Treat Your Tootsies!

Are you badgered by bunions? It could be the shoes you’re wearing. If you’re into fashion footwear and buy shoes for style instead of support, you can literally change the ways your foot bones grow. If you can feel a knobby bump at the base of your big toe, that’s a bunion. And that means your shoes are forcing your bones to grow in some pretty unnatural ways.

Short of surgery, there’s no way to get rid of bunions once they form. And surgery is a reasonable choice when they hurt so much that you can’t get around very well or when the pain doesn’t go away even when you slip out of those sleek-looking pumps. But before you consider foot surgery—and the risk of complications that comes with it—you’ll want to explore some gentler ways to reduce the pain and keep the bunions from getting worse. Here’s a few that may help:

·        Place a donut-shaped pad between the bunion and your shoe to reduce the pressure.

·        Wear snug socks. The more tightly your socks cling to your feet, the less likely they are to rub your bunions the wrong way.

·        Stretch ‘em out with rubber bands. Sit with your feet together and loop a thick rubber band around both big toes. Move your feet as far apart as they’ll go, hold the stretch for 5 seconds, then relax. Repeat the exercise 10 times at least once a day.

·        Buy some new shoes that are wide enough for your feet to slip into comfortably, preferably with a low or flat heel.

A comfrey footbath can quickly soothe painful bunions. Comfrey contains chemical compounds that reduce skin discomfort and help sore areas heal. To make a footbath, steep an ounce of dried comfrey leaves (available at health food stores) in a few cups of simmering water for 10 minutes. Add enough cool water to make the temperature comfortable, pour the water into a basin, and soak your feet for 20 minutes or so. If you can’t find comfrey, it’s okay to substitute Epsom salts.

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Now that the weather is hot, hot, hot, I’m wearing sandals and flip-flops every day. So I’ve become very aware of my extra-rough feet! But growing up with a dad like mine, who always has a DIY cure for everything, I knew I could find a way to soothe and smooth my tender tootsies—without spending an arm and a leg—and just in time to keep my cool for the rest of the summer!

Here’s a handful of helpful hints that’ll do the trick in no time:

·        Rub a half a lemon on your feet and heels.

·        Mix equal parts of honey and milk, and massage the lotion into your feet’s thirsty skin. This is best done in the shower where you can simply rinse off when you’re done.

·        Make a big pot of oatmeal, cool slightly to a tolerably warm temperature, and slather it on your feet and wherever else you could use a little extra moisture. Leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse it off in the shower.

·        Soak your feet in a pan of water with 1 teaspoon of baking soda added to it. As the callused skin loosens, gently rub it away a bit at a time with a pumice stone or emery board. Follow up with your favorite cream to soften your feet.

Need a little instant therapy for rough, dry, or achy feet? Try our amazing new Foot & Heel Revitalizing Cream—FREE for 21 days! Just massage it in and you’ll feel the therapeutic action immediately as it heals and protects your tender tootsies. Click here to see some of the Love Letters we’ve received from women who L-O-V-E their pretty new feet!

There’s plenty of talk nowadays about working on brainteasers to keep your mind sharp as you age. But there’s not always time to sit down and think your way through a Sudoku grid or tackle the daily crossword puzzle. So give your brain a healthy workout with one of these tricks:

·        Chew on a stick of gum, and you just may remember that phone number you forgot to write down. Studies show that chewing gum improves memory, possibly because it raises heart rate. This boosts the delivery of glucose and oxygen to the brain and creates a surge in insulin, which may be the key to recalling facts.

·        Exercise with a buddy. While it’s true that any exercise enhances blood circulation and therefore memory, it seems that activities—such as tennis or ballroom dancing—that require moving in sync with another person and responding to each other’s movements are the best way to keep your brain on its best behavior.

