In order to understand the basics of healthy eating, one should do a review of the new and improved Food Pyramid that the United States Department of Agriculture came up with a few years ago.  With the food pyramid you can create your own meal plans depending on whether or not you are trying to gain, maintain, or lose weight.  However, this can be time consuming between calorie counting and trying to squeeze in that last serving of vegetables.  Perhaps the easiest way to start a lifestyle that includes healthy eating is by making a list of all the recipes you want to eat, start cooking, make variations, and then save them in your own personal healthy recipes cookbook.  You can even put your family name on it and start a healthy eating tradition that you can pass on down for generations!  Here’s how to start:
 
• Make a list of your favorite fruits and vegetables. 
• Write down your favorite beverages (including sodas and flavored ones).
• Write down foods you love to snack on (including the fatty fried ones like chips).
• Write down your favorite style of foreign foods (Chinese, Greek, etc).
• Write down recipes that you may already have and love.
• Make a list of salt and sugar alternatives in addition to herbs you like.
• Think about whether or not you want organic food to be at the foundation of your healthy recipe cookbook.
 
Now, if you aren’t used to some general concepts in healthy eating, doing these seven things could take some time.  To help, it’s important to show some details about each bullet point mentioned.  First, if you don’t like many vegetables or fruits, add foods like chocolate and cake next to a particular fruit or vegetable to make them seem more appealing.  For example, I came up with apple chocolate and zucchini cake.  Another alternative is to simply add the word dessert to the end of a vegetable or fruit.  For example, I came up with carrot dessert and kiwi dessert.  Alone, kiwi and carrots may not sound that appealing.  But you can see how adding on the word dessert, a word traditionally associated with something that tastes good, makes it easier for us to include more fruits and veggies to our list.
 
Second, if you find your list of favorite beverages include soda products like Coke and alcoholic beverages like vodka or rum, you may think of giving up.  But do not give up just yet.  You can turn these things into something great.  For example, you can make alcoholic smoothies but adding things like frozen fruit, sugar-free sherbet, and lots of ice to your favorite drink.  So, instead of just drinking rum, you can add “Strawberry-Bannana-Sherbert” to the word Vodka and automatically you have added some very healthy vitamin C and potassium to what was previously just empty calories. 
 
Third, the snack foods can make it seem impossible to eat healthy.  But, imagine eating chips you baked yourself at home!  I personally love Doritos.  Doritos are pretty much cheese fried on potatoes.  So, if I find a recipe for baked chips, adding some black pepper and cheese to it, adds not only more flavor than the Doritos, but also a healthy herb and calcium to the previously recipe of pure saturated fat.
 
Fourth, most people do enjoy eating some kind of foreign meal every once and a while.  Lucky for most Americans, in moderation, a lot of foreign food has great health benefits.  But again, moderation is the key.  So if you want to eat that Sweet and Sour Chicken meal at your local Chinese restaurant, think about keeping it to just once a month.  Although other international foods from Greece and Japan are traditionally healthier, still it must be kept in moderation.
 
Fifth, regarding writing down healthy recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation isn’t for everyone.  After all, not all grandmothers spent hours in the kitchen daily feeding families of six or more in the 1950’s.  If you do not have a list of your favorite recipes, ask other relatives, friends, and neighbors to let them give you their own.  Ask them, in particular, for something you’ve had of theirs before, maybe at a birthday party or for dinner on Christmas Eve.
 
Sixth, unless you are a registered dietician with years of education in nutrition, it is highly doubtful you would know of the many alternatives of salt and sugar in the food market these days.  However, you can still make the list by asking someone in your local grocery store or even reading about it online.  This is an important part of your healthy recipe cookbook as most recipes call for some use of salt and sugar, each being a culprit in chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood sugar.
 
Lastly, think about your budget and which foods you can buy that are organic.  The science behind organic vs. highly processed foods is very clear and whenever possible you want to buy organic.  But again, let this be in moderation, so the change is gradual.  For example, next time at the store, buy one or two things that are organic.  Organic bananas are popular and pretty widespread.
 
Now, once you have completed your own personal recipes, start searching online for unlimited free access to other healthy eating recipes.  Simply type in the phrase healthy recipes and pages of FREE recipes will pop up as links!  To make the process of finding health recipes simple, try to keep each search category specific.  For example, spend one day looking for main dish recipes and another looking for desserts, otherwise you will be overwhelmed. If you want to spend money, an alternative to searching online would be to buy a healthy eating cookbook from your local bookstore.  The benefits of a cookbook would include the fact that they always traditionally have photos and provide very specific directions making it almost impossible to ruin a new healthy recipe.  However, take my advice; you should spend your money on buying ingredients for your fiesta of healthy eating instead of wasting trees and gas getting to a bookstore.  Also, these days some sites provide photos with each healthy recipe.
 
You can find more information and tools for eating healthy and the food pyramid online at www.mypyramid.gov/. 

What is gourmet food?  This is a topic we explore on a daily basis, even if we do not go to a fine classy uptown restaurant.  It is a topic some of us are intimately familiar and others completely clueless.  I had always considered myself in the later category for quite some time until I realized that what one person considers gourmet food, another person might consider it to be the equivalent of garbage. 
 
Take this scenario.  If you rarely have a chance to go to a fine restaurant and you are invited, you of course would expect that since it is more expensive food, the food would taste better.  However, I would argue that even “gourmet” food has its bad moments.  Expensive does not always equal amazing quality.  On the Fox show “Hell’s Kitchen” many novice chefs are competing to win the approval of a world renown chef and the many taste testers that visit their restaurant to rate the level of service.  Although most fine restaurants already established a good reputation, all it takes it for one element of the experience to change and suddenly the gourmet food turns into the main dish served at a local diner.  One element might be a tired and overworked chef.  Another element that can’t be controlled might be the fact that you like sweet versus sour foods.
 
