How to Lose Weight Fast: 3 Simple Steps, Based on Science

How to Lose Weight Fast: 3 Simple Steps, Based on Science

There are many ways to lose a lot of weight fast.

However, most of them will make you hungry and unsatisfied.

If you don’t have iron willpower, then hunger will cause you to give up on these plans quickly.

The plan outlined here will:

• Reduce your appetite significantly.
• Make you lose weight quickly, without hunger.
• Improve your metabolic health at the same time.

Here is a simple 3-step plan to lose weight fast.

1. Cut Back on Sugars and Starches

The most important part is to cut back on sugars and starches (carbs).

These are the foods that stimulate secretion of insulin the most. If you didn’t know already, insulin is the main fat storage hormone in the body.

When insulin goes down, fat has an easier time getting out of the fat stores and the body starts burning fats instead of carbs.

Another benefit of lowering insulin is that your kidneys shed excess sodium and water out of your body, which reduces bloat and unnecessary water weight.

It is not uncommon to lose up to 10 pounds (sometimes more) in the first week of eating this way, both body fat and water weight.

This is a graph from a study comparing low-carb and low-fat diets in overweight/obese women.

The low-carb group is eating until fullness, while the low-fat group is calorie restricted and hungry.

Cut the carbs, lower your insulin and you will start to eat less calories automatically and without hunger.

Put simply, lowering your insulin puts fat loss on “autopilot.”

Bottom Line: Removing sugars and starches (carbs) from your diet will lower your insulin levels, kill your appetite and make you lose weight without hunger.

2. Eat Protein, Fat and Vegetables

Each one of your meals should include a protein source, a fat source and low-carb vegetables. Constructing your meals in this way will automatically bring your carb intake into the recommended range of 20-50 grams per day.

Protein Sources:

• Meat – Beef, chicken, pork, lamb, bacon, etc.
• Fish and Seafood – Salmon, trout, shrimps, lobsters, etc.
• Eggs – Omega-3 enriched or pastured eggs are best.

The importance of eating plenty of protein can not be overstated.

This has been shown to boost metabolism by 80 to 100 calories per day.

High protein diets can also reduce obsessive thoughts about food by 60%, reduce desire for late-night snacking by half, and make you so full that you automatically eat 441 fewer calories per day… just by adding protein to your diet.

When it comes to losing weight, protein is the king of nutrients. Period.

Low-Carb Vegetables:

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Spinach
• Kale
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Swiss Chard
• Lettuce
• Cucumber
• Celery
• Full list here.

Don’t be afraid to load your plate with these low-carb vegetables. You can eat massive amounts of them without going over 20-50 net carbs per day.

A diet based on meat and vegetables contains all the fiber, vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy. There is no physiological need for grains in the diet.

Fat Sources:

• Olive oil
• Coconut oil
• Avocado oil
• Butter
• Tallow

Eat 2-3 meals per day. If you find yourself hungry in the afternoon, add a 4th meal.

Don’t be afraid of eating fat, trying to do both low-carb AND low-fat at the same time is a recipe for failure. It will make you feel miserable and abandon the plan.

The best cooking fat to use is coconut oil. It is rich in fats called Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). These fats are more fulfilling than others and can boost metabolism slightly .

There is no reason to fear these natural fats, new studies show that saturated fat doesn’t raise your heart disease risk at all.

To see how you can assemble your meals, check out this low carb meal plan and this list of low carb recipes.

Bottom Line: Assemble each meal out of a protein source, a fat source and a low-carb vegetable. This will put you into the 20-50 gram carb range and drastically lower your insulin levels.

3. Lift Weights 3 Times Per Week

You don’t need to exercise to lose weight on this plan, but it is recommended.

The best option is to go to the gym 3-4 times a week. Do a warm up, lift weights, then stretch.

If you’re new to the gym, ask a trainer for some advice.

By lifting weights, you will burn a few calories and prevent your metabolism from slowing down, which is a common side effect of losing weight.

Studies on low-carb diets show that you can even gain a bit of muscle while losing significant amounts of body fat.

