Water Retention Remedies and Cures: You Need To Know!

Author: happypappy

When dieting or trying to maintain a healthy weight, all of us have experienced fluctuations in our weight.  Sometimes a weight gain can be hard to understand and we ask ourselves “why am I gaining weight when I have been eating a healthy diet and doing the correct exercises?”  Almost always the answer is water retention.

There are a few reasons that water retention happens in our bodies:

* If we consume too much salt (sodium) either by pouring too much salt onto our food, or eating food with a high salt content, or even drinking pop which has a high sodium content, our bodies will retain water to compensate. Our bodies will automatically ‘hold on’ to the excess water causing weight gain which is not FAT but the weight of the water retained.
* Too much salt in our bodies will also cause high blood pressure, and the resulting water retention is also dangerous for one’s heart, especially in the obese, as water retention can lead to swollen ankles and kidney problems.
* In the Western diet most adults in the UK and the USA are carrying as much as 5 pounds of extra water, as their diet is so high in salt.
* When we decide to go on a diet, the opposite happens, and because the dieter changes his or her eating habits, less sodium is consumed, and the kidneys can finally function properly and flush out the extra water. This often leads us to believe that the quick weight loss that we are experiencing is FAT LOSS but what it actually is, is just the extra water.
* Standing too long without moving around can cause a ‘pool’ of water to collect in the ankles and feet, causing swelling and water retention.
* Pre – Menstrual Syndrome also causes water retention and gives women the feeling of being ‘bloated’. Before menstruation the blood breaks down progesterone causing the kidneys to retain water. The same happens in pregnancy.
* Oedema and bloating also occurs in menopausal women because of hormonal changes and fluctuations.
* Side effects of some medications, especially cortisone related drugs cause water retention.

There are also many illnesses which can cause the body to retain water, some of which are:

* Thyroid disease
* Arthritis (swelling joints)
* Liver Disease
* Varicose Veins
* Kidney disease

The GOOD NEWS is that there are many ways that one can combat fluid retention:-

* It is a good idea to have blood tests to determine if your body is deficient in certain vitamins such as Potassium which regulates how the flow of fluids in one’s body works.
* Horse Chestnut helps overall health and can prevent the retention of fluids.
* Do not consume too much alcohol, this will cause you to be dehydrated and then when consuming too much fluid your body will retain it.
* Remember 8 to 10 glasses of water is the correct amount. Consuming too much water is dangerous and it can dilute the electrolytes in our blood.
* Do not abuse laxative (by taking too many) as your body will swing between being dehydrated and edema.
* The puffiness of edema with people with eating disorders, makes them think that it is from weight gain, when it is merely water retention.
* Move your ankles and feet all the time, and elevate your legs if you have to stand all day.
* Skip the junk food from this day forward!
* Check your Vitamin B6 levels, as a lack of this vital vitamin can cause edema
* A daily dose of a calcium tablet can prevent pre menstrual water retention.

So in general – keep aware of your water levels in your body, check for swollen ankles or puffy fingers.  Follow the tips above and you will not retain water and think you have gained weight!  The best thing for your body is to keep a healthy weight and follow a healthy diet which contains all the nutrients and minerals you need.


Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1063121_23.html

Dealing With Grief Over A Departed Pet

Author: hunny01

The loss of a beloved pet can be as devastating as losing a family member. Afterall, pets can even be more lovingly unconditional than people. If only the amount of love showered on our pets can be equal to the amount of years added to its life, our pets would live as long as we want them too. But as everything else that has a beginning, so too, do they have an ending. Indeed the paradox of loss is at constant play with life. we are certain that everything ends but we are uncertain when it ends. we are certain how it will make us feel, but uncertain at how to deal with what we may feel.

So how does a man say goodbye to a beloved pet, companion and best friend who has given him its full attention, unconditional love and loyalty and even aid in daily living i.e. blind people with their guide dogs and policemen with their canine friends, among others And once goodbyes have been said, how does man cope with the grief and loss after

Needless to say, conditioning of the human mind even before a bond has been created between man and beast is essential and must be established. Man, the rational one in the friendship, and usually the bereaved survivor of the two friends, must keep in mind always that nothing survives forever, not even the ideal companionship of a man and an animal. Once the proper conditioning of the mind has been set, it is easier for man to face the reality of a future separation with his beloved pet.

However, mental conditioning can only do so much when no emotional bonds have been created yet once man begins to establish an emotional bond with his pet, no amount of conditioning can ever fully guarantee an easy way in dealing with a possible separation or loss.

