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What should I use, heat or ice?

What do you do if you are in pain ice or heat? This is a question that I get asked frequently. The number one rule is if you've injured something and it hurts, ice it. When you injure yourself blood rushes to the injured spot to promote healing. When you ice you not only numb the area so you don't feel the pain, but also cause the blood that is pooled there to leave. When you take the ice off fresh blood will come back to the area. The rule of thumb when icing is 15 minutes, or less, if the area becomes numb.

If you are stiff and sore and just are not sure if you should ice or heat, alternate heat and ice three times, end in ice. If your muscles are tight heat is best. Remember that moist heat is better as water is a good conduit. Hot showers, sea salt baths ( the sea salt will help bring out toxins from your body), moist heat packs that you can put in the microwave or even a wet wash cloth heated in the microwave.

When you are injured you should also pay attention to what you eat. Sugar, alcohol, red meat and dairy can all cause inflammation. Your body will heal quicker if you eat a healthy diet. Think whole foods, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, not foods that are processed. Your body will not have to work as hard to break these down and can expend more energy into healing your injury.

In Health Cynthia Karvonen LMP

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