Here Is How to Use Tennis Ball to Relieve Your Sciatic Nerve Pain and Back Pain

 Back pain. If you’ve ever experienced it, you know how it can completely throw a wrench into your daily routine. You may have lifted something improperly, and suddenly you can barely stand up straight let alone walk around. Perhaps you’ve suffered from chronic back pain, and you can no longer do the activities you enjoy. Whether your pain is chronic or acute, you’re aching (pun intended) for relief! Back pain is a general term that people normally use for any type of discomfort in the back or spinal region. This can include tense muscles in the upper back, which can sometimes improve from a simple massage.

 

A more specific and localized type of back pain is called Sciatica. Sciatica is the proper medical term for pain that exudes from or along the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve extends from the lower back all the way down through each leg. Usually those suffering from sciatica only experience pain on one side. There are a few common causes of sciatic pain, including bone spurs, herniated discs, and pinched nerves from a narrowing of the spine. Some pregnant women experience sciatica when the position of the fetus causes a pinched nerve.

Other types of lower back pain that aren’t a result of a compressed sciatic nerve are usually related to the muscles. If the muscles in the lower back are tight, strained, or pulled, it can lead to lower back pain. Sometimes back pain is so excruciating that people find it hard to find any comfortable position. The good news is that sciatic pain typically resolves on its own between four and six weeks. But four to six weeks can be a very long time to live with such debilitating pain. Luckily, there are some home remedies and exercises that you can try at home to relieve lower back pain.

Tennis ball therapy has been shown to reduce lower back pain by working the piriformis muscle, which is located in the posterior pelvic region near the sciatic nerve. You can do this therapy from your own home.

Start by sitting or lying on the floor and placing the ball on or near the muscle where it feels that the pain is originating from. You can use one or two balls to do this. Using two balls generally works a larger area with less pain, since the pressure is distributed over two balls; however, you may find it easier to start by working with one ball until you get the hang of things. Slowly move your body so that the ball is moving around the muscle. Note any tender spots and compress the ball on these spots for 15-20 seconds. Doing this a few times per day will help to ease tension in the muscle and hopefully take pressure off the sciatic nerve.

Here is a video demonstrating the tennis ball therapy:

 

Another lesser-known remedy for lower back pain is spicy food. The capsaicin found in peppers like chili peppers, jalapenos, and habaneros helps to ease inflammation, which may in turn take the pressure off the sciatic nerve. It is important to remember that sciatic pain is a symptom, not a cause or disease in itself. It is important to find out if the sciatic pain is due to a bone spur or herniated disc, as these may require more treatment. If, however, your sciatic or lower back pain is due to a muscle or pinched nerve, tennis ball therapy should do wonders to get you back on your feet.

Important notes

• You must remember that most sciatic pain is a result of a spinal condition, such as herniated disk or a narrowing of the spinal canal, which causes the nerve pain, so targeting the piriformis muscle is just one of the steps to relieving the sciatic pain. You still need to target the root of the problem in the spinal cord, so a consultation with a health care provider is important, as tennis ball therapy may be just one component added to a physical therapy, medication or exercise program.

• If the sciatica or back pain result from pinched nerve, avoid placing the tennis ball near the pinched nerve to reduce the risk of further injury.

• It’s always a good practice to talk to your doctor about your condition before you start a tennis ball therapy program to find out if there are any restrictions related to your condition.

Source ; Google.com

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COFFEE – 3 Tricks to Make Yours Super-Healthy

Here’s why coffee can be extremely GOOD for you if you do it right!

Coffee… almost everybody drinks it… some people have 3-4 cups per day or more.

But most people don’t think of it as a “health drink”.  And it’s certainly NOT healthy the way most people make it with loads of added sugar or artificial sweeteners and artificial creamers.

But I’ll give you my tips here on how I make a healthier cup of coffee and what to watch out for…

First, you may have seen debate in the past about how coffee has some compounds in it that could have negative health effects such as small amounts of acrylamides or other possibly harmful compounds in brewed coffee.  But, the good news is that coffee has such high concentrations of beneficial antioxidants, phenolic nutrients, chlorogenic acids, and other healthy compounds, that it more than counteracts any bad compounds.