Man deals with loss in his own unique way. There is no definite formula for dealing with the grief over the loss of a pet. Otherwise, if there is, indeed, a formula, it would come out something as absurd as asking a doctor to compose a music for his dead pet, or asking a painter to write a book dedicated to his pet. In a word, what works for some may not necessarily work for others. What is constant with any variable, however, is the importance of facing the pain. Running away from the reality and pain of loss never helps. Though running away may momentarily desensitize the first few pangs of pain, the next few ones that will eventually turn up at times when it is least expected will only become twice or thrice as painful than the first.

Acknowledging the pain, however, helps develop an eventual acceptance over the loss of your pet, and in the long run, even peace knowing that your beloved pet may be in a place far happier than the one you can ever offer it. By acknowledging your pain, you are allowing yourself to grieve over lost times with your pet. In grieving there is remembrance. What better way to give tribute to your beloved pet and what better way to keep your pet alive in your heart forever than remembering all the times spent together

Eventually, you will find that healthy remembrance and acceptance of the pain is not only therapeutic but offers a way that will lead you to acceptance over the loss itself as well.

The next step of dealing with grief over the loss of a pet is through creative expression. A healthy way of dealing with the death of a pet, or any other loss for that matter, is to discover your own potential for selfrelease and catharsis. Try to experiment, through hobbies, sports and interest, on activities that will keep your mind focused on being productive and creative. In all activities, always be conscious that you are channeling your grief and loss positively through the activities you are engaged in. Eventually, you will only realize that your pain has lessened and diminished over time.

The perils of not consciously keeping to mind the motivation for the activity which is the pain of loss may only be equivalent to not accepting and acknowledging your pain and once you find yourself unguardedly remembering your dead friend, your pet, the pain may only become twice as hurtful. However, if you keep in mind the purpose for your constructive activity, you are actually, creatively and productively living with your pain and loss. For artists, it would even help you include, as your creations theme, your departed pet. Talk about your pet. Share photos of your pet. Remember your pet. Walk to where you often have your walks. The possibilities of calling to mind the joy that your pet has given you is endless.

Indeed, there is no easy way to forgetting the pain of losing a beloved pet. But perhaps, the paradox there is not to forget the pain, but instead, to live with the pain. Once this pain is channeled creatively and productively, you will find out that your beloved and precious pet has done more for you than you ever thought of in its life and even in its death.

source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/self-improvement-articles/dealing-grief-over-departed-pet-11011.html

Beautiful Feet

Having cracked or bleeding feet is never desirable to anyone. All of dream of a pair of beautiful feet that can be flaunted in the most stylish pair of stilettos. If you wish to get such beautiful feet, you need to know how to care for your feet. Setting aside some time from your daily schedule, about half an hour, for a regular foot treatment will keep them healthy and beautiful throughout the year. The time that you provide to pamper your feet will help you to forget about the day-to-day worries in a great way. Read on to know about the foot care tips that will make beautiful foot.
Apply a foot scrub every day, preferably after a tiring day at work. You can either make a scrub at Beauty Tips or simply buy one that contains essential oils. Massage the ingredients into your feet, and leave on for 5-10 minutes. Wash off with warm water. This method is helpful when it comes to saving time as well as getting the desired effect.
Use a moisturizer everyday on your feet, after bath and before going to sleep, carefully massaging into the dry areas, nails and the cuticles. This will keep the feet feeling soft.

If you suffer from feet that ache from pressure, then there are natural remedies for aching feet as well. For this, you need 4-5 drops of essential oil of tea tree, 3-4 drops of essential oil of cypress and 1-2 teaspoons of jojoba oil. Mix all the ingredients together, pour into a large bowl or bucket of warm water, place your feet in the water and leave on for 5-10 minutes. After this, step into a bucket of cold water in which, a cup of green tea has been mixed.
A foot massage before going to bed would help relieve you feet of stress. For this simply warm colorless sesame oil or olive oil and massage into your soles and toes with both your hands. Put on cotton socks and go to sleep.
Another way of caring for your feet to keep them beautiful is by walking barefoot on pebbles. This would stimulate acupressure points on the soles of the feet, dispensing health benefits throughout the body.
Sometimes girls feet suffer from painful corn. Getting rid from these corns will help you in having most beautiful feet. Soak your feet in warm water and add pinch of salt. Gently rub corn affected area with coarse emery board. Cut a fresh pineapple and put the piece over the area for 5 to 10 minutes. The enzymes present in pineapple will help the skin faster in dissolving the corn.
Add half cup of sugar, one teaspoonful of baking powder and one fourth teaspoonful of poppy seeds combined with ten drops of lemon juice. With the help of vegetable brush, scrub your feet thoroughly and rinse. Follow this twice a week to possess most beautiful feet.
You can also get beautiful foot with paraffin wax. This ingredient is know for making your feet soft and supple. Paraffin wax clears the clogged skin pore and increases in blood circulation. Thus with open pore, your skin will absorb required moisture and you get beautiful woman feet.
A nice foot tonic can help you in getting beautiful girl’s feet. You can make an effective tonic with a cup of milk combined by one teaspoonful of mint leaves, peppermint extract and rosemary. Apply this mixture and keep for 10 minutes. Wash off and say “my beautiful feet.”