·        Keep your blood sugar levels stable. One way to do this is by eating several small meals featuring complex carbs and protein throughout the day, rather than three large meals. Smaller meals could include apple slices smeared with peanut butter; a bagel with banana and low-fat cream cheese; cut-up raw veggies with low-fat cottage cheese; a small salad and a handful of nuts; a glass of low-fat milk and half a turkey sandwich.

·        Try a mind-expanding elixir like this Brain Brew: Combine 2 parts dried gingko with 1 part each of dried hawthorn, rosemary, and yarrow, and add the mix to a cup of hot water. Steep, covered, for 15 minutes, and drink 1 or 2 cups a day. (Note: If you take aspirin or blood-thinning medication, consult your doctor before using gingko.)

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Summer is here and the bright sun is perking up our days. But if your dull lifeless hair needs a bit of its own perking up, try a little DIY at home instead of dropping big bucks for blonde highlights from a salon. Here’s an easy way to add a little summer flair to your hair:

Combine 1 cup of lemon juice with 3 cups of brewed (and cooled) chamomile tea. Pour the solution over damp hair, then head outdoors. Sit in the sun for an hour or so, rinse thoroughly, and follow up with a good conditioner. Repeat the process until your hair helps you answer the age-old question: “Do blondes have more fun?”

And if swimming in a chlorinated pool this summer has given your blonde hair a greenish tinge, pour yourself a glass of red wine. Don’t drink it, though—pour it on your head! Work it through the strands, follow up with your normal shampoo, and that’ll be the end of the green-hair blues!

Father’s Day is this weekend, and in honor of the occasion, take a minute to ask your dear old dad if he’s been getting his prostate checked regularly. The PSA (prostate specific antigen) test is an easy blood test that should be performed annually for any man over the age of 35. One of the conditions that can be diagnosed with a PSA is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is an enlarging of the prostate gland.

Studies show that the herb saw palmetto can work successfully as a remedy for BPH when used under the supervision of a doctor. And although it can’t cure prostate cancer, saw palmetto can help prevent it.

Here’s a tea that was specially created for men. So brew up a cup, and toast to the health and happiness of your dad and all of the other men in your life!

Mix 1 teaspoon of saw palmetto berries, 1 teaspoon of hawthorn berries, 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds, 1 teaspoon of marshmallow root, and ½ teaspoon of marsh mallow root together, and put them in a pan with 6 cups of water. (All of these ingredients are available at health food stores.) Bring to a boil and let simmer for 25 minutes. Allow the tea to cool, strain out the herbs, and then bottom’s up—here’s to a better man!

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Honey is so much more than a natural sweetener you keep on hand to liven up biscuits and tea. It also has healing powers that are hard to beat…and easy to use! So if you’re coughing like crazy, don’t rush to the store for a costly cough syrup. Just reach into your pantry for honey instead. But that’s just for starters. Here’s a handful of helpful ways that honey heals:

·        Banish blackheads. Heat 1/8 cup of honey and mix it with 1 egg white and ½ cup of dry oatmeal, then dab it onto blemishes. Let it sit for a couple of minutes, then wash it off with warm water. Splash your face with cool water and gently pat your face dry.

·        Bypass a hangover. After a night of drinking too much, eat a teaspoon of honey on a cracker or piece of toast. Honey contains as much as 40 percent fructose, which is a sugar that’s known to speed the metabolism of alcohol.

·        Smooth your skin. Make a refreshing mask by smoothing a thin layer of honey on your face and leaving it for 20 minutes. Then rinse it off with first cold, then warm water. You’ll feel tingly, fresh, and smooth immediately.

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If you’re a garlic fan, then you already rely on the pungent bulb to add zesty flavor to your cooking. But did you know that garlic also has a big reputation for being able to cure whatever ails you? It’s true! In fact, garlic packs such a potent healing punch that you’ll find yourself reaching for it again and again. All that and terrific taste, too!

Here are five fantastic ways to use garlic for great health:

1.   Clear up nasal and sinus congestion in a hurry by tossing some chopped, raw, fresh garlic in a bowl of hot soup, and sipping to promote drainage.

