HEALTHY LIFESTYLE NEWS August, 2014 Issue #105

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Promotion of the Month
• Healthy Quote for This Issue
• The Top 7 Best and Worst Foods for Teeth
• Are Your Food Choices Making You Sick?
• What’s the Problem with Genetically Modified Food?
• 19 Non-Drug Solutions for Pain Relief
• Healthy Recipe: Quinoa Salad with Grilled Vegetables and Feta
• A Touch of Humor: Painful Weight Loss

Sponsored by InspiredLiving.com for Better Health and Cleaner, Safer Living Environments

Copyright 2014 Carol A James. All rights reserved. This publication may be freely redistributed if copied in its ENTIRETY.

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P.S. Dont forget to check out our relaxation section with tips and techniques you can easily do at home or work to immediately relax your body, mind or spirit. For instance,

• 23 Office or Home Relaxation Techniques that Relieve Tension & Stress
• Humor – A great selection of clean humor to lighten your load and brighten your day.
• Inner Peace – A fun, uplifting poem and cool image.
• Fun Pages – Fun pages of cool pictures, illusions and mind games that can help shift your energy and help you to relax.

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HEALTHY QUOTE FOR THIS ISSUE:

“The human body is the best picture of the human soul.” — Ludwig Wittgenstein 1889-1951, Austrian Philosopher

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San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) May 26, 2011, http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/5/prweb8480421.htm

When it comes to dental health, what people eat and drink – and how they consume it – has a powerful impact on their teeth. And on the list of good and bad foods, there may be some surprises. According to San Antonio cosmetic dentist Dr. John Moore, regular tooth brushing and flossing are only part of a tooth-healthy lifestyle.

THE TOP 7 BEST AND WORST FOODS FOR TEETH
By Dr. John Moore, DDS

When it comes to dental health, what people eat and drink – and how they consume it – has a powerful impact on their teeth. And on the list of good and bad foods, there may be some surprises.

According to San Antonio cosmetic dentist Dr. John Moore, regular tooth brushing and flossing are only part of a tooth-healthy lifestyle.

“The old adage “˜You are what you eat’ is especially true for your teeth,” Moore said.

A tooth’s worst enemy, he said, is acid — either directly contained in the food and drink, or produced by bacteria that thrive on sugar and convert it to acid. The mouth’s best friends are foods that neutralize acids, provide minerals and vitamins to repair tooth enamel and stimulate saliva.

Dr. Moore offers the following lists of best and worst foods and drink for teeth:

The Top 7 Best Foods and Drinks

1) High-fiber fruits and vegetables – High-fiber foods work like a detergent in the mouth, not only physically “scrubbing” the teeth, but also stimulating saliva flow by requiring longer chewing times. Saliva is the mouth’s first line of defense, because it neutralizes tooth-damaging acids, and contains calcium and phosphates that help rebuild minerals leached away by bacterial acids. Crunchy, juicy fruits and vegetables also have high water content that helps offset their sugar content. High-fiber foods are also a key foundation of an overall healthy diet, so they offer a double benefit.

2) Water — When it comes to oral health, water is indispensable. It’s the primary component of saliva, and is important to both tooth and gum health. Water is valuable as the final rinsing agent for foods and sugary drinks, and, if fluoridated, works to prevent tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel.

3) Dairy products — Dairy products without added sugar help teeth in a number of ways. Cheese helps stimulate saliva, while its calcium helps replace minerals leached from the teeth. Other dairy products, such as milk, yogurt and similar products also provide calcium and phosphates; enriched milk also provides Vitamin D, which helps the body use calcium.

4) Xylitol – Sugarless gums of any kind can help boost dental health, because they stimulate saliva production and can help “scrub” teeth. But those sweetened with xylitol — a type of sugar extracted from a variety of plants — can actually battle tooth decay, because xylitol works against mutans streptococci, the bacteria that causes tooth decay. Xylitol is available as a general sweetener at health stores.

5) A hot cup of cavity-fighter — Green and black teas contain compounds called polyphenols that interact with the bacteria that causes plaque. These polyphenols either kill or suppress bacteria, preventing them from growing or producing tooth-attacking acid. The polyphenols in coffee also have cavity-fighting properties. Studies have also shown cocoa to have strong anti-mutans streptococci properties, although chomping sugary chocolate bars isn’t tooth-friendly.

6) Go nuts – Many nuts provide vitamins and minerals that help your teeth. These include peanuts (calcium and vitamin D), almonds (high levels of calcium that helps both teeth and gums), cashews (stimulates saliva and helps clean teeth) and walnuts (fiber, folic acid, iron, thiamine, magnesium, iron, niacin, vitamin E, vitamin B6, potassium and zinc).

