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3 Healthy Picnic Recipes for Memorial Day

Memorial Day has long been the unofficial beginning of summer. The first warm 3-day weekend of the year. The first day you can break out those white shoes. And, like so many other American holidays, Memorial Day means food, and lots of it. Here are three healthy, and delicious alternatives to your old picnic standbys

Healthy memorial day recipesCourse 1: Farro and Spring Vegetable Salad with Feta

This is a killer seasonal salad. Take advantage of the bounties of spring and even include the Italian superfood farro.

Ingredients:

For the parsley-mint dressing:

  • 2 bunches fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 cup fresh mint leaves
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the salad:

  • 1 small fennel bulb, trimmed, halved, cored and very thinly sliced lengthwise
  • 1 bunch baby carrots peeled and halved lengthwise
  • 1 bunch asparagus, very thinly sliced on the bias into 2-inch pieces
  • 2 to 3 oz. tender pea tendrils
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
  • 1 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 cups farro
  • 2 teaspoon salt, plus more, to taste
  • 1/2 cup English peas
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
  • 1/4 cup diced Meyer lemon
  • 1/2 cup sugar snap peas, cut on the bias into 1/4-inch strips
  • Freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • Fresh lemon juice, to taste, plus 2 tablespoons
  • 4 oz. French feta cheese, crumbled

Directions:
To make the dressing, in a blender, combine the parsley leaves (leave the stems behind), mint, garlic, lemon juice, a pinch of salt and half of the olive oil. Start the blender on low, then rapidly increase the speed to high while slowly adding the remaining olive oil. Adjust consistency by adding olive oil. Adjust seasoning to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice.

To make the salad, in a large saucepan over medium heat, warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the onion and thyme, stirring often, and cook until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the dry farro and cook, stirring, until the grains are lightly toasted and coated with the oil, about 2 minutes. Add 10 cups water and 2 teaspoons of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the farro is tender and just cooked through, about 30 minutes. Drain the farro and transfer to a baking sheet. Let cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, have ready a bowl of ice water. Bring a saucepan of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the English peas and cook until just tender, about 1 minute. Transfer to the ice water, then drain and dry on paper towels.

In a large bowl, combine the farro, mint, diced lemon, sugar snap peas and English peas and toss with 1/2 cup of the parsley-mint dressing. In a separate large bowl, combine the fennel, carrots, pea tendrils and asparagus and toss with 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1/4 cup olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.

Spoon the farro onto a large platter. Arrange the fennel mixture on top and sprinkle with the cheese. Serves 6 to 8.
Source: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/farro-and-spring-vegetable-salad-with-feta.html

Healthy Memorial Day BurgersCourse 2: Fresh Salmon Burgers

Fire up the grill, but skip the fatty beef patties. Try these lean, omega-3-rich fresh salmon burgers. They’re quick and easy!

Ingredients:

  • 1 slice white bread
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 pounds salmon fillet
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons fresh dill or thyme, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Sour Cream

Directions:
First, soak bread in milk until soft, about three minutes. Meanwhile, coarsely chop salmon, and place in a food processor. Pulse several times until roughly chopped. Add bread and milk, salt, 2 tablespoons of thyme, Dijon mustard and black pepper. Pulse several times until well blended.

Form salmon mixture into 4 to 6 patties, and place on a lightly oiled plate. Grill burgers over medium-hot coals (or on a grill pan over medium-high heat) 3 to 5 minutes or until done. Serve on a bun with sour cream and a light sprinkle of fresh dill.
Source: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/fresh-salmon-burgers-10000001611642/

Healthy Memorial Day DessertsCourse 3: Peach Angel Dessert

Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to skip dessert. Try this lighter fruit-centric gem at your Memorial Day gathering.

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup peach, apricot or orange gelatin powder
  • 1 loaf-shaped angel food cake (10-1/2 ounces)
  • 1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese
  • 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fat-free milk
  • 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed
  • 3 cups sliced peeled fresh or frozen unsweetened sliced peaches, thawed

Directions:
In a small saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Gradually whisk in water and corn syrup until smooth. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in gelatin until dissolved. Cool to room temperature, stirring several times.

