Top Health Articles

Please note: these pieces are all my original creations. If quoting any part of them, no matter how small, you're required to provide a link to this blog. Click on the heading of any of the following to go to the individual articles.

Relieve Stress and Anxiety: Easy Steps That Work 

The following is based on my recent research and personal findings of relieving stress and anxiety. I had collapsed after being extremely unwell for weeks, when my three kids became overcome with bacterial infections - which meant they had to stay home from school and be cared for. Added to this, we were smack bang in the middle of a complicated house move, right when my husband was having a terribly stressful time at work. As if these weren't enough, there were several other little issues which culminated in one big stress-ball sitting on top of my head. Caring for three feverish, weak kids while being unwell yourself is nearing on impossible, so I had to find a way to cope. Here is what I've researched, most which have been recommended by doctors and therapists. I've also added a couple of my own which have helped me relax. 

Affordable, Home-made Remedies For Beautiful Skin 

In these difficult financial times, the last consideration on our shopping lists are luxury items like beauty products. Unlike some people in the celebrity world, we’re not inclined to go overboard when it comes to taking care of our skin. However, we do want to hold onto young, healthy-looking skin for as long as we possibly can. I’ve outlined some simple, affordable ways below on how you can do just that. 

5 Detoxing Tips That Work! 

Ready for a quick, detox lesson? Here are five accessible ways of helping your body cope with all the poisons and toxins it's exposed to every day. These are simple, easy-to-follow, and they work!

Fasting

Pick one day, every two/three months for a fasting session. I don't believe in doing this for prolonged periods because obviously, it will do more harm than good as the body needs nutrients to function. 

For the entire day (24 hours), do not eat anything but little pieces of fruit or salads when you feel hungry. It's important to make sure you drinking plenty of water. This is a great way of giving your entire system a rest from digesting fatty foods as well as assisting the liver to release toxin build-up in the body.

(Some people believe in getting rid of toxin build-up by having a colonic irrigation. This can be as harmful as too much antibiotics because it may get rid of the friendly bacteria that live in your gut.)

Read more by clicking on heading.

Body Talk: Increase Your Body’s Health Potential At Home 

Here are some quick ways to ensure that your body is working at its best for you. Check off each section to make sure you're doing all you can to enjoy optimum health. I've included the body parts we usually tend to overlook.
Legs
While sitting at your computer desk, feeding your infant, or watching TV, do this simple exercise to strengthen your knees. Remember they are the hinges to strong, healthy legs.

Change Your Mind To Change Your Weight: Tips That Work 

In my book A Model's Guide To Losing Weight Without Dieting I set out a detailed programme showing you how you can change your mind about your eating habits. This is the key is losing weight and keeping it off. No diet plan will work for a real life change on a long term basis, if the mind is held in a weighted rut. Here I will show you six quick tips on how you can change your mind to change your weight. Do this for three weeks to set the tone. If you find this working for you, you can buy the book and begin the tried and tested weight-changing programme, certain to work for you.

 Home-Made Remedy For Dry Heels 

We pride ourselves here at the Relationship Supermarket on our self-improvement articles. Today's post is short and sweet, and is simply about improving the condition of dry heels. If you consistently suffer from cracked, parched heels and are ashamed to wear strapped shoes and sandals in the summer, this is the home-made remedy for you to bookmark. Regain your self-confidence and step out in style in time for spring.
There is a simple, cheap way of waking up every morning with lovely baby-soft heels. The hardest part of the routine is sticking with it.

Spice Up Your Winter Health 

Most of us stagger through winter with various sniffles, pains and ill health. Now that we’re well and truly halfway through the cold season, the healthy summer routine we got used to last year has fallen by the wayside. This is why I've put together a few quick ways to spruce up your well-being in the winter months, to keep the good health ticking over until we can welcome the sun into our lives again.

Emotions That Heal and Emotions That Don’t 

Having a healthy relationship with your inner-self is based largely on the ‘feelings’ you allow yourself to dwell on. Sure, as humans we invariably experience several different kinds of emotions every day. The important question is, which ones do you place most emphasis on and how do they impact on your well-being.
Below are some emotions that heal and motivate, and some that chip away at your mental and physical well-being. Which ones have you chosen to dwell on today?

Managing IBS: What Works For Me

I understand fully that IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) can present in different ways to different people.  I am not a medical person nor do I have a license to practice any kind of medicine.  What I do have though, is years of personal experience in dealing with and managing this often times life crippling syndrome.When I was first diagnosed with IBS (after a process of elimination when nothing else remained but this) I eagerly listened to everything the doctors and nurses told me to do, and carefully followed all their instructions by the letter.  Yet, one year later, I was still suffering with intense pain and discomfort. 

Breast Cancer Myths: Know The Facts 

These days breast cancer affects so many families that we all can say we know someone who’s been touched by it. Despite this, there are many myths circulating about the disease.  If we are to protect ourselves properly, we obviously need to be aware of the facts.  Knowing the enemy is the first step to overcoming them. Here are 10 of the most popular myths surrounding breast cancer.

Tips For Keeping Your Heart Healthy  

Here are five essential ideals that we can all easily incorporate into our lifestyles to keep our hearts healthy and strong. For the majority of us, heart disease does not happen overnight. It stems from years of careful, constant and systematic heart-abuse. Many times we neglect to seize important opportunities to be pro-active about being good to our heart (exercise, right eating etc) by obsessing too much about our abstinences (not partying, not smoking etc). 

As we get older, many of us feel more and more comfortable to carry around a bit more weight.  We tend to drive more and walk less, and a few of us even give up sport altogether.  We don’t get involved in drunken week-end binges like the teenagers do, but we indulge in social drinking: a glass of wine here, another one with our business lunch, yet another one to relax after a hard day, and so on.  Pretty soon, all of these glasses - plus our exercise neglect - add up, making our heart a lot less healthy than it used to be.  Here are the five simple ways that we all can implement in order to be good to our hearts.

Foods That Help Prevent Dry Skin 

It’s not easy to keep our skin fully hydrated in the best of times. For those of us who have dry skin, winter brings on its own set of difficulties, proving that fully moisturised skin can often be difficult to achieve. Drinking a lot of water and slapping on tonnes of skin cream can only do so much. If we really want to maintain healthy, youthful skin we’ve got to concentrate on doing so from the inside out. Here are some vital skin-nourishing foods that we should definitely retain in our diet if we want to keep our skin properly hydrated.

Key Vitamins: Who Needs What In Your Family  

A list of some vitamins and minerals targeted especially for the different members of your family in terms of age group. A balanced diet is definitely the way to go when it comes to healthy eating. Taking supplements should never be the end-all or cure-all for your family’s nutritional needs. Giving your family a large variety of foods should supply all the vitamins/minerals they need for good health, strong bones, alert brains and generous energy supply. 

We all know that it’s difficult to maintain this ideal for long periods of time. Weekend lapses, sickness, being too busy, or general family life can come between us and good nourishment. This is why taking supplements can be very useful indeed. Below is a list of some of the main nutrients the different members of your family require, based on their age groups.

Basic First Aid: What You Should Know

A list of the basic first aid solutions to situations that often arise in every day family living. Of course it’s necessary to seek medical help for potentially life-threatening accidents in and around the home. Any foreign body embedded into the skin should obviously be removed only by a medical practitioner. Nasty bumps on the head, heavy nose bleeds, animals bites or falling unconscious should all be taken seriously. This article is about handling other little accidents we or our children may have. Always keep your first-aid box well-stocked and ready for use.

4 Ways To Keep Your Family Well This Winter 

Tips in keeping your family free from illness this winter. Winter is always the time of year I dread. As if being perpetually cold is not enough, there are also the endless winter colds and germs to vie with. Kids spend days away from school, which means parents have to take sick days off from work to look after them. After the kids get better, parents fall victim to the same bug – not an ideal situation. This winter I’m going to try the following to keep the family in tip top shape.

5 Ways To Care For Your Heart 

Never put off caring for your heart. The right time is now. Ditching the saturated fats and highly salted foods is not enough when it comes to keeping your heart healthy. Omissions are just one part of the puzzle to a better, healthier lifestyle. Below are some of the things we must do in order to create the perfect balance that’s good for your heart.

Plants That Get Rid Of Toxins In Your Home 

There are several complicated ways to remove toxins from your home. They can even sometimes be quiet expensive. Today I’m going to reveal to you some of the most excellent, natural ways to do so. Best of all, they’re cheap, and if you play your cards right, you may even get them for free from friends and family. We release toxins into our home when we buy new furniture, paint, and do DIY or repairs. Even every day activities like wearing spray deodorant or removing nail polish can discharge these potentially harmful substances. They include, benzene (from paints and smoke), ammonia (from cleaning products), xylene (from computers), and acetone (from nail polish remover). Placing the following plants in strategic positions will neutralise the effects of these dangerous chemicals.


Super, Quick Tips For a Younger Look

Lines and grey hair are not the only signs that show your age. Oh, no! There are a lot more subtle indicators that old age is quickly catching up with you. If you're not into broadcasting your age and want to make the best possible use of your good looks, follow some simple rules and youth could be yours for the taking right up to the day you retire (and beyond).


How To Say No
Many of us have problems saying no, especially when it comes to interacting with our loved ones. This article is not just about saying no to other people, but saying no to ourselves as well. 
We've got more than we can use - all of us. We've got handbags for different occasions, shoes of varying shades. 'Good' plates and ones our family use. Our consumption is so great that manufacturers now make jeans with so much material, you're supposed to wear them to cover the 'exquisite' shoes you must have. When I was growing up I had one pair of shoes which I stuffed with newspaper because they were several sizes too big (they were my mother's old cast-offs). Nowadays I have more than I really need even though I'm not a shoe collector or hoarder. Where does it all end? How much more can we say yes to? When is enough, enough?


Does Your Job Make You Ill
For many of us, going to work in the mornings can be somewhat of a chore. It doesn't matter how great your job seems to others, or how well it pays. For some people 'work' conjures up fears of being bullied, or boredom. For others it's a burial of continual stress and dissatisfaction. For others still, a place where they're completely fulfilled and entirely contented. The question is, is it your job that has changed, or is it you? (If the job was rubbish to begin with, you wouldn't have taken it). Take the test below to find out why you no longer enjoy the job you once loved and how you can change this for the better.


How To Avoid Snacking; The Work-From-Home-Mum's Guide
Whether you're at home for an extended period, work from home, or there on a temporary basis, it's a difficult time for eating right and up-keeping all the healthy eating practices to which you were once accustomed. Here are some fantastic ways to help. 


Understanding The Green Label's On Our Foods
These days there are so many different kinds of labels on our foods that it’s really difficult to remember or understand what they all mean. Most of us strive to leave smaller carbon footprints on the earth than we’ve previously done, but how do we know that we’re taking the right steps where our foods are concerned.