Foods that can ease swelling in hands and feet

Swelling in the hands and feet is generally not concerning, unless it happens suddenly and is accompanied by other symptoms.

The reasons behind the swelling can be various — from poor circulation to fluid retention and poor posture or movement habits. It usually goes away on its own, but if it persists, it can be a signal of an underlying health issue such as heart, kidney, or liver failure.

In many cases, changes in diet and lifestyle can make all the difference in managing the swelling in feet and hands.

Some foods naturally support healthy circulation and fluid balance while fighting inflammation. Adding these to your diet may ease swelling in your hands and feet.

1. Bananas

Bananas are a rich source of several essential nutrients, including potassium, vitamin C, and fiber.

When potassium levels are low, the body tends to hold on to sodium, which leads to fluid buildup and swelling in the hands and feet. Including potassium-rich foods in your diet—such as bananas, avocados, and oranges—helps get rid of the excess sodium, which in turn improves circulation and restores proper fluid balance. Believe it or not, a simple habit like having a banana a day can go a long way in keeping swelling under control.

2. Cucumbers

Cucumbers contain 90% water, which makes them the perfect vegetable that provides hydration to your body.

At the same time, cucumbers are rich in silica and antioxidants that support healthy connective tissues.

Since swelling can often be triggered by dehydration, adding cucumbers in your diet, whether raw, in salads, smoothies or in your water, can help you stay hydrated, reducing puffiness in your hands and feet.

3. Watermelon

Watermelon isn’t just sweet and refreshing but also one of the best foods for fighting swelling. Just like cucumbers, watermelon helps keep you hydrated, but it also serves as diuretic, helping the body get rid of the excess fluid.

At the same time, watermelon helps with inflammation due to being rich in vitamins A and C and lycopene.

On hot days, or after standing on your feet long hours, treat yourself with a cold watermelon, your body and soul will thank you.

4. Leafy Greens

Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are packed with magnesium and potassium, two minerals that work together to keep fluid levels steady.

As discussed above, potassium helps the body release excess sodium, while magnesium relaxes blood vessels and supports healthy circulation.

5. Berries

Imagine something small but powerful that boosts your health and you get berries of all kinds: blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, you name it.

These fruits are adored beyond their deliciousness, thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties. Also, the sweet berries are rich in antioxidants, especially anthocyanins, which protect blood vessels and improve circulation.

Starting your day with a handful of fresh berries is the way to go.

6. Pineapple

Fresh pineapple chunks or freshly squeezed pineapple juice sound like the perfect snack. Add this fruit’s natural enzyme, bromelain, to the list of benefits, and you have an ideal fruit for fighting inflammation and improving blood flow.

Athletes often eat pineapple after injuries to help reduce swelling. Juicy and healthy, so what more could you ask for?

7. Celery

Celery can naturally reduce water retention thanks to its diuretic effects, while its fiber promotes healthy digestion and decreases bloating.

While some research claim that its diuretic effects are mild, other suggest they are in fact very strong, so the conclusion would be that it depends on how you consume it.

While celery juice has less fiber than the raw vegetable, it can be richer in water and butylphthalide, making it a strong natural diuretic.

You can enjoy it as juice or munch on the sticks as a snack, the choice is yours to make.

8. Ginger and Turmeric

Ginger and turmeric are known as spices that have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. With that said, they enhance circulation, reduce stiffness, and help manage swelling.

Adding fresh ginger to tea or using turmeric in soups and curries is a simple way to take advantage of their natural health-boosting effects.

9. Nuts and Seeds

Unlike the fruits mentioned above, nuts and seeds aren’t rich in water and they don’t act as natural diuretics, yet the levels of magnesium they contain, especially almonds and cashews, helps fight swelling, including in hands and feet.

When it comes to nuts, however, you should avoid having the salted options since salt is what causes the swelling the most.

While the foods discussed in this article can be a helpful addition to a diet aimed at reducing swollen hands and feet, they should not be relied upon as the sole solution. If the swelling is persistent, seek medical help.

Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.