If lifting weights is not an option for you, then doing some easier cardio workouts like running, jogging, swimming or walking will suffice.

Bottom Line: It is best to do some sort of resistance training like weight lifting. If that is not an option, cardio workouts work too.

Optional – Do a “Carb Re-feed” Once Per Week

You can take one day “off” per week where you eat more carbs. Many people prefer Saturday.

It is important to try to stick to healthier carb sources like oats, rice, quinoa, potatoes, sweet potatoes, fruits, etc.

But only this one higher carb day, if you start doing it more often than once per week then you’re not going to see much success on this plan.

If you must have a cheat meal and eat something unhealthy, then do it on this day.

Be aware that cheat meals or carb refeeds are NOT necessary, but they can up-regulate some fat burning hormones like leptin and thyroid hormones.

You will gain some weight during your re-feed day, but most of it will be water weight and you will lose it again in the next 1-2 days.

Bottom Line: Having one day of the week where you eat more carbs is perfectly acceptable, although not necessary.

What About Calories and Portion Control?

It is NOT necessary to count calories as long as you keep the carbs very low and stick to protein, fat and low-carb vegetables.

However, if you really want to, then use this calculator.

Enter your details, then pick the number from either the “Lose Weight” or the “Lose Weight Fast” section – depending on how fast you want to lose.

There are many great tools you can use to track the amount of calories you are eating. Here is a list of 5 calorie counters that are free and easy to use.

The main goal is to keep carbs under 20-50 grams per day and get the rest of your calories from protein and fat.

Bottom Line: It is not necessary to count calories to lose weight on this plan. It is most important to strictly keep your carbs in the 20-50 gram range.

10 Weight Loss Tips to Make Things Easier (and Faster)

Here are 10 more tips to lose weight even faster:

1. Eat a high-protein breakfast. Eating a high-protein breakfast has been shown to reduce cravings and calorie intake throughout the day.
2. Avoid sugary drinks and fruit juice. These are the most fattening things you can put into your body, and avoiding them can help you lose weight.
3. Drink water a half hour before meals. One study showed that drinking water a half hour before meals increased weight loss by 44% over 3 months.
4. Choose weight loss-friendly foods (see list). Certain foods are very useful for losing fat. Here is a list of the 20 most weight loss-friendly foods on earth.
5. Eat soluble fiber. Studies show that soluble fibers may reduce fat, especially in the belly area. Fiber supplements like glucomannan can also help.
6. Drink coffee or tea. If you’re a coffee or a tea drinker, then drink as much as you want as the caffeine in them can boost your metabolism by 3-11%.
7. Eat mostly whole, unprocessed foods. Base most of your diet on whole foods. They are healthier, more filling and much less likely to cause overeating.
8. Eat your food slowly. Fast eaters gain more weight over time. Eating slowly makes you feel more full and boosts weight-reducing hormones.
9. Use smaller plates. Studies show that people automatically eat less when they use smaller plates. Strange, but it works.
10. Get a good night’s sleep, every night. Poor sleep is one of the strongest risk factors for weight gain, so taking care of your sleep is important.

Even more tips here: 30 Easy Ways to Lose Weight Naturally (Backed by Science).

Bottom Line: It is most important to stick to the three rules, but there are a few other things you can do to speed things up.

How Fast You Will Lose (and Other Benefits)

You can expect to lose 5-10 pounds of weight (sometimes more) in the first week, then consistent weight loss after that.

I can personally lose 3-4 lbs per week for a few weeks when I do this strictly.

If you’re new to dieting, then things will probably happen quickly. The more weight you have to lose, the faster you will lose it.

For the first few days, you might feel a bit strange. Your body has been burning carbs for all these years, it can take time for it to get used to burning fat instead.

It is called the “low carb flu” and is usually over within a few days. For me it takes 3. Adding some sodium to your diet can help with this, such as dissolving a bouillon cube in a cup of hot water and drinking it.

After that, most people report feeling very good, positive and energetic. At this point you will officially have become a “fat burning beast.”