In fact, coffee provides the biggest source of antioxidants for most Americans… although that mostly has to do with the fact that many Americans don’t get enough antioxidants from fruits and veggies, so coffee ends up being their biggest source.  You should try to diversify your sources of antioxidants from fruits, veggies, spices, herbs, berries, beans, unsweetened organic cocoa, teas, and yes, even coffee if you like it.

So what’s the best way to make a healthy cup of coffee?  Well, here’s my 3 most important tricks to maximize the benefits of coffee and minimize the negatives:

1.  First of all, you need to AVOID adding any refined sugar or harmful artificial sweeteners.

What I do instead is use either a very small touch of organic maple syrup or a half packet of natural stevia to just lightly sweeten my coffee.  I’ve also become a big fan of coconut sugar recently, and this is healthier than plain sugar because it does contain some minerals and other nutrients, and has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar.   On the other hand, if you like your coffee black with no sweetener at all, that’s the healthiest way.

If you’re getting your coffee at a coffee shop, make sure to avoid all of those fancy specialty coffees (sweetened flavored lattes, frappuccinos, etc) as they are almost ALWAYS loaded with extra sugars or artificial sweeteners.  Some of those fancy coffee drinks at Starbucks or other coffee shops can have 300-400 calories in just one coffee!  Definitely not good for your body or your blood sugar or insulin levels.

A latte or cappucino can be okay as long as you make sure to ask for it unsweetened, and then use your own stevia if you need a light sweet taste.  Since almost every coffee shop only has either sugar or artificial sweeteners as options, I always carry packets of stevia on me when I know I might be getting coffee at a coffee shop on a particular day.

2.  You also should try to AVOID at all costs any of those terrible artificial creamers (liquid or powder), which are usually made with corn syrup solids and hydrogenated oils (harmful trans fats).  Instead, use a little bit of REAL full-fat cream (organic grass-fed if you can find it, as the CLA and vitamin K2 in grass-fed cream can be very healthy).  The brand that I’ve found at many grocery stores is Organic Valley and they have an option for a pasture-raised cream that is really good!

Or, if I can’t get grass-fed cream, what I’ve also been using for a while now is coconut cream as one of the healthiest creamer alternatives.  I get this by buying cans of organic coconut milk, and then after opening the can (shake the can well before opening), I store the coconut milk in the fridge in a container.  Note that the cans of coconut milk are much creamier and better as a coffee creamer than those cartons of “coconut milk drink” which are just watered down coconut milk.

The thick creamy coconut milk is the healthiest option for coffee creamer because it’s loaded with super healthy saturated fats called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are known to boost your immune system and your metabolism!  Plus, coconut milk in coffee is just plain delicious!  It’s the best healthy creamer option by far aside from just using real grass-fed dairy cream.

When people visit my house and we make a pot of coffee, many times I’ll have them try the coconut cream in their coffee and almost everyone always comments how much they love it!

3.  If you want to load your coffee up with more healthy antioxidants and good taste, consider trying some added cinnamon to your coffee (cinnamon can help control blood sugar and has many other health benefits).  It’s also really tasty in coffee!

I also occasionally like to add a teaspoon of organic cocoa powder (non-sweetened) to my coffee to make my own sort of mocha coffee (but without the loads of sugar in a typical mocha you’d get at the coffee shop, so just use a little stevia to sweeten).  The added cocoa powder also gives you great taste and a good dose of extra healthy antioxidants (and cocoa is also known for helping to lower blood pressure!)

I personally only drink 1 cup of coffee per day, because I don’t want to overdose on caffeine and don’t want to get addicted to caffeine like some people are.  Also, excessive amounts of caffeine can cause adrenal fatigue over time in some people.  I usually even mix my beans half regular and half decaf to reduce the caffeine amount per cup.

I see people that drink 3-4 cups per day that get a massive headache if they don’t have their daily coffee due to caffeine withdrawal.  I choose to avoid this addiction by only drinking 1 cup per day max.  I drink various teas like green, oolong, black, and white teas at other times, which are much lower in caffeine.  Or I like to use rooibos or other herbal teas many times which have no caffeine at all.