Because of this, the term gourmet food is very relative.  It is relative because we all come from different backgrounds and what one person considers gourmet, another might consider “so-so”.  Someone from the India might believe gourmet to mean classy vegetarian style meal while someone from Kenya might believe gourmet to mean a classy meat dish.  This is not only due to cultural differences, but also how we accumulate taste preferences growing up.  Taste preference is not only learned, but also a genetic factor. On our tongue we have four types of taste buds:
 
· Fungiform papillae – which are mostly present at the tip of the tongue but some are on the sides.
· Filiform papillae – which are all over the tongue and most abundant.
· Foliate papillae – which are mostly present around the center of the tongue where grooves easily form
· Circumvallate papillae – which are found mostly on the back of the tongue
 
Because of the diversity of these taste buds, we all have unique experiences with food in our background.  Sometimes bad childhood experiences, such as burning a certain part of your tongue multiple times, might make you less sensitive to tasting foods that are sweet or sour.  Sometimes, if your family was big on salt, you might become less sensitive to foods that are lightly salted.  Everyone has a different experience and because of this it is almost impossible to say there is only one kind of gourmet food.  
 
Another way food is relative is that some people like foods cooked very well or raw.  For example, when you go to a restaurant that serves steak, the waiter may ask if you want the steak rare, medium-rare, or well done.  Rare means you hardly want it cooked at all while well done means you want it so cooked there is nothing raw about it.  If you request to have it served rare and you get well done, even though it was nicely cooked and some people would love it, there is a high chance you will be disappointed.  Rare meat tastes VERY different from well done meat.
 
Separate from our differences in opinion on good tasting meats, there are vegetables.  Some people enjoy raw vegetables.  Raw vegetables typically carry more nutrients than cooked vegetables, however, we all have our preferences.  For example, raw carrots are incredible for getting the nutrient beta carotene into your body.  However, when overly cooked so that even a baby could eat it, the nutrient seeps out of the carrot while boiling and is lost in the water.  Still, some people like the taste of carrots better when cooked versus raw. So next time you are eating with a friend and they exclaim “This is the best (blank) I have ever had” and you are thinking “I’ll never order this again”, do not feel bad.  Your food tasting background may be different from your friend’s experiences.  Your taste buds may have developed differently than your friend’s little taste buds.  Gourmet food is above anything else usually expensive.  A part from being expensive, your experiences with it are completely relative to the science behind your taste buds.

The foot is an intricate structure of our body that bears the entire weight from child hood to adult and even in old age. The bones in the feet make up about one-fourth of all the bones in our body. Each foot comprises 26 bones. According to medical science, it takes 33 joints, 19 muscles, 107 ligaments and innumerable tendons to hold the bones firmly in place and help them move in a variety of different ways and angles. Besides, each foot has about 125,000 sweat glands that excrete moisture all through out the day.
 
The human foot consists of:
 
- Seven thick, short, tarsal bones that forms the structure of the heel and back of the instep. 
- Five parallel metatarsal bones that form the front of the instep. These metatarsal bones spread toward the front of the foot in order to form the ball of the foot. 
- Fourteen smaller phalanges that comprises the toes. (The large toe has two, each smaller toe has three.) 
- Tough bands of innumerable tissues (ligaments) that connect the bones and hold them firmly in place. 
- The tarsal and metatarsal bones help in the formation of the two arches of the foot. 
- A thick layer of fatty tissue is present under the sole; this helps the arches to absorb and cushion the pressure and shocks of walking, running and jumping.
 
Common foot problems:
 
By the time you reach the age of 50, you will have walked approximately 75,000 miles. If you take good care of your feet, they will serve you well without much problem. If you do not, as is the tendency in most human beings, you are prone to suffer from corns, ingrown toenails and other foot related problems. According to the sensex, around 20 percent of Americans have more than one foot health problem every year. Although some problems may be inborn and may result due to some accidents, it is possible to treat and cure almost all foot related problems.
 
Corns and calluses occur when the top layer of skin gets thickened in response to pressure exerted by bone if you are wearing a tight fitting shoe. This thickened area causes irritation to the underlying skin. This gives rise to localized soreness associated with walking. Corns most commonly occur on the big toe and fifth toe. Calluses can also be found underneath ends of foot bones. Soft corns generally develop between the toes.
 
Achilles tendonitis : It causes irritation and inflammation of the tendon that takes part in attaching calf muscles to the back of the heel bone.
A bunion is an enlargement at the joint of the big toe, causing the skin over the joint to become swollen and tender making the area painful. A bunion can also occur if you are sitting cross-legged for long periods.
 
Hammertoes is a special type of toe deformity. In this case, the toes permanently bend in the middle toe joint, that makes it appear like a claw. Hammertoes are common with the second toe. It turns worse when a bunion slants the big toe toward and under it. Tight shoes can make the situation worse and more painful and can also result in forming a corn.
 
Heel pain is quite common and often associated with a growth of bone on the forepart of the heel bone. This occurs when a tendon pulls at its attachment to the heel bone. This can result in calcification to form a spur but the pain can be from a variety of causes and should be treated immediately.
 
Ingrown toenails occur when nails whose corners or sides dig painfully deep into the skin.
 
Morton's neuroma is a benign thickening of the membrane around the nerve that occurs generally between the third and fourth toes and also sometimes between the second and third toe. Tight shoes results in squeezing the foot bones together, causing pain.
 
