Ice therapy is a women’s best friend. Really! I’m not kidding. When it comes to alternative medicine, using ice is an easy, drug-free and inexpensive therapy right out of your freezer. The simple technique of ‘icing’ is used to lessen pain and decrease inflammation, but it has many more uses, particularly for women.
Injury treatment -- For sports and overuse injuries. R.I.C.E. therapy (rest-ice-compression-elevation) is the recommended method to treat muscle and joint pain, strains and sprains. Many athletes also use ice therapy as preventative treatment after a workout. Did you know that women’s risk of developing ACL injuries is four times greater then men? Always have ice therapy on hand after a marathon or off the slopes, in case your anterior cruciated ligament decides now’s the time to act up.
Comfort back pain – Forty-one percent, or 10 million women a year, suffer from back pain. The major causes for women’s back pain are housework and gardening. Cool lower back pain with ice therapy. It’s an easy, immediate relief for nagging pain after you’ve been pulling weeds or lugging groceries.
Ease migraine headache pain – Every woman experiences migraines at some point in their life. It might be part of your monthly cycle or a symptom of menopause. Ice therapy is a proven remedy for migraine relief. Lie down for five to ten minutes and place an ice pack behind your neck, on your forehead or temples. Ice naturally reduces inflammation and numbs pain, decreasing the effect of migraines and easing you into relief without the use of drugs.
Chill hot flashes and night sweats – 80% of women will experience body heat fluctuations during menopause. Nothing chills a hot flash like an ice pack! Keep a chilled pack in an insulated tote next to your bed at night, ready when a flush of heat wakes you up.
Family first aid and home emergencies – If you have children or an accident-prone husband, an ice pack in the freezer is a necessity. Considered the first line of treatment to use for bumps, bruises, sprains, black eyes, strains or minor burns, ice therapy is a must for home emergencies.
Reduce swelling after surgery – Whether it’s cosmetic, reconstructive, or joint replacement – all will result in postoperative swelling and bruising. Ice therapy is recommend by most doctors to decrease inflammation and bruising after surgery.
Reduce puffy eyes – Not enough sleep? Allergies? Ice therapy relieves puffy, swollen eyes with a little TLC.
Cool minor burns and treat insect bites – Like to garden, but hate sunburn and bugs bites? Summer sun and pesky bugs won’t get the best of you when you use ice therapy. Wrap an ice pack in a towel for a cold compress to gently cool sunburned skin. (But don’t use on skin that has blistered – seek medical attention for damaged skin.) Take the sting out of bug bites, by using an ice massage directly on the bite for 5 to 10 minutes. It will numb pain, relieve some of the itching, and reduce swollen bumps caused by the bite.
Let ice be nice to you!
Every adorable baby deserves equally adorable baby bedding to complete the nursery. There are other things to consider when deciding on what is right for the nursery. Bedding for your baby must be safe as well as fitting in with your decorating theme. You only need a lightweight blanket, no comforter is necessary.
Consider a tightly fitting crib bumper a necessity and one that isn’t too fluffy or full. Add bumper ties so you are ensured to have a safe snug fit in the crib. All of the bedding that you are considering should have a bottom sheet that fits snuggly. Allow for some shrinkage, after you wash it, it may not fit the mattress anymore. Cute and adorable is great, and safe is even better.
