This is because at the [...]]]> Frizzy hair and split ends are two entirely different problems that both affect the cuticle of the hair shaft and have the same cause. Split ends and frizzy hair affect about 90% of women at least sometime in their lives. And women who have naturally curly hair suffer the most.

This is because at the base of the hair shaft is an oil gland that sends natural oils to condition the hair. Because it is harder for the oils to reach the ends of curly hair this hair type is often more coarse and dryer, suffering from split ends and frizzes than do people with straight hair.

Split ends and frizzy hair can be a big style spoiler. They are caused from a dehydrated cortex of the hair shaft (inner layer of the hair) which is precipitated by several different things such as:

Abuse of heating appliances such as hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons
Too many styling products
Frequent perms, colors, bleaching, treatments
Stress, illness and some medications
Poor diet
Brushing wet hair
High humidity in the air
Lack of moisture
Towel rubbing your hair after shampoo
Washing your hair too often
Pulling hair back tightly

The most common cause of split ends and frizzy hair is a lack of moisture to the hair, cuticle and cortex. And the most important treatment is using appropriate hair care products to increase the amount of moisture your hair retains. A good shampoo will clean without drying.

If your hair is prone to being frizzy or split ends then you shouldn’t wash your hair every day. And after washing you should also use a cream conditioner that adds more moisture to the hair and is left in for several minutes to increase the amount of moisture the hair retains. Avoid oil based chemical conditioners because they can contribute to the frizz problem. After the conditioner try rinsing with cold water to seal the cuticle of the hair.

Look for a hair mask to apply once or twice a week for split ends and frizzy hair to nourish the hair. The hair mask should be moisturizing and nourishing that contains natural ingredients. You can also use some fruit found in the grocery store for natural conditioners such as bananas, mangos, olive oil, avocados and mayonnaise.

Unfortunately the only cure for the split end portion of this problem is to take off the ends and start with clean, undamaged hair. Because the hair shaft isn’t living it can’t regenerate or heal. Therefore the only way to get rid of the split ends is to cut them off. What you’ll lose in length you’ll gain in health and beautiful hair. Your hair will grow back and if you pay attention to good hair care the split ends won’t return.

Limit the blow drying, flat irons or curling irons you use on your hair. Using heat treatment on your hair once or twice a week is the limit before you are causing damage to your hair and causing frizz. Chose an ionic hair dryer because it causes less damage.

Never brush your hair while it’s wet! This damages the hair, causes frizz and split ends. Those with curly hair will benefit from a pomade to tame the frizz. Apply only a small amount to wet hair and then allow it to dry before styling the hair. If you can let your hair air dry naturally it’s best for your hair.

When you are shopping for products for split ends and frizzy hair look for moisturizing agents, vitamin E, aloe vera, honey, olive oil or glycerin.

Finally when you are detangling your hair don’t use a brush but rather use your fingers or a wide toothed comb. And when you are styling your hair wait for the bathroom to dehumidify. The humidity from the shower will only make the hair frizzier.

Approximately 30% of ocular injuries [...]]]> Sports causes more than 40,000 eye injuries each year. Interestingly more than 90% can actually be prevented. You might think that basketball and baseball are some of the safest sports to play but they actually result in the most eye injuries followed closely by water sports and racquet ball sports.

Approximately 30% of ocular injuries happen in people younger than 16 and for those between 15 and 64 the most common cause of sports eye injury is basketball.

Sports activities are classified as low risk, high risk and very high risk for eye injuries. If the activity involves the use of a bat, ball, puck, stick or racquet it will be classified as high risk while those sports that don’t have body contact or other equipment use such as track and field, are classified at low risk. Very high risk sports have body contact without eye protection such as basketball, martial arts, wrestling or boxing.