Cut angel food cake into nine slices. Line an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. dish with the slices; set aside. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Gradually beat in milk. Set aside 1/3 cup of the whipped topping for garnish. Fold remaining whipped topping into cream cheese mixture; spread over cake. Top with peaches. Pour gelatin mixture over peaches.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Cut into squares. Top each piece with about 1 teaspoon of reserved whipped topping. Serves 15.
Source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Peach-Angel-Dessert

Share these goodies with your friends and family this Memorial Day. Not only will you have something uniquely delicious, your potluck creations will be uniquely healthy.

5 Benefits of a Good Night’s Rest

benefits of sleepingThe elusive ‘good night’s sleep’ is something we all long for. But, of course, life often gets in the way. Work, kids, booze and caffeine can be brutal enemies of the sandman. While you may know the reason for your lack of sleep, you might not know what you’re robbing yourself of. Here are five benefits of a good night’s sleep.

You’ll stay skinny.

The weight loss industry is a HUGE money-maker. But what if staying slim was as simple as sleeping well? Meet leptin and ghrelin--hormones that regulate your appetite and, more importantly, hormones disrupted by lack of sleep. That means if you don’t get enough shut-eye, you’ll be reaching for extra snacks all day long and increasing your waistline.

You’ll be less stressed.

When you don’t get enough sleep, your body goes on the defensive. In other words, you’re physically stressed. A body under stress means higher blood pressure which eventually can lead to heart attacks and strokes. In a cruel twist of fate, that stress can also make it harder to sleep. Exercise and various relaxation techniques are stress-busters that can help you rest.

You'll look more attractive

Beauty sleep is no myth. In 2010, the British Medical Journal published a study in which they photographed people in two different states: sleep deprived and well-rested. A large public panel reviewed the photos and overwhelmingly rated the well-rested more attractive. That shouldn’t come as a surprise; we’ve all looked in the mirror after a short night’s sleep and been less than happy with what we see. The good news? Your skin recovers quickly. So, get some rest tonight, and you’ll see the results tomorrow.

You'll be a winner

If you’re an athlete--even just a weekend warrior--sleep is hugely important. While you’re resting, muscle tissue that you’ve broken down through exercise is rebuilt even stronger. So, get up early and pump that iron, but get to bed early too and your body will thank you for it.

You'll remember things clearly

While your body is resting, your brain is doing anything but. Something called ‘memory consolidation’ happens while you sleep. In other words, your mind is processing memories and making links between events that will help you recollect all you’ve learned and experienced throughout the day. Take something like learning a foreign language. Researchers have found that language learners who get plenty of sleep have greater success. In a way, you’ll be involuntarily ‘practicing’ the language in slumber. Talk about multitasking!

‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead’ say the perpetually tired and always busy. Well, a good night’s sleep is definitely not a waste of time. It makes the awake parts of life that much better.

Flip Flop Danger!

As the warm months approach, many of us want to get out of our stuffy shoes and socks and enjoy our sandals.  This is a great idea, and sandals are a fine option if they offer support and cushioning to the feet.  However, flip flops pose many dangers to the feet, as they offer no support.  Some podiatric studies have found that they can be as bad or worse than going barefoot due to the amount of pressure that the foot gets when wearing them.  Interestingly, our toes often grab the bottoms of the flip flops to keep them on when walking.  This can worsen toe deformities such as hammer toes but can also cause irritation of the surrounding areas like the plantar plate, capsules, and nerves
going to and around our toes.

Flip flops lead to many dangers during the warm months of the year.  First, they offer no support of the arch or the rearfoot (heel).  This can lead to tendon pain (tendonitis), muscle soreness (myositis), or heel and arch pain (typically, plantar fasciiits) because the foot is not properly supported.  Second, because of the lack of support and
stability, people are more prone to twisting the foot or ankle when wearing flip flops.  This leads to ankle sprains and even fractures, or broken bones.

Finally, flip flops can get caught under our feet or objects (playground equipment, etc), and this can lead to cuts, sores, lacerations, and serious
injuries to the skin and underlying structures.