Plantar warts look like calluses and occur on the sole of the foot. They develop the tendency to grow inward due to pressure and gives pain.
 
Stress fractures are cracks ( incomplete) in bone. They occur during high-impact activities, such as running where the muscles tire and fail to absorb shock. The muscles as a result, transfer the overload of stress to the bone, causing it to hurt and then eventually crack.
 
Fungal infections like Athlete's foot of the foot are common in hot, moist environment. This kind of weather is conducive to fungal growth. Some fungi thrive on toenails, causing problems like nail discoloration, thickening of nails and separation from the bed.
 
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the fibrous tissue that occurs at the bottom of your foot that connects the heel bone to your toes.
 
All the above mentioned conditions are curable if treated with care. You have to see a trained podiatrist to help you solve all your foot problems. Remember, the feet we stand on is one of the precious structure, since it helps to carry our body from one place to another.

The human foot is unique in structure compared to other mammals. This is because humans are biped and the human foot undergoes lot of stress. On an average a human walks more than 10,000 steps in a day, hence we can imagine the kind of stress the tissues, muscles and bones of the foot undergo everyday. It is important to take good care of your feet and visit a podiatrist periodically to prevent any problem from blowing up.
 
Some of the common problems in foot are described in the subsequent paragraphs:
 
Calluses & Corns
 
Another common problem faced my most people is corns & calluses. Both are thickening of the outer layer of the skin. Corns are located on top of the foot or between the toe-joint. Calluses are located on the bottom of the foot or on the rim of the toe or heel.
The easiest way available to reduce them is to reduce the friction. Moleskin patches, soft pads, softer shoes are also recommended. In extreme cases the tissue buildup requires a doctor's intervention. Custom made shoe inserts known as orthoses are also prescribed to reduce friction and pressure. 
 
Heel pain
 
Also known as plantarfasciitis, it is a common problem and most individuals face this problem at least once in their life time. The main cause of heel pain is flat foot. While walking if the foot flattens too much, the ligament fascia overstretches causing pain and swelling. Fascia is the ligament joining the heel to the ball of the foot.
 
On the other hand if the foot flattens too less the fascia may be pulled too tight causing pain. Pain is felt in the interiors of the foot where the heel and the arch meet. Usually painkillers are sufficient. However, in extreme cases surgically releasing the fascia may be needed to reduce the stress. Obesity and overuse of the foot may cause the tissue to tear or pull away from the bone. This is very painful and causes inflammation. The treatment usually involves cortisone, anti-inflammatory and archtaping. Physical therapy, night splints and specially designed orthoses may also be used. Exercises are recommended to stretch the tissue. Usually 6 or more months are needed to heal the tissue.
 
Problems of the Nails
 
Problems in the nails are another common problems and proper foot hygiene can help in preventing these problems. Nails sometimes become curved, infected, grooved, discolored, pitted etc. Sometimes nails fall off and a new one may grow in its place. They are generally caused due to injury, tumors under the nail, infection, congenital problems, poor foot hygiene etc. The first line of treatment is to identify the cause and treat it first before trying to tackle the nail problem.
 
Ageing is a major cause for many problems. The nails become brittle with age and many times narrow ridges or grooves are formed on the nails. The nails also become brittle and thick with age.
 
Ingrown Toe-nails
 
Almost everybody suffers from ingrown toe-nails during some or the other time in their life. The nail corners dig into the tissue of the toes leading to infection, pus formation and sometimes inflammation also. This can be treated by antibiotics and by removing the wedged toe nail by minor surgery. The surgery is done by giving local anesthesia. The main causes for ingrown toe nails are activities like sports, aerobics, work etc. 
 
Ingrown toe nails can be prevented by trimming the toe nails straight across and longer than the end of the toes. Rounding off of the corners should be avoided. Nails should be cut using toenail clippers. Smoothing the nails using files or emery boards is beneficial. The most important thing to do is to wear properly fitting shoes and not short or narrow shoes. Regularly washing feet especially between the toes is recommended.
 
Problems in Children's Feet
 
The problems in children's feet are very different compared to that of an adult because the bones of children's are very flexible and soft. This makes them very prone to twisting and distortion. The problems are further compounded as children are not aware of the problem most of the times. It is always advisable to take your children for check ups on regular basis and get confirmed that he is fit and healthy in every respect.
 
If you notice problems like knock knees or abnormal gait etc podiatrists must be consulted early on as the problems can be treated easily in childhood. The best exercise recommended by doctors is walking for children. Walking bare feet in grass is also advisable as it helps in proper alignment of the bones in the feet.Self medication should be avoided for problems and a doctor's advice should be sought. The medicine course should be completed as a general practice, always remember that if a course is not completed the medicine can have adverse effect on your child's health.

Foot care products
 
There are wide varieties of foot care products available in the market. However, it is important that you know beforehand that different products have different kind of benefits and that you don't land up in buying the wrong one for you!
 
Foot products for all foot ailments, including deodorants, anti-fungals, creams and lotions, foot baths, massagers, nail care products, and insoles, wraps, cushions, pads, splints, vitamin supplements, supports, and shoes from the best manufacturers.
 
Foot Gel
 
It is very effective for tired and weary feet. Foot gels generally contain natural Lavender as an essential oil that has a strong soothing and regenerating effect. The effect of the Lavender oil is enhanced by the A unique combination of plant extracts of Horse Chestnut and Marshmallow increases the effect of the lavender oil. It helps in better blood circulation and strengthening of the capillaries. Look out for foot gel that contains Allantoin; this helps skin hydration along with anti-inflammatory action; and Menthol, which has a strong refreshing effect.
 
