|
Stiff, sore joints? How an emu could help
3rd October 2008
How I still guffaw to see it...
(Yes, 'guffaw' is the right word, but only in this
context!)
...Rod Hull's Emu attacking Michael Parkinson on
his chat show in the early 70s.
To my young eyes, it was brilliant. Emu was like
the first punk rock hero. He beat the Sex Pistols
to the punch when it came to behaving badly on
prime time TV.
But understandably most people hated the bird.
So the idea that Rod Hull's Emu could have been
taken from his owner, and his backfat used as a
treatment for joint pain, skin problems and
swelling...
Well, perhaps there wouldn't be too many tears
about it. Not from Parkinson, anyway.
And even if you LOVE Emu, you might want to
know about this strange natural remedy...
The secret of emu oil
These days, emus are big business. Not for the
late Mr Hull, alas, who died in 1999 after falling
from his roof after trying to fix a TV aerial.
But they're great money spinners for modern emu
farmers.
First, they can sell the meat as a healthy
foodstuff. It's a very rich source of iron, low in fat
and doesn't need much salt. Also, it being a bit
strange and exotic, you can sell it for high prices
to posh restaurants.
|
Secondly, money can be made from an amazing
substance in a thick pad of fat in the emu's back.
The fat is designed to protect the emu from
extreme temperatures at night time in Australian
outback. But the oil, when extracted and used by
humans has a whole load of properties.
* Emu oil contains natural linolenic acid, a
substance which eases muscle aches and
joint pain.
* If used as a topical cream, Emu Oil can
boost blood supply to affected areas,
which speeds up the healing time for
wounds, bites, cuts, and stings. It's also
anti-bacterial.
* In some trials Emu oil has also been
shown to thicken the skin of elderly
people by up to 14%.
So what's inside this stuff?
Well, emu oil is made up of roughly 70%
unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid, an
unsaturated fatty acid that occurs in skin. It also
essential fatty acids that can help with dry skin
and - so some claim - even wrinkles.
How to get your emu oil
If you want to find a UK supplier, type 'emu oil
UK' into google. But beware that with natural
supplements like this, it's hard to tell who's
supplying a good, high quality product.
This isn't one I've investigated before. So I'm
going to have a look around and see if I can find
a good, reliable source of emu oil that I can
recommend.
You can also ask at a trusted health food store
and see if they can order some in.
And if you suffer from joint pain, there's already a
product I've recommended that is 7% emu oil. It's
called Joint Ease and you can try it out for 30
days with results guaranteed, or your money back.
Click here:
JOINTEASE
|
Why you should ignore Mr 'Two Jumpers' this
winter
Back in July, a guy called Jake Ulrich, the boss of
Centrica - who own British Gas - caused
widespread outrage.
At the time, his firm warned that gas bills could
rise to more than £1,000 a year by 2010.
Understandably, we were shocked and horrified.
Along with the credit crunch, falling house prices
and growing inflation, this could make for a
potentially lethal winter. The most vulnerable in our
society could be at serious risk.
So what was Ulrich's answer to people who were
worried about soaring fuel bills?
'Wear two jumpers.'
That's a bit like telling someone who's worried
about their roof falling down: 'Wear a harder hat.'
And here was a guy who earns more than £1m a
year!
What really annoyed me was that - despite his
woeful arrogance - he was completely wrong in
his advice anyway!
To keep warm this winter, you shouldn't wear two
jumpers. Instead you should actually wear four or
five thinner layers of light or medium clothing.
That's because the air between the fibres and
materials keeps you warm, not the fibres
themselves.... in the same way as double and
triple glazed windows are better than one thick
piece of glass.
So ideally, your first layer should be made from or
a lightweight material that doesn't trap
perspiration. A good t-shirt or vest will do. Then
above that try another comfortable lightweight
top.
|
Now add another similar layer to trap some of the
air. Next, go for an insulation layer like a wool
sweater of fleece. Then when you go outside, add
another waterproof layer.
And here are some more natural ways
to stay warm...
* Cut off the foot bits from a pair of socks
and use the tubular bits as 'cuffs' to put
on your wrists. What people don't realise
is that a lot of heat escapes from this thin
layer of skin, where the blood is close to
the surface. Same way as a scarf warms
your neck.
* Eat well. Try hot and hearty soups, stews,
and casseroles once every day. They help
to keep your insides fuelled. Keep the pot
on the stove and dip in. If it's a good
natural soup or stew, it's not going to
make you fat, only warm and comfortable.
* Add spices to your food, as this can also
help charge up your internal heater. Try
cayenne pepper. Either cook it in your
food, or sprinkle the dried powder pepper
in your socks and gloves. This helps
boost circulation.
* Go for a walk. Wrap up warm and take a
10 minute brisk walk. It kick starts your
metabolism so that when you come back
inside, you'll feel much warmer for up to 4
hours.
And if you want advice on how to save money on
bills, earn extra income to support you this winter,
plus loads of money tips, don't forget to check
out the sister publication to The Good Life Letter.
When it comes to money, Lewis Geary of The
Rich Life Letter has all the answers:
Rich Life Letter
|
|
|
|
