

Weight loss, detox or health. What's your motivation to get started on a raw food? To know your motivation is an important first step because everything else - your raw food diet plan, recipes and kitchen tools - are affected by your motivation.

And you thought that all raw food diets were the same! But the more you're trying to find the right diet, the more confused you get. There seem to be so many different ideas out there. Fruit or no fruit, high fat or low fat, vegan or not? And what about an alkaline foods and pH scale?

So, you will be thrilled to look below and find that I have carefully planned how to achieve the most important raw food benefits.

So, let's decide on your most important reason for going raw.

Benefits of Raw Food Diet : improvement health raw food diet     improvement health raw food diet     improvement health raw food diet

Weight Loss    
Health
   
Detox

Most of the diet planning and recipe gathering has already been done for you. All you need to do is name your most important benefits of raw food diet: weight loss, health or detox and Voila! You have the perfect raw food diet plan and recipes to get started! You're ready to buy yourself a new wardrobe!

Here are the top three benefits of raw food that people on this diet have. You will find a diet plan with many recipes that all fit into each specific benefit.

Having a specific reason for going raw can make the diet so much more effective and fun. It also helps create a feeling of commitment and gives you a focal point.

If you don't know which main benefit to choose or you don't want to have one particular benefit, you could go for the weight loss one, because it's the most flexible and easy one to follow. And you'll get some of the detox and health benefits there too.

The motivation you pick will affect every other aspect of the raw food diet. It decides the raw food diet plan, recipes, kitchen tools and duration of the diet. So choose well!

Source : www.thebestofrawfood.com/benefits-of-raw-food-diet.html

Diabetes Health Care Tips

According to Joslin Clinic's Dr. Richard A. Jackson, one in four people with diabetes will develop foot complications. That means that making foot care a part of your daily diabetes regimen is essential for avoiding serious complications such as neuropathy, vascular disease, and injury. When it comes to implementing a comprehensive foot care plan, a little effort goes a long way in preventing problems.

Inspect. Check your feet two times a day, ideally in the morning and at night before you go to bed. Look for anything out of the ordinary, such as areas of redness, blisters, or cuts. If you discover a wound, treat it and cover it with a bandage immediately. Pay close attention to the wound during subsequent foot inspections to be certain it is healing properly.

Protect. Washing your feet every day with mild soap in tepid—not hot—water is your first line of defense against problems with your feet. After washing, dry your feet thoroughly and apply a lotion made for people with diabetes, or one that your doctor has approved. Moisturizing your feet will protect against the creation of fissures in the skin, which can serve as a breeding ground for infection.

Prevent. Elevated blood glucose (blood sugars) puts people with diabetes at risk for neuropathy, or nerve damage, which can cause loss of sensation in the feet, leading to other serious complications. Good control will help you prevent these complications. You can also reduce or even prevent the risk of injury to your feet by selecting comfortable footwear.

Consult. If you are very physically active or if you have other foot problems, it is important to find a doctor to examine your feet on a regular basis to avoid any complications that may arise. All other patients with diabetes must have a foot exam at least once a year, according to Dr. Jackson.

Source : joslin.org/info/4_tips_for_foot_care_when_you_have_diabetes.html

Foot Care Tips

Special foot care is necessary when you have diabetes. Poor blood flow, nerve damage, and trouble fighting infections can make foot problems very serious. You can help prevent major foot problems by a daily routine of foot care:
Check your feet daily

    Look at the tops and bottoms of your feet. Use a mirror if necessary, or have a family member check for you.
    Look for cuts, scratches, cracks, calluses, or blisters.
    Look for changes in color, shape, or temperature.
    Call your doctor if you notice injuries or other changes. Your doctor may tell you to see a foot doctor. A foot doctor is called a podiatrist (po-DYE-uh-trist).

Wash your feet daily

    Use mild soap and lukewarm water (90 degrees to 95 degrees Fahrenheit).
    Do not soak your feet. (Soaking may cause dryness.)
    Dry your feet well, especially between your toes.
    Use foot powder if your feet sweat.

