♥High Heels and Health♥

Every fab girl LOVES Heels. Not so much the way they feel, but the way they look. But you guys know me :) ... Pretty much EVERYTHING ties into HEALTH, lol; And after my excruciating ordeal with some 4 inch heels while walking around in Vegas, I felt it was vital that I do some research!

So What’s the impact of heel heights on your health?

Kitten heels (1.5 to 2 inches)
Pros: They build muscle in the calves, make legs appear longer, and are easier to walk in than higher heels.
Cons: They can cause problems from corns to back pain. They don’t supply the same glamour that higher heels do.

High heels (2.5 to 4 inches)
Pros: They build muscle in the calves, make legs appear longer and the body leaner.
Cons: They can be painful to wear, and are sometimes difficult to walk in. They can cause many foot problems, such as hammertoes and bunions, and back pain.
Extreme (over 4 inches)
Pros: They build muscle in the calves, make legs appear longer and the body leaner. They also tend to make the backside more noticeable.
Cons: They put a huge amount pressure on the feet!!

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How high heels affect your overall Health

According to Stephen Hartman, a chiropodist, heels that are two inches or higher propel the body forward, turning the simple act of walking into an awkward chore. They also point the foot downward, reducing its ability to flex and absorb shock. This leaves areas like the knees and hip joints to pick up the slack, which can aggravate and sometimes even cause arthritis. And the problems get worse over time. Says Hartman: “Left untreated, short-term issues such as corns, callouses and ingrown toenails can lead to long-term problems such as hammertoes, bunions and ‘pump bumps’ [a bony bump at the back of your heel, caused by shoes rubbing the bone]. They can also lead to issues with knee, hip and back pain, and osteoarthritis.” And high-heel wearers may experience pain even when they wear flats. According to Hartman, women who wear heels for many consecutive years can develop a physiologically shorter Achilles tendon that results in the inability of the heel to fully touch the ground.

Now For The BENEFITS of heels....for all you ride or die heel lovers lol♥
Any woman who has experienced that terrific feeling of glamour while wearing a great pair of high heels will attest that there’s no substitute for these beauties. And the benefits are also tangible: They give shape to your calf muscles and elongate the look of legs to make you appear longer and leaner. Wearing high heels may even improve your pelvic floor muscles: Researchers at Italy’s University of Verona studied 66 women under age 50 who wore shoes with an almost three-inch heel. The study found this placed their pelvic muscles in an optimum position to contract and strengthen.

Nikki Note: LIKE ALMOST EVERYTHING.....MODERATION IS KEY :). I say rock your heels, just not to an EXTREME point. Flats can be fly, fab, and sexy too.

"Its Not What You Wear, But How You Wear it"

Nikki♥

Source: http://www.besthealthmag.ca/look-great/beauty/high-heels-and-your-health