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Blog posts are provided for information only and are NOT intended as medical advice.  
They aim to provide a different perspective on a wide range of issues and are opinions based on the  
knowledge, research and experience we have built up over many years.  
You are welcome to use them as part of your own research and reach your own conclusions.  
As always, if you have any health concerns, please consult an appropriately qualified health professional. 

Posts tagged “Lifestyle”

Whether it be food, communications, getting from A to B or health improvements; the expectation is the same. We want a quick fix NOW!!! Just look at the adverts online, in the newspapers or on the television and you’ll find this is the box they’re all trying to tick. 
 
However, if you take a step back from all of this for a moment, does quick really mean a fix? 
We often talk about the joys of serendipity and how life has a way of – almost (!) – magically falling into place IF we allow it to. Letting it unfold in its own way AND at its own pace.  
 
Often this happens in ways we never could have anticipated or takes us off in a completely new direction that turns out to be exactly what we wanted. 
It’s one of life’s mysteries that, for some inexplicable reason, the simple things seem to give us the most pleasure. Often much more than their long awaited – and more expensive (!) – counterparts. 
 
Anyone who’s watched a small child unwrapping their Christmas or Birthday presents, has encountered this first hand. With the box – or wrapping paper (!) – holding their attention for much longer than the contents. Is so much more interesting and attractive. Gives greater pleasure and is played with for a much longer period of time. The contents quickly forgotten and pushed to one side… 
 
Why is it that simple pleasures seem to be so much better? 
Having read the title of this post – and looked at the picture – you’re probably expecting a police related theme to this week’s story. And, in one sense you’d be right, although we have to admit that the link is slightly tenuous. 
 
So, what are we going to be talking about this week? 
 
Feet. 
 
Not a very exciting topic you may think but, bear with us, it’s a problem we’re seeing increasingly regularly with Clients. And one that can be easily prevented in the first place. 
Listening to clients – as well as those we encounter in our day to day lives – it’s all too easy to fall into the “doom, gloom and despondency” trap. That the world is hard, negative and uncaring. Life is a constant struggle and the best we can hope for is to get by. 
 
However, as we’ve said many times before, this isn’t what life is about at all. We live on a planet that’s amazing and beautiful. Life is here for us to enjoy and, dare we say it, be happy (!). 
 
We have so much more to be thankful for than to be unhappy about. The human spirit is truly awe inspiring and indomitable. 
While chicken has traditionally been considered a healthy source of protein, eggs have received a much less favourable press in recent years. This is largely due to a simple misconception which we regularly hear from Clients. That eggs are high in Cholesterol and saturated fats, so promoting Heart Disease. If not avoided, they should only be eaten occasionally. 
 
Not surprisingly, this has led to a variety of different advice about limiting their consumption. These range from avoiding eggs altogether or, at the very most, eating no more than three eggs a week. And then there’s the advice to only eat eggs whites, although nothing is said about what to do with the yolks (!). As an aside, while doing a little research for this post, we were intrigued to come across the recommendation to only consume a quarter of an egg a week. Exactly how this would work in practice, we have no idea… 
We often talk about the Little Monster living in our Heads, you know the one we mean. 
 
The one with a very loud, insistent voice. Giving its opinion on whatever is happening in our lives at that particular moment. 
 
More often than not, focussing on the negatives. Downplaying the positives. Magnifying our own unique insecurities, fears and anxieties. 
 
In many ways it’s like having our own personal radio station broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 
With the change to summer time quickly followed by a very early Easter last weekend, we’ve had the usual spate of calls from people who’ve hurt their Backs. As the first bank holiday of the year traditionally marks the start of the gardening season, as well as reminding people that their annual fortnight in the sun isn’t too far away and, perhaps, they should take a bit more exercise to combat the inevitable “post winter bulges” then it really isn’t that surprising. Well, to us, at least (!). 
 
It’s estimated that 8 out of 10 adults will experience Back problems at some time during their lives. This is borne out by our experience, with David having treated more people with Back – or Neck – problems than anything else. 
 
Given this, it’s little wonder there are so many conflicting pieces of advice about what causes Back pain and, more importantly, how to relieve it. Sadly, many of these fall into the “Old Wives tales” category – or myths if you prefer (!) – and only prolong the problem, rather than helping speed it on its way. 
 
So, this week, we’re going to put those we hear most often under the spotlight and see if they’re really true. 
With it being April Fool’s Day today, we were very tempted to use some of the stories and comments we’ve heard from Clients over the years – with a little judicious altering of the names and details, to protect the innocent (!) – as the basis for this week’s blog post. 
 
However, once a little commonsense reared its head (!), we decided to ditch that idea. Cue sighs of relief all round… 
 
Instead, we’re going to talk about a different aspect of stories. 
 
Why we love them so much, both telling them – with suitable embellishments on each retelling (!) – and as a member of the audience… And not just any stories, the more dramatic and exciting the better. After all, who doesn’t like a good reaction, whether positive or less so. 
While it’s been a rather long, damp and grey Winter this year (!), it’s also been a mild one, with very few frosts. This means that Spring has started much earlier than usual with the blossom, primroses and violets already making a very welcome appearance. With the Equinox last week and a very early Easter next week, it certainly feels as though the year is turning, with Summer just around the corner. 
 
Unfortunately, another less welcome sign of Spring is also starting to make an appearance, despite the best efforts of the pigeons over the Winter (!). Like many other spring flowers it’s also yellow and, for us, always signals the start of the Hayfever season.  
 
Have you guessed what it is? Oilseed rape. 
 
To many people the appearance of the first few yellow flowers, followed by eye wateringly bright yellow fields of flowering rape, marks the start of Spring. To us – and its many sufferers – it marks something slightly different. The start of the Hayfever season...