Clearing out your freezer as much as you can will make the process go easier. In the week or so leading up to defrosting your freezer, try to cook and eat what you can. Plus, it's a good way to use up food that may be on the edge of getting too old. If you can, ask a neighbor if you can move some food to their freezer for a little while. Your next best option is to stick it in a cooler surrounded by ice or frozen cooling packs. If all else fails, wrap it up with cooling packs in a blanket and set it in a cool part of your home. It's a good idea to unplug it completely if you can, as you don't want to be standing in water while working around the appliance. If it's a freezer/refrigerator combination, the refrigerator food should be fine for 1-2 hours as long as you leave the door closed. Some freezers have a switch you can use to turn off the freezer instead of unplugging it. There's going to be lots of water as you defrost your freezer, so it's best to just be prepared. Put several layers of towels on the floor, gathered around the base of the freezer. Put baking trays on top of the towels but under the edge of the freezer to catch extra water. Some freezers have a drainage hose on the bottom of the freezer that will help carry the water away. If yours has one, put the end in a low basin or bucket so the water can drain out into it. You also might want to place shims under the front feet of the freezer to help encourage the water to flow toward the drain.
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One-sentence summary -- Eat as much food as you can ahead of time. Move the food in the freezer to a cool location. Turn the freezer off and/or unplug it. Place old towels and baking trays around the bottom of the freezer. Find the drainage hose if yours has one and place the end in a bucket.


Sleeping on your back keeps your head, neck, and back in alignment. It can also help prevent pains in your neck and back as well as help with conditions such as acid reflux and heart problems. However, if your preferred sleeping position is on your side, you can use a body pillow to achieve similar results.  Body pillows conform to the shape of your body, which helps align your spine in a more normal way. It also provides extra support, which helps relieve back pain and stress. This causes you to breathe easier, promotes better circulation, and aids in muscles relaxation. Side sleeping with a body pillow can help you if you have sleep apnea, a condition where you stop breathing then restart breathing while asleep. Body pillows can also help you if you snore and if you are pregnant Sleeping on your side while pregnant helps improve blood flow to your uterus and can help with ankles that are swollen. It also supports your neck, back, and belly at the same time. Sleeping on your left side is generally considered preferable if you are pregnant. If you develop back pain after you start using a body pillow, stop immediately. It should not cause you any pain or discomfort. If the back pain becomes common, see your doctor or a chiropractor. If you start using a body pillow to help back pain and it gets worse, stop using it until you can discuss your options with your doctor.
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One-sentence summary -- Learn how body pillows help. Know other reasons to sleep with a body pillow. See a chiropractor.


lp your body heal. Load up on organic fruits and vegetables. Dark leafy greens (such as spinach and kale), cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts), legumes (such as beans, peas, and lentils), and nuts and seeds (such as almonds, chia seeds, and flax seeds) are all healthy choices. Make sure to also incorporate sources of healthy fat, such as oily fish (like tuna and mackerel). A nutritious, well-balanced diet can promote healing, boost your immune system, and generally help your body function as well as possible. A plant-based diet, in particular, may help regulate the production of hormones that affect reproductive health. Some proponents of natural medicine believe that ovarian cysts can be a result of potassium deficiency and that eating more potassium may help heal and prevent cysts. Good sources of dietary potassium include sweet potatoes, beet greens, yogurt, tomatoes, bananas, and many types of seafood (such as clams, tuna, and halibut).  Most people can benefit from incorporating more potassium into their diet, but consuming too much potassium can also negatively affect your health. Talk to your doctor about whether you are getting a healthy amount of potassium from your diet. The average adult should get around 4,700 mg of potassium from their diet each day. Ask your doctor if this is an appropriate dietary goal for you. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of apple cider vinegar with 7 fluid ounces (210 mL) of water and drink it each day after a meal. There are no evidence-based studies that show apple cider vinegar has an effect on ovarian cyst size. However, one small study showed that consuming a small amount of ACV each day may relieve some symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).  Apple cider vinegar may provide some health benefits, such as helping to regulate blood sugar and facilitating weight loss. Like any dietary supplement, however, it can be harmful if you take too much of it. Too much ACV can damage your teeth, and it may also overwork your kidneys, especially if you have chronic kidney disease.  Limit your intake of ACV to no more than 1 tablespoon (15 mL) to 2 tablespoons (30 mL) unless a doctor or dietitian advises you otherwise. Rinse your mouth with water after drinking ACV to minimize damage to your teeth. Talk to your doctor about taking an enzyme supplement, such as Univase Forte or Wobenzym. Some alternative medicine specialists believe that systemic enzyme supplements may help reduce inflammation and promote the breakdown of excess or abnormal tissues, like those found in some types of ovarian cysts. There has been little scientific research on the effectiveness of oral systemic enzyme supplements for treating any type of medical condition. Systemic enzyme therapy is likely safe, but there is no strong evidence that it is actually helpful for shrinking ovarian cysts. Soak a piece of clean cloth in castor oil and place it on your abdomen over the cyst. If you wish, you can gently warm the pack by placing a sheet of plastic over the cloth and placing a microwaveable heating pad on top of the plastic. Some natural medicine proponents claim that castor oil applied to the skin may promote better blood circulation and healing of the organs in the area where the oil is applied, including the ovaries.  Once you’re done using the pack, you can clean the castor oil off your skin with a mixture of water and baking soda.  Do not use castor oil while you are pregnant or nursing, since it may not be safe for the fetus or baby. Some natural healthcare practitioners also caution against using castor oil packs during your period, since it is believed to increase blood flow.  There is no scientific evidence to support castor oil as a remedy for ovarian cysts. However, even if the castor oil pack does not help shrink your cysts, it may still provide some comfort if you are experiencing pain. Some natural medicine practitioners advise using vitamin supplements, such as B-complex and D3 vitamins, to help treat and prevent ovarian cysts. Before taking any new vitamins supplements, talk to your doctor about whether you are getting enough of these vitamins and minerals from your diet. They may order lab tests to find out if you have any vitamin or mineral deficiencies.  There is not much research on the effectiveness of vitamin supplements in the treatment of ovarian cysts, but it is possible that certain vitamins and minerals may improve your overall reproductive health.  Vitamin D, in particular, is important for keeping your immune system healthy, reducing inflammation in your cells, and helping your body absorb calcium. Vitamin D supplements may also help relieve some of the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the studies that looked at these effects were small and there is no evidence that taking vitamin D can treat or prevent any disease.
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One-sentence summary --
rich in vegetables to help your body heal. Incorporate potassium-rich foods into your diet. Drink a small amount of apple cider vinegar daily. Look into systemic enzyme therapy. Put a castor oil pack over the affected ovary for 45-60 minutes daily. Talk to your doctor about taking vitamin supplements.