IS MASSAGE A PART OF YOUR LIFESTYLE?

IS MASSAGE A PART OF YOUR LIFESTYLE AND HEALTH REGIMEN?

For the majority of Brits, the quick answer to this is "NO".

Unlike other countries, where massage is viewed as an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, the UK lags behind in its attitude towards this beneficial therapy.  Too often it is looked upon as something dodgy, sexual or a pampering treat.  If your view happens to be one of those, you are missing out on so many good things in your life that regular massage could bring to it, benefits such as improved moods, boosted metabolism and immune system.




Whether you need to benefit from relaxation, a reduction in muscle tension or to attain relief from a chronic, painful condition, a therapeutic massage can enhance an individuals overall sense of well being both emotional & physical, improving the quality of life.

Massage is for all ages, benefits the ill, the injured and the stressed, below is a chart of a variety of conditions that benefit from this therapy

 

Anxiety and depression	Asthma and Emphysema
Back, leg, and neck pain	Cancer
Carpal tunnel syndrome (repetitive strain)	Chronic Fatigue syndrome
Dislocations	Fibromyalgia
Fractures and edema	Gastrointestinal disorders
Headaches	Inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and bursitis
Insomnia	Kyphosis and Scoliosis
Multiple sclerosis	Parkinson’s disease
Muscle tension and spasm	Palliative care
Post-surgical rehabilitation	Pregnancy and labour support
Sports injuries	Strains and sprains
Stress and stress related conditions	Stroke
Tendinitis	Whiplash

Massage should be an essential part of your health plan, regardless of if you are an active person or sedentary, by providing the body with the following health benefits;

• pain reduction or elimination, improvement of joint mobility, reduction of muscle tension.  Muscle tissue is very clever, it can adapt to injuries to continue to function though at a reduced capacity.  How many of us get a niggly twinge in area where we had an issue months, even years before. This is because when your injury was healing, scar tissue & damaging adhesions formed, both of which reduce performance, flexibilty and produce discomfort and pain.  Massage can help break down adhesions and scar tissue thereby increasing flexibility, increasing strength due to the increase of oxygen through improved blood flow to the area.

• increased circulation, boost to the flow of lymphatic vessels lead to an improvement of your immune system, so you look and feel healthier due to the amount of toxins within the body being flushed out of the system.

• reduction in stress levels, anxiety and feelings of depression by acting upon the levels of the stress hormone cortisol.  Cortisol also enables the body to store fat cells in & around the abdomen, allowing fat cells to mature and grow larger.  The enzyme fat cells produce leads to the production of more cortisol that leads to the storage of more fat internally.  Therefore, an indirect benefit of regular massage, could be a reduction of fat cells/weight due to the treatment acting on the cortisol levels in the body.  In addition, massage can reduce cellulite by working upon the subcutaneous fat stores.  Massage places your body in a relaxed state that enables the body to reduce stress and in turn take the opportunity to begin repair of neglected parts of itself, for example damaged muscle fibres.

Taking an holistic approach to the body, regular exercise, healthy diet and yes, regular massage treatments allows your body to heal both inside and out, both physically and mentally.  The key strength to massage is as a preventative measure, having a trusted massage therapist in your "healthy corner" to stop conditions occurring before they cause you problems.

Until next week, stay safe

MB

How long do you spend online?

Good morning folks,

HOW LONG DO YOU SPEND ONLINE?



Did you see the news the other day?  The average Brit spends the grand total of 25 hours a week on the internet/mobile device, while this figure rises to 29 hours for those aged 16-24.  For some, this addiction to a digital life has led some people to try and detox, gradually weaning themselves off all things net based.

The internet has revolutionised our lives but this has led to cases of internet addiction.  Like addiction to drink or drugs, cases are being reported of people suffering stress & anxiety when having to be separated from their various devices with more serious cases having to go into therapy to cope with the "coming off" period.  

For some, in order to address any future problems that may arise from going onto the internet too often, there is a tide of people looking to take a fresh look at the role of technology in their lives and taking a digital detox to achieve a better tech-life balance.

Taking time off from internet based activities appears to bring health benefits, such as improved sleep, reduced stress & anxiety, a more productive and happier life.  On the downside, in a report compiled by Ofcom, 16% of the 2500 adults sampled, worried that they were missing out on something by being offline.  

Going on holiday soon?  Many people use their holiday period to take time away from the online world completely so if you are concerned about the amount of time you spend on the net, this might be a good time to try it, especially if wifi is patchy at your resort.  People report feeling more grounded after having their access to the net removed or restricted.  Amongst adults, the use of social media apps such as Facebook, Snapchat and Messenger have surged from 28% in 2014 to 43% in 2016.