source:http://www.beautytipshub.com/beautiful-feet

The Stiff Knees of Osteoarthritis
Kathy Crawford

Stiff Knees are generally a symptom of osteoarthritis.  The simple act of walking seems to help improve the stiffness and it can help relieve the pain of osteoarthritis of the knees.
If you have been suffering from the stiffness of osteoarthritis, you can relieve your pain and stiffness with just a few steps.  The simple act of walking seems to help improve the stiffness and it can help relieve the pain of osteoarthritis of the knees.
This is a disease that over 16 million people who live in the United States have.  It affects your joints which causes them to become stiff and painful.
The actual knee joint can be affected and it makes it very hard for some people to even walk.  But actually the simple exercise of walking is one thing that can help loosen the knee joints of people with osteoarthritis.
A test group of 102 people who had osteoarthritis in their knees and all over 40 years old were divided into two groups.  One of the groups walked 30 minutes three times a week for eight weeks and also attended special classes on osteaoarthritis along with being in support groups.  The other group did no exercise program but did have classes and support groups.
After eight weeks the exercise group showed improvement in the pain they had and were able to move around easier.  None of them said that the walking made the pain or stiffness worse.  Most of them could actually walk quite a bit farther than they could at the beginning of the study.  The other group that didn’t do the weekly walking reported little or no improvement.
This goes to show that even if you feel you can hardly walk now with the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis knees that by doing just that (walking) you will get better. So make the decision now to get up and get moving knowing that in the long run it will help you feel better.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 Kathy has been writing articles off and on for almost 2 years. Come visit her latest website over at www.carpetshampooer.infotipguide.com which helps people find a hoover carpet shampooer and information on various carpet shampooers.


source: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/the_stiff_knees_of_osteoarthritis.html

4 Key Tips for De-Stressing the Mind 

By Aila Accad

The mind is a wonderful tool for observation, conceptualization, processing information, and in short – thinking. However, when the tool becomes the master, stress is inevitable.
 Like a computer, your mind holds lots of data and has a program to organize that data. Each mind programs the input it receives through unique perceptions and interpretations developed in early childhood. This childhood template is your mind’s operating system until you choose to change it.
 De-stressing involves becoming aware of and updating these childhood beliefs.

Two core sets of beliefs – Who you think you are (self-concept) and who you think you ‘should’ be (self-ideal) evolve from what we hear, see, and experience as children. You do not knowingly choose the self-images, which are the foundation for self-esteem (the value for yourself) and self-determination (the power to make free choices). Failing to achieve this unrealistic self-ideal is inevitable and believing you have limited power to choose freely creates DISTRESS.
 The basic categories of response to distress are fight, flight, and freeze.
  Is your tendency to run, hide, and internalize stress in isolation, passivity or depression? Is it to lash out, attack and externalize stress in aggression, domination or anxiety? Or, do you become immobilized and stuck? Either way, the core issues and solutions are the same.
The tips that follow are simple, logical, and doable. However, implementation may be challenging.


Tip # 1: Sort
 
The key to mental de-stressing is to recognize the areas of life in which you do or do not have control. Get a piece of paper and pencil and take note of the thoughts that arise as I explain this simple sorting technique. These notes will be important when we get to Tip # 3. You have NO control of anything outside yourself. You have TOTAL control of everything inside yourself. This does not seem earth shattering until you look at daily reactions.
 If you are like most people, you blame everything outside of you for your stress and direct most of your precious time and energy into fruitless efforts to control the uncontrollable. A short list of uncontrollables includes time, nature, and other people.
 You reduce your stress when you put your time and energy into the one area where it will pay off, where you have total control and power to direct your life – in YOU. In knowing how you think and feel, and making choices about what is important to you.