Therefore, when buying spring and summer shoes, it is important to make smart choices.  Look for a
supportive sandal that you cannot bend or twist.  There should be some cushioning and support for the arch on the bottom.  Additionally, straps that do not allow the foot to move around when walking are essential for support.  Finally, it is important to make sure that none of the areas are rubbing on the foot and causing irritation.

Dr. Bender is a podiatrist for Advanced Physical Medicine and practices at the Oak Park and Chicago/63rd locations.  She
loves helping people make good choices for their feet!  Dr. Bender has been in practice since 2001, when she finished her podiatric residency at North Chicago VA, St. Joesph Hospital, and St. Anthony Hospital.  To schedule your appointment with her, call 708-763-0580 or 773-776-3166.

3 Tips to Prevent Foot and Ankle Injuries this Summer

As the weather improves and temperatures rise, many of us are eager to get
outside for running, biking, walking, or to enjoy a variety of outdoor sports.
Being active is a great way to keep our bodies healthy.

However, it is important to keep some key things in mind to prevent foot and ankle injuries that could hinder our summer fun!

1.  Proper Shoes

It is essential to wear supportive shoe gear when exercising.  The shoes should not be bendable or twistable and that the heel portion should be rigid.  Sandals, flip flops, and
shoes without a back do not provide enough support and can cause serious
injuries.  Wearing these does not allow for the foot to be supported and does
not adequately control abnormal rear foot motion which can lead to
injuries.

2.  Stretching

Stretching is part of a healthy work out program.  Before exercising, it is essential to stretch.  Beginning a run or a game of volleyball without stretching can lead to tendon injuries, especially. For ideas about what stretches would be best for you, Dr. Bender or the
Advanced Physical Medicine Physical Therapy Department can outline a plan that
would be good for your exercise plans.  Additionally, we can train you on how to
perform the stretches.

3.  Hydration

Drinking enough water keeps our bodies properly hydrated and nourished so that we can exercise longer and more effectively.

Finally, if you do injure yourself while exercising, it is important to make a podiatry appointment to get your foot or ankle injury treated immediately.  Dr. Bender practices at the Oak Park and 63rd St./Chicago locations of Advanced Physical Medicine.  She has been in practice since 2001 and treats all conditions of the foot and ankle.  Please call 708-763-0580 or 773-776-3166 for your appointment.

5 Ways To Tell If You Have A Bad Personal Trainer

Reasons why you have a Bad Personal TrainerIn the never-ending quest towards fitness, a little guidance and encouragement can be a huge help. That’s exactly what a great personal trainer can provide. But not all PTs are created equal. In fact, many trainers are frighteningly under-certified and under-experienced. Beware of these 5 personal trainer warning signs.

1. Your trainer pressures you to purchase vitamins and supplements.

You deal with it at your barber or hairstylist: shelves of overpriced hair products subtly suggested each time you get you coiffure maintenanced. But that’s only once every month or two. When you’re spending a couple days a week with a trainer, the last thing you need is pressure to spend more money on the latest fitness formula. You’ll discover this a lot in the huge gym franchises because the trainers themselves are getting pressure from their bosses. Still, it’s not something you need to deal with. Sure, your trainer can and should make recommendations if necessary, but the hard sell is obnoxious.

2. Your trainer does anything besides train you.

That means no daydreaming while their spotting you. That means no scoping out eye candy across the room. That means no phone calls. That means no chit chat with other trainers. You’re spending good money, and you deserve complete and undivided attention.

3. Your trainer doesn’t keep records.

This is a big one. Simply put: a good trainer will keep track of everything. Your trainer should be toting a clipboard and jotting down what exercises you did, how much weight you lifted, how many reps/sets you did and how your measurements are changing. Like a chef developing a brand new recipe, if you don’t know what’s working and what’s not, how will you get the best results?

4. Your trainer uses cookie-cutter workout plans.

Everybody is different, so is every body. Some of us are shorter, taller, fatter, leaner, more flexible or stiffer than our fellow fitness hopefuls. Thus, every workout plan needs to be specifically tailored for the individual. If your trainer immediately prescribes a regiment without getting to know the specifics of you and your body, it is time to find a new trainer. At 75-plus dollars an hour, it is not too much to ask that your trainer design a workout program just for you.