But despite the caffeine content, there is loads of data that show the high antioxidant levels and health benefits to coffee.

Lastly, it’s extremely important to choose organic coffee beans, as conventional coffee is one of the most heavily treated crops with pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides.  Remember that one of the many health risks with these chemicals is that some pesticides can act as “xenoestrogens” in your body, disrupting hormone balance for both men and women.  Chronic xenoestrogen exposure can also be one cause of “stubborn abdominal fat” in both sexes as well as “man boobs” in men… so choose organic as often as you can with most foods, but especially with coffee!

Enjoy your coffee and these additions that we talked about in this article, knowing that it can actually do your body good in moderation!

But BEWARE…

Although coffee can be a super-healthy choice for a lean, healthy, & strong body as well as keeping your digestive system healthy…if you follow the tips you just learned…

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29 Signs You’re Doing Just Fine (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It)

Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to keep things in perspective and deal with them.

We all have days, weeks, months and – for some – even years of feeling anxious and uncertain.  It’s a vague feeling you can’t quite put your finger on.  From the outside, people think you have it all together, but they can’t see what’s going on in your head.  Emptiness fills your thoughts and emotions all too often, nagging at you throughout the day.  You set goals but they never satisfy your ego.  You always feel a day late and a buck short.  The search can seem almost endless.

And a question continues to spin in your mind:  “Why can’t I just be happy?”

The good news is you don’t have to live like this.  There is a better way to view the world that will lead to what you seek.  The first step, though, is to stop searching.  You will never find happiness by continually looking for it in another time and place.  When you focus on the lack of something in your life, what you want will always elude you.

Most of us are so busy trying to make something big happen, we forget to pause and appreciate all our little victories. Rather than dwelling on what’s missing in your life, start looking at what you have.  This isn’t just about material possessions; it’s about all the goodness in your life.  When you focus on the abundance you already have, the negative feelings that come from lacking something else gradually fade from your conscious.  Living isn’t an easy thing to do, but it can be enjoyable when you start to see the good instead of focusing on the bad.

Having trouble seeing the goodness?  Here’s a list of things you have to smile about – some obvious signs you’re doing just fine in life:

