Health Tips for July 9

Health Tip: Negative Body Image Can Affect Your Health

Your body image describes your appearance and the way you see yourself.

This isn't a superficial concept, warns Planned Parenthood. The group says a negative body image, if severe enough, can:

• Increase your risk of depression and anxiety.
• Trigger feelings of low self-esteem.
• Make it difficult for you to concentrate.
• Lead you to engage in risky behavior.
• Lead to social isolation.
• Spawn mental health issues, such as an eating disorder.
• Lead you to avoid a healthy lifestyle, including eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise.

Health Tip: Stretch Your Feet

Little else feels better than a good foot massage or stretch.

The American Podiatric Medical Association offers these suggestions for keeping your feet happy and healthy:

• Stretch your arch, either by placing a towel around the ball of your foot and gently pulling with your hands, or by standing in front of a wall and slightly leaning forward until you feel your arches stretch.
• Strengthen toes by placing a toe separator between them and squeezing toes together for five seconds; do it 10 times. Or, wrap toes with a rubber band and spread against the resistance.
• Grab a golf ball or other similar-sized ball, and place it on the floor under your bare feet. Gently roll it around under your feet.
• Stand up on the balls of your feet and hold for five seconds; do this 10 times.
• Stand with feet flat, then one at a time lift your heel from the floor and roll weight into the ball of your with your toes pointing down. Flex your foot, hold, and repeat on each foot.