Bored Daddy

Love and Peace

My MIL invited my son on vacation — the next day he called crying to come home

Every year, my in-laws host a two-week vacation at their stunning estate, gathering all the grandchildren. The place has a pool, a stunning garden, and they even hire entertainers. Honestly, what’s not to like.

My son, who has turned six this year — old enough to finally get invited — couldn’t wait to experience the fun and joy all of his cousins has been bragging about for years.

The invite sounded like a win-win, our son would have all the fun in the world while hubby and I get two weeks of rest ourselves, of course while checking in on him daily.

So, when we dropped Timmy at Betsy’s, my MIL, we knew he would love it as much as the rest of the grandkids.

But, things didn’t appear as we expected.

On the second day, Timmy called me on the phone, which wasn’t usual fro him.

“Mom, come pick me up from Grandma’s,” he said.

“What happened, honey?” I asked, thinking he just missed me and his daddy.

“GRANDMA JUST… DOESN’T LIKE ME. I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE. THE THINGS SHE’S DOING…” he said before the call was abruptly cut off.

Worried, I called my MIL and asked what was going on, but she assured me that Timmy had things wrong and that everything was perfectly fine.

However, I wasn’t at ease and decided to go and check on Timmy.

When I arrived at my in-laws’ enormous property, I saw all the kids gathered at the pool while Timmy sat all alone, crying and trembling.

I rushed towards him and asked him what happened.

“Grandma says I’m not like the rest of her grandkids,” he said while sobbing. “She says everyone is very close with one another and that I don’t belong with them.”

His words shattered my world. Betsy invited my son just to make him feel sad. I couldn’t possibly understand why she would treat him any differently so I confronted her.

“How can you say such things to a six-year-old?” I asked her.

As cold as she was, Betsy said, “You see, I’m not convinced that boy is my son’s child. He’s nothing like the rest of our grandchildren.”

I fumed. “Are you accusing me of cheating on my husband?” I asked, shocked.

“What else explains your son not fitting in,” she said.

I grabbed Timmy by the hand and told him that we were leaving. I wouldn’t let my son stay a minute somewhere where he wasn’t welcomed or loved.

When I told my husband about the incident, he wasn’t really surprised. “You know what my mom is like,” he said, “just let her be.”

But I couldn’t do that. What’s more, my husband wasn’t disturbed and it felt like he had heard his mom’s words before. I was certain he had told him I wasn’t faithful and that Timmy wasn’t his son.

The very next day, I had a DNA test done to confirm paternity.

About a month later, the results came back, showing a 99.99% match confirming that my husband is my son’s father.

Unsplash

When I showed the results to Betsy, she simply replied, “Well, Timmy is welcome to our next gathering, I guess.”

While my husband told me not to make a big deal out of it, I knew I’d never let my son around that woman ever again.

Please SHARE this story with your family and friends on Facebook.

Bored Daddy

Love and Peace

Soldier secretly returns home, what he sees on his sister’s face changes everything

The small town of Willow Creek moved at its usual lazy pace that Tuesday afternoon, and no one noticed the presence of the soldier who had been into war for fourteen long months.

That afternoon, Private First Class Nathan Keller walked up the gravel driveway of an old farmhouse while his boots crunched in rhythm and his duffel bag bounced at his side. He was finally home.

Nathan was given an early compassionate discharge, citing medical reasons, for an injury he sustained. Luckily, it wasn’t a life-threatening one.

As he walked, he pictured the surprise on the faces of his loved ones, his mother and his sister Lily. He knew they would be over the moon to see him after so long. “It’s gonna be the best surprise ever,” he thought to himself. Sadly, what he didn’t know was that things changed back home, and he had no idea just how much.

The second he set foot on the porch, something felt wrong. Unlike what he remembered, the house was unusually quiet. When he tried to get inside, he was surprised to see the door was left unlocked. He knew his mother always locked it three times.

Inside, he noticed the dust on the furniture, as though no one lived there any longer. A photo frame lay shattered on the floor, the smiling faces of his mother and sister buried beneath cracked glass.

Nathan’s chest tightened. Something was terribly wrong.

He started calling for his mom and sister, but there was no reply.