These four strategies for mental de-stressing will change your perspective and give you control over your choices. Sort what you can control from what you cannot control, focus on what you can control, observe your mind’s discomfort with staying present in the moment, stop – drop – and replace the negative self criticism and judgment based in past conditioning.
 Final note: Getting outside supportive coaching or counseling to carry out these steps may be helpful and well worth the time and cost for a stress free life!

Aila Accad, RN, MSN ‘Your Stress-Buster Coach’ is an award-winning speaker, best-selling author and transformation coach who inspires and supports people to free their lives from stress and restore inner power. Her Amazon Best-Seller “34 Instant Stress-Busters, Quick tips to de-stress fast with no extra time or money” is available now with $1200 in free self-growth downloadable gifts at
www.stressbustersbook.com Sign up for De-Stress Tips & News at www.ailaspeaks.com and receive the “Ten Instant Stress Busters” e-book..


source:http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/4_key_tips_for_destressing_the_mind.html

by Kellen Von Houser

Do you stay awake all night and sleep all day? Do you lie around all the time but never get rested? Do you have trouble getting to sleep? Are you able to get to sleep, but wake up frequently throughout the night? Do you believe you are sleeping long enough, but you still wake up tired?

We are continually stressed and running short on time and it would seem logical that after running around all day we would have no trouble getting to sleep at night. But that is not the case. Many of us are finding it increasingly difficult to get to sleep at night. To further complicate matters, we tend to depend upon caffeine, cigarettes and sugar as a substitute for what only a good night’s sleep can provide. Sleep patterns, thinking processes and mood are intimately related. Sleep deprivation makes us irritable, unable to think clearly and depressed. Many of us become so desperate to get a good night’s sleep that we resort to medications, but are they really necessary? Perhaps the best medicine of all is to start really listening to your body instead of working against it.

How to Establish Good Sleep Patterns:

1. Establish a sleep schedule. Calculate a bedtime that will allow you to get this many hours and wake up at a reasonable hour (for example, when you need to get ready for work). Determine the number of hours you need to feel rested. Don’t worry if you don’t fit into the “norm” of eight hours. A good guideline to start with is how many hours you sleep when you “sleep in” on the weekends. The first day, wake yourself at the time you would like to be your usual waking time, whether you are rested or not.

2. Exercise. With many of us working in offices all day, we never actually do enough physical labor to tire our bodies so they can get a good sound night’s sleep. A good hard work out will make you tired a few hours later. Admittedly, most people find it easier to fit a workout into their morning schedule and be consistent about it. But if you can manage to workout a few hours before bedtime, it may help “wear you out” and make you tired. Weight lifting and swimming, or a really tough cardio workout can be great for inducing sleepiness afterwards. If you belong to a gym, indulge in a few minutes of sauna time after your workout. This will warm up and relax your muscles and further relax you and prepare you to rest.

3. Establish a bedtime ritual. A couple of hours before bedtime begin to allow you to wind down. A regular evening ritual can help you relax and will signal your body that it’s time to rest. (By the way, this works great with small children too.)

4. Avoid naps. Do not take a nap during the day, no matter how tired you get. This only makes it harder to get a good night’s sleep at night. It may also offset your nightly routine and sleep schedule since you won’t get tired until much later.

5. Avoid caffeine. Limit your intake of caffeine. Do not consume any caffeine after mid-afternoon. Its effects can take hours to wear off. You will eventually find that you are getting enough rest and don’t need an extra boost in the morning to wake up.

6. Try natural sleep aids. Melatonin supplements taken near bedtime help the body fall asleep. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone associated with the sleep cycle. Your body starts to produce it when the sun goes down to signal the system that it’s time to sleep. As we age we produce less and less melatonin. Melatonin supplements work best if you take them about 30 minutes before you want to go to sleep, then lie down in a dark room to replicate the natural processes. If you continue to move around in a lighted room they will not be as effective. Melatonin can be purchased rather inexpensively over the counter at most pharmacies.

Kava Kava, Valerian or chamomile tea produce calming effects. A hot bath or a massage is great for warming and relaxing the muscles. This can be particularly helpful for someone who can’t sleep due to stress or anxiety.

7. Avoid sleeping pills. Avoid artificial sleep medications, tranquilizers, or alcohol. Although you may fall asleep, your sleep will not be gentle and natural. You will feel groggy in the morning. Many of these aids produce only light sleep, not the deep, RAM sleep that we need in order for our bodies to repair themselves and to feel rested in the morning. Most tranquilizers and alcohol have a tolerance effect – it takes more and more of the chemical to get the same effect.