Despite the decades of anti-fat hysteria, the low-carb diet also improves your health in many other ways:

• Blood Sugar tends to go way down on low-carb diets.
• Triglycerides tend to go down.
• Small, dense LDL (the bad) Cholesterol goes down .
• HDL (the good) cholesterol goes up.
• Blood pressure improves significantly.
• To top it all off, low-carb diets appear to be easier to follow than low-fat diets.

Bottom Line: You can expect to lose a lot of weight, but it depends on the person how quickly it will happen. Low-carb diets also improve your health in many other ways.

You Don’t Need to Starve Yourself to Lose Weight

If you have a medical condition then talk to your doctor before making changes because this plan can reduce your need for medication.

By reducing carbs and lowering insulin levels, you change the hormonal environment and make your body and brain “want” to lose weight.

This leads to drastically reduced appetite and hunger, eliminating the main reason that most people fail with conventional weight loss methods.

This is proven to make you lose about 2-3 times as much weight as a typical low-fat, calorie restricted diet.

Another great benefit for the impatient folks is that the initial drop in water weight can lead to a big difference on the scale as early as the next morning.

Here are a few examples of low-carb meals that are simple, delicious and can be prepared in under 10 minutes: 7 Healthy Low-Carb Meals in 10 Minutes or Less.

On this plan, you can eat good food until fullness and still lose a ton of fat. Welcome to paradise.

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What You Need To Know About Skin Care

By Ana IliescuI hope we all agree that beauty starts with a beautiful skin. Personally, I believe that skin is our ultimate accessory: it allows us to display physical health, well-being and utter beauty. Who needs make-up when you have a gorgeous, radiant derma? Sadly, some women tend to neglect skin care. Make-up, as exhilarating as it is, can't do its wonders unless it is applied on a clean surface. Therefore, what do you need to do in order to have your skin reflect your inner beauty and send forth that beautiful shine we all long for?

1. Tend to your pores. This piece of advice is addressed especially to those of you who have oily skin. Pores can become dilated around your nose under the effect of heat, sunlight or excessive sebum. Also, dilated pores usually come hand in hand with black spots. Thus, make a weekly ritual out of eliminating black spots using a dark spot remover, and another one out of thoroughly cleaning your pores using a cleanser with salycilic acid. A home-made option would be a solution made out of vinegar and aspirin pills - astringent and anti-acne.

2. Never go to bed without removing your make-up. Leftover make-up can age the skin immensely over a period of time. Use make-up remover and cleanser, toner and moisturizer. If you feel you don't have time for the entire ritual, you can replace the toner and cleanser with thermal water. In combination with natural sebum, thermal water eliminates close to all skin impurities.

3. Sleep and have a balanced diet. A minimum of 8 hours of sleep per day is required if you want your skin to look great ("beauty sleep"). If you can't seem to let go of watching late-night movies or chatting on Yahoo Messenger until 4 a.m think of the gorgeous dark circles you'll have around your eyes the next day. Speaking of eyes, always be extra-tender with the area surrounding them and apply some cucumber on it from time to time. Your diet should include vegetables rich in water (cucumber, spinach, broccoli) and fruits. Avoid saturated fats if you want to stay away from break-outs.

4. Don't smoke and don't drink. I'm sure you know how alcohol can affect your body over an extended period of time - stay away from it. Smoking can create dark spots on the skin and because of the facial gesture associated with inhaling the smoke, premature wrinkles can appear around the mouth area. In addition to the damage it does to your general health, smoking also makes your skin have an unpleasant scent.

There you have it - useful info about skin care. Remember to drink 8 glasses of water a day and go for a jog once in a while!


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ana_Iliescu

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Treating Fungal Nail Infection

You may not need any treatment if your fungal nail infection is mild. However, if you do not treat the infection, there is a chance it will spread to other nails.

Serious fungal nail infections need to be treated. The main treatments are:

• Anti fungal tablets

• Anti fungal nail paints

Your pharmacist or GP will advise you whether you need treatment, and if so, which type you need.