Prevention of sports eye injuries includes a complete eye examination during any sports physical. Determining any deficits before playing sports or identifying any abnormalities before an injury to can help to prevent injuries or diagnose a problem once there is an injury. Athletes who are at risk for eye injuries for eye injuries, such as those with retinal detachment, eye surgery, previous injury or current infection, should be counseled regarding the sport they intend to play and the appropriate eye protection that should be used.

Some of the more common sports eye injuries are blunt trauma, penetrating injuries and radiation injury from the sun. Blunt trauma happens when you are hit directly in the eye and causes the most sports eye injuries. Serious examples of this type of injury include a broken bone under the eyeball, a broken eyeball or detached retina. Bruising around the eye and eyelid – often called a black eye – may look bad but is usually a less severe injury.

Another type of sports eye injury are penetrating injuries which is when something actually cuts into the eye. This type of injury isn’t as common. You can possibly get a penetrating injury if eyeglasses break, another person scratches the eye or an object penetrates the eye such as fish hook. Radiation injuries, or burns from ultraviolet light, are common in sports such as snow skiing, water skiing or other water sports.

Protection against eye injuries usually involves common sense. When snow skiing, cycling or water skiing strong protective sun glasses that are strong enough to withstand sudden force from a thrown stone or being tossed into the water are necessary to protect your eyes from radiation injury. The most common and protective form of impact resistant lenses are made of polycarbonate. They are available in plain or prescription lenses.

Don’t ever try to use a protective device without lenses. Plain sunglasses won’t protect your eyes from blunt force or penetrating injury. A helmet won’t protect your eyes and it can be knocked of the head. Consult your eye doctor for the most appropriate eye protection for your sport.

Sports eye injuries during play is more common than during practice. Athletes who sustain an injury should first be evaluated by the team physician. The doctor will determine if the injury is sufficient to keep the athlete from continuing to play. Athletes should NEVER use a topical anesthetic to reduce the pain to continue to play.

Sports eye injuries which cause a sudden decrease or loss of vision, pain with movement of the eye, pain with light, light flashes or floaters, pupil changes shape, halos around the eye, sudden loss of the red reflex, sensation of a foreign body or an embedded foreign body should be seen by an ophthalmologist immediately to reduce the possibility of long term effects of the injury.

Once the injury has been evaluated by an ophthalmologist he will determine when the athlete can return to play. The injured eye should be comfortable and adequate vision. The athlete should always wear eye protection to prevent a second injury during which he may not be as fortunate. Second injuries following fast on the heels of the first can cause more damage to the eye.

There are several tips about purchasing eye guards to protect against sports eye injuries that will help your eyes stay protected and will protect your wallet against undue expense from purchasing another product because the first was inadequate to do the job.
If you wear prescription lenses head to the eye doctor and take his recommendation.
If you have only one eye that sees well – again head to the eye doctor for the best advice and prescription lense.
Eye guards for those who don’t wear prescription lenses should be purchased at sports specialty stores.
Buy eye guards that come with lenses.
Be sure the lenses stay in place on impact or pop outward from the face.
Check the packaging that the product has been tested for use in sports activities. The protector should also be made of polycarbonate material.
There should be cushioning against the brow and bridge of the nose to prevent it from cutting your skin.
Try them on to be sure you are getting the right size. Adjust the strap to be sure it isn’t too tight or loose.

Why should we be thinking about zinc? It is [...]]]> The body is a complex machine that needs lots of different nutrients to perform its daily functions. One of those nutrients is zinc. You may only think of it in relation to keeping you from getting sunburned, but it serves an even greater purpose than that.

Why should we be thinking about zinc? It is an important mineral in the body. Each day, the body performs thousands of reactions that can happen in the blink of an eye. From the foods we eat, the body filters out what it needs and directs it to the right places for use. What we don’t need it eliminated as waste. Each day the process begins again.

The Importance of Zinc

In the body, zinc is responsible for helping with hundreds of reactions in a variety of cells. For one, it plays an important role in immune function. Zinc is instrumental in stimulating the formation of T-lymphocytes or helper T-cells. These are the white blood cells that rush to the sight of an invading infection to stop the onslaught on the body. It plays a role in wound healing as well.