Take care of your toenails

    Cut your toenails after bathing, while they are soft.
    Cut toenails straight across, not into corners. Then smooth your nails with an emery board.
    Do not cut your own toenails if you have a hard time seeing or your nails are too thick. Have a podiatrist trim them.

Source : upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/diabetes/Pages/diabetes-health-care-tips.aspx

Controlling Your High Blood Pressure

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke by damaging and weakening your brain's blood vessels, causing them to narrow, rupture or leak. High blood pressure can also cause blood clots to form in the arteries leading to your brain, blocking blood flow and potentially causing a stroke. Dementia.

Facts about Living Raw

Is there a difference between living foods and raw foods?
Living and Raw foods both contain enzymes. In living foods, the enzyme
content is much higher. Raw, unsprouted nuts contain enzymes in a "dormant"
state. To activate the enzymes contained in almonds, for example, soak them
in water for as just 24 hours. Once the almonds begin to sprout, the enzymes become "active" and are then considered living. In the context of this web site,the terms are used loosely.

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Care

Type 1 diabetes requires treatment to keep blood sugar levels within a target range. Treatment includes:

    Taking several insulin injections every day or using an insulin pump.
    Monitoring blood sugar levels several times a day.
    Eating a healthy diet that spreads carbohydrate throughout the day.
    Regular physical activity or exercise. Exercise helps the body to use insulin more efficiently. It may also lower your risk for heart and blood vessel disease.
    Regular medical checkups. You will get routine screening tests and exams to watch for signs of complications, such as eye, kidney, heart, blood vessel, and nerve diseases.
    Not smoking.
    Not drinking alcohol if you are at risk for periods of low blood sugar.

Blood sugars are easier to predict and control when mealtimes, amounts of food, and exercise are similar every day. So getting into a daily routine helps a lot.

The Dangers of Hypertension

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one third of American adults have high blood pressure, or hypertension. A number of factors contribute to elevated blood pressure, including stress, diet, and lack of exercise.

Having high blood pressure increases your risk for several health problems: heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, vision loss, and metabolic syndrome. To prevent or to treat high blood pressure, you should have your numbers checked regularly by your doctor.

Side-effects of blood pressure medications

Blood pressure medication side effects

A side-effect is any unwanted effect of medicines that you are taking. Some people can have side-effects from blood pressure ­medicines. ­Although these can be uncomfortable, they are usually not dangerous. They sometimes wear off over time, or your doctor or nurse can adjust your medicines to get rid of them.

Do all blood pressure ­medicines have side-effects?

Any medicine can have side-effects, and blood pressure medicines are no different. This does not mean that you will definitely have side-effects from your medicines. Most people who take blood ­pressure medicines will have no problems at all.

There is usually no way to know if you will have side-effects from your medicine. If you do, you will usually notice them soon after starting a new ­medicine, or if the dose of your medicine is increased.

Different people can have different side-effects from the same medicine. For example, some ­people taking ACE inhibitors can have a dry cough. Other people taking the same medicine may have no cough, but may feel dizzy or have an upset stomach.

If you have problems with one medicine, this does not mean that all blood pressure medicines will give you side-effects. Other medicines may help your blood pressure with no difficulties at all.

Source : bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Medicines/Side-effects

The myth of symptoms

There's a common misconception that people with high blood pressure, also called HBP or hypertension, will experience symptoms such as nervousness, sweating, difficulty sleeping or facial flushing. The truth is that HBP is largely a symptomless condition. If you ignore your blood pressure because you think symptoms will alert you to the problem, you are taking a dangerous chance with your life. Everybody needs to know their blood pressure numbers, and everyone needs to prevent high blood pressure from developing.

The myth of symptomatic headaches

The best evidence indicates that high blood pressure does not cause headaches except perhaps in the case of hypertensive crisis (systolic/top number higher than 180 OR diastolic/bottom number higher than 110).

In the early 1900s, it was assumed that headaches were more common among people with high blood pressure. However, research into the subject doesn't support this view. According to one study, people with high blood pressure seem to have significantly fewer headaches than the general population.