When it comes time to start shopping and buying for baby bedding you will fall in love with the cute and whimsical choices. You have spent time considering just the right theme, but you don’t have to spend a fortune on decorating for the baby bedding. Your baby won’t know the difference if you went to the most exclusive baby boutique, or if you decorated with thrift store items. Do you want baby animals or fairy tales, candy colors or calming tones, trendy pop culture or designer chic? What about planes, trains and automobiles? Your choices will be endless. You may want to decorate with your own creative touch. If you enjoy painting, take a stab at creating your own nursery motif on the walls. Paint a whole mural on the wall if you are inclined, or just start with a little border. If this sounds too daunting, take a plain rocker from a thrift store and paint it a white or pastel with glossy enamel. Then you can create your own little designs on the chair, or just paint the name of the baby on it. Nothing you do for your baby’s room will ever look wrong. You did it yourself and with love. No matter which decorating theme you choose, the nursery’s bedding will complete your baby’s room to perfection
Your baby’s bedding is changed often so you may want to select styles of sheets that will coordinate with each other. Stay with one color palette and you can mix and match patterns and prints. If you have chosen tan and brown teddy bears for the decorating theme of the nursery, you can have a neutral color on the wall and just bring in other colors of bedding to enhance the bears. You could also pick a color like pink and work in plaids and stripes or whimsical shapes. Add stars, kitties or hearts to the mix - it will all blend together. Stay away from fabrics such as chenille because the baby can pull the fabric out or fabric that is dry clean only. You won’t have that much time to run to the dry cleaners every time you need to change the bed. Don’t make the mistake of having cute bows in the crib, or even around it. As the baby grows, things around it such as mobiles and wall hangings that are too close to the crib will be a little too dangerous for the baby. Make common sense decisions when it comes to the nursery bedding and you and your baby will be happier for it.
One of the best ways to improve the appearance of your skin is by incorporating raw food into your diet. Beautiful skin starts from the inside out. People who switch to eating mostly raw food often see an improvement in their skin and look younger.
Heating food above 105 degrees Fahrenheit destroys the enzymes as well as 50% of the protein and 70-90% of the vitamins and minerals. Eating cooked food overtaxes the body’s enzyme reserves. Eating more raw food decreases the amount of digestive enzymes your body has to produce. Raw foods are foods in their natural state with the enzymes left intact. Enzymes are needed to perform many functions in the body including digestion, assimilation and elimination of food. A drained enzyme supply can result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies, premature aging and low energy. Raw foods high in enzymes include sprouts, papaya and pineapple.
Free radicals damage your skin and interfere with collagen production causing premature aging. Antioxidants counteract free radicals that age the skin. Berries, especially blueberries, are potent antioxidants that promote collagen which reduces wrinkles. Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit help rid the body of free radicals keeping the skin looking young. Foods high in the antioxidant beta carotene including carrots and apricots protect the skin against sun damage.
CoenzymeQ10 is an effective antioxidant involved in the energy process and present in every cell in the body. CoQ10 levels in the body diminish with age. CoQ10 destroys free radicals and slows aging. Spinach, broccoli and peanuts are foods high in CoQ10.
Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that boosts the strength of other antioxidants such as Vitamin C and E, and assists the body’s energy production. Alpha-lipoic acid can be found in spinach, brewer’s yeast, broccoli, tomatoes and peas.
Sulfur is a mineral present in every cell in your body. It is needed in collagen production and for healthy skin, hair and nails. Organic sulfur levels in food are lost when processed, heated or dried. Sulfur is known to help improve skin conditions such as acne. High sulfur content foods include asparagus, broccoli, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, red pepper, garlic, onion, watercress and kale.
Silicon is an essential trace mineral needed for healthy skin, hair, nails and bones. Silicon levels decrease with age. Fruits and vegetables are the richest source of silicon including apples, oranges, cherries, grapes, strawberries, beets, cucumber, carrots and green leafy vegetables.
Phytochemicals are plant chemicals that help the body defend against damage and are said to have anti-aging properties. Phytochemicals can be found in berries, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, spinach, carrots, cocoa and bell pepper.
Raw nuts and seeds are high in Vitamin E which is beneficial to the skin. Selenium keeps the skin elastic and can be found in garlic, onions and shallots.
When the body rids itself of toxins, it passes through the skin which is the largest elimination organ. Raw food increases your detoxification rate. Drinking water helps the body rid itself of toxins. Seaweed is high in vitamins and minerals beneficial to the skin and also helps rid the body of toxins.
To achieve a healthy complexion, drink plenty of water and eat plenty of raw food. What goes into your body is reflective in your overall appearance
If you fell boring with yours daily activity and you want to increase your relation with yours couple or decided to invite someone you're dating to your home for a romantic evening and you want everything to go well. Here are a few tips to help you achieve that result.
There are a number of factors you need to consider when planning your romantic evening:
1. Your Physical Surroundings
It's a good idea to make sure your house or apartment is clean and tidy. It may not be anyone's primary focus but it will make an impression on your guest, even if it's subliminal.
