A Massage at Tahoe Blog

From Active.Com

Achilles Tendinitis

What It Is Tenderness in your lower calf near your heel that usually strikes when you push off your toes
You’re at Risk Men with a BMI of 25 or higher (a man who is 5′10″ and weighs 175 pounds, for example) who run a nine-minute-per-mile pace or faster
Why The Achilles absorbs several times your body weight with each stride. A faster pace and additional body weight put even more stress on this tendon.
Prevent It Strengthen your calf muscles (with your toes on a step, lower and raise your heels). Stretch your calves (keep your heel on the ground, lift your toes back toward your shin).
Others at Risk People who regularly run hills (the Achilles has to stretch more on inclines) and who have increased their mileage more than 10 percent per week (sudden increases in mileage strain the tendon)

The following info is from realage.com:If you can’t stand the smell of DEET or citronella candles, try the natural bug-bite deterrent suggestions from Chinese doctor and author Maoshing Ni.
In his book “Secrets of Self-Healing”, he recommends a three-pronged approach of clothing, diet and essential oils.

3 Bug-Be-Gone Strategies

Use these chemical-free strategies on your next camping trip, backwoods hike, or neighborhood barbecue:

Nix the Hawaiian shirt. Brightly colored floral patterns on clothing may actually fool bees and other bugs into thinking you’re a flower. So can smelling like a flower, so skip the perfume. Wear neutral-colored, protective clothing and scent-free soaps and lotions.

Eat garlic. Garlic and other strong foods, like onions, might make you less tasty to biting insects. Watch this video for tips on how to buy, keep, and prepare garlic.

Use essential oils. Natural insect repellents such as lemongrass, lavender, or eucalyptus can be mixed with water and used as a spray. (But be careful to avoid getting them in your eyes.)

Already bit? Honey, cucumber skins, and tea tree oil can help soothe, detox, and quiet the itch or sting of bites.

A survey by the British Acupuncture Council found that depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress are common reasons why people get acupuncture.
The survey also revealed that more people under the age 40 are reporting having these emotional issues. Two-thirds of the respondents were women.
Survey takers pointed to working long hours and the uncertainty of the economy as being reasons for their stress and uneasiness with life.

Farmers’ markets are such a wonderful place to shop for local produce. With the climate in Tahoe, ours is seasonal - June-October. Growers from as far as Fresno come to sell their produce.
The Tuesday event draws hundreds, if not thousands, of locals and tourists. It proves we crave fresh produce.
More and more restaurants - here and most elsewhere - are trying to buy from local growers. When you think about how many miles produce travels to reach consumers - 1,500 in North America - it makes you wonder how long it’s been in a truck or on a ship before it’s in your kitchen.
Support your local farmers - or try to grow your own produce. At least then you know where it’s been and you can ask the grower if they use harmful pesticides.