Zinc stimulates enzyme activity. Enzymes are catalysts for hundreds of reactions, from secreting hormones from glands to stimulating the creation of reproductive cells.

It supports normal growth and development throughout your life. In the womb, it helps to ensure that the neurological systems develop as they should during each trimester of pregnancy. After birth it still functions to support brain development.

Basically the body couldn’t do without zinc and yet, many people are deficient in this mineral. It may not be noticed at first, but over time it can show up in decreased immunity or greater susceptibility to colds and other illnesses. You often see people taking Echinacea or zinc as a homeopathic remedy to fight these conditions.

Foods that Contain Zinc

A better way to get zinc into your system is through your food. This is always a preferable choice to supplements as it is the natural form of the mineral. Check your diet. If you are not eating any of these foods, you could be zinc deficient.

* Oysters
* Wheat germ
* Bran
* Cheese
* Beef
* Lamb
* Other dairy products
* Walnuts

The highest concentrations of zinc come from beef. Eating a few servings a week can boost your zinc levels. On a daily note, try adding nuts or cheese to your dishes. Wheat germ can be added to cereals and yogurt without changing the taste. If that doesn’t do it, try fortified cereals that contain added zinc.

The average person over the age of fourteen needs eight to eleven milligrams a day. Children need between two and five milligrams depending on age, and pregnant women need eleven or more milligrams.

Zinc is an important mineral used in every cell in the body. Check to see if you are getting enough to keep your body healthy.

Dieting and weight loss are not static activities; it requires effort and commitment from the participant. Weight isn’t gained in two days and it [...]]]> Weight loss programs abound and you have your choice from many different models. One such model is the Low Carbohydrate Diet Plan made popular by Atkins, South Beach and Glycemic Index.

Dieting and weight loss are not static activities; it requires effort and commitment from the participant. Weight isn’t gained in two days and it won’t be lost in two. Weight loss has always been a balance between calories that are eaten and those that are burned. Other factors that are of consideration are your age, gender, fitness level, genetic make up, stress level, amount of exercise and food that you eat.

This concept is not core to the low carb diet plan. These plans aren’t concerned with the number of calories but rather the amount of sugar and carbohydrates you take into your body. The diet essentially places your body into ketoacidosis, which burns more calories quickly but also has side effects that includes lower mental acuity, stress on the kidneys, feelings of being tired, increased blood pressure, high cholesterol, diarrhea and severe headaches.

Before starting a low carb diet plan you should consult with your physician to determine if your current health will withstand the stresses of the ketoacidosis. Also under consideration are the medications you are taking and your current blood glucose tolerance.

Several things you do will help to increase your success at using a low carb diet plan. You should always drink plenty of water, at least 8-10 8oz glasses per day but limit the amount of caffeine. The fluids should be water; not soda, not coffee, not tea. Take an additional vitamin and fiber supplement to make up for the nutritional deficits you may experience.

As with any weight loss plan you should include exercise and physical activity. This especially important using a low carb diet plan to help decrease some of the side effects. And core to this diet plan is to monitor you sugar and carbohydrates.

When you use a low carb diet plan you can initially count on feeling cravings for the foods can no longer eat. To increase your chance of success you should get rid of those foods in the house. Through them all out. And when you go shopping for the new foods do NOT shop when you are hungry!

On the second day of your commitment to a low carb diet plan you’ll be making a menu for the following week. Shop for the foods and get the recipes you need. In other words be organized and plan for the eventual and almost certain cravings you’ll have. Be sure there is food in the house to help you withstand the temptations.

Begin your diet at the beginning of a day and not in the middle. Starting in the middle allows you to be tempted to go off the diet since you didn’t eat the right things for breakfast – right? Spend this day cooking and preparing foods for snacks and meals so you have quick access to foods.