7) Mining for minerals — Foods that provide vitamins A, C and D as well as calcium and phosphorus, are especially good for the teeth. These foods can be part of an overall healthy diet, as well. These include beef, eggs, fish, potatoes, spinach, fortified cereals, tofu, leafy green vegetables, beans, whole grains and poultry.

Top 7 Worst Foods and Drinks for Teeth

1) Carbonated beverages & other drinks – Soft drinks are a perennial target of nutrition police, because they add so much sugar to the national diet. The sugar content — as much as a king-sized candy bar – is bad for both body and teeth. But teeth aren’t safe even for those who stick to diet drinks! Like their sugar-loaded versions, artificially sweetened soft drinks contain tooth-eroding acids, such as phosphoric and citric. Even canned iced teas, which normally might be good for teeth, contain flavor-enhancing organic acids that can erode tooth enamel.

2) Not-so-healthy vitamins – Even so-called health drinks are brimming with danger for your teeth. Sports drinks are notoriously acidic and full of sugar. And vitamin waters can contain as much sugar as a candy bar. Chewable vitamins — from multivitamins to large chewable vitamin C tablets — are especially bad, because they contain a concentrated acid that tends to cling to and between teeth.

3) Mouth-drying consumables — Whether it’s last night’s margaritas that are leaving one cotton-mouthed, or one of the medications that affect salivation, a dry mouth is danger to teeth and gums. Psychiatric medications, Dr. Moore says, are among the worst culprits in causing dry mouth. One must to take extra care to keep the mouth hydrated, from deliberately washing with water or fluoridated rinses, to mouth hydration solutions.

4) Long-lasting and sticky sweets – It’s not news that caramels and other gooey, sugary sweets are bad for teeth. It’s not just the sugar, though; it’s how long the teeth are exposed to sugar. So while those caramels stick and cling tenaciously to tooth surfaces and crevices, hard candies and lollipops are also very bad; they’re designed for a long, leisurely suck. This principle applies to any sweets, from candy to sweet drinks —sugar should stay in the mouth as briefly as possible.

5) Dried fruits — While fresh grapes and plums are considered “good” foods, if they are dried, they go from hero to villain. Although often touted as healthy snacks, dried fruits like raisins, prunes and apricots, are similar to caramels. Already sweet when fresh, their sugars are highly concentrated as the water is dried away, and their gummy texture can cling to teeth as much as gooey candy. And worse, the fruit is packed with non-soluble cellulose fiber, which can bind and trap sugars on and around the tooth, making it worse than candy.

6) Starchy foods – Many starchy foods, including white bread, potato chips and French fries and al dente pasta, can easily become lodged between teeth and in crevices. While they may not necessarily taste sweet, the starches can begin converting to sugar almost immediately, not only by the bacteria, but also by the pre-digestive process that begins in the mouth through the enzymes in saliva.

7) High-acid foods and drinks – Citrus fruits and drinks contain powerful citric acid — in fact, such juice is often used as a cleaning agent. While oranges, lemons and grapefruit can be a healthy part of the diet, they should be consumed quickly, preferably as part of a meal, and the teeth should be rinsed afterward. Sucking on citrus fruits should be avoided; this especially applies to the “home remedy” practice sucking lemon wedges for tooth-whitening.

Some tooth-healthy dos and don’ts

1) Crunching ice and popcorn — Teeth are tough and made to last a lifetime eating a normal diet, but they do have a breaking point. Ice is tough — tough enough that glaciers carve mountains and an iceberg could peel open the Titanic. Chewing ice is a common habit; but even if this doesn’t cause a major break, it can lead to a network of tiny cracks that can develop serious problems as time goes on. Popcorn has its own dental danger, from husks that can easily become wedged between teeth to uncooked kernels that can damage teeth.

2) Use a straw/don’t swish — The impact of sweet and/or acidic drinks can be cushioned by getting into the habit of drinking through a straw aimed toward the back of the mouth. Swishing a drink through the teeth, however, intensifies the effect of both sugars and acids.

3) Use water as a mouthwash — Water makes the perfect rinse to clear sugars and acids after eating or drinking.

4) Be careful brushing – Brushing is recommended after every meal. However there’s an exception; if one has just eaten or drunk an acidic food or beverage, they should rinse with plain water to clear the mouth, and then wait at least a half-hour before brushing. After the acid bath, tooth enamel is more vulnerable to damage. Waiting a while gives saliva a chance to remineralize the teeth so the brushing doesn’t worsen damage.

Author Profile: Dr. John Moore, DDS, has been a practicing San Antonio dentist for more than 25 years, and his credits include serving as an assistant professor of dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He is a prolific lecturer and published writer, and has won numerous awards, including being voted into America’s Top Dentists in Cosmetic Dentistry and honored as San Antonio’s Top Dentist in Cosmetic Dentistry. He is the only Elite Premium Provider of Invisalign clear braces in metro San Antonio. http://33smile.com

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ARE YOUR FOOD CHOICES MAKING YOU SICK?
By Carol James

The quality of food we eat is as important as the air we breathe and the water we drink when it comes to the healthiness (or unhealthiness) of our body. Thus eating cleaner, healthier, more nutritious food that is grown in mineral rich soil, without pesticides, grown as nature intended and not contaminated with cross-species genetic modifications is your best bet.