Generally the foot gel is applied with slight movements on tired feet. Massage with circular movements, and then have a rest until the gel is fully absorbed.
 
Foot Care Treatment
 
It is a smart, very handy natural formula, comprised of five products, and a panacea for dry feet. The foot care program (bath, mask, scrub, foot lotion, and foot cream) gently cleanse, soften, moisturize, and refresh your feet. These five classy products work together to bring radiance to your feet and helping them rediscover the long lost sense of comfort, pride, relaxation, and well-being.
 
Foot Care Treatment is a set of five full size products:
 
Balneo Bath Salt, as the name suggests is a combination of vital sea elements that enhance blood circulation, promote cells regeneration and gives a fresh look to your tired skin thus providing an overall feeling of relaxation, comfort and well-being.
 
Purifying Salt Glow - Body Scrub helps in restoring the radiant glow and restores the skin's radiance and energy thus preparing your body to absorb other products more effectively. It is available in size 180 ml-6 fl.OZ.
 
Hydro Marine Foot Cream is an excellent moisturising natural product designed exclusively for dry, cracked feet. This special Foot Cream created is an intensive foot repair product with double action: moisturizing and antibacterial. It is available in sizes 60 ml-2 fl.OZ.
 
Mud Mask is also an effective skin care body treatment that helps in tired muscle relaxation and improves blood circulation. The mask helps in eliminating the toxin present in the deep skin pores and thus enhances blood circulation which in the long run, rejuvenates tired muscles, joints, and your cracked, dull skin. It is available in sizes 180 ml-6 fl.OZ.
 
Refresh Foot Lotion is a creamy lotion with anti-bacterial elements to rejuvenate your feet, leaving them clean, relaxed and deodorized. It is available in sizes 120 ml-4 fl.OZ.
 
The complex Foot Care set
 
This set comprises three products - Cream, Gel and Soap that contains exclusive natural components. The unique combination of essential oils is to ensure special treatment of specific micro flora of the feet.

The importance of our feet needs no emphasis. The primary function of our feet is locomotion, though we employ our feet for a variety of sports and activities like skating, skiing, football, soccer, hockey, aerobic exercises, judo, karate, kung fu, foot boxing, cycling, operating equipment like motor pedals, machinery and a variety of other activities.
 
The human foot is very peculiar in structure and design from other mammals due to the upright structure of the human body. Since the entire body's weight comes on only the lower extremity as compared to other animals where the load comes on all the four limbs, our feet are prone to stresses and may get injured easily. We take about 10,000 steps everyday on an average so we can imagine the stress coming on the bones, tissues and ligaments of the feet. 10,000 steps everyday amounts to a distance equal to 4 times the circumference of the earth in an average lifetime. Hence the importance of taking care of feet needs no emphasis.
 
Structure
 
The foot is made up of 52 bones, tendons, joints, ligaments and muscles. About a quarter of the bones of our body are in our feet. The structure and design of the foot is an engineering marvel. The foot consists of toe nails, toes, instep, sole, ball and heel.
 
Types of feet
 
Feet are classified into three types based on the area of contact with the ground. The first is the flat foot. In this kind of foot the area of contact with the ground is maximum. Flat foot can cause problems in walking or running due to stretching of a ligament in the heel. This stretching can be corrected by surgical intervention. The second type of the foot is the normal foot. In the normal foot the area of contact with the ground is in normal limits. The final type is the high arch foot. The high arch foot has the lowest contact area. To determine what type a foot is, a wet feet test is used. In this the individual steps in water and walks on the floor. The footsteps are then studied to determine the type of foot.
 
Do's and Dont's
 
Today, in the market a large variety of foot gear are available. The purpose of footwear is not only protection of the foot but also comfort in carrying out activities. Footwear has become a major fashion accessory. The footgear consists mostly of two items namely the shoes and the socks. Shoes are made of harder material to protect the sole and softer material on the upper part of the foot. Socks or stockings are generally made of nylon. They are used for protection of the skin and covering the skin from direct contact with the shoe inner surface.
 
Shoe purchase should be done in the evenings. This is because in the evenings the foot is at the largest size. During daytime the feet are not completely spread but by evening the feet expand in size. This expansion is not noticed by naked eye but can make a difference between comfortable shoes and tight shoes.
 
Many people suffer from smelly feet. To avoid this use socks or stockings made of cotton. Remember to wash your socks on a regular basis otherwise the sweat trapped in your socks will produce bacteria, therefore the next time you wear the same pair of socks will have the bacteria acting on your feet and giving rise to a foul odour. Nylon stockings are the number one cause of smelly feet. Also purchase shoes which are airy and which breathe. To reduce smelly feet use the shoes only when necessary. Also using footwear like sandals or slippers will help in reducing smelly feet. The shoe material should preferably of leather or canvas as they allow ventilation inside the shoe.
 
While purchasing shoes always remember comfort should come prior to style. High heel shoes are also cause of many foot problems. High heeled shoes are preferred by many women because they look aesthetically appealing as well as the wearer looks taller than normal. Also high heels give shape to the legs and back side so that the wearer looks curvier than normal. However when women shift from high heels to normal shoes many times problems of shortening of Achilles tendon is observed. The long term use of high heeled shoes causes shortening of the Achilles tendon. Hence when the person switches to normal shoes this causes pain in the heels due to stretching of the Achilles tendon. Hence high heeled shoes should be worn only when required or as occasion demands and not as a regular practice or just for fashion on a regular basis.