1. You have the freedom to live your life the way you want to live it. – If you often worry about what you’re going to do with your life – your career, your family, the next step, etc., be grateful.  All details aside, this means you have ambition, passion, drive, and the freedom to make your own decisions.
2. You are courageously walking your own path. – When people argue with you and challenge your decisions, remind yourself that you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing.  You’ve got to do what’s right for you, even if some people disagree.
3. You are making difficult decisions and acting upon them. – How well you play the game of life comes down to the sum of your choices.  You know this.  Whatever you decide, don’t be the chess piece, be the chess player.
4. You are working hard for people and causes you believe in. – Working hard for something you don’t care about is called stress; working hard for something you love is called passion.
5. You are choosing to be happy in your own way. – When you stop chasing everyone else’s definition of happiness, you begin to see that the decision to be happy has been available all along.  
6. You see obstacles in front of you because you are not settling.– If you settle for just anything, there wouldn’t be any obstacles in your way, but then you would never know what you are capable of either.  Because your obstacles are your opportunities.  Obstacles are put in your way to help you determine if what you want is really worth fighting for.
7. You have made the best of some tough situations. – Smiling doesn’t always mean you’re happy with everything.  Sometimes it just means you’re strong enough to accept it and make the best of it.
8. You have come a long way. – Do not judge your failed attempts and mistakes as an indication of your future potential, but as part of your growth process.  Your past has given you the strength and wisdom you have today, so celebrate it and use the knowledge you’ve gained.  Don’t let it haunt you and hold you back.
9. You haven’t quit and you aren’t planning on it. – People rarely quit over the last thing that happened.  Instead they quit a tiny bit each day.  Trying to fix the last thing misses the point.  Keep this in mind.
10. You do your best to accept what you can’t change. – Moving on is never an easy thing, but if you start accepting things for what they are it’ll be a lot easier.  Acceptance is always the key to moving forward and making positive changes that are within your control.
11. You aren’t scared to fail forward. – The biggest difference between wildly successful people and total failures is that successful people fail more often, instead of just once.
12. You haven’t let fear get in your way. – You have to wonder how many people are afraid to die, in part, because they often realize too late that they were afraid to live.
13. You still believe in the possibilities that lie ahead. – Accept what is, let go of what was and have faith in what could be.  Remember, life does not have to be anywhere near perfect to be wonderful.
14. You dare to dream every day. – Dr. King gave the famous “I have a dream” speech not the “I have a plan” speech.  It’s our dreams that change the course of history, not just our plans.  Keep dreaming.
15. You have a vision for your future. – “Vision” is the ability to talk about your future with such clarity, it’s as if you are talking about your past.
16. You haven’t let the judgments of others stop you. – Keep listening to your intuition, and make this your lifelong motto: “I respectfully do not care.”  Say it to anyone who passes judgment on something you strongly believe in.
17. You are doing what you can with what you have. – The secret to living the life of your dreams is to start living the life of your dreams, right now, to any degree that you already can.
18. You are doing your best to provide value. – No one is entitled to success.  To remain successful, you must constantly find new ways to add value.  Keep putting your heart, mind and soul into even your smallest acts.  This is one of the great secrets of lasting success.
19. You go out of your way to help people. – Service is not doing what is required of us.  Service is doing more than is required of us.  Remember, successful people are always looking for ways to help others.  Unsuccessful people are always asking, “What’s in it for me?”
20. You aren’t scared to express your love, openly. – Love is great when spoken, but greatest when shown.  So if you care about someone’s wellbeing, show it.  Keep doing little things daily to show the people around you that you care.
21. You continue to make a difference. – Have you ever thought about how much your actions mean to others?  Maybe that smile you gave to a stranger today made their bad day better.  Maybe that hello you gave to a colleague today made them realize people actually notice them and care.  Maybe that money you gave to a homeless man today gave him hope.  Maybe spending time with someone special today made them forget their problems for a while.  Keep it up.
22. You have enough right now to live comfortably. – You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night.  You awoke this morning with a roof over your head.  You had a choice of what clothes to wear.  You have access to clean drinking water and electricity.  You are online right now.  You have plenty to be comfortable.  Being wealthy is a mindset.  Want less and appreciate more.
23. You haven’t let rampant materialism get the best of you. – Our lives are not defined by the things we possess.  Our lives are defined by the things we pursue.  Make sure what you own, never owns you.
24. You are reasonably healthy. – In other words, if you got sick today you could recover.  Never underestimate the gift of your health.  It’s the greatest wealth you will ever own.  It’s the foundation for every chance at happiness and success life has to offer.  Your body is the only place you will truly ever live.
25. Your relationships are less dramatic than they use to be. – Keep forgoing the drama and ignoring the negativity.  Don’t let ignorance stop you from being the best you can be.  Just keep doing what you’re doing – being sincere and kind, and promoting what you love, rather than bashing what you hate.
26. You have escaped from some very toxic relationships. – Don’t worry too much about people who don’t worry about you.  Know your worth!  When you give yourself to someone who doesn’t respect you, you surrender pieces of your soul that you’ll never get back. 
27. You know deep down that you are not alone. – Next time you feel all alone, remember, again, that you are not.
28. You have great people in your life who are standing beside you. – Know that it’s less important to have more friends and more important to have real ones.  And remember, it’s during the toughest times of your life that you’ll get to see the true colors of the people who say they care about you.  Don’t take these people for granted.  Look around and appreciate them, right now.
29. You have a home. – A house is a home when it shelters the body and comforts the soul.  But a home isn’t always a physical structure, or a specific location on a map.  Home is wherever the people you love are, whenever you’re with them.  It’s not a defined place, but a space in your heart and mind that builds upon itself like little bricks being stacked to create something stable that you take with you for your entire life, wherever you may go.

Recognizing these little victories in your life on a daily basis can take you from a mindset of wishing you had more, to a mindset of joyful appreciation.

Your turn…

What would you add to the list?  What’s something positive about you and your life situation that you often overlook?  Please leave a comment below and let the community know.

Source: www.marcandangel.com

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How to Live Unhappily Ever After

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