Anti Fungal Tablets

Taking anti fungal medication in the form of tablets means that the treatment reaches your nail via your bloodstream.

The two medicines most commonly prescribed for fungal nail infection are terbinafine and itraconazole.

These can be very effective in the treatment of fungal infections. However, you may have to take the tablets for several months to ensure that the infection has completely gone. Stopping the medication too early can mean that the infection comes back.

An advantage of the anti fungal tablets is that they will clear any associated fungal skin infections, such as athlete's foot, at the same time.

However, some people prefer not to treat the infection with medication as side effects can sometimes include:

• headache
• itching
• loss of sense of taste
• nausea
• diarrhoea

Anti fungal nail paint

If you prefer not to take anti fungal tablets, your GP may suggest you try anti fungal nail paint instead.

Nail paint is not considered as effective as the tablets because it has to be painted onto the infected nail and work its way through to the infection. It can be difficult to reach all of the infection.

A fingernail can need around six months of treatment, and a toenail up to twelve months.

Foot care during your treatment

During your treatment, you should start to see a new healthy nail begin to grow from the base of the nail bed  This is a sign that the treatment is working. The old infected nail should begin to grow out and can be clipped away over a few months.

Speak to your GP if you do not begin to see a new nail growing after taking your treatment for two to three weeks. Keep using the treatment until your GP says it is ok to stop. If you stop the treatment too early, the infection could return.

Foot care tips

During and after your treatment, there are a few steps you can take to help keep the infection at bay, listed below.

• Keep your feet cool and dry and wear shoes and socks that allow your feet  to breathe. Wear clean cotton socks and avoid wearing trainers.
• Treat athlete's foot with anti fungal medicine as soon as possible to avoid spreading the infection to your nails.
• Clip your nails to keep them short.
• Use a separate pair of clippers or scissors to cut the infected nail, to avoid spreading the infection to other nails.
• Wear well-fitting shoes, without high heels or narrow toes.
• Maintain good foot hygiene.
• Wear clean shower shoes when using a communal shower.
• Consider seeking treatment from a podiatrist if thickened toenails cause discomfort when walking.
• Consider replacing old footwear, as this could be contaminated with fungal spores.

Article Source: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Fungal-nail-infection/Pages/Treatment.aspx

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How to Care for Your Feet and Toenails

Your feet are two of the most abused often used parts of the body, what with all the walking and running that you do everyday. This being said, you should make sure to give your feet the attention and care they deserve every so often. Taking good care of your feet will prevent you from getting foot conditions such as Athlete's foot or other fungal infections. No matter what the season is, it is always important to keep your feet and toenails in tip-top condition. During the hotter months, for example, your feet are constantly visible due to footwear choices such as sandals and slippers, so it would be a good idea to keep them looking fabulous and presentable. But even during the winter months when you feet are bundled up in socks and boots, it would still be advisable to take extra measures in keeping your feet well-cared for. Some of these feet and toenail care tips are applicable not only to women, but to men as well. Don't overlook the advantages of having nice-looking and cared-for feet

Here are some useful steps in taking care of your feet and toenails, which will get you to putting your best feet forward -- literally -- in no time.

STEPS

1) Make sure to wash your feet daily. With all the running about from place to place that most people do everyday, the feet would have been exposed to a lot of dust and dirt by the end of the day. If you take showers in the morning and not at night, at least make feet-washing a part of your nightly routine when you get home. Lather up with soap, and pay extra attention to the spaces in between the toes. Wipe the feet gently with a towel afterward. Aside from being a mark of good hygiene, doing this would also ensure that you do not step onto your bed with dirty feet, and thus prevent from bringing dirt to your place of rest and relaxation.