Spend a few hours doing the cleaning yourself, hire someone to do it for you, or, at the very least, shove all that clutter into your closets or under the bed. Wipe down surfaces to get rid of dust and stains.
Apart from the living and dining areas, there are two other rooms that need your attention:
a. The bathroom
Wipe down the sink/washbasin, tub and shower stall. Put a fresh cake of soap on the sink and hang fresh towels. At the very least your guest will use the bathroom to wash his or her hands so make sure it's a pleasant experience.
b. The bedroom
Get rid of any extraneous clutter like clothes strewn around the room or on the floor. Change the sheets, make the bed and wipe down any surfaces. If your guest ends up spending the night, you don't want him or her racing off for a tetanus shot in the morning.
To create a romantic atmosphere in your bedroom, have some scented candles on hand and an easy-to-reach sound system. You might also consider buying a quilt cover in a rich, romantic color and a set of sheets to match.
2. Your Choice Of Menu
While food can be an excellent means of seduction, it's a mistake to choose too complicated a menu unless you're an experienced cook and you don't get easily flustered.
Simple dishes like spaghetti or ratatouille make a tasty and satisfying meal without spiking your anxiety levels. The point is to enjoy the evening along with your guest, not treat the event like it's a university-entrance exam.
How To Avoid Psycho-Chef Syndrome
One trick is to prepare as much of the meal as possible beforehand so you're not rushing around like a pinball once your guest arrives.
Have all the ingredients chopped, diced and ready for cooking. Do this the night before or earlier that day, whatever works best for you.
Salad ingredients can be prepared earlier and stored in separate containers, then added to the salad bowl and dressed before serving.
You can even cheat by purchasing your meal from a favorite restaurant and having it delivered (or picking it up) before your guest arrives.
Definitely buy desert from your favorite bakery or supermarket, unless you're a wiz at whipping up a Pavlova or meringue. Another option is to prepare dessert the night before and reheat it if necessary when you're ready to serve it.
3. Your Cooking Area
Make sure your kitchen is clean before you begin cooking. Yes, you'll no doubt make a mess once you start but you don't want yesterday's dishes in the way. Your guest may offer to help so the kitchen needs to meet minimum health standards.
It's up to you whether you accept this help or not, but we recommend that you do, even if it's only a token effort like tossing the salad. Sharing cooking tasks can be a wonderfully romantic interaction as it creates a special kind of intimacy. Have you ever noticed how much more easily conversation flows when two people are doing a task, as opposed to sitting face to face?
4. Setting The Table
Set the table beforehand. Use a good tablecloth, your best silverware and a nice set of plates. Use your best glasses and an attractive salt and pepper set, milk jug and sugar bowl. Show your guest that you went to some trouble to make the meal a special occasion. This is not the time for melamine dishes or chipped or mismatched crockery. You're aiming for a touch of class.
Use candlesticks on the table for a romantic ambience, or place candles on other surfaces around the room.
Background music is a must but make sure it's romantic and subtle. Limit blaring rock and roll or rap to the period when you're preparing dinner, but please, no high-octane music while you're eating.
Set the sound at a low volume so it doesn't interfere with your conversation. And remember, if you don't play music during the meal you run the risk of filling any silences with the sound of people masticating.
5. Cleaning Up Later
Don't let your guest anywhere near the kitchen after the meal is over. Hopefully you'll have better things to do with your time together.
But all is not lost if they do insist on helping with the chores. Many a couple has fallen in love while doing the dishes, for two main reasons:
1. As mentioned earlier, there's the ease of conversation that takes place when you're doing a task rather than concentrating on talking.
2. Doing dishes together is like playing house. It can actually feel very romantic, especially when one or both people realize, "This is what I want with this person." You won't get the same effect if you use a dishwasher, so set aside at least a couple of pots, which will you allow to suggest, "I'll wash and you dry."
With a little forethought, anyone can create a romantic evening at home. The old cliché, "the way to a person's heart is through their stomach", has more than a little truth to it. Test it yourself with someone you care about. The least you'll get is a great home-cooked meal.