Sportsmen know how a simple problem gets magnified over time and eventually has major consequences if ignored- especially problems of the feet. Usually, this symptom occurs, when a blister affects the gait or due to pain in heel spur or weakened muscles that can cause an imbalance in the body's mechanics. The biomechanics of the feet are very important as this affects the entire body and frequently result in back ache. Further, our feet are one of the most stressed parts of the body and any small problem aggravates into a major problem within a short period. So, you have to be very careful while treating with your foot problem.
 
Biomechanics is the study of the mechanics of a living body where forces are exerted by muscles due to the gravitational forces on the skeletal structure of a living body. The biomechanics of foot is complicated and by all standards our feet can be considered an engineering marvel. The foot is composed of 26 bones. There are 33 synovial joints to make the feet more flexible. Nearly 20 muscles manage control of the foot's movements. The foot tendons are similar to stretcheble rubber bands between the bones and muscles. When the muscles contract, the tendons pull the bones. The foot comprises more than hundred ligaments that connect bone to bone and cartilage to bone and, it also hold the whole structure together. Every step you walk or run, your feet are subjected to a force of two to three times your body weight, which makes the feet prone to injury.
  
The big toe helps to maintain balance of the body while the little toes function like a springboard. The metatarsal bones in the foot give a firm grip while the two outer metatarsal bones help us to on uneven surfaces.
 
Podiatrists classify feet into three categories flat feet, normal feet and arched feet. There have been studies that indicate that children who wear shoes continuously have a higher tendency to develop flat feet during adulthood. Flat feet have higher surface area contact with the ground than the other two. Approximately 20 to 30% of the people have flat feet, so it should not be a cause of worry until unless they are causing foot or heel pain.
 
Biomechanical Problems & Prevention
 
The way we make our body movements help an orthopedist or podiatrist determine and analyze whether there is a mechanical misalignment and if so, how it can be corrected. These specialists gauge your problem by also evaluating your walking and running gait.
 
A low arch or flat foot can cause knee, hip and back pain. When one of the foot-arch flattens more, that inner ankle tends to move closer to the ground. This results in hip rotating downward and backward. This can lead to shortening of a leg during walking and running. The body adapts the muscles, tendons, ligaments accordingly however the joints are stretched to their limit. The arms, shoulders, the backbone and muscles all play a major role in alignment thus supporting the body balance.
 
Localized stresses can cause inflammation in the feet and often is the cause of back ache and body pain. Walking or running on unbalanced and uneven feet can also result in fatigue and pain.
 
The longer you keep a good form by hiking, running, biking, or paddling, the better your chances of not injuring yourself due to a biomechanical problem. The best way to keep healthy is to train wisely and cautiously whatever may be the discipline. It can be anything from running, mountaineering, taekwondo to foot boxing. Ensure yourself that your shoes are not worn down. It is prudent to replace them before they lose their support and cushion. Always wear good insoles to balance the foot and provide good heel and arch support and alignment. Strengthen your ankles and knees with specific exercises. Do upper body exercises to strength your abs, back and shoulders. Do arms exercises for maintaining balance and proper form. Learn your body's weak points and find exercises to strengthen those muscles and joints.
 
Walking more than required also cause stress in the joints thus straining the muscles. It further makes the feet susceptible to hot spots, blisters, and lead to problems like stubbed toes, sprains and strains. For effective walking possessing good quality of shoes, socks, and insoles are important. Any one of these three can cause feet problems if they are ill fitting. You must give special attention to your shoes as well, think that shoes are not simply for fashion, they are to give protection and to keep your feet muscles healthy and strong at the same time.
 
Every person at one or the other time can become a victim to biomechanical problems. To avoid biomechanical problems, regular exercise and properly fitting shoes are the only long term solution.

The term podiatrist refers to a professional who is involved in the study and medical treatment of the lower extremity. The term lower extremity involves thighs, legs, ankle and foot. Podiatry is a popular medical specialty and is practiced in most countries. The term podiatrist originated in northern America and is in use in most English speaking countries.
 
History
 
Orthopaedics and Podiatry are the two fields which have been involved in the care of the foot. Podiatry has the origin from Hippocrates. Hippocrates described corns and calluses and invented skin scrapers and scalpels to remove them. Chiropodists until the 18th century practiced independent of physicians and medical professional. A need was felt to encompass podiatry into the medical profession and the first school of podiatry was opened in 1911 at New York. Both the world wars saw huge number of casualties especially in the limbs. This gave a push to the field of podiatry and the number of podiatrists increased to a large extent. Further, podiatrists came to be known to the general public over the last century and today they have gained a major significance in the world of medical science.
 
Education
 
In the US training for podiatric physicians, podiatric surgeons and podiatrists is begun by first completing advanced study in any podiatric medical school. The first degree awarded for podiatrists is Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Degree (D.P.M). After completion of DPM the individual can opt for further study and training in Podiatric surgery.
 
To obtain the DPM degree the individual has to undergo four years of undergraduate university training and subsequently complete four years of medical training in any podiatric medicine school. Hospital training is usually conducted from the 2nd to the 4th year. To obtain a state or provincial license the individual has to undergo additional residency training. The residency training program usually is between two to three years. Additional fellowship training in a subspecialty may be taken up by the individual.
 
The initial four year in a podiatric medical school comprises training which is similar to tradition medical (MD) program with emphasis on foot, ankle and lower extremity.
 
The residency consists of rotation through areas of medicine like General surgery, orthopedic, pediatric, medicine emergency, podiatry etc. The surgical training usually consists of foot surgery, ankle and leg reconstruction, foot salvage etc.
 