2) Give your feet a pedicure every two weeks. Painting them does not necessarily have to be part of every pedicure routine, but regular pedicures really make a difference in keeping your feet soft and free from dry and rough skin, and your toenails clean and neat. You don't need to spend a lot of cash to have your pedicure professionally done in a salon, and with a few tools, you can do your own pedicure right in the comforts of your own home. Here's how to do one:

• Soak your feet for about 5-10 minutes in a large bowl with lukewarm water. As an added treat, you may also wish to infuse the water with a few drops of essential oils or Dead Sea salts, to keep the feet smelling good and to soften hard skin respectively. The soaking time indicated here is merely just a suggestion -- you may choose to soak your feet for much longer if you want to relax, or if the hardened skin on your feet need extra hydration.

• Exfoliate your feet with a foot scrub to slough off dry and dead skin, and to moisturize your feet as well. Massage the scrub in circular motions, and rinse off afterward. To exfoliate the hardened skin on the heels and bottom part of the feet, use a foot file or a pumice stone. Make sure to use a gentle filing motion, and to never rub too hard.

• Cut your toenails straight across, as opposed to a curved shape, to prevent ingrown toenails from occurring. If you would really prefer a rounded shape instead of a straight square, use a nail file to smooth-en the ridges and to give the edges a bit of a curve, so you would end up with a square shape with rounded edges. Ensure that the nails are cut and filed to just the right length -- short, but not too much that you end up hurting yourself.

• Remember to include your cuticles too. Apply cuticle oil to your toenails to soften and moisturize the hardened edges, and push the cuticles back with an orange-wood stick to create a smooth, open area ready for your polish. Make sure that you do not push too hard, or you might risk cutting the

3) If desired, apply polish to your toenails. Do this after you have done your pedicure, so that you have a smooth, clean base for the polish to go on to.

• Before painting, clean the nail plates by wiping over them with nail polish remover. This removes excess oils as well as old polish from the nails, so your new colour will go on smoothly and last well.

• Use toe separators to keep your toes apart. This makes the process of painting easier, and prevents a freshly painted toenail from staining another toe.

• Always use a base-coat - a clear layer of polish - under your colour to prevent staining and to ensure your polish goes on smoothly.

• Using the nail color of your choice, apply the polish to your toenails. Try to follow the "three stroke method", which consists of using one stroke on each side and a stroke in the middle. This ensures that the polish is evenly applied on the whole nail. Apply two coats of polish to your toenails.

• After around 10 minutes, use a topcoat to achieve the smoothest, longest lasting results and a high-shine finish.

• For fall, choose browns, oranges, and reds. Dark green also looks good.

• For winter, try not to go too festive. For December, either go with red or dark green, but not both. Other colours for winter include dark blue and white. You can really use any colour though because your feet are not seen a lot.

• For spring, bring out the pastel colours Soft greens, pinks, purples, and blues are a great touch!

• For summer, use bright natural colours Other colours that work are light blue, turquoise, yellow, and white. If you have naturally fair skin and like to tan, coral accentuates it nicely.

• If you can't decide on a colour, remember that a French polish (nude or pale pink polish with white tips) suits everyone and goes with all colours of clothing and skin. But feel free to be bold with toenail colours -- on the fingernails, some colours can look garish and tacky, but on the toenails, pretty much anything goes!

5) Moisturize your feet everyday. Put lotion or foot cream on as a part of your routine. One way to achieve soft, moisturized feet is to rub on some lotion or petroleum jelly before bed, and slip on some socks. When you wake up in the morning, you'll find that your feet are very soft and are free from dryness! Just remember to never let the area between toes become over-moisturized, as this will cause fungus. 

TIPS

• Always use an acetone-free nail polish remover, as acetone can dry the nails and the skin/cuticles.

• If you don't have toenail separators for when applying nail polish, you may also use twisted tissue paper woven between the toes.

• Use the tips of an orangewood stick wrapped in cotton and soaked in nail polish remover to help clean up small spills and polish "bleed" around the cuticle or on the skin around your toes.

• When your healthy, glamorous feet are ready for the summer, show them off in some beautiful flip-flops, or cool sandals in a colour you like.

• You can learn a lot from the professionals, so treat yourself to a pro pedicure when you 'need' it -- and ask questions and pay attention!

