On Tuesday, March 17, 2010 Rachael’s Day Time Talk Show , Rachael Ray’s guests discussed their most embarrassing body issues, including excessive sweating, vaginal discharge, irregular bowel movements, and stinky feet. Ray’s physician consultant, Dr. Ian, explained the reasons behind these issues and tried to give helpful recommendations for treating these normal bodily functions, however something was left a foot.
One guest was a dance teacher who explained that her feet smell so foul that it has her husband and dance students running for the hills. The dancer teacher admitted that she did not like to wear socks, but does wash and dry her feet often. She said she masks the smell by spraying air freshener in her shoes and on her feet! The physician stated, “we have almost a quarter of a million sweat glands in our feet that produce almost a half a liter of perspiration per day…For most of us, it evaporates so it’s fine, but for some of us it does not evaporate.” And recommended that she continue to wash and dry her feet but use socks and to spray and use powder.
While it’s true that our bodies adjust for variations in temperature and humidity through perspiration which helps to regulate our inner body temperature to maintain good health, it is actually bacteria that cause body odor and not the perspiration itself. Bacteria as well as yeast love to stay and multiple in moist, warm locations including human skin flaps, armpits, and feet. They feed on chemicals in sweat and dead skin cells and their byproducts produce the foul smell we simply refer to as B.O (body odor). Our gender and genetics as well as our diet and any medications we may be taking also influence sweating, body odor, and its intensity. Wearing shoes and socks with inadequate ventilation promotes excessive sweating and thus higher bacteria accumulation.
Instead, people with odiferous feet should wash and dry their feet frequently, chose cotton socks that promote dryness over nylon or polyester, and select shoes that have greater ventilation (look for labels). People should never, ever spray air fresheners on their feet! Some studies have shown a link between phthalates (a common chemical found in many air fresheners, shampoos, nail polish, and other toiletries and cosmetic products) and development of sex-hormone abnormalities and cancer. Although a causal association has not been made, it’s probably better safe than sorry-especially since air fresheners do not mask feet odor very well and will not solve the underlying problem (the bacterial growth). Instead opt for natural products for prevention such as baking soda or corn starch, making sure to coat a decent layer on the sole of the foot and in between the toes. Some people who regularly use an underarm deodorant/anti-perspirant have found this product effective on their feet as well.
Sorry, Rach, this advice was almost as stinky as the pinkies!
As new legislation is slated to go into action, the banks and issuers of credit cards have been raising rates and fees for a number of months in an attempt to recoup losses from 2008 and 2009. Many of these financial institutions have dipped into the bailout coffers and their ‘thank you’ to the taxpayer has been to initiate usurious measures raising credit card and bank fees. Talk about biting the hands that feeds you. To make matters worse, at the same time they are giving their top executives bonuses for a ‘job well done.’ 
Markdown Mom 
In this economy so many people have seen their credit card balances rise due to increased fees and interest rates. If you have fallen into the trap of credit cards and want to clear away outstanding balances that keep growing, now is the time to act. Citicorp and other financial institutions while seeking help from the government plan to raise credit card fees in order partially to recover their losses. If you are able to, now is the time to negotiate your balances and reach a settlement to pay any remaining credit card debts. Oftentimes, you can negotiate a settlement of your bill and reduce it by half to two-thirds. This means that if you have had an outstanding credit card balance that continued accruing interest and late fees despite non-usage, you can reach a settlement with your debt collector or credit card company to rollback that amount that you have to pay. 
Of all of Paul Newman’s movies with his wife Joanne Woodward, John O’Hara’s From The Terrace was one of my favorites. At the time of its début, it was a complex, titillating movie exploring the social morés of the wealthy. Beautifully shot, it is a story of redemption for an unhappy, married financial adviser who finds salvation in the arms of the “good” daughter.
On August 7th cool down with a blizzard and contribute
MarkDownMom