2.   Treat a throbbing earache with a little concentrated garlic oil made from 1 sliced garlic clove in 2 teaspoons of olive oil, and heated for 2 minutes. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth, and elt it cool to lukewarm before dropping it into your aching ear.

3.   Keep biting, stinging insects away by frequently eating garlic during the summer.

4.   Stop athlete’s foot in its tracks by soaking your feet in garlic water. Crush several garlic cloves and drop them in to a tab of warm water with a splash of rubbing alcohol, then gently place your feet in the tub for about 10 minutes per day.

5.   Strengthen your nails with garlic oil. Prick the end of a garlic oil capsule with a pin, and gently squeeze a drop on each fingernail, rubbing it into the entire nail bed. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then wash your hands with warm water and gentle soap.

Happy Memorial Day! I hope you have fun plans for the holiday, whether it’s working in your garden, taking a hike, or hosting a family/friends cook-out. No matter what your plans are, why not try something new this weekend by whipping up a batch of Chilled Blueberry Soup? That’s right—Blueberry Soup! I can’t think of a better way to honor Memorial Day than with the brainy berry that’s been shown to bolster memory. And trust me—this recipe has been in my family for generations, and I know you’ll love it. Here’s how to stir some up:

In a blender or food processor, combine 2 pints of fresh blueberries, ½ cup of lemonade, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh mint. Process on high until smooth and creamy. Ladle into four cups or stemmed glasses, and garnish each with 1 tablespoon of sour cream. Refrigerate until serving.

It’s dandelion season! And if you’re like most folks, you probably think they’re nothing but nasty old weeds. But to certain members of the older generation, having a patch of those golden flowers growing in your yard is like having a drugstore right on your doorstep! In fact, as long as your lawn isn’t chemically treated, every part of the plant is actually good for you—and it’s especially effective against indigestion, and kidney and liver problems.

You can toss young leaves in salads, steam them like spinach, and use them along with the roots to make tea. Here’s how to brew up a cup:

Put 2 teaspoons of fresh, chopped dandelion roots and leaves in a pan, pour in ½ cup of spring water, and bring it to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, and let the mix steep for 15 minutes, then strain and enjoy the hot liquid. Make a cup two or three times a day, and drink to your health.

But don’t stop there. If your yard is dotted with dandelions, fill a bucket and try this dandy dandelion wine:

Juice 4 lemons and 4 oranges, and put the citrus rinds, juice, and a gallon bucketful of dandelion blooms (no stems) in a pan with 2 gallons of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, and continue boiling for half an hour. Remove the pan from the heat, and let it sit for 24 hours. Strain the mixture into a crock or large glass jar, and stir in eight cups of sugar and 1 package of baker’s yeast. Cover the container, and leave it in a cool, dark place for two weeks. Then strain the elixir again, and pour it into wine bottles. Cheers!

Mother’s Day is only two days away, so you still have plenty of time to whip up a gift that’ll make your mom feel like a queen. And I’ve got just the thing: a jar of beautiful and soothing bath salts that you can make yourself. She’ll admire your handiwork—and your thoughtfulness, too! Here’s how to DIY:

Put 6 cups of rock salt in a bowl. In another bowl, mix ½ cup of liquid hand soap, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, and 4 to 5 drops of food coloring (choose your mom’s favorite color, of course!) together, and pour the solution over the salt. Stir to coat the crystals, and spread them out on wax paper. When they’re completely dry (usually in about 24 hours), put them in a decorative jar. Wrap a festive ribbon around the neck of the jar and attach a tag with use instructions: “At bath time, pour ¼ cup of the crystals into the tub under running water for a soothing soak.”

 That’s all there is to it. Happy Mother’s Day!

Even though winter has officially ended, it’s still pretty darn chilly around here! And I have to admit that the cold weather is making my skin feel extra rough, especially my arms, legs, and elbows. Are you feeling the same way? Then whip the dry patches into shape before you start baring more skin this spring with a one-ingredient solution that’ll have you feeling moist and dewy in no time at all:
• Avocado—mash it up and apply it to your skin, then rinse it off with warm water after 20 minutes.