Warning

If you have diabetes, take extra care when exfoliating, cutting your toenails or when pushing back your cuticles during a pedicure. Make sure that you do not injure yourself to prevent the risk of any infection.

Things You'll Need

• Large bowl
• Towel
• Essential oils
• Dead Sea salt
• Foot scrub
• Foot file or pumice stone
• Nail clipper
• Nail file
• Cuticle oil
• Orangewood stick
• Cotton balls
• Nail polish remover
• Nail polish colour of your choice, basecoat, and topcoat
• Foot cream, lotion or petroleum jelly

Article Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Your-Feet-and-Toenails

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Treat Your Feet to Some TLC with Ayurveda

BY: Shreelata Suresh

Our feet are often the least pampered parts of our bodies. Here are some suggestions from ayurveda, the ancient science of healing from India, for taking care of your feet on a regular basis:

1. During your pre-bath ayurvedic massage (abhyanga), pay special attention to your feet. Massage the feet, each toe, the ankles, the heels and the soles in turn with the warm oil, gently stretching the feet and toes as you massage them and using circular motions around your ankles and heels. (Pat excess oil off your soles with paper towels before you step into the bath or shower and watch your step because oil can be slippery). This daily foot massage enhances lubrication and circulation, and helps draw toxins to the surface for release. Using massage oil that has been fortified with nourishing ayurvedic herbs provides added support to help keep your feet strong and flexible.

2. During your bath or shower, let your feet enjoy warm water for a few minutes, then cleanse with a gentle, non-irritating cleanser and a footbrush or washcloth, working between the toes and scrubbing the heels to slough off dead skin. Use a neem based cleanser to help rid feet of odor or bacteria. After your bath or shower, pat your feet dry and apply a moisturizing body lotion if you use one anyway, otherwise massage a little plain shea butter or coconut oil on your feet before slipping on a pair of cotton socks.

3. Once a week, apply a natural exfoliating mixture on your feet, especially on the heels and soles, when you cleanse, to remove hardened dead skin. Make your own exfoliating mixture of 2 parts coarse oatmeal, 2 parts chickpea flour (available at Indian grocery stores) and 1 part rose water. Add warm water as needed to form a thick paste. Apply on your feet and scrub gently, then rinse off with warm water. Pat dry and follow with an application of coconut oil, shea butter or natural body lotion.

4. Follow basic rules of comfort. Wear footwear that fits properly and is roomy enough so that no part of your foot feels pinched. Do not wear high heels except when you absolutely have to. Replace shoes before they wear out or become lopsided with use. Wear cotton socks indoors to protect your feet from the cold. When the temperature is comfortable and you are indoors, walk barefoot occasionally to allow your feet to breathe. Sit, stand and walk with an erect posture. If you work at a sedentary job, take breaks every hour or so and walk around a little. Use a footsie roller at your workstation.

5. A nightly foot and lower leg massage not only relaxes the feet, it also helps promote restful sleep. Use a light, non staining oil such as almond or jojoba, and if you like, you can add 4-5 drops of a relaxing essential oil such as lavender or sandalwood to every 2 oz. of base oil. Take a very small amount of oil, just enough to offer lubrication, in your palm and gently massage your lower legs and feet for 3-4 minutes each until the oil is absorbed by your skin. Use soothing strokes and breathe deeply as you massage. No need to wash the oil off--you can go to bed as soon as you are done.

6. For tired, stressed feet, try a foot soak. Either of the following two recipes will have you sighing, "Ah, this is bliss," as you soak the tension away.

Herbal foot soak:

1/4 cup lavender flowers

1/4 cup lemon peel

1 tablespoon dried rosemary

2 tablespoons fine oatmeal

2 tablespoons almond meal

Wrap the ingredients in a cheesecloth and tie with a string. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Drop the herb sachet in and turn off the heat. Let steep for 15-20 minutes. Combine the herbed water with enough comfortably warm water to immerse your feet up to your ankles, and soak your feet for about 15 minutes. Stay relaxed as you soak, either just sitting in silence and breathing deeply or hearing relaxing instrumental melodies. Pat you feet dry and rub on some lotion or shea butter.