One significant disadvantage to this diet is that you will increase the amount of animal protein which also decreases the absorption of calcium in your body leading to osteoporosis and bone loss. When you are taking a vitamin supplement include a mineral and calcium supplement as well.

The low carb diet plan can help you to learn better eating habits and to start a fast weight loss. Take your doctors advice about how long you should stay on this diet before transitioning to a healthy diet you can maintain over the coming years.

No matter who you are – if you have had a hard day on your feet, everyone will know it once you take off your shoes. Feet work hard, holding us up and carrying us about, and they often develop the [...]]]> It is an age-old question. Why do feet smell? The answer may surprise you.

No matter who you are – if you have had a hard day on your feet, everyone will know it once you take off your shoes. Feet work hard, holding us up and carrying us about, and they often develop the smell to prove it.

If you think you are alone, you are not. Thousands upon thousands of people suffer daily from odorous feet. Keep reading and find out why.

The Science of Sweat

The body sweats. It’s a fact. This is the way that the body cools itself off. The feet contain about a quarter of a million sweat glands on their surfaces alone. These glands are present all over the skin’s surface to help it get rid of dirt, bacteria and also maintain temperature.

You might be wondering why your arms or your legs don’t smell when they sweat. Would it surprise you to know that sweat has no odor at all? It is the reason that some sweat and don’t offend others, while some sweat even the slightest and waft an unpleasant odor around the room.

The skin’s surface contains bacteria. These bacteria are there to protect the body from invaders. But, bacteria have to eat something. When you sweat, they find this a scrumptious feeding ground. The by-product of bacterial digestion is the strong odor that is produced on your feet. The warm, dark, moist surroundings are perfect for this.

People who have hair on their feet are doubly blessed with odor. This gives bacteria more surface area to use for feeding.

So, Why Feet?

Feet have something unique – socks and shoes. Walking around barefoot is not an option as your feet will be unprotected from the elements and other damaging objects. So, you put on socks in the morning.

Socks can hold moisture against the surface of the foot all day or as long as you are wearing them. Cotton socks do help the moisture to wick away from the skin and absorb into the material, lowering the amount of sweat that bacteria has to feed on.

Shoes on top of socks can further increase the constriction. With nowhere for the sweat to go, it stays on the foot’s surface and produces odor through bacterial activity.

Some people sweat more than others. If you are predisposed to heavy sweating by genetics or other environmental factors like your job, odor will be more of a dilemma for you. But, you can fight back. Not everyone’s feet smell badly, so there has to be a reason that you can take advantage of as well.

Now that you know why feet smell, you can set about combating the problem.

Previously a prescription medication, Xenical [...]]]> Weight loss is a million dollar industry. Look through the pharmacy shelves and search the Internet. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of products, programs and promises that offer solutions to those who want to lose weight. Recently, the FDA approved a weight loss pill that is over the counter.

Previously a prescription medication, Xenical (generic orlistat), is a fat blocking pill that is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. This is the first FDA weight loss pill approved for over the counter sales.

In a six month clinical trial using Xenical and a placebo (a sugar pill that has no metabolic effects) people were able to lose approximately 5-6 more pounds than people who took the placebo. The drug company believes that the drug should be discontinued after six months but because it is an FDA weight loss pill that has been approved for over the counter use, there is no way to police it’s use.

Julie Golden, medical officer at the FDA stated that in a previous study people who used orlistat (the generic name for the FDA weight loss pill Xenical) showed a progressive weight gain after discontinuing the drug.

The FDA approved weight loss pill, Xenical, works by reducing the ability of the body to absorb fat from the diet. This impacts the ability to also absorb essential fatty acids and fat soluable vitamins. The FDA recommends that people using Xenical also take a multi-vitamin supplement.

Related to the way the pill works are the side effects. As mentioned above the body has no effective way of absorbing essential nutrients and you can fast become vitamin deficient with the multiple health risks associated with that. Xenical also increases the amount of fat that is expelled through the stool. This increases the chances for diarrhea and cramping that can be uncomfortable and occur at inopportune times.