Until next week, stay safe

WALK TO GOOD HEALTH

Ok, here's a question for you.....

HOW FAR DO YOU WALK?


Why am I asking?  Well, Britons are being urged to get up off their asses as official data shows that in general, people are walking a third less than 30 years ago to just half a mile a day.  That adds up to 181 miles a year, down 86 miles from 1986!!  Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has gone so far to say that the British public is in danger of grinding too halt.

Small changes to our lifestyles could have dramatic boosts to our health & wellbeing.  Those of you who know me, know that I walk (power mince) everywhere, and if I'm not walking I'm cycling, so imagine my dismay when everyday I see one of my neighbours, who let's be honest, has definitely eaten all the pies on many days, take the car to the shop at the end of the road and back.  5 minutes would all it would take her!  So so sad.

Is it a coincidence that declining levels of activity coincide with increasing levels of obesity, diabetes and dementia? Hmmmmm......  Many people use an activity tracker such as fitbit to record their steps but the simplest thing is this;  make walking a bigger part of your everyday life.  By getting more active, the public can help the NHS by getting fitter and being less prone to avoidable health conditions that require medical intervention.

Researchers are telling us more and more that sitting at a desk all day, taking no exercise increases our risk of an early death by a whopping 60%!!  Even taking a 5 minute break every hour and having a walk round the office will deliver health benefits.

Basically folks, the average Brit has got to get moving.  Maybe the current Pokemon Go craze will get people moving out and about more, especially children, who, for the first time in generations, are in danger of having shorter lives than their parents.  Maybe this game will get the walking habit engrained into them.  Walk to the shops, walk the dog, get off a bus stop earlier than you have to, this is the message that needs to be spread, get out there, get walking, get healthier.



See you next week

Good grief, the sun has been out!

Just a short one this week, as the last 7 days have been pretty hectic with no let up in sight.  Our old sofa and arm chair were taken away last week, totally wrecking walls in the process with scrapes and cracked plaster as we tried to get the wretched things down our narrow landing and stairs.  The replacement isn't very comfy at all(what do we expect it was a freebie and we hadn't seen it in advance) so it was a gamble that we'd like it.  Walls need repainting and furniture needs moving around which is pretty tiring in the heat.  Plus, new furniture arrived from IKEA which has needed assembling so it's been a period of all change.  My aplogies in advance if you book in at the house and I haven't gotten round to cover up where the sofa got stuck and left a grubby paw print behind, I am on the case and it's on a list to be done!

Benefits of Vitamin D

The sun is out!!! Unbelievable isn't it?  How long will it last? C'mon this is the UK, I think we know the answer to that one.  So while it is out, I am going to be out in it as much as possible, with suitable sun protection, so that i can top up my Vitamin D levels.  That's right, you can go out, and get healthier too, as sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D, as it helps our bodies synthesise it internally.



So what are the benefits of this free source of nutrition?  Firstly it helps the absorption of other minerals in the body such as calcium and phosphorus which are vital to bone health.  It also boosts the immune system, enabling us to fight off infection more readily.  Vitamin D may also be good for brain health too as we grow older.

It can help us maintain a healthy body weight, helps us defend against cancerous cells, reduce the risk of female rheumatoid arthritis, reduce the frequency & severity of asthma attacks.

So there are plenty enough reasons to get your flesh out and give yourself a boost!
Until next week, stay safe

MB

Wearable fitness devices? A step too far?

Good morning folks,

Are you a tech nerd or totally oblivious to it all?  Are you interested in having the latest phone model?  Do you swoon at the thought of buying more wearable tech such as an Apple watch, fitbit et al?  Do you use nutrition and activity tracking apps to keep an eye on your health, fitness and nutrition?  Why am I asking? (Just nosey if I'm honest!)  No, I've been reading articles how all of the above tech is coming together and is set to become HUGE over the next decade.  Read on and see if you think this is a good thing (the benefits are clear to see) or ominous as more massive multinational companies get hold of more of our data and lives.

It's a revolution that is happening now in the States and Australia.  Large companies have been giving their employees, as part of their wellness programmes "wearables" to a huge positive response with more set to follow suit.  Unlike us, these countries do not have an NHS so the population, if they can afford it, have to purchase private medical insurance to pay for any treatment.  So what is happening now, these insurers are asking their policy holders to link their devices with them in return for cash incentives, discounts on premiums etc so long as they can access the data relating to health from the device.  (This where I start thinking Orwell's 1984)  Policy holders are then set health goals and if they meet them, then they receive the rewards.  