A podiatrist can independently diagnose, treat and prescibe medicines, as well as carry out surgery for disorders of the foot. Podiatrists can obtain three types of board certification. The board certification for primary care and orthopedics is the non surgical board certification. There are two types of surgical board certifications. These are rear foot and ankle reconstruction and foot surgery. The surgical board certification requires a minimum of three year residency. The applicants have to submit their surgical cases to the board. The board scrutinizes the cases in detail. The applicants have to appear a written and oral examination. After qualifying these requirements a board certification is given to the applicant. The pass rate for the board certification is very low due to the rigorous nature of the examinations.
 
Job opportunities
 
A need for podiatrists is expected to rise at a slow rate by the US department of labour and bureau of labor statistics. Podiatrists need a state license to practice and the requirements are as laid down in the earlier paragraphs. Post doctoral fellowship is available for podiatrists in areas such as diabetic wound care, orthopedic surgery, dermatology etc. In the armed forces Podiatrists are commissioned officers and in the veterans' affairs sytem, they even serve as department heads. The practice income is relatively high for most podiatrists.
 
Colleges
 
In the United States there are eight colleges dealing with podiatric medicine. The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM) governs these colleges. The colleges are :
New York College of Podiatric Medicine
California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College
Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Des Moines University
Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine
Arizona Podiatric Medicine Program at Midwestern University
Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine
 
There are colleges outside the US which teach podiatry to undergraduates. The colleges in Australia are wellknown for podiatry. Some of them are :
University of South Australia
University of Newcastle
Queensland University of Technology
Charles Sturt University
University of Western Australia
Latrobe University
 
However it may be noted that the degree holders in podiatry from UK and Australia are not eligible for licensure in the US as they are considered of lesser level of education than DPM.
 
It is always advisable to get first hand information and second hand information about any college if you are planning to specialize in podiatry.

Foot is an important structure of the human body and its primary function is locomotion. Compared to the feet of other mammals, the human foot has specialized to take the load on the hind due to the upright posture of the human body. An average human being walks about 10,000 steps in a day and walks an equivalent of around 4 times the circumference of earth in his lifetime. Hence, it is prudent that you take good care of your feet if you want them to give you no trouble.
 
1. Parts & types. The foot consists of ligaments, joints, tendons, muscles and 52 bones. The foot contains about 25 percent of the bones of our body. The foot consists of heel, sole, ball, instep, toes and toe nails. Generally feet are classified into three types. A wet feet test is used to determine the type of feet. The three types are flat foot, high arch foot and the normal foot. The difference between the three is the percentage area of contact of the feet with the ground. The flat foot has the highest percentage contact area and the high arch foot has the least percentage contact area. Most people have normal feet.
 
2.  Common problems.  Unlike other mammals, in humans, the entire body's weight comes on two feet. Hence the feet have to undergo more stresses and are prone to foot pains and inflammation. The common disorders of the feet include, Club foot, Flat feet, Morton's Neuroma, Athlete's foot, Morton's Neuroma, Callus, Verruca (plantar wart) and Bunion. All these disorders can only be overcome by medical treatment. However the most common problem with feet is inflammation and pain. Invariably the cause of this is wrong shoes and improper walking gait.
 
3. Foot care. To take good care of your feet all you need to do is to take simple precautions in your daily life. The first and foremost is to get a good pair of shoes. Purchase shoes in the evenings because feet spread and swell in the evenings and are the largest at that time. Hence, if you buy a shoe in the evening, it will be comfortable to use for all times during the day. Try both the shoes on you, as most people have the right foot larger than the left foot. Walk a few steps and check if the new shoes fit properly and are comfortable or not. Ensure that the shoes have arch support and good insoles so that the pressure comes on a larger area.
 
The material of shoes should be preferably leather or canvas because these are natural materials and allow your feet to "breathe". If you are purchasing shoes made of synthetic material ensure that the shoes allow for air circulation. The feet consist of a large number of sweat glands. The feet sweat to cool the skin and tissues of the feet. The cooling takes place by evaporation of the sweat. However most shoes do not allow this sweat to evaporate which causes the socks and shoes to emit an unpleasant odor. The unpleasant odor is not due to the sweat itself but due to a type of bacteria known as brevibacteria. Brevibacteria feed on the dead skin especially between the toes and soles. They convert the dead skin into methanethiol which has an unpleasant odor.
 
To prevent this odor you have to purchase shoes with good ventilation as well as wear cotton socks. Nylon socks do not allow the feet to breathe and are one of the common causes of feet odor. People who have excess foot perspiration it helps to expose feet to sunlight and frequently taking of shoes to allow sweat to evaporate.
 
A special mention of high heeled shoes for women needs to be made because of the frequent problem in women's feet due to high heeled shoes. High heeled shoes are not ideal for long walks or use through out the day. Long-term use of high-heeled shoes shortens the Achilles tendon. Hence when women shift from high heeled shoes to flat shoes they get pain in the back of the heel due to stretching of the tendon. The guiding rule for purchase of shoes should be comfort before style.
 
Dry skin is another common problem in feet. For this, wash your feet regularly in warm water. Hot water should never be used to wash the feet as hot water washes away vital oils from the skin making it prone to dryness. Do not soak your feet more than ten minutes in water. Dry them thoroughly, and frequently apply moisturizers.
 
Other precautions that need to be taken care of include cutting nails in a proper manner. Do not cut nails too short as this may result in infections. If your feet hurt regularly and is persisting you should approach a doctor for medical care.

There are about as many dog food differences in the pet food market, as there are breeds of dogs. Most canine owners do not have a clue what is really in the dog food that they are feeding their pets. But this is not their fault completely. Most of the labels on both the crunchy-types and the can dog food are very misleading, even to the point of being deceitful.
 