As he carefully walked down the hallway, he turned the corner and froze. Lily was curled on her bed with her back turned, and although she could feel someone entering the room, she didn’t turn around.

“Lily…,” Nathan whispered, and it was then that Lily turned, startled, and gasping when she saw him.

He thought he would cry tears of joy, but instead, she cried tears of fear and pain. When he approached her, he noticed the purple-yellow bruise across her cheek and the cut on her lip.

“What happened?” he asked, shocked and confused.

Lily shook her head, sobbing quietly.

In that moment, Nathan understood that he hadn’t come home to peace. His battle wasn’t on the battle field but in his own home in Willow Creek.

“Nathan, mom’s gone,” Lily said, unable to contain the tears from running down her face.

“What do you mean she’s gone,” Nathan asked.

Sadly, their mother passed away some three months ago, and Lily couldn’t reach him to tell him the news.

After the funeral, she was left all by herself. She did stay with some relatives for a while, but she then returned home, and that’s when Rick, a man their mother used to date briefly, appeared. At first, he pretended to care about Lily, but over time, he turned her into a prisoner in her own home.

He wouldn’t let her speak to anyone, reach out to family, or have any friends. He moved into her home and treated her like a maid. What’s more, he beat her and mistreated her, and she had no one to turn to.

“Don’t worry, Lily,” Nathan said. “I’m here now. You are safe.”

Nathan reached out to a former combat pall who now worked as a lawyer, he contacted social services, and alerted the police. But things didn’t move as fast as he expected. They needed evidence and a testimony from Lily, and that very evening, Nathan was going to have it.

When Rick returned to the house that evening, he started yelling at Lily for not cleaning the living room. And just as he was about to hit her, Nathan appeared from the kitchen and grabbed him by his hand.

“Who the hell…” Rick yelled, his face twisted in shock.

“I’m her brother,” Nathan said, “and you just made the biggest mistake of your life.”

But Nathan didn’t need to fight because the police was already on their way. With Lily’s testimony, photographs of her injuries, and medical records, Rick didn’t stand a chance. He was arrested and charged with assault, unlawful custody, and child endangerment.

Rick’s arrest, however, didn’t erase Lily’s trauma and scars. She needed time and therapy in order to heal completely, and she was only able to do it because her brother was now at her side.

Nathan decided not to return to his military career, instead he fought for legal guardianship of Lily, who was 17 at the time.

When the truth spread through Willow Creek, the town changed too. The neighbors regretted not noticing the signs and not stepping in sooner. However, the shame soon turned into action. The entire town rallied around the brother and sister. The local diner offered Lily a part-time job, a retired teacher began tutoring her in math, and a neighbor gifted an old piano so Lily could play again.

A year later, when Lily graduated high school with honors, everyone understood that she had finally healed from the ordeal. She was again the vibrant girl everyone remembered her to be.

Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.

Bored Daddy

Love and Peace

Woman shares ’embarrassing’ symptoms she regrets hiding from doctors as she’s diagnosed with incurable cancer

45-year-old Jenny Duncan is sharing her story about her battle with cancer and how she regrets hiding her symptoms from her doctor only because she was too “embarrassed” to speak openly about what she had been experiencing.

Namely, she first started experiencing symptoms while on vacation in Lanzarote in 2019, but she didn’t think about it much.

The reason why was because she was fit and healthy and didn’t think something serious could be going on.

Jenny was starting a new job as a head teacher in the UK where she is from, so when she experienced stomach ache and noticed blood on the toilet paper, she believed it was because of the stress and the excitement the new job brought.

Cover Images

She did however took photos of the blood in her stool because she wanted to keep track, and one night, as she and her husband were lying in bed, he noticed one of the photos and learned what she had been going through.

“He said: ‘What on Earth? We need to get you some help’. And because he is normally so calm and measured, I knew I had to do something,” she shared.

It was then that he urged her to visit a doctor, and sadly, she learned of the devastating cancer diagnosis. Jenny had stage 3 bowel cancer.

“I was only 45, and I thought bowel cancer was something that only happened to older men,” she said of that time.

She frequently experienced bloating and gas after eating, and figured it was just her busy workload showing up as stress-related symptoms.