• Baby oil—add a drop or two to your bathwater.

• Buttermilk—massage it into rough skin once or twice a day.

• Honey—smooth some on your face, leave it on for 20 minutes or so, then rinse with warm water.

• Petroleum jelly—smear it on very dry skin before climbing into bed.

And don’t forget to drink lots of water! The more water you drink, the more moisture is available to keep your skin soft. So don’t be stingy with the H2O—drink at least 8 to 10 glasses a day and keep a water bottle handy when you’re exercising.

There’s never a good time to come down with a cold, but now—with the weather finally warming up—seems to be the worst time! And everyone I know seems to be fighting a runny nose, cough, and congestion.

Experts have told you that you can try to stay healthy by washing your hands with antibacterial soap several times a day. But why not take your sanitizing to the next level?

With this DIY sanitizing wipe, you’ll kill germs where they’re lying in wait for their next victim: doorknobs, telephones, light switches, and other surfaces sick people touch. And it’s a “two-fer”—one swipe will cut through grime and kill germs at the same time! Here’s how to whip up a batch:

Mix 1 part rubbing alcohol with 4 parts water in a handheld sprayer bottle. Then simply spray the solution on the surface to be cleaned, and wipe it away with a soft, clean cloth.

Here’s to a happy, healthy spring!

There’s nothing like a fresh, juicy grapefruit. And March is the perfect time to pick ‘em up at the grocery store because it’s their peak season.

What’s all the fuss about? Grapefruit—especially the red and pink varieties—is teeming with antioxidants that help fend off cancer, heart disease, and other health problems. You can eat ‘em on their own, popping slices into your mouth one at a time, but here are a few ideas that’ll really brighten up your day:

• Toss Ruby Red grapefruit pieces into a green salad.
• Sprinkle shrimp with grapefruit juice instead of lemon juice, or top grilled fish fillets with grapefruit pieces.
• Combine white, pink, and red grapefruit slices in a fruit salad to add a rainbow of color and a medley of flavors.
• Make a colorful splash with this refreshing thirst quencher that packs all the vitamin C you need for the entire day. Here’s how to make it:

Pour 1-1/2 cups each of frozen grapefruit concentrate and frozen orange juice concentrate (thawed) into a large punch bowl. Stir in 2 liters of sparkling mineral water and some crushed ice. Thinly slice two lemons, and place the slices and 1/4 cup of fresh raspberries in the punch bowl. Ladle the delicious drink into chilled glasses, and enjoy!

If you (and everyone around you) seem to be coughing and sneezing up a storm, try one of these down-home remedies:

Herbal Throat Spray—For a blast of natural sore throat relief, buy yourself a new plant mister. Then brew up a triple-strength tea with 3 teaspoons each of dried slippery elm, echinacea, and licorice (available at health food stores) in 3 cups of water. Bring it to a full boil; then reduce the heat, and let it simmer 10 to 15 minutes. Strain out the herbs, and pour the brew into your new spray bottle. Open your mouth, stick out your tongue, and spray the back of your throat as needed during the day. Ahhhh, soothing relief! (Caution: Licorice shouldn’t be used by folks with high blood pressure or kidney disease.)
Rub on the Oil—Make your own chest rub by adding 3 to 4 drops of an essential oil (try eucalyptus, lavender, or thyme) to 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Apply liberally to your chest, cover with a clean cloth, and settle into a comfy chair with a cozy afghan and a good book.
Hail Mary!—Try a bloody Mary, without the booze! Mix some lemon, a celery stalk, and horseradish in a glass of tomato juice, and drink it down. Tomato juice is full of vitamin C, but it’s the horseradish kick that really does the trick. Its powerful fumes will loosen mucus congestion, making your cold more bearable.