If you are in the habit of purchasing the major commercially prepared premium brands, you might consistently find items like feathers, sawdust, dehydrated pig excreta, rodent hairs and the like. Are you surprised? They are listed on the label and yet the dog food companies have found creative wording to get around it, and get it through the standard AAFCO testing. But don't let the strict standards of this organization fool you. AAFCO does not produce any regulations on dog food differences that could be expected in production.
 
They monitor only the condition that a certain percentage of dogs tested live at least six months after the initial testing of the product. That is the standard, not the quality or the differences that could be available in the food for pets.

Choosing savory dog food for you pet will not only please his taste pallet, but it will provide for him the nutrients and the qualities of food that he needs to have to stay healthy. Like people, animals need to have a balanced diet. But, you probably will not have your pet eating a green salad for dinner. There are some foods on the market that are better for you then others. Still, when considering the foods for your pet, you should also know that you don't have to spend a fortune on it either. In fact, pet food can be both healthy and affordable.
 
What To Look For
 
When it comes to pet food, you will want to look for several things in the food that will make it better for your pet. Just like you look at the labels of the foods you eat (or you should!) you should do the same for your pet. Remember this important note when looking at the ingredients. The first ingredients listed are in the highest concentration in the food. As the list goes on, the ingredients are in their in less percentages.
 
Look for these qualities in the foods that you choose:
 
Protein is the main base of most animal's diets. Your dog should be getting a good percentage of his diet in this category. Your dog will need about 40% of his energy to come from proteins. Make sure that the foods that you feed your pet do not start with things like rice, but actually have meats in them. Also, the protein should be high in quality and not fatty. It should be highly absorbable to their digestion.
 
Amino acids. You need these too. They will aid in the digestion of the foods that he eats. Dogs can not produce this on their own like other animals can. So, the pet's diet should provide it for him. This will help him to have more energy and be in a better mood too.
 
Joints are important aspects in your pet's well being. There are several things that your dog's pet food can provide to aid in the joint health of the animal. Look for Glucosamine which will help with keeping joints flexible and help with impact resistances. Look for Green Lipped Mussel also known as GLM which can help any animal that has joint pain.
 
When it comes to providing your pet with the highest quality of food, do not assume that the best foods are those that cost more. Some of the highest priced dog food can not provide for your pet the nutrients that he needs to maintain a healthy diet. It is often the case that people think that they are spending money wisely on high priced foods but instead they are simply wasting it. The best thing for you to do is to look at the ingredients listed. Choose foods that are the type of food your dog likes, such as wet or dry, and provide him with the highest quality that you can afford based on the ingredients in it. Savory dog food will provide them with a high quality of all of these aspects.

Are you considering becoming a dog breeder? If you think that this is something that you can do without problem, think again. There are many aspects to breeding your pet that you need to consider. In most cases, breeders do not make much money, if anything at all. Consider these aspects about being dog breeders before you make any moves.
 
Dog breeds are all quite different. There is only one true reason for you to spend the money to breed your pet. That is that the dog breed should be bettered somehow by you doing so. Most pets have poor qualities such as health issues, temperament problems or other such things that are not good qualities to pass on. Breeding, then, should only happen when there is a benefit to breeding the two animals to better the dog breed. This should only be done by professionals.
 
Consider the animals that do not have homes as it is. Really, the world does not need more pets that will not have homes. If you plan on selling your pups, you may be surprised to learn that there are many just like you that now have litters of pups with no place to put them. It can be difficult to find homes to your pets, even when they are AKC pups.
 
Time and money should be very high on your list of concerns when it comes to breeding dogs. You will need to invest time in helping in the delivery, time spent up all night taking care of them, time spent caring for sick animals, feedings, cleanings.the list goes on and on.
 
As for money, you are likely not to make anything off of your efforts. Consider the average litter has six dogs. That is six dogs that need to be seen by a vet, vaccinated, dewormed, declawed, and fed for the first six weeks of their life. Should one of them be sick or need surgery (including the mother) you are talking about even more money spent. And, what if they don't sell?
 
Dog breeding does not help your pet to become a more social or loving pet. It does not settle them down or provide for any psychological benefit. In fact, to do this, you should have your pet spayed or neutered instead.
 
Also, realize that you are not going to get an exact replica of your pet. Just like humans, it is a mix of the dog's ancestors that will show.
 
Dog breeds should be benefited in some way when two animals are bred. The dog breed should be benefited by a coupling of animals that are ideally matched and offer the highest level of personality, health and temperament. Anything less then this and you are not doing anyone a favor and you certainly do not care for your dog's breed. Dog breeding is better left to the professionals that know just what to do, how to do it and can afford to handle things that go wrong. More then likely, your dog will thank you for it too.

Dog hair care is essential to the well being of your pet. You love your animal and you should spend just a few minutes a week to provide your pet with what he needs from you: grooming help. Simply curl up in front of a television program with your dog in front of you and work through his coat to provide him with the grooming he needs and the attention that he loves to have.
 
First off, you should know what to look for. The care that you will give your dog's hair is essentially going to provide him with a clean, shiny coat as well as provide you with a way to monitor your dog's health. When you are grooming him, you will want to look for nits, fleas, ticks or even just irritations of the skin. By doing this, you will help to catch any problems before they become big problems for your animal and for you.
 
Tips To Help
 
Here are some tips to help you to properly care for your dog's coat.