“I was very tired, but I thought that was just due to the pressures of work,” Jenny added. “I used to come home late and get straight back to work.”

Cover Images

She said she thought it was embarrassing to talk to her doctor about poo and simply hoped the symptoms would disappear on their own.

When she learned she had cancer, Jenny regretted not visiting a doctor earlier, when she first noticed blood on the toilet paper.

“I do regret not going to the doctor straight away. I could kick myself for letting it go on so long. But I didn’t know that bowel cancer could affect someone in their forties.

“If I’d have known my poo and looked back and not been embarrassed and paid more attention to my body, would I then have got help sooner and would I be in this position now? I don’t know.”

She started chemo treatments during the time COVID-19 was making its way into the UK. That left her isolated and having to go through the treatments and the surgery all by herself.

Cover Images

While her tumor disappeared, Jenny was told in 2022 that the cancer spread to her lymph nodes. This time, it was incurable.

“I absolutely lost it, I was crying and I kept telling Stuart ‘I’m going to die, I’m going to die’. I withdrew for a few days, didn’t want to see anybody,” she said.

After spending time alone, Jenny returned to work and enjoying life with her adult sons.

She is now living with stage four bowel cancer and undergoes scans every three to six months. She will restart treatment if her condition worsens. “I’m grateful for every day,” she says.

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of bowel cancer can include changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, feeling of incomplete bowel emptying, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.

Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.

Bored Daddy

Love and Peace

Eight-year-old boy rescues a child from a locked car, gets late to class and scolded – then something unexpected happens!

Eight-year-old Liam Parker was rushing to school, as usual, running late to class. His backpack bounced against his shoulders as he was trying to make a cut through the parking lot, unaware that what he would stumble upon there among the cars would put him into trouble with his teachers yet again.

Liam only had a single warning left about being late to school ever again before his teacher, Mrs. Grant, called his parents.

With the thought of having to be there on time, Liam thought nothing would stop on his way, but then, he spotted a silver sedan parked under the sun. Inside the vehicle, there was a baby whose face was red. The little one wouldn’t stop crying, and Liam knew he needed to do something about it. First, he knocked on the car’s window, but no one appeared. The baby was all by itself and there were no adults in sight.

Although he wasn’t sure what to do, he knew he needed to get the baby out of the hot car, but when he tried to open the door, he realized they were all locked.

Without hesitating, he picked a rock from the ground and smashed it against the window. Scared and not knowing if he had done the right thing, Liam said, “Sorry Mr. Car” to himself and grabbed the baby.

The baby’s damp skin pressed against Liam’s shirt as he cradled him carefully, rocking him gently and whispering, “Don’t worry, you’re safe now.”

Suddenly, a woman’s scream could be heard. “What are you doing to my car?!”

Liam froze. His hands started trembling even more.

She was fuming and screaming, but then she saw her baby. “Oh, my God,” she said, “I just needed some milk, I wasn’t supposed to be away more than ten minutes. I guess I lost track of time.”

She started kissing her child, and then turned to Liam and said, “Young man, you saved my baby.”

But before he could say anything, Liam heard the school bell ring and started running towards the school.

However, he didn’t get there on time. “Liam Parker, you are late again. I’m calling your parents once the lessons are over,” his teacher said.

“But Mrs. Grant, let me explain…,” Liam said. Sadly, his teacher didn’t want to listen. What’s more, she laughed at his excuse and didn’t believe a word he said.

His classmates started teasing him, calling him “Late Liam.”

But then, during the second lesson, the classroom’s door opened. It was the school’s principal, together with the woman whose baby Liam saved from the hot car.

“There he is,” the woman exclaimed. “I needed to thank him for what he did for my baby,” she said. “Young man, you are a hero. If it wasn’t for you, God knows what would have happened to my baby.”

The entire class was stunned, they all stared at Liam.

“See, Mrs. Grant, I told you I was telling the truth,” he said.

That day, Liam Parker was the hero. And his teacher did call his parents, but not in order to scold him. On the contrary, she told them about their son’s quick thinking and bravery.