Although many people use the terms interchangeably overweight and obesity do not have the same meaning. Overweight is an excess body weight that includes all tissues (fat, muscle and bone) while obesity refers only to excess fat. This distinction can be important when determining the particular weight loss program or supplement that you intend to follow.

There is no shortcut or easy way to a goal. If the promise sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. Many people are searching for a simple answer to a complex problem. Seeking an easy path to thinness is a recipe for failure. While the FDA weight loss pill orlistat will help to block fat absorption and therefore lead to weight loss, unless you change your eating habits you are destined to gain all of the weight you lost and even more once you stop taking the pill. AND you can not take the pill more than six months without health risks.

Obesity and overweight is now considered a disease and not a failing. People who suffer from increased weight are at increased risk for other medical problems that lead to premature illness or death. Decreasing weight by even a relatively small amount will likely lower blood pressure, reduce blood glucose and bring cholesterol under control.

The FDA weight loss pill Xenical (orlistat) is a short term answer to a long term problem. With additional support, diet changes and motivation this supplement can be effective in jump starting a new healthier lifestyle. However, relying solely on this method will result only in failure.

Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into the popsicle moulds and freeze until firm.

This makes a delicious and healthy summertime treat!

The tendons [...]]]> Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is a relatively common overuse injury of the elbow in people who play racquet sports, paint, weave, cut meat or perform other repetitive motions that require intense motion. The pain of tennis elbow is recognizable by location and inability to perform certain motions with the hand and wrist.

The tendons that become inflamed with tennis elbow are actually those that anchor the muscles that control the wrist and hand. Therefore when doing repetitive motions such as a poorly controlled back hand swing in tennis, cutting meat, weaving or even painting the tendon is stressed, becomes inflamed, swollen and causes pain.

Is there a tennis elbow home cure? That depends upon the severity of the condition and whether there is a commitment to treatment and rehabilitation. Like anything else in this life, nothing comes without a price. The price of a tennis elbow home cure is time and energy as well as stopping the activities that caused the pain in the first place – at least until the pain has disappeared.

You may believe you have a problem with tennis elbow if you have pain on pressure to the outside of the elbow, pain with raising the wrist, grasping objects or turning a door knob. If you also have swelling, inflammation, redness, heat, fever, deformity of the elbow joint, or believe that there is bone involvement you must consult a doctor immediately. There are other conditions that may appear to be tennis elbow but the complications from these can be devastating.

Only your doctor can provide an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment for medical conditions. The recommendations provided here should only be used to help suggest treatments to your physician and provide information about the condition and common treatment modalities.

A tennis elbow home cure is a slight misnomer because, for the most part, tennis elbow doesn’t require intense medical treatment to effect a cure. First the elbow should be rested. Don’t put it in a sling but rather stop doing the activities that cause pain. So forget the tennis match, painting the family room or starting on that new rug. Don’t butcher any meat and this is even a good excuse not to cook for a week or so. Rest the elbow from anything that hurts. Use your other hand to open doors, grasp objects and lift. Keep the arm loose at your side or resting in your pocket you don’t forget and use it.

Next, ice the joint for a week or two 3 times a day for 20 minutes. This is a perfect opportunity to use an ice cup. These are easily made at home using a Styrofoam cup, filled with water and frozen. Rub the ice directly over the elbow for 20 minutes. The ice will melt so keep a towel handy. As the ice melts you can also peel down the cup.

If you don’t have a medical condition that impacts your ability to use ibuprofen you can take this over the counter anti-inflammatory medication. Ibuprofen is metabolized through the liver and should be used with caution if you have liver disease, are taking other medications that are metabolized through the liver or are taking any other medication that may interact with the ibuprofen. Consult with your doctor or pharmacist to determine that this medication is safe for you.

Once the pain has decreased to the point it is comfortable consult with a physical therapist to determine the right exercises to strengthen the forearm and prevent this condition from reoccurring.