Strengthening exercises for the foot, as well as the ankle and toes help prevent injuries and also help in speedy recovery from an injury. However, it is advised that, you should discontinue any weight-bearing exercises the moment you experience pain.
 
Here are some effective strengthening exercises:
 
Things that you need:
Floor mat/ carpet
Free weights (you can chose hand-weights anything between 3 and 14 lbs.  -depending on your capacity)
Bench
Towel
Marbles
It is recommended that you consult your doctor prior to starting these foot strengthening exercises. These exercises help in the building up of your body muscles, increase the bone density and accelerate metabolism.
 
Keep in mind to do the exercises as per the given order and practice it at least twice a week. It takes 45 minutes each day to do the exercises. If you cannot devote so much time then try to do the exercises 4 times a week by breaking the order equally.
 
Try to perform each exercise in 2 sets of 10 repetitions with a short interval in between:
 
Chest Press
Lie on your back on the bench as you take the weights in your hand and keep your arms in line with your shoulders. Make a slow, controlled movement as you press your arms to a fully extended position, then back down slowly to the starting position.
 
Row
Place your right hand and right knee on a bench. Then place your left foot on the floor and let the left hand hang down with a hand-weight. Make sure that your back is laid flat and parallel to the ground. Now, slowly pull the weight up to your shoulder and squeeze your shoulder blades as you deep breathe in. Then breathe out and slowly return to the starting position. Repeat on the opposite side.
 
Abdominal Crunch
Lie on your and bent your knees and feet on the floor. Cross your arms across your chest and try to reach your hands to the opposite shoulders. Slowly move your head to look up at the ceiling, but keep your neck relaxed. Now carefully contract your abdominal muscles in order to lift the shoulders off the floor and try to hold the crunch at least for a 2-count. Then relax as you bring the shoulders back to the floor. Try initially with 10 repetitions, but target to build up to 20.
** If you require additional resistance, you can move your hands up beside your ears with your elbows out to the sides. Place your feet up on a bench or sofa.
 
Side Crunch
To start with, it is same as the abdominal crunch. Lie on the floor with your knees bent and arms across your chest with hands on opposite shoulders. Again, move your head to look up at the ceiling. Contract your abdominal muscles and lift your shoulders off the floor. As you reach this position, twist in a manner so that your right elbow goes toward the left knee. Count till 10. Then slowly get back to the original position and relax. Repeat 10 times in each direction.
 
**For additional resistance, follow the above method.
 
Biceps Curl
Spread apart your legs as you sit on a bench. See that your right elbow is placed inside your right knee. Now rest the right arm on top of the left knee. Hold the weight in your left hand and keep the arms straight (just inside the left knee). Slowly bend the left arm up until the weight is up at the shoulder. Now slowly return to the starting position. Repeat the set on the right arm.
 
Overhead Press
Bend your knees slightly as you stand with your legs wide apart. Fold both the arms and hold the weights so that they are at the shoulder level. Take the hand-weights in both the hands. Now, slowly extend both the arms straight up overhead, without bending your elbows. Count till 10. Now slowly return to the starting position. 
 
Toe exercise
This exercise will help to strengthen and tighten the metatarsal arch in your feet thereby stretching the tendons on top of the toes. Try to pick picking up marbles with your toes or put a towel on the floor and use your toes to grip the towel and pick it up.
 
Ankle exercise
In order to strengthen your ankles, stand straight. Now, place one foot straight on the ground and with the other leg bend the knee as if you are ready to take a step. Stay in this position for at least 30 seconds trying to hold the balance without tipping off. Try to increase it up to few minutes. As you master it, close your eyes and try to do they same exercise without any vision. It is harder to maintain balance with eyes closed but you can keep practicing. This is the best exercise for the ankles.

Providing an all natural dog treat to your pet will do two things. It will give him a tasty snack that he is sure to love and it will give him something that is good for him. Just like children, it is important for you to give your pet the best of the best in quality foods. You should always take the time to check out what is in the foods that you give your pet, just as you would your own foods. This will help you to insure that his health stays as high as it can be.
 
In the dog treat category, you will want to look for several things in the treats that you give to your pet. Many times, you will find a box of dog biscuits to be a choice, but this does not mean that there is anything in these foods to help benefit your animal. Instead of just giving him anything, give him the foods that you know he will love.
 
Natural foods, treats and otherwise, should have the following characteristics:
 
There should not be any filler in the foods, no salts, no dyes, and no preservatives in it.
 
They should be made of foods that you recognize. For example, many of the best in quality will have multiple grains, herbs, and vegetables. They should have real meats in them too. Look for pureed meats such as beef, chicken and eggs. There should not be any by products in the foods.
 
Meat grades should be high. In the best products, they will be human graded meats.
 
Herbs that are present in the food should be high in quality. Powdered herbs are less expensive, but they are also a healthier alternative. One specific one to look for is that of garlic. When whole garlic is used instead of powders, your pet will have the added bonuses of elimination of intestinal parasites, the ability to repel fleas and easier to digest foods.
 
Whole foods should be use such as whole grains and whole eggs. 
Providing your dog with high quality foods is essential for his health. When you purchase food at the pet shop, you should not assume that the highly expensive foods are the best options. You should not assume that the least expensive foods are okay, though. You should be looking for a medium grade food that is ideal for your pet's health. Look for foods that provide these qualities and you will know your pet is getting a good quality diet.
 
When it comes to giving your dog treats, these too should be carefully considered. You would not want to eat an artificially flavored product nor would you like to eat something that is bad for your health. You should want to provide natural foods to your pet in the form of snacks. The good news is that they do not have to be hard to digest by your wallet either. All natural dog treat products are available to help you get the best of both worlds.