Great Tips for Healthy Feet

Did you know that 25% of our bones are in our feet?  During our lifetime, we can walk as many miles as the distance from the earth to the moon?  Runners hit the ground with 2.5 times their their body weight?  The most common foot injury is a tie between ankle sprains and plantar fasciitis?  Each foot contains 33 joints?  Plantar warts come from walking barefoot - the virus enters through broken skin on the bottom of the feet?


Our feet are our gateway to muscular and structural health.  I can't express strongly enough the importance of keeping them healthy!  Do you remember the old song about the foot bone being connected to...?  It's true!  Everything is connected, and when our feet are not working correctly, other joints are thrown off too, such as our knees and hips.  This post will outline a few essentials for great foot care.


Shoe suggestions
If you have a normal arch, pick a shoe that has good stability for your ankle, but has no extra cushioning.  For high arches, extra cushioning is essential.  Flat feet, or low arches, require a shoe that provides extra motion control so that the foot & ankle don't roll inward & so that the leg and foot muscles and tendons don't have to work too hard.


Make sure your shoes fit!  Here's the test: Draw an outline of your foot on a piece of paper.  Then trace your shoe on top of the foot on that paper.  Does the shoe fit?  Simple as that!


The heel of your shoe should be stiff.  Look at the shoe from the back (ankle side) - it should not lean or tilt to one side.  The arch shouldn't bend or twist.  The shoe should bend at the ball of the foot, not at the arch of the foot.


Foot Care
Weight Loss - get the extra strain off your feet.  


Stretch frequently to remain flexible.  


Foot pain is not normal! Please listen to your body!  


Improve your balance as often as you can, whenever you can!  Overall body posture is key to good health, and having a great sense of balance is important.  Pilates, Yoga and Thai Chi are great for this.


Foot massages such as Thai Foot Massage increase circulation and flexibility as well as work on trigger points, help with edema, range of motion, relieve pain, fatigue and help your knees and hips.


As I'm going through all of my notes, I'm realizing that i just have too much information to share in one post.  Look for a follow up: Great Tips for Healthy Feet II!

Menopause Symptoms Driving You Crazy?

It doesn't have to be that way!  Menopause is a natural part of every woman's life - and with it brings a freedom that you haven't felt since you were a little girl!  Whether you are experiencing Menopause because of surgery, medication, or just because it's time, I have several tools that will help you get through it with ease!

Bodywork
During this journey, your body is going through significant change.  The importance of adequate rest must be part of your prescription for health.  In addition to overall relaxation, frequent bodywork sessions will help your sore back, stress, anxiety, fatigue, sore feet and also headaches.  You might find that longer sessions are beneficial.  Some women need the extra time to let go and relax, and find that the traditional hour session ends right when they've gotten to their most relaxed state.  Join my Fan Page and receive updates on special pricing and events!

Exercise
By now you know that weight bearing exercise is essential to keeping strong bones and lean muscle mass.  Exercise can also help to alleviate hot flashes and mood swings.  What's the best exercise treatment for you?  That depends on your lifestyle.  I work with several women who are seeing great benefit from Pilates classes, while some prefer yoga and still others live in the gym.  These days, there's millions of options out there, from video games such as Wii Fit to Zumba classes, belly dancing and of course just taking the dog out for a brisk walk.  The main idea is:  get out there and do something!

Nutrition
Experts agree that during this time we are highly susceptible to weight gain and obesity-related illnesses.  Because of this, and because our health is so important, we need to eliminate all junk food from our diet.  Consuming foods with natural plant estrogens will help. These include but are not limited to: apples, barley, carrots, flax seed, olive oil, papaya, peas, soybeans, tomatoes and yams.  In addition, adequate protein is essential.  Protein, and an amino acid called Luceine, help you hold on to that lean muscle mass while losing weight, which helps guard against osteoporosis and maintain metabolic rates which normally decrease dramatically during Menopause.  Sugar is also a big no-no, but an even bigger temptation.  Keep low-glycemic snack options around you such as almonds, and these great snack bars that have 10 grams of protein.


Natural HRT
For years,  'HRT or Not to HRT' has filled every conversation having to do with menopause.  Rightly so, it's important no matter what you choose, to do so safely.  While I'm not an expert on synthetic hormones, I can tell you about the Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy options that changed my life.

Black Cohosh, as found in this Menopause Balance Complex, has been proven to help regulate hormonal balance.  Hot flashes will slow way down, and before you know it, you won't have them at all.  You will sleep better and have better control overall of your Menopausal symptoms.

I can't live without GLA. Gamma Linolenic Acid helps our body to create prostaglandins - hormone like substances that help regulate many bodily processes such as healthy blood flow, protection of arterial walls, dryness, and improving the immune system.  Rich in Omega-6, GLA also helps with hormone-related headaches.  GLA has also been reported to reduce the size of fibroids.


Following these suggestions will help you - and if I can help you in any way, please contact me. Wellness Assessments can help us get to the root of your symptoms and feel much, much better!

Extra Incentive - Biggest Loser Challenge

  

Our Biggest Loser Challenge is kicking into high gear!  Now it's even easier to join us!


For a Limited Time, with the purchase of our Starter Kit, you will receive a free membership which saves you 15% on all orders!  What a great deal!