In a study published in the journal Neurology, people with higher systolic blood pressure (the top number in blood pressure readings) were up to 40 percent less likely to have headaches compared to those with healthier blood pressure readings. The researchers also looked at another measurement called the pulse pressure, which is the change in blood pressure when the heart contracts. Pulse pressure is calculated by subtracting the bottom number (diastolic reading) from the top number (systolic reading). Those with higher pulse pressure had up to 50 percent fewer headaches. The researchers think that the higher the pulse pressure, the stiffer the blood vessels. The stiffer the blood vessel, the less likely the nerve endings are working properly. If the nerve endings aren't functioning correctly, the less likely a person will feel pain.

Therefore, headaches or the lack of headaches are not reliable indicators of your blood pressure. Instead, work with your doctor and know your numbers

Source : heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/SymptomsDiagnosisMonitoringofHighBloodPressure/What-are-the-Symptoms-of-High-Blood-Pressure_UCM_301871_Article.jsp

Starting a Raw Food Diet

The raw food diet. Just these words makes me smile. Ever since I'm raw, I feel like I've uncovered one of the biggest - yet simplest - secrets.

Now, after only three years, it seems so absolutely logical, natural and obvious. I need no science, research or specialists to convince me that the raw food diet is what I want to eat for the rest of my life! My experience and results speak for themselves.

On this page, I'll write down some raw food basics and frequently asked questions (FAQ).

What is a Raw Food?

We call food raw if it is:

    Uncooked - never heated above 42 C/118 F degrees.

and preferably:

    Unprocessed - as fresh (or wild) as possible
    Organic - no irradiation, preservatives, pesticides or GMO.

Why eat raw food?

"Why is the benefit of eating food raw?" is another question I'm asked a lot. The most important reasons are to me that heating your food above 115 degrees F (45 Celsius):

    Kills enzymes. Enzymes help you digest your food. Your body can create enzymes but that process takes a lot of energy. This process makes you feel tired and heavy after a cooked food meal. Further, the enzymes your body makes are not as efficient and effective as the ones that were destroyed in your food.

    Consequently, your food is not be broken down as well and thus harder to digest. This also results in food starts rotting in your intestines, that parasites have more chance to survive

    It is further believed that your body has a limited amount of enzymes that it can produce. If the supply is finished, body organs will function less and less. It will accelerate aging.

Source : thebestofrawfood.com/raw-food-diet.html

What are Living and Raw Foods?
Raw and Living Foods are foods that contain enzymes. In general, the act of heating  food over 116  degrees F destroys enzymes in food. (Enzymes start to degrade in as little as 106 degrees F).  All cooked food is devoid of enzymes, furthermore cooking food changes the molecular structure of the food and renders it toxic.  Living and raw foods also have enormously higher nutrient values than the foods that have been cooked.

What are Enzymes?
Enzymes assist in the digestion of foods.  They are known to be the "Life-Force" and or "energy" of food.

From the dictionary:
Noun: Any of the various complex organic substances, as pepsin originating from living cells and capable of producing certain chemical changes in organic substances by catalytic action, as in digestion.

Why are Enzymes Important?
Enzymes are important because they assist in the digestion and absorption of food.   If you eat food that is enzyme-less, your body will not get maximum utilization of the food. This causes toxicity in the body.   (Can you guess why over 75% of Americans are overweight?)

Doesn't the acidic ph of the stomach destoy enzymes?
Viktorus Kulvinskas, one of the world's foremost and most experienced active researchers into enzyme nutrition has information showing then stomach acid merely deactivates food enzymes.  The enzymes are then reactivated in the more alkaline small intestine.  Many people who eat all raw foods, sense a world of healthful difference in our energy, digestion and connectedness with nature by eating enzyme-rich living foods. When we stopped eating cooked protein foods which require large secretions of stomach acid (which is not healthful for several reasons) our stomach doesn't produce much stomach acid.  Many people who eat  raw foods eat a low protein diet and are free from the stomach acid secretions and have much more energy and a lighter disposition.

http://www.living-foods.com/faq.html