Although not quite in its infancy, Insurers are starting to engage with their customers more through their devices, offering daily tips, sending them messages that they've been sedentary for too long, offering real time health advice, creating individualised health & fitness plans doing away with the 1 size fits all plans of the past.

Some Insurers are also looking at partnering with top Fitness Club brands to get members to wear wearables and offer incentives.

So what do you think, good idea?  I can see the pros, and how something like the NHS could use this to tackle increasing levels of obesity but is it a step too far?  Giving more of our personal information away?  Will people, who are more sedentary due to some long term medical condition, be discriminated against and face higher premiums?  It'll be interesting if or when this type of thing arrives here and how it will pan out.  Thoughts?

Until next week, stay safe

MB

5 symptoms your body needs help

DOES YOUR BODY NEED HELP? You may or may not know that the liver is the largest internal organ, it's main function is to protect our tissues from damage by filtering out toxins.  Unlike other organs, it has incredible regenerative capabilities. 5 signs your body may be in distress; Abdominal swelling could be a sign of Ascites.  If the liver can't work properly  the body experiences a build up of proteins whilst your tissues accumulate fluids leading to a pot belly.  The liver may also be damaged by cirrhosis.  Swelling may also occur in the ankles, hands & feet, as gravity takes ahold of the excess fluid. There can be many reasons for experiencing symptoms of fatigue & weakness but sometimes they can be due to an accumulation of waste products and low levels of oxygen in the blood. Liver problems can also result in loss of appetite and a drop in weight.  If you also experience flu-like symptoms, these may indicate that you have hepatitis.  Left untreated, the liver becomes increasingly damaged and feelings of pain and nausea will develop. If the liver is under strain, it's functions decrease resulting in a build up of toxins in the bloodstream.  An excess of bilirubin in the blood results in a jaundiced appearance and the colour of your urine changes to a dark brown. Strangely, liver damage can result in changes to your personality.  A build up of toxins can damage the brain.  People experience a lack of concentration, feelings of confusion & cognitive issues.  Toxins also disturb sleep patterns and there can be an increase of forgetfulness. Although we hope we never have to experience problems with our livers, it's always good to be armed with some information whether for ourselves or those around us.  Here are some good foods to help protect our livers   Until next week, stay safe MB

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Are you too sensitive? Sensitive skin

Do you or anyone you know suffer with a sensitive skin?  The last few years I've noticed that mine has definitely gotten worse, with certain foods, climates and indeed a long period experiencing certain emotions causing my skin to explode in a plethora of angry lumps & bumps, tightness and flakiness, not good when of the treatments you offer is a facial for healthier looking skin, not much of an advert am I?

It's hard to determine exactly how to treat the issue.  Professional advice openly contradicts itself as in reality no 2 complexions are ever the same.  Products claiming to aid the condition may in fact do just the opposite.  The condition is on the increase and can only be due to our lifestyles as genetics cannot change that quickly to be the cause..

The signs of a sensitive skin I stated earlier may be attributed to the skin's protective layer not functioning properly.  This barrier is made up of naturally occurring oils in the skin secreted by the sebaceous glands.  So, if these are not producing enough oil, the barrier is ineffectual.  When these glands over produce, this can be a cause of severe acne & breakouts.

Causes can be stress, fluctuating temperatures in the environment or at home (central heating kills me in the winter), age (declining hormones can affect the amount of oil the skin produces), diet, fragrances, using harsh cleansers.

Finding the correct moisturiser is vital to help replenish a sensitive skin in order to supplement the weakened protective barrier but to do that can be a risky and indeed, expensive undertaking.  This is where you have to start playing detective examining ingredients for anything drying, synthetic or overly harsh.  For years Olay loved me, now I'm thinking it's wanting a divorce so I'm going to have to start looking for something new.

Here is a checklist of ingredients we should be considering to help a sensitive skin;NB these are just a selection of helpful ingredients.

• products with essential fatty acids and Rosehip or Blackcurrant repair barrier function and reduce redness
• products with camomile, calendula or lavender
• products labelled hypoallergenic
• cucumber extract, silk proteins, shea butter or corn flower
• aloe and bladderwrack(seaweed), vitamins A & E

Moisturise at least once a day, ideally twice, exfoliate yes but only weekly and with a NON granular product so as to avoid irritating the skin too much.

I shall be looking through the Neal's Yard range for a suitable replacement for my Olay.  Clicking the image will take you to the online store.  Feel free to have a poke around in there and see if anything catches your fancy.  It's not pleasant having a sensitive complexion but if you wish to join me finding a suitable product, please feedback to me, I'm always open  to your views.

Until next week, stay safe

MB