Of course, no matter how heroic his action was, Liam was made to make a promise that he wouldn’t be late ever again, except if someone needed saving.

Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.

Bored Daddy

Love and Peace

The anatomy of a strategic disaster

California Governor Gavin Newsom is making a strong effort to fight back against Donald Trump’s push for redistricting in Texas by attempting his own power move ahead of the midterm elections, and he’s showing a lot of enthusiasm for the battle.

At the moment, Democrats in California and across the country are calling for their leaders to be more aggressive, and Newsom is stepping into a direct showdown with Trump that carries very high stakes. Newsom, who has attacked Trump’s administration and the president himself many times in the past, claims he can win in securing five extra Democratic seats in the US House to balance out the five that Texas Republicans are trying to capture through mid-decade redistricting.

If he in fact does that, he could easily position himself as the symbol of a Democratic revival in the midterm elections, even as his influence in Sacramento declines because of term limits, the Intelligencer reports.

California Governor Gavin Newsom/ Reuters

Although it wouldn’t literally bring Trump’s presidency to an end, as Newsom claimed in a recent social media post, having Democrats in control of the House would definitely create more obstacles for him in Washington.

However, despite Newsom’s confidence, his words do carry risks for both himself and his party.

According to many, Newsom’s attempt to counter Texas Republicans’ redistricting backfired since his 24-hour ultimatum only gave them time to regroup, while California’s independent commission left him powerless to act as quickly as Texas lawmakers. So, instead of deterring Republicans, it fueled division and raised doubts about Democratic credibility.

REUTERS

The risks now stretch beyond Texas. If California retaliates, other GOP-controlled states could join the fight, a contest Republicans are better positioned to win. Newsom’s plan could fall apart if voters reject the ballot measure. Many people trust the independent system already in place, and even Schwarzenegger might rally against changing it.

If Newsom succeeds, Democrats could pick up seats and gain momentum heading into the midterms. But if he fails, it might give California Republicans a boost and hurt his chances on the national stage.

Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.

Bored Daddy

Love and Peace

Angelina Jolie and Zahara Jolie-Pitt turn the 2025 Golden Globes into a mother-daughter style masterclass

Angelina Jolie and daughter Zahara Jolie-Pitt shared a mother-daughter moment at the Golden Globes 2025, and it’s safe to say that all eyes were on the duo. This doesn’t really come as a surprise knowing that the Tomb Rider star steals the spotlight whenever she makes a public appearance.

This time, the mother and daughter complemented each other, gathering the attention of many.

The actress dazzled in a whimsical silver sequined gown, while her 19-year-old daughter turned heads in a striking white dress adorned with a black tree motif curling around one hip. Both gowns were designed by Alexander McQueen.

This isn’t the first time Zahara to accompany her mother at such an event. In fact, the duo attended Palm Springs Film Festival Awards together earlier this week.

Angelina Jolie earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for her role as opera icon Maria Callas in Maria. This is her nineth Golden Globe nomination, winning three.

The musical drama tells the story of the celebrated opera singer’s glamorous yet turbulent life in 1970s Paris.

Speaking of the experience of making the movie, Jolie told told Cynthia Erivo, “What got me the most was, towards the end of [Maria’s] life, there was a lot of cruelty, and she was very unsupported. I knew that the whole team wanted to approach it with love and respect for her, so I thought we’d try.”

Getty

In order to prepare for the role, Jolie learned Italian opera for seven months. “I didn’t realize the practice of it and the learning of it is one thing, but it was finding my voice and letting my voice out that was really hard for me. And I was really emotional about it,” the actress revealed.

While promoting the Netflix film, Jolie paid tribute to Callas by wearing the opera singer’s own Cartier jewelry at the Venice Film Festival in August 2024.

“I chose not to copy [Maria’s] looks because they are hers, and her Venice carpets were stunning, so I gave a little nod to her—in a different way,” she told Vogue at the time, adding, “You can imagine how special it was to wear a piece of jewelry that was hers.”

Jolie spoke to People magazine of the making of the film during the American Film Institute Festival premiere of Maria in Hollywood on Saturday, Oct. 26, saying she shares a “certain loneliness” with Callas that comes from being a dedicated worker.

