Treat Those Feet

I can’t say that I think about my feet too much.  It’s very unfair because they take me everywhere I need to go.  But you know when I do start thinking about them? A lot??? Around 10:30 pm... on the dance floor...at a wedding...in heels.  That’s when they are screaming at me and will not be ignored. Like the rest of your body, you should give them a little attention to keep them healthy and working for you.  

1. Wash them every day.  I know it sounds so obvious, but they need a thorough washing with soap, including in between the toes.  Just letting the suds run down in that direction is not enough (guilty). Bacteria gets hidden in those little in between spaces.

2. Try a scrub for dry or scaly feet and to keep the skin from thickening and cracking.  They need exfoliating as much as the rest of you!  (We love the Mint Your Feet Scrub)

3. Dry thoroughly to prevent that bacteria you just washed off from coming back.

4. Keep your nails neat and straight to help prevent ingrown toenails.

5. Moisturize.  This is my favorite.  Go ahead and give yourself a foot massage with our Mint Your Feet foot balm.  You deserve it. And then put on some comfy cotton socks, get in bed, and binge-watch something fabulous.  Yes, all these steps are required.

6. See a doctor at signs of fungus or cracked heels, you may need a prescription, or if you are experiencing recurring pain.

7. Wear comfortable shoes as much as possible.  Take special care when choosing appropriate footwear for exercising and be sure to replace those running shoes when they are showing the signs of wear and tear.

8. Speaking of exercise.  Your feet need this too!  Walking is good for them. So are some gentle stretches.  Try placing a tennis ball on the floor and roll it around under your foot.  It should feel like a nice stretch and massage in one.

Taking good care of your tootsies will feel great and BONUS!... keep them looking great in your favorite summer sandals.  Don’t forget to sunscreen them at the beach or the pool. And a nice soak after a long day of walking or a long night of dancing will have them feeling fantastic again in no time.

Olive Oil Is Skin Care Gold

I once spilled nearly a half bottle of olive oil on my kitchen counter.  I could have wept. To avoid it going to waste, I hand-squeegeed it into a Tupperware and moved it to the bathroom.  I used it on my legs, my cuticles, in the tub, and in my hair. Anywhere I thought sounded like a good idea. It’s something my grandmother would have recommended, and let me tell you she knew what she was talking about.  

Olive oil is packed with antioxidants, lipids, fatty acids, and squalene.  These components can help protect against free radicals and plump and hydrate skin.  It also has natural anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

Olive oil has a long history of skin care use.  Considering that the olive tree is possibly the oldest known tree on earth, that’s not too surprising.  In 2012, scientists carbon-dated olive trees in Gethsemane and found them to be at least 900 years old AND in excellent health.

The ancient Greeks thought that olive trees were a gift from the goddess Athena.  As the story goes, the first king of Athens, Cecrops, who was half person and half snake, wanted to find a patron God or Goddess for his city.  Athena and Poseidon were chosen to compete and after much fighting, presented a gift to the King and the city for judgment. Poseidon struck the earth with his trident and created a salt water spring. Athena, on the other hand, planted an olive branch in the ground. After a tree grew in its place, Cecrops chose Athena’s gift and the olive tree has remained a central part of Greek culture for thousands of years.

Ancient Greeks and Egyptians used olive oil in cleansers and as a moisturizer.  Cleopatra is said to have used olive oil on her skin as part of her many famously luxurious rituals.  Many ancient cultures including Indian and Greek believed that if you couldn’t eat something and put it into your body you wouldn’t put it on the outside of your body either.

Many of us have adopted a similar philosophy today.  Beauty icons such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Miranda Kerr, and Chloë Grace Moretz have admitted to using olive oil in beauty treatments.  But perhaps the most revered user is the legendary movie star, Sophia Loren. Throughout her life, she was often asked about her secret to looking young and beautiful and is quoted as saying  “a love of life, spaghetti and the odd bath in virgin olive oil.". That is how I want to live my life. How about you? Pass the pasta, please.

In Defense of Dirt

Summer is here! It’s time to get outdoors (preferably barefoot) and let those kids get dirty!  Yes, you heard me right...DIRTY.

Why you ask?  Because dirt is good for you.  Exposing our bodies to bacteria, viruses and fungus help the body build a strong immune system.  We as a society have been groomed to sterilize everything and keep our children from getting dirty.  Petting zoos requires anti-bacterial wipes, wash your hands as soon as you touch that dog, getting dirty in the backyard requires an immediate bath.  This is all wrong! By not exposing our children to germs in our environment, we are setting them up for allergies, asthma and even eczema.

The purpose of our immune system is to fight foreign “threats” such as bacteria and viruses and create a long acting defense against these “threats”.  When we don’t expose ourselves to “threats” then our immune system gets bored and starts to react to “non-threats” such as pollen and foods. This leads to the development of allergies and asthma.

There was a study done by American Academy of Pediatrics in May of 2013 showing that parents who lick their children’s pacifiers to clean them were less likely to develop asthma, allergies and eczema then parents who did not do use this cleaning method.  The children whose parents licked the pacifier had stronger immune systems overall.

Pacifier Cleaning Practices and Risk of Allergy Development

So what does this all mean?  For me, I don’t freak out when my kids eat a snack without washing their hands first, we never use anti-bacterial products (I like Kosmatology’s MADE SAFE Certified Foaming Hand Soap for clean up)  and I embrace the dirty. I let my kids run outside barefoot in the dirt, if a dog licks my daughter’s face I don’t feel the need to immediately disinfect her. I hope these actions will help them develop strong immune systems ready to take on the bacterial and viral world but not non-threatening pollen and foods!