Aromatherapy foot soak:

1/4 cup sea salts

1 tbsp Epsom salts

1 tsp baking soda

2 drops essential oil of lemon

2 drops essential oil of sandalwood

2 drops essential oil of coriander

Combine well all of the above in enough comfortably warm water (about 2 quarts) in a foot basin or bath-tub to immerse your feet up to your ankles. Soak your feet in the mix for about 15 minutes. Stay relaxed as you soak. After you're done, pat your feet dry and apply some moisturizing lotion or shea butter. Mmmm!

7. If your feet tend to perspire a lot or to help your feet stay fresh in warm weather, dust them lightly with the following natural powder:

1/2 cup arrowroot

1/2 cup cornstarch

1 tsp baking powder

2 drops essential oil of peppermint

2 drops essential oil of lemon

Pass the dry ingredients through a sieve two or three times to mix well. Add the essential oils to the mix, stir well, and sieve again. Store in a dry container.

Notes:

1. If you have any medical condition, please consult your health professional for proper care. Foot soaks, Epsom salts and essential oils, for example, are not recommended in certain conditions.

2. Exercise proper care when using salts and essential oils.

Disclaimer: The above article is educational in nature, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult your physician.

Article Source: http://www.pioneerthinking.com/ss_feet.html

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Care for Feet Every Step Of The Way

Foot Care Tips Help Prevent Complications of Diabetes

(ARA) - With winter just a few weeks away many people are starting to feel the itchy effects of dry skin, but for people with diabetes, dry skin is not simply a minor annoyance -- it may lead to more serious complications if not properly treated.

Severe dry skin may result in deep and painful cracks in the skin's surface, especially in the feet.

Approximately 60 percent of people with diabetes suffer from a complication called neuropathy, or nerve damage, and may not be able to feel those painful cracks on the soles of their feet. Left untreated, wounds may become infected and create greater complications.

More than 16 million Americans have diabetes, and each year more than 86,000 of them have amputations resulting from foot ulcers or chronic wounds, many of which begin as a small cut or blister.

Doctors estimate that nearly 50 percent of amputations may have been prevented through a combination of awareness, prevention and intervention.

"People with diabetes have the opportunity to significantly improve their condition by taking proactive measures to care for themselves," says Dr. Maria G. Dill, regional medical director for Curative Health Services and medical director at the Valley Baptist Wound Care Center in Harlingen, Texas. "Simple steps can be taken to prevent complications from arising."

The following preventive measures may help people avoid or minimize the severity of injuries, sores and infections to their feet:

Never walk barefoot.

Check feet every day for injury.

Wash feet daily in warm, soapy water.

Moisturize the soles of feet with unscented lotion immediately after bathing.

Avoid scented lotions, as they contain alcohol that may dry the feet.

Check shoes to make sure they are free of stones and sharp or lumpy objects, like a child's toy.

Wear loose socks in bed if feet are cold -- do not use hot water or heating pads to warm cold feet.

Make regular visits to a podiatrist.

Without proper treatment, injuries caused by neuropathy may become serious wound problems, resulting in chronic infections, gangrene and possibly amputation. More than 6 million people in the United States suffer from chronic wounds, which are commonly defined as wounds that show little or no improvement after four weeks of best practices, or do not progress toward healing in eight weeks. Curative Health Services (Nasdaq: CURE) operates a national network of more than 100 Wound Care Centers(R), which follow an interdisciplinary approach when treating patients suffering from chronic wounds. Nutrition, wound prevention, and education play key roles in all treatment plans. The program has healed more patients with chronic wounds than any other wound specialty program, and consistently averages a 90 percent patient satisfaction rate throughout the nation.

If non-healing foot ulcers occur, consult with a physician. For more information about foot care tips for people with diabetes or treatment for non-healing wounds, call the nearest Wound Care Center at (800) 991-HEAL (4325).

Article Source: http://www.pioneerthinking.com/ara-footcare.html

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