“I don’t want to speak too much about it because it’s too personal, but there’s definitely a loneliness and a work ethic,” she said of her connection with the opera diva whose character she portrayed. “I may be many things, but I’m a very hard worker, right?”

She added, “I’m an imperfect person, but I work very hard and she does.”

Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.

Bored Daddy

Love and Peace

Woman spends over a decade saving for a nose job—better sit down before seeing her after

It’s not a secret that most people would gladly alter certain aspects of their faces or bodies in order to feel more confident about themselves. Today, with the rise of plastic surgery and the wide array of cosmetic procedures, improving one’s appearance can feel almost effortless.

Of course, these procedures aren’t cheap, and for those who can afford them everything goes down to simply choosing the right procedure and paying for it. Still, it’s not just about having the cash. Changing your body can take an emotional and physical toll, and the results last far longer than a quick shopping spree.

Devyn Aiken is a young woman who decided to undergo a rhinoplasty and change the appearance of her nose.

She always wondered how she would look like had her nose wasn’t that big, and for years, she dreamed of altering it.

When she turned 30, that dream of hers finally turned into a reality.

Devyn said that the procedure cost $11,000, money she was saving for 10 long years.

However, despite her decision to change her appearance, she shared with her TikTok followers that she had never thought of herself as ugly.

On the contrary, she always felt she was a beautiful girl.

“I thought I was a pretty girl, I didn’t think I was ugly,” she shared in her interview just nine weeks post-surgery. “You could ask anyone—they would say I was very confident, very secure with who I was. I just thought I had a huge nose that I hated.”

@doseofdevy Hmmmm #nosejob ♬ Nicki Minaj – baddie_editt

With the procedure, she didn’t seek validation nor she wanted to change her looks entirely. Instead, it was a personal choice and proof that true confidence comes from making changes for yourself, not for others.

Since her rhinoplasty, Devyn has turned her TikTok account into a space for open discussion about plastic surgery, sharing everything from before-and-after photos to updates on her recovery. In the process, she has unintentionally become a go-to voice on cosmetic procedures.

Her comment section reflects a mix of reactions: supportive messages, questions from people considering rhinoplasty, and, naturally, some criticism from those who question her choices. Despite the range of responses, she remains dedicated to her goal: fostering transparency and honesty about her journey.

“I documented it from day one, I posted a video when I was still in bed recovering,” she recalled. “I just thought, ‘Wait, this might help other people,’ I wanted to document everything about the journey.”

@doseofdevy Like pls bffr #nosejob ♬ original sound – princessa

When it comes to her transformation, this young woman is unapologetically open and chronicles her journey brutally honestly.

“I left all my videos up, my photos, and I’m just owning it. I got a nose job,” she says. “I’m not going to erase who I was. And I love posting the before and after because it’s such a dramatic difference.

“The earliest I can remember wanting a nose job was at 14. I asked my mom, ‘Can I have a nose job?’” she recalled. But at that age, doctors refused to operate on her because she was still very young and her face was still developing.

When she turned 18, she scheduled her first consultation. The only obstacle she faced at the time was the money. “I had a deviated septum, but nothing that required surgery,” she explained. “It was purely cosmetic. Insurance didn’t pay. This was straight-up vanity.”

After ten years of saving every penny, she was finally able to undergone the much-wanted surgery.

“I just feel so happy every time I look in the mirror,” she said in an interview. “It’s literally life-changing … Now I can just shop in peace. I can go out in peace and I don’t have to worry if someone’s making a comment. I feel relieved.”

As expected, most of her videos are met with criticism from people who are against plastic surgery, but over the years, Devyn learned how to ignore the nasty comments.

“I was a little nervous putting myself out there because I get nasty comments every day. Every time I log onto my social media, there’s a disgusting comment,” the TikTok star said. “People just have a misconception that [with] plastic surgery, you’re like this fake bimbo. You’re making yourself into someone else. That’s not the case. I’m just enhancing and improving myself.”

You can take a look at Devyn’s complete transformation in the video below.

Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.

Bored Daddy

Love and Peace