At the very least, avoid food made genetically (corn, soy canola oil, etc.), which is being blamed for the significant rise in digestive system problems, like leaky gut syndrome.

However, I know that many people either do not live near farmer’s markets or stores that carry healthy food, so here is a handy tool to find healthy food choices where you live.

Eat Well Guide: Wholesome Food from Healthy Animals — The Eat Well Guide is a free online directory of sustainably raised meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs from farms, stores, restaurants, inns, and hotels, and online outlets in the United States and Canada. You can search by state, city, zipcode or keyword. http://www.eatwellguide.org

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WHAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD?
By Carol James

Many people are not familiar with what a genetically modified (GM) food is. There is a lot of misinformation on the Internet, the bulk of it coming from the manufacturers of GM food for obvious reasons: They want you to eat their GM food so they can profit from it.

The Institute for Responsible Technology has a terrific Frequently Asked Questions section about genetic food modification, what it is, how it is done, why it’s done, and especially as it relates to cross-species food modification.

One of the most telling sections about why we should avoid GM food is from this question and answer:

Q: But aren’t the plants chemically the same, whether or not they are GM?

A. Most tests can’t determine the differences at the level of the DNA. And, even if they appear to be the same, eyewitness reports from all over North American describe how several types of animals, including cows, pigs, geese, elk, deer, squirrels, and rats, when given a choice, avoid eating GM foods.

Education is your best weapon in your search for better health. Read more at http://www.responsibletechnology.org/faqs

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19 NON-DRUG SOLUTIONS FOR PAIN RELIEF

As I stated at the beginning, I strongly recommend exhausting other options before you resort to a narcotic pain reliever. The health risks associated with these drugs are great, and addiction is a very real concern. Below I list 19 non-drug alternatives for the treatment of pain. These options provide excellent pain relief without any of the health hazards that prescription (and even over-the-counter) painkillers carry. This list is in no way meant to represent the only approaches one can use. These are just some of the best strategies that I know of. If you are in pain, please try these first, before even thinking about prescription painkillers of any kind.

1. Eliminate or radically reduce most grains and sugars from your diet. Avoiding grains and sugars will lower your insulin and leptin levels and decrease insulin and leptin resistance, which is one of the most important reasons why inflammatory prostaglandins are produced. That is why stopping sugar and sweets is so important to controlling your pain and other types of chronic illnesses.

2. Take high-quality, animal-based omega-3 fat. My personal favorite is krill oil. Omega-3 fats are precursors to mediators of inflammation called prostaglandins. (In fact, that is how anti-inflammatory painkillers work, they manipulate prostaglandins.)

3. Optimize your production of vitamin D by getting regular, appropriate sun exposure, which will work through a variety of different mechanisms to reduce your pain.

4. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a drug-free approach for pain management of all kinds. EFT borrows from the principles of acupuncture, in that it helps you balance out your subtle energy system. It helps resolve underlying, often subconscious, negative emotions that may be exacerbating your physical pain. By stimulating (tapping) well-established acupuncture points with your fingertips, you rebalance your energy system, which tends to dissipate pain.

5. K-Laser Class 4 Laser Therapy. If you suffer pain from an injury, arthritis, or other inflammation-based pain, I’d strongly encourage you to try out K-Laser therapy. It can be an excellent choice for many painful conditions, including acute injuries. By addressing the underlying cause of the pain, you will no longer need to rely on painkillers. K-Laser is a class 4 infrared laser therapy treatment that helps reduce pain, reduce inflammation, and enhance tissue healing””both in hard and soft tissues, including muscles, ligaments, or even bones. The infrared wavelengths used in the K-Laser allow for targeting specific areas of your body, and can penetrate deeply into the body to reach areas such as your spine and hip. For more information about this groundbreaking technology, and how it can help heal chronic pain, please listen to my previous interview with Dr. Harrington.

6. Chiropractic. Many studies have confirmed that chiropractic management is much safer and less expensive than allopathic medical treatments, especially when used for pain, such as low-back pain. Qualified chiropractic, osteopathic, and naturopathic physicians are reliable, as they have received extensive training in the management of musculoskeletal disorders during their course of graduate healthcare training, which lasts between four to six years. These health experts have comprehensive training in musculoskeletal management.

7. Acupuncture can also effectively treat many kinds of pain. Research has discovered a “clear and robust” effect of acupuncture in the treatment of back, neck, and shoulder pain, osteoarthritis, and headaches.

8. Physical and massage therapy has been shown to be as good as surgery for painful conditions such as torn cartilage and arthritis.

9. Astaxanthin is one of the most effective fat-soluble antioxidants known. It has very potent anti-inflammatory properties and in many cases works far more effectively than anti-inflammatory drugs. Higher doses are typically required and you may need 8 mg or more per day to achieve this benefit.

10. Ginger: This herb has potent anti-inflammatory activity and offers pain relief and stomach-settling properties. Fresh ginger works well steeped in boiling water as a tea or grated into vegetable juice.

11. Curcumin: In a study of osteoarthritis patients, those who added 200 mg of curcumin a day to their treatment plan had reduced pain and increased mobility. A past study also found that a turmeric extract composed of curcuminoids blocked inflammatory pathways, effectively preventing the overproduction of a protein that triggers swelling and pain.

12. Boswellia: Also known as boswellin or “Indian frankincense,” this herb contains specific active anti-inflammatory ingredients. This is one of my personal favorites as I have seen it work well with many rheumatoid arthritis patients.

13. Bromelain: This enzyme, found in pineapples, is a natural anti-inflammatory. It can be taken in supplement form but eating fresh pineapple, including some of the bromelain-rich stem, may also be helpful.

14. Cetyl myristoleate (CMO): This oil, found in fish and dairy butter, acts as a “joint lubricant” and an anti-inflammatory. I have used this for myself to relieve ganglion cysts and a mild annoying carpal tunnel syndrome that pops up when I type too much on non-ergonomic keyboards. I used a topical preparation for this.

15. Evening primrose, black currant, and borage oils: These contain the essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is useful for treating arthritic pain.

16. Cayenne cream: Also called capsaicin cream, this spice comes from dried hot peppers. It alleviates pain by depleting the body’s supply of substance P, a chemical component of nerve cells that transmits pain signals to your brain.

17. Medical cannabis has a long history as a natural analgesic. At present, 20 US states have legalized cannabis for medical purposes. Its medicinal qualities are due to high amounts (about 10-20 percent) of cannabidiol (CBD), medicinal terpenes, and flavanoids. Varieties of cannabis exist that are very low in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)””the psychoactive component of marijuana that makes you feel “stoned”””and high in medicinal CBD. The Journal of Pain, a publication by the American Pain Society, has a long list of studies on the pain-relieving effects of cannabis.

18. Methods such as yoga, Foundation Training, massage, meditation, hot and cold packs, and other mind-body-techniques can also result in astonishing pain relief without any drugs.

19. Grounding, or walking barefoot on the earth, may also provide a certain measure of pain relief by combating inflammation.

Read entire article at http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/07/17/painkiller-addiction-overdose.aspx

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HEALTHY RECIPE: QUINOA SALAD WITH GRILLED VEGETABLES AND FETA

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 2 cups quinoa
• 3 1/2 cups water or vegetable stock
• Kosher salt, to taste
• 1 red onion, cut into 1/4-inch rounds
• 2 zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch slices
• 2 summer squashes, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch slices
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• Pint grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, larger leaves torn
• 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, larger leaves torn
• 4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

Directions

In a 3 1/2-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat, warm 1 Tbs. of the olive oil. Add the quinoa and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the water, season with salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until the grains are tender and the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Let the quinoa cool.

Meanwhile, preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. In a large bowl, gently toss together the onion, zucchini, squashes and 3 Tbs. of the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill the vegetables, turning once, until nicely grill-marked and tender, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool slightly, then cut into rough 1/4-inch dice. Add the diced vegetables and the tomatoes to the pot with the quinoa and stir gently to combine.

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil and the lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Add the vinaigrette to the quinoa along with basil, mint and half of the cheese and stir to combine. Top with the remaining cheese and serve. Serves 6 to 8.

Recipe from Williams-Sonoma http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/quinoa-salad-grilled-vegetables.html

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A TOUCH OF HUMOR: PAINFUL WEIGHT LOSS

Weight Loss

I was talking to my doctor about a weight loss-patch I had seen advertised. Supposedly, you stick it on and pounds melt away.

“Does it work?” I asked.

“Sure” he said, “if you put it over your mouth.”

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Pain Scale

When a patient was wheeled into our emergency room, I was the nurse on duty.

“On a scale of zero to ten,” I asked her, “with zero representing no pain and ten representing excruciating pain, what would you say your pain level is now?”

She shook her head. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m not good with math.”

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On the Scale

It’s my job to weigh and measure the children who come in to the doctor’s office where I work.

After several unsuccessful attempts to get one frightened three-year-old onto the scale, her mother said, “Honey, Mommy has a scale at home. Do like I do and stand on it.”

Recognition dawned on the child’s face and she confidently stepped on the scale, looked down and exclaimed, “Oh, damn!”

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