Looking After Your Joints – Practical tips

03/27/2019 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

As we get older joint pain becomes more common. Sometimes we push on and ignore it, but that could be the reason you end up with a hip replacement, shoulder surgery or long term issues.

Typically joint pain will start due to an injury, which is easy enough to get when you’re in the yard playing with the kids. Other times it is the onset of arthritis. Whatever happens, there are plenty of ways that you can take care of your joints.

joints, health, aging, healthy living, pain — **Photo by Caroline Attwood on Unsplash**

Salmon

Or more precisely – most oily fish. Tuna, sardines, or mackerel are all perfect choices. Depending on your preferences, you can find high-quality and cheap fish to eat. Additionally, fish is a healthy and nutritious source of protein. Eating fish can also help to reduce cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of certain diseases. Besides, eating fish that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, alongside them being packed out with antioxidants, could as much as half the risk of arthritis.

It has long been noted the positive impact of fish oils on joints. If you don’t particularly like fish, then you might want to try a cod liver oil supplement. If you’re vegan, then flaxseed supplements are going to be your choice.

Move It Move It

If you sit for most of the day because of work, it might be time to work with a Pomodoro timer. This little trick will make sure that you get up and walk for at least five minutes every hour. There is also the added bonus that they make you more productive.

If you are simply at home and have more control over what you do and when you should stand up and stretch at least once every 15 minutes.

While you are standing and waiting for something, you likely (like most people) lean to one side. This causes excessive pressure in one area. Try to spread your weight across both legs for a more even distribution.

Regular exercise will also help you protect your joints. It will keep your weight in check for a start, and following on from that it will keep your energy levels up – which will avoid pain and swelling.

Joints are designed to move and move often. Try to stick to things that won’t put them under any unnecessary stress. Swimming, yoga, pilates and walking are all great places to start. Even cycling is great!

Don’t Play Hero

We all like to think that we can carry the weight of ten men from the car to the house, but in reality, that train of thought will land you in a lot of trouble. Try not to overload yourself and carry too much at once.

It might be the food shop, or it might be the big Christmas shop, whatever it is, take shorter trips or use the shopping cart all the way to your car.

Simply put? Avoid overloading yourself, and you’ll avoid pulling a muscle or damaging your joints.

Don’t Ignore Pain

One of the quickest ways to end up with permanent damage is to ignore the initial pain. We often put things off, being absolutely sure that it is nothing serious. But, unless you’re a doctor, then you simply don’t know.

If you have a recurring pain, or an injury recently that has taken a while to feel better – get it checked out.

The quicker you are to get it checked out the sooner you will be able to treat it – if you need to.

Watch Your Weight

It might not really need to be said, but the more extra weight you carry, the more work your joints will need to do. The additional stress can cause damage over a period of years.

So work on shaving a few pounds off when you can.

Footwear

What you wear on your feet chances your posture. They should be comfortable and supportive in all the right places. When you can, head to a reputable shoe store and get your feet measured. Over the years, and even during a single day your feet will swell and change shape. Buy shoes that will accommodate that.

If you intend to run, or even walk for long periods, you should go to a specialist sports store. They will analyse your gait and instep and show you the exact shoes that will provide you with support in the arch of your foot.

It doesn’t take too much to look after your joints, small changes in your daily life and plenty of water can keep your joints in good working order for years to come. Of course, a little extra helping hand in the form of a capsule supplement is never a bad thing either! Take care of your joints, and they will take care of you too.

Food, Going Healthy, Life

Keto Diet 101 for Vegans Food You Can Eat

03/22/2019 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

There is something powerful about low carb diet, and many people take it on every month. You might think that every food that is allowed in the ketogenic diet is meat, but there are plenty of vegan alternatives.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are certainly a better option than processed grains or white rice. While they are not free from carbs, they have much less than rice or pasta. If you use them to make yourself a keto snack or a dessert, you will be able to mix them with coconut flour and oil to get the right texture for your cake or biscuit. If you would like to make savory snacks, you might want to add nut and seed butter, instead.

Tomato Sauce

keto, diet, food, vegan, health — **Image via Flickr**

If you are adding tomato sauce to your keto meals, it is important that you check the packaging and opt for one that has no added sugar. Even if it is fully natural, fruit sugar will add up your carbs, so you will need to be careful how much tomato sauce you are using. It might be a good idea to make your own sauce with natural passata and seasoning, so you know exactly what is going into your condiments.

Salad Dressing

If you consume a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables and experiment regularly with creating a new recipe, you might find that salad dressing is a creative and delicious ways to enjoy Beta Hydroxybutyrate. You will, however, need to limit your consumption, so you can make the most out of your diet. If you are taking away certain foods from your body, it might start craving the flavor, and that is why you will need to learn the art of seasoning instead of reaching for the jar in the cupboard.

Pumpkin Seeds

Seeds are supposed to be good for you, and pumpkin seeds are loaded with Magnesium and Zinc, hard to come by of you are on a vegan diet. It is also full of good fat and protein, so you will get the Omega 2 and antioxidants into your diet. If you are using ground pumpkin seeds to make your own keto bread, you might want to add other ingredients that will improve the texture and taste of your bread..

Nuts

Any type of nut will be good for you and contain Omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants. You should, however, enjoy them in moderation. You will not only get the good bits, but also quite a few calories. If you are using almond milk, ground nuts for cakes and bread, you have to work out exactly how much you will need to make the most out of your cooking. There is not much of a difference between different types of nuts, but you should always go for the unsalted, roasted, and unseasoned version.

Berries

You can eat any type of berries in moderation, and they are both vegan and keto. You will be able to replace your high carb snacks with these, but be careful with the sugar, as the carb content can add up. Always consume fruit in its most natural form, instead of going for preserves and jam, unless you prepared them yourself. Some people can only consume berries with moderation, especially if they have hay fever. If you notice that you are getting an allergic reaction or a rash after eating berries, you might want to opt for a safer option, such as apples and pears. Eat loads of cranberry and blackcurrant to add iron to your vegan diet.

Almond Yoghurt

Traditional yogurt is supposed to have loads of protein and healthy bacteria. Not many people know that you can actually make yogurt out of vegan ingredients. You can use cashew nuts, almond milk, or coconut milk, depending on what taste you prefer. A coconut yogurt will be much sweeter than another variety, while If you choose a low fat one with fruit in, you might end up consuming more. You should stick to the full fat a cultured soy yogurt will have a plainer taste. Use these alternatives if you would like to make the most out of your meat free keto diet and still get the nutrients and protein you need.

Staying within the guidelines of your keto diet can be challenging. If you would like to significantly reduce your carbohydrate intake, you might want to create a list of your favorite food and choose the makes and types that have the most essential nutrients.

Going Healthy, Health, Life, Parenting

Serious Health Symptoms Dads Should Never Ignore

03/20/2019 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Dads are typically incredibly busy people. In between driving our kids to school, helping them with their homework, dealing with our own work, and much more, there’s very little time to do much else. However, that doesn’t mean that you should start skipping your doctor’s visits. Despite the macho facade many of us take on when we learn that we’re going to become fathers, no man is invincible. With that in mind, here are nine symptoms no dad should ignore.

symptoms, health, dads, parenting, wellness — **Source**

1. Trouble Sleeping

When you bring home a new baby, many things in your life begin to change, one of which is your sleeping pattern. With a little person screaming throughout the night, it’s going to be difficult to get as much kip as normal. That being said, if you struggle to sleep, but have no clear reason why, this could be a sign of a larger issue, such as sleep apnea, stress, or even depression.

2. Hair Loss

Hair loss is a fairly common concern for men, especially when we hit middle-aged or older. However, while this issue can be a natural part of aging, it may also be a warning sign of a more serious condition. Many different diseases, including ringworm and lupus, can be spotted by a loss of hair. If you ignore this symptom, though, you won’t get the treatment that you seriously need.

3. Chest Pains

Most of us associate chest pain with heart attacks, but there are many more reasons why you could be suffering from this symptom. It could be due to another heart problem, such as angina, a lung condition, like pneumonia, or even a gastrointestinal condition, such as a stomach ulcer. No matter how serious you believe these conditions to be, they each need professional attention.

4. Hearing Loss

Like hair loss, hearing loss is a symptom many associates with growing older. Thankfully, this isn’t necessarily the case. While there’s always a Miracle-Ear device for you to use, your goal should still be to prevent hearing loss if possible. For this reason, you should contact a doctor as soon as you start to spot signs of the issue. If an infection is the cause, then it can be dealt with.

5. Changing MolesAlthough us dads like to remind our kids of the importance of wearing sunscreen, very few of us remember to ourselves. This puts men at a much greater risk of developing skin cancer, including the potentially fatal melanoma. With that in mind, you should make sure that you check your skin regularly and see a doctor if you notice a change in shape, size or color of your moles.

Drinking plenty of water is crucial for good overall health, but that doesn’t mean that it’s normal or healthy to feel thirsty all the time. In fact, it’s a prominent symptom of many serious conditions, such as hyperglycemia, internal bleeding, and even organ failure. Regardless, it’s vital that you get this symptom checked out, especially when suffering from other symptoms, like nausea too.

7. Weight Loss

When you’re working on losing a few pounds, seeing the numbers on the scales begin to decrease can be a sign of success. However, if you’re not eating less, exercising more, or doing anything else to shed the weight, then this loss could be a sign that something isn’t right. In fact, it’s a symptom of many different issues. For this reason, your doctor will likely order a series of tests.

8. Feeling Down

Depression may be more common among women than men, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of guys that suffer from it too. Unfortunately, unlike women, these men are less likely to get help because of the pressures and expectations placed on them by society. Depression is much more than just “feeling down”, but, if you are, there’s nothing wrong with talking about it.

9. Vision Problems

Our vision naturally starts to deteriorate as we grow older, typically beginning in middle age. However, issues such as blind spots and blurry vision can indicate a serious eye or health problem. When you spot one of these issues, it’s crucial that you schedule an eye appointment as soon as possible. You should also stick to regular check-ups, no matter how busy you are.

You may be a superhero to your little ones, but that doesn’t mean that you have the powers to match. You’re not invincible, and, as such, you can get sick just like everyone else. To prevent potential health problems from getting any worse, you should contact a doctor as soon as you spot the symptoms listed above.