5. Your trainer disrespects the non-personally trained

Not everyone needs a personal trainer. There is plenty of room at the gym for everyone, including those who aren’t paying a professional. If your trainer insists that you bogart multiple machines or weights at one time, limiting what’s available to others, chances are that disrespect will eventually trickle down to you. Of all people, someone who works in a gym should know proper gym etiquette.

There is absolutely no reason you should put up with a less-than-awesome personal trainer. If that guy or gal you’re paying to push you to the next level of fitness isn’t the right fit, find someone else. There are plenty of great ones out there.

3 Deadly Medical Practices of the 19th and 20th Centuries

Hippocrates wrote his ‘oath’ for doctors sometime around 500 B.C. The oath, still taken in some capacity by 98% of American medical school graduates, declares an intent for honest and ethical medical practice. To be sure, most medical professionals, then and now, have good intentions. But good intentions aren’t always enough. Obviously, medicine has come a long way since the Greek innovators of millenniums past, but it’s even come a long way in the last century. Here are 3 deadly medical practices of the late 1800s and early 1900s.

1. Cocaine

Medical Solutions of 19th centurySherlock Holmes would have loved the plethora of powder and rolled up dollar bills at Studio 54. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famously brilliant storybook detective often injected cocaine to cure his boredom between cases. The difference? In the days of disco, the drug was definitely outlawed, but in the late 19th century it was touted as a medical marvel.

South American natives had been chewing leaves of the coca plant for centuries, but the concentrated powdered version we know as cocaine didn’t hit the streets until about 1880. But once it arrived on the scene, it took the medical world by storm. Sigmund Freud was obsessed with the drug. In 1884, he wrote a 70 page love note to the Bolivian marching powder called “Uber Coca”, claiming prominently, of all things, that it was a perfect cure for morphine addiction. Doctors used cocaine to treat stomach aches, anxiety, asthma and even tuberculosis. It was sold in drinks, ointments, even margarine. Then there was the uber popular, Vin Mariani, a Bordeaux wine that contained 6 milligrams of cocaine in every ounce.

Of course, now we know how dangerous the drug really is. It’s infamously taken the lives of thousands, maybe millions, including John Belushi, Chris Farley and Whitney Houston.

2. Lobotomy

Lobotomy from 19th centuryFrom inception in 1935, through the heyday in the 40s and into rapid decline in the mid-50s, this brain shredding procedure claimed around 70,000 victims in a short period of time. Lobotomy is a word of Greek origin, a compound noun combining ‘lobe’ and ‘cut/slice’. And that’s a pretty literal definition. Essentially, doctors took long metal picks, jammed them into the patient’s eye to get at the brain, and pounded it in with a mallet to scrape away parts of the frontal lobe of the brain.

Short lived as it was, the surgery was thought to be a solution to a wide range of mental illnesses, from super serious conditions like schizophrenia to mild depression.

We know now how brutal this procedure is, but unfortunately it was too little too late. Even when the lobotomy lost favor in the 1950s, it was less about the danger and more about the introduction of easier-to-use antidepressant and antipsychotic medications.

3. Soothing Syrup

Southing Syrup for Medical PurposeIn the 19th century and early 20th century, parents just couldn’t be bothered with fussy children. The solution? Drug ‘em up. Enter ‘soothing syrups’, a preposterous blend of narcotics designed just for the little ones. Take the popular Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup; each ounce contained 65 mg of pure morphine.

Sure, the soothing syrups worked. They also killed children. The worst behaved toddlers were consequently often the most drugged...and most often killed. Medical professionals no doubt blamed the children’s behavior and death on mental illness or the likes. But the truth is, these kids were just acting like kids, and overdosed because of it.

In 1910, the ridiculousness came to an end. The New York Times published a whistleblowing article listing the ingredients of soothing syrups: morphin sulphate, chloroform, morphine hydrochloride, codeine, heroin, powdered opium and/or cannabis indica. Nap time!

Medical advances keep on coming. Who knows? In another hundred years, we’ll be examining the crazy medical practices of...now!

Source:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/345502/lobotomy
http://www.cracked.com/article_15669_the-10-most-insane-medical-practices-in-history.html#ixzz2MJ5d1LGB
http://art-bin.com/art/hanson_en.html

What are these Bumps and Spots on My Child’s Feet?

A common condition that affects children and teens is warts, also know as varruca plantaris. Warts are caused by a virus and tend to like warm, moist environments like the feet. Our feet are enclosed in our shoes and socks all day long, creating the perfect breeding ground for warts. Additionally, gyms, locker rooms, showers, and pools are places that we may not be wearing shoes, and the environments in these places are typically warm and moist. Warts are common in children, as their immune systems are not as strong as adults. Parents often do not notice the warts until a child is limping or complaining of pain. Warts can look like any of the following: raised bumps, callouses, or red dots.

A podiatrist can tell you if the area is actually a wart. If there is a callous or hard skin over the wart, a podiatrist will trim this off to get a better look at the area. This is painless but often causes pinpoint bleeding of the very small blood vessels just under the skin. This is one of the signs of a wart. Additional signs of a wart include some or all of the following: discontinuation of skin lines, cauliflower appearance, dark spots, and pain with side to side pressure. Warts can be treated with a variety of topical medications, acids, freezing, lasers, and surgical excision. Occasionally, warts require a combination of treatments, and the treatment may take weeks or months. Warts can be prevented by keeping the feet dry: changing socks frequently, drying thoroughly after bathing, using powders or sprays to keep the feet dry, and spraying the shoes out regularly with lysol.

Dr. Bender is a podiatrist with Advanced Physical Medicine. She has 12 years of experience in private practice and has been a clinical instructor at William Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine for the last 9 years. She practices at the Oak Park and Chicago/63rd St. locations. For an appointment, call 708-763-0580 or 773-776-3166.

The Warrior Diet & The Stay-At-Home Parent

The Warrior Diet, created by Ori Hofmekler, is, in short, a diet based on extended periods of daytime under-eating followed by brief periods of nighttime over-eating. The theory is that humans are, by their very nature, nocturnal eaters. Fasting during the day allows your body to detoxify and burn fat. The ‘warrior’ or prehistoric man HAD to eat this way. During the day, physical activity (exercise) was always necessary and the threat of danger was constant. At night, the ‘warrior’ could safely rest and enjoy one large daily meal.

So how does this translate to a stay-at-home parent? Let’s take a look.

1. It doesn’t disrupt family dinner time.

For many families, the 6pm (or 5pm, or 7pm) dinner hour is sacred. It is the one time of the day that everyone can count on. The older kids are home from soccer practice. The younger kids are awake from their naps. The spouse is home from a long day at work. It’s time to gather ‘round the table, break bread and talk about the day that has passed. Too many diets demand restrictions that affect this familial ritual. That is not the case with the Warrior Diet. Fast all day. Eat at night. That’s the deal. The precious family dinner is the perfect time to break your fast.

2. It doesn’t require special recipes.

The Warrior Diet doesn’t require specific foods, so much as it requires specific times to eat. If you’ve fasted all day, when it comes time to eat (around 6pm, give or take), you can enjoy as much of whatever you’d like. That means that family favorites like spaghetti and meatballs, stir fried chicken and pepperoni pizza can stay on your menu.

3. It actually increases your daytime productivity.

During your daytime fast, you’ll kick into gear your sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The SNS activates when emergencies occur, causing the ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ reaction to stressful situations. Calling your fast an emergency is a touch dramatic. But the truth is, when your SNS activates energy is generated and fat is burned: both good things! Not only are you losing weight with the Warrior Diet, but your energy levels during the day will increase dramatically. Whoever says being a stay-at-home parent isn’t a full-time job has clearly never been one; extra energy is essential.

Diets are a dime a dozen. Each year another nutrition craze hits the media. The Warrior Diet is unique in its simplicity and accessibility. It’s not the type of diet that will make you miserable, broke or unhealthy. In fact, because it’s a lifestyle decision, not a temporary quick-fix, you’ll see results not only in your weight, but in your mental health as well.