8. Get up. If you are unable to get to sleep, get up and do something else until you become tired. Lying in the bed tossing and turning just frustrates you further and reinforces that the bed is for tossing and turning instead of sleeping. If you are troubled by racing thoughts that just won’t stop, get up and do something to keep you occupied until the thoughts subside. They’ll pass much more quickly if you don’t lie in bed worrying about worrying, or worrying about not getting enough sleep.

9. Only use the bedroom for sleep. Try to do other activities in another area of the house so your body learns that the bed is for sleeping and nothing else.

10. Practice yoga, meditation and other quiet practices. Yoga not only calms the mind, but exercises the body so both are ready for a good night’s sleep. Meditation also quiets the mind and slows it down, preparing it for sleep.

11. Try to sleep with the sun. When the sun goes down, so should you. When the sun comes up, so should you. Read #6 above more information about Melatonin production. Your body was made to rise and sleep with the movement of the sun. If you are staying out all night then sleeping until noon to compensate, this may be disturbing nature’s sleep rhythms. (This is why they pay extra for working the graveyard shift. They know how hard it is on you.) This is also another reason to maintain the same sleep pattern on the weekends.

12. Use sound. Sounds strongly affect mood. Soothing music or natural sounds of rain or rhythmic ocean waves can quiet your mind and signal to your body that it is time to sleep. White noise can also be used to drown out street noises, the neighbors, the dripping faucet and other distractions that can annoy or irritate your mind. You don’t have to buy a white noise machine. Turning on a fan, vent or other humming noise can sometimes do the trick.

13. Make sure the bedroom is dark. Use draperies or curtains which darken the room. This further communicates to the body that melatonin production should increase in preparation for sleep.

14. Avoid graphic movies, television shows or video games just before going to bed. If nightmares are a problem, check what you are watching. Computer programmers have an acronym, GIGO, which means “Garbage In, Garbage Out”. I once had a client who was experiencing nightmares every night. We eventually determined that she was watching horror flicks every night before bed. When the horror flicks stopped, so did the nightmares.

Tips:
1. Don’t despair if you have to go sleepy for a couple of days to get back on track. For most people, these steps will work if followed faithfully.

2. Keep a regular schedule, even on weekends. If you do, every day will feel as glorious as “sleeping in” on the weekends.

3. If keeping a regular sleep schedule is not working for you, consult an expert for further assistance. Certain sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, have been associated with depression.

source : http://www.intent.com/blog/2009/04/22/14-sleep-tips-overcoming-insomnia

By Nancy

There are two ways of dealing with this problem. The first and simple one is to make sure that the calories you cut do not come from protein. Digestion of protein triggers new fires in your stomach, and those calories will not leave a lasting impression on the weight scale. The slightly tougher way to step up the metabolism is to step up your exercise. Exercise increases your energy output, calling on stored calories for extra fuel. Recent studies show that not only does exercise increase metabolism during a workout, but it also causes your metabolism to stay increased for a period of time after exercising, allowing you to burn more calories.

source : http://reviewsonnaturalsupplements.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-keep-your-metabolism-from.html

Is your budget on overload?

Do you have more beauty wishes than beauty dollars? Don’t worry. Your bathroom just may already have that beauty item that you’re wanting. Here’s how to get that sophisticated look on a slim budget.
Makeup does double duty:
One of the best ways to get a new makeup item is to go through the stuff you already have. Just what are you looking for? Items that can live double lives…

• Need a new foundation? Look at your loose powders instead. Just apply in sheer layers with a damp sponge, or a sponge lightly layered in your favorite facial moisturizer. Lightly layer on and blend for a custom made foundation.
• Used to spritzing you makeup with a final spray of Evian water? Make your own. Find a mini plant mister bottle, or travel size spray water and fill with water. Chill in the refrigerator overnight for a cooling effect.
• Need a new bronzer? Use that foundation that’s 2-3 shades darker than you are instead. Just touch apply where you would use your bronzer. In a pinch? Dig out that warm brown eye shadow.
• Dying to get that latest eyeshadow base? Use your concealer and loose powder. Because that’s exactly what eyeshadow base is.. use your foundation to evenly apply over your eyelids and set with a touch of loose powder pressed on with a makeup sponge. Then apply your colored eye shadow.
• Need to buy a new lipstick pencil to match that new lipstick? Don’t. Just look for a beige or nude eyebrow pencil.
• Need to match your favorite blush with a new lipstick? You already have it in your blush. Just apply your blush on your lips with a eyeshadow sponge applicator, and then use your favorite clear lip gloss or lip balm over it.
• Don’t spend $$$ on that expensive eye makeup remover. Just find a pretty glass bottle and fill with virgin olive oil, or in a pinch, baby shampoo. There’s a reason they say ‘no tears’.
• Makeup kits can range in the hundreds of dollars, so instead, simplify. Looking to store your lipsticks? Try the drugstore to find pill boxes. Available in 7 or as much as 30 slots, just fill with your favorite lipsticks by cracking in your lip colors with a popsicle stick.