So get started today - All you have to lose is the extra weight!  Call me at 251.375.6855 or email Amanda@MyWellnessPartner.org for questions!

Probiotics are So Helpful!

Probiotics benefit our bodies in numerous ways.  From helping with digestive conditions such as IBS, allergies, Fibromyalgia and controlling yeast to reducing cold and flu-like symptoms, preventing eczema, rosacea, gout, bladder infections and acid reflux, probiotics should be in your medicine cabinet.

How do Probiotics work?  The healthy body contains trillions of “friendly”
microorganisms. The vast majority of them live in the colon, where they perform a multitude of health-supporting tasks.  Their most important role is helping to maintain a healthy balance with other less desirable organisms.

Optiflora is my probiotic of choice.  It's 100 % guaranteed and safe enough for my children.

What happens when I take Optiflora?  State-of-the-art, patented triple encapsulation uses only natural ingredients to protect microflora until they are released in the intestine.  Unlike Optiflora, other products deteriorate rapidly when exposed to stomach acid condition

Shaklee testing indicates that, due to our unique triple encapsulation, shipping and simulated stomach acid
do not significantly reduce the number of live microorganisms in Optiflora.

How Does Optiflora Work?
The unique combination of ingredients in Optiflora provide gentle, natural, dietary support for the body’s natural ability to maintain a normal, healthy balance of intestinal microorganisms.  Optiflora promotes colon health by supporting the growth of healthy microflora naturally found in the colon. It delivers guaranteed active probiotics Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus acidophilus along with the prebiotics FOS and inulin. Optiflora also has gamma-tocopherol, a nutrient associated with colon health.

Try Optiflora today, and see how quickly you'll be feeling great!

The Importance of Immune Support

How healthy is your immune system?  Do you know? Do you seem to catch every bug, virus, sniffle, new disease that blows into town?  Do your children?


We live in a world that is constantly challenging our health, or minds, our patience and our strength.  Poor nutrition, lack of sleep, stress, inactivity and many other factors weaken the body and reduce its ability to protect us.


We are exposed multiple times a day to harsh chemicals, environmental toxins, viruses, resistant bacteria and even diseases and pathogens from other countries.  All of these factors wreak havoc on our immune system.  And in the midst of all of this, people rarely talk about prevention!  Want to prevent and stay well?  Here's how:


Our bodies naturally make something called Interferon.  Interferon is a antiviral protein that stimulates the immune response and prevents viral replication in cells.  Some people make more Interferon than others, and have weaker immune systems.  Now you can add more Interferon to your body, strengthen your immune system and get well!


NutriFeron is a patented, clinically proven formula that increases the body's production of natural Interferon.  


And for children, we have Incredivites, the first children's multivitamin with Lactoferin, a nutrient found naturally in breast milk that helps boost immunity.  Incredivites also offers 600IU of Vitamin D for strong bones and healthy teeth.  Did you know that our daughters get the majority of calcium that they'll use for the rest of their lives before they turn 12?  It's something to think about!


Oh, and as a bonus: both NutriFeron and Incredivites can be used with your canine companions.  Email me for dosage.  And as always, if you have any questions, please let me know!


Amanda

Your Super Heroes

How is your Child's Health?  How is your child's school performance?

Fact: The number of overweight kids has doubled in the past 10 years

Fact: Type II Diabetes is rising quickly among children

Fact: On average, 1 out of every 13 school-aged kids has asthma.

Fact: Kids miss an average of 8 school days per year due to health issues.

Fact: Poor nutrition negatively impacts bone growth and overall physical development.

Fact: Poor nutrition negatively impacts school performance.

How does your child's nutrition measure up?  The most common source of vegetables for children is french fries.  69% of 18-24 month old children eat candy and desserts everyday.  Most 8 year olds drink 12 oz servings of soft drinks everyday.   25% of calories on a typical school day come from junk food.

What can we do? Get educated! Read labels - watch for sugar, high fructose corn syrup, high sodium, hydrogenated oils and trans fats.  Eat well.  Supplement wisely with IMMUNE BOOSTING supplements.  Banish soft drinks and junk foods.  Get active: walk the dog, play ball, race, shoot some hoops and do some cartwheels!

Give your children the fuel they need to be the Super Heroes you know they are.  They deserve it, and you do too!

Any questions?  Call me at 251.375.6855 or email me at Amanda@AmandaHarper.com.

I Have Peace Like a River, I Have Peace Like a River...

In continuing with our discussions on self-care, I am led to the topic of peace.  As I mentioned to a friend, 'a piece on peace', and that reminded me of a song we sang in children's church when I was a child.  Before I knew it, I was smiling, singing and.. you've got it, peaceful!


Have you ever been so stressed, so bombarded by blinking lights and noises, and this and that that you just can't turn your mind off?  I find myself in that situation at times, and I do have a remedy that soothes my spirit.


The labyrinth.  Dating back to prehistoric time, the labyrinth is a symbol of the journey to peace and deeper faith.  People walk the path of the labyrinth peacefully, with a single focus, and find that they have broken free from the grip of the outside world.


You may find a labyrinth just around the corner from your home.  Try this Labyrinth Locator to see where one might be.  The above picture is from The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, in Mobile, Alabama.