Debunking 4 Popular Exercise Fads

Late-night television is jam packed with fitness solutions both realistic and ridiculous. In the end, good old fashioned hard work is the only thing that is guaranteed to get you into shape. But, for humor’s sake, let’s take a look at five of the worst exercise fads.

1. 8-Minute Abs
Worst Exercise Fads AbsGet a six-pack in just 8 minutes a day? Yeah! Not so much. The fact is ab exercises alone will never get you a washboard stomach. Most of us already have a six-pack beneath a healthy layer of fat. Thus, getting the stomach you want means you need to be lean. Conditioning, including cardiovascular exercise and weight training, and a healthy diet are more effective than 8-minutes of crunches will ever be.
2. Sauna Suits

Failed Exercise FadsSure, you look ridiculous in that plastic bag, but at least you won’t need an umbrella in the rain. And that’s about all these silly suits are good for. The promise is that the suits will make you sweat out more pounds during your exercise routine. The problem is that you’re losing water weight, not fat. A glass of water will put the weight right back on. Furthermore, wearing the suit is actually BAD for you. In the worst cases, the body overheats and can lead to heat stroke, fainting and cramps.

3. Thigh Master

Unsuccessful Exercise FadsWho is the first person you think of when you think of the Thigh Master? Suzanne Somers, for sure. It should, however, be professional scammer Joshua Reynolds. Not only did Reynolds develop the Thigh Master, he was also the man behind the mood ring fad that swept the nation in the 70s and 80s. (Fun fact: he is an heir to R.J. Reynolds and all his cigarette money.) Does the Thigh Master work? The exercise might give the appearance of muscle if done in excess, but won’t actually increase strength. Simple squats are much more effective.

4. Vibrating Belts

Worst Exercise Fads

Preying on the laziness of late-night television watchers, these devices offered a completely exercise-less solution to weight loss. These belts supposedly use electronic muscle stimulation to trim down belly fat. The best part is, you don’t have to do anything but wear the belt. The commercial shows actors going about their daily business (cooking, reading, cleaning, working) all the while wearing their ‘shocking’ weight loss accessory. I’m amazed a single one of these things sold...well, no I’m not.

Getting healthy is important, of course. But, don’t waste time and money on silliness like these exercise fads. Instead, consult a personal trainer and develop a workout regimen that actually will work.

Why Smoking Is Bad For Your Feet

Day after day I treat smokers in my podiatry clinic, and they are shocked that smoking actually affects their feet.  They think that smoking may cause lung problems during thier lives but do not understand that it is the cause of their leg cramping, inability to walk for long distances (sometimes only a block or two), and in some cases, their severe foot and toe pain. Our heart pushes blood through a series of blood vessels that bring nutrients and oxygen to all areas of our body.  Thus, the feet get oxygen through this system of blood vessels.   Smoking causes blood vessels to narrow and the blood does not flow well through them.  The carbon monoxide in cigarettes kills the cells in the blood vessels,which allows fat to fill the walls of the vessels.  This contributes to thickening of the vessels or "hardening of the arteries."  When the arteries harden, they are no longer able to effectively and efficiently push blood throughout the body. 

If the feet do not get adequate blood flow (and oxygen), the following may happen:  thin, unhealthy skin; thick and irregular nails; pain;  cramping;  inability to walk for long distances; wounds that do not heal; and gangrene.  Poor circulation to the feet is a very dangerous situation and can lead to amputations when it gets severe. 

It is important to quit smoking, stay active, and maintain a healthy diet.  If you are diabetic, keeping your blood sugar within the normal range of 80-120 mg/dL is essential.  Additionally, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels will help keep your blood circulating.

Dr. Bender is a foot and ankle specialist at Advanced Physical Medicine.  She practices at the Oak Park and 63rd/Chicago locations.  Dr. Bender has 12 years of experience in private practice and specializes in diabetic footcare and limb saving techniques.  Please call 708-763-0580 or 773-776-3166 for an immediate appointment.

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