Is your favorite makeup item just not working anymore? Don’t go out and buy a new one. Just customize the one you already have like the pros do.

Foundation: Too thick? Thin with a few drops of mineral water or toner. Too oily? De-grease with a few drops of witch hazel. Too dark? Lighten up with a few scrapes of light pressed powder. Too dull? Lighten with a few scrapes of a pearly peach or pink blush. Need a glow? Scrape in a pearly powder highlighter, or a few drops of liquid highlighter. Want to turn your favorite foundation into a tinted foundation? In a separate plastic bottle, mix your foundation 1/2 and 1/2 with bronzer, or self-tanner. Or, mix a darker shade 1/2 and 1/2 with your sunscreen. Shake, and instant tinted foundation.
Concealer: Too thick or dry? Revitalize with a drop of foundation or eye cream. Mix into the container, or apply first one, then the other.
Blush: Too dark? Tap your blush brush into your pressed powder or baby powder first, then your color. Apply for shades lighter blush. Too light? Tap into your bronzer shade first. Too muddy? Use instead as eye shadow.
Eye Shadow: Cream shadow dry out? Put a few drops of water or olive or mineral oil.
Lipstick: Need a lip stain? Rescue that old wine colored blush from years gone by and apply with a Q-top on dry lips. Apply your favorite Chapstick on top. Need a whole new color? Have 2 lipsticks down to the end of the tubes? Don’t worry. Just dig out the remaining 1/2″ of lipstick in the bottom of the tubes and mix into a metal or plastic container. A brand new shade. Hint: Mix two shades together in the same color family for a painless mix

The muscles of the back support it much like a tent pole that is supported by ropes. Any slackening in the ropes and the pole tilts. Our lifestyle also plays a detrimental role resulting in many young people suffering from low back pain. Prolonged periods of working with the computers at the workplace, incorrect postures, lack of physical exercises, long hours spent in driving – all these factors contribute to backaches. Here are a few ways to keep backaches away.

• Always keep your back strong. Regular exercises for muscles of abdomen and back are important. Swimming is an excellent way to keep fit. Gym exercises and sutiable yogasanas under supervision are also effective.
• Posture is important. Do not maintain stressful postures for long, like sitting with a stoop or standing for long in a twisted position. Let slouching while sitting and stooping while standing not become a habit with you. Habitual bad posture can weaken the supporting muscles. Remember straight erect postures are the best.
• The type of shoes you wear can also affect your posture. High heels may put more stress on your lower back by changing your posture. You might find it more comfortable to wear low or flat heels.
• Never twist around to pick up anything. Stand up and turn and then pick it up. Your back does not have any springs. Hence avoid sudden and abrupt movements of the body.
• While bending down to lift an object, bend with your knees instead of your back. Hold the object close to you. Straighten your legs to lift the object.
• Lifting very heavy weights are likely to injure the back and it must never be carried out while bending over the weight. Seek help from others to lift heavier objects.
• Your bed should be firm and hard bed with a board underneath and 2-3 inch mattress over it. It should support the spine while you sleep. Beds which sag in the middle or the softer ones can cause back pain quickly. If you take a pillow, then take a thin one.
• How long you sit, where you sit and how you sit make a substantial difference in your risk for backache. Avoid chairs that abuse the back. Use chairs which do not slant much and which have a firm back support. Use footstools also.
• Take short breaks if your work requires long hours of sitting. Stand up and stretch.
• In tense situations, spare a thought for your back, check your posture. A hunched posture and tense muscles at the nape of your neck is sure to finally lead to aches and pains. So relax, take a break.

source : http://myblogonbeauty.blogspot.com/2006/11/keep-backaches-away-with-these-tips.html

By Bill Mansell