The Healthy and Wealthy You

 

Dr. Mercola has spoken out against genetically modified foods and this post spells it out carefully.  Be aware.  Take his advice to heart in order to be a healthy YOU:

Dr. Philip Bereano is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington and an actively engaged activist against genetically modified (GM) foods. His academic work is within Technology and Public Policy, and over the past 30 years,

Dr. Bereano’s work has focused on genetically engineered organisms (GMOs) in foods, crops and animals, as well as human genetic engineering issue

Dr. Philip Bereano has spent the last three decades looking into genetically engineered organisms (GMOs) in foods, crops, animals, and humans—both nationally, here in the United States, and internationally. His work led him to participate in the negotiation of two international treaties under the United Nations that dealt with issues relating to GMOs. He’s also participated in the U.N. agency relating to foods, and the Codex Alimentarius Committee’s taskforce on genetically engineered foods.

GMOs Have Never Been Proven Safe, Nor Beneficial…

In this interview, he shares his perspective on the safety of GM foods, or rather the lack thereof.

“First of all, we need to understand what we mean by the word safe,” he says. “Actually, in terms of the academic literature, “safe” refers to “an acceptable level of risk.” It doesn’t refer to situations where there is no risk. Most of us drive in cars all the time and consider it to be safe even though we know that people are killed and injured in automobiles frequently. We have to understand that safe equals acceptable risk.

The problem with calling genetically engineered organisms safe is that there are no valid risk assessments being done on them. There is no research, really, being done into the health or environmental effects of a genetically engineered organism. Certainly no work that is published in the peer-reviewed literature that isn’t proprietary. Corporations promoting these things claim that they have done research, but you can’t get any information on it because it’s all claimed to be proprietary.

Under what is known now as the precautionary principle—which is what your grandparents used to teach you about looking before you leap—the only prudent course of action is to NOT proceed with something which has potential risks and only potential benefits until you know a little bit more about it.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Safety Principles are Being Ignored in a Number of Ways

There are in fact international treaties—most notably the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol, which about 175 countries have signed—that enshrine the precautionary principle.

“It says very clearly that countries may use the precautionary approach before allowing the import of any genetically engineered organisms into their territories,” Dr. Bereano explains.

The US is one country, however, that has fully embraced GM foods, on a government level, and does not appear to have any intentions of following the precautionary principle. The primary reason for this is because Monsanto, the clear leader in the biotech industry, has managed to infiltrate virtually every government office that has a hand in regulating their industry.

Another way to ensure safety (or acceptable level of risk), is to conduct the necessary research to evaluate the potential environmental- and human health risks involved prior to condoning the use of GMOs. However, that’s NOT being done either. In fact, there are very few peer-reviewed studies available on the effects of GMOs.

“There is quite a bit of research that has indicated that there may be health risks,” Dr. Bereano says, “but this research has not been funded for replication, for extension, for further studies, and so forth. And very often the scientists who have performed that [independent] research… have become ostracized instead of recognized for maybe opening up an important area of inquiry.”

Dr. Bereano also brings up another important point, which is that for all the benefits touted, they’re primarily potential benefits, because just like there’s a lack of proof of safety, there’s a glaring lack of proof of actual benefit.

Who actually benefits from GMO’s, and who or what might be harmed by it?

“It’s not just a question of what the total risks or benefits might be, but who do they accrue to? That makes it also a more political or social set of issues,” he says.

Then of course there are the conflicts of interest, which can be found at virtually every level, from the research labs to the regulatory agencies. But there’s also the issue of group-think, which is typically more insidious and harder to root out because it’s a social mechanism, and few people are immune to its power.

“Conflicts of interest operates very institutionally too, because a lot of scientists are in departments that get funding from the biotech industry. What it evolves into is a set of world views.

If you are immersed in a profession and a culture and all of your colleagues think certain ways about certain things, then you’re not very likely to challenge that… The exact same phenomenon happens with geneticists and people who do biotech science. They read the same journals. They get reviewed for promotion…  You have to parrot the same views that your older superiors believe or otherwise they’re going to think you’re crazy and not doing good work and won’t promote you.

There are social mechanisms which reinforce this that go well beyond “conflict of interest” in a very simplified sense.”

The “Legal Fiction” of GMO Regulation

Dr. Bereano points out that the decision to regulate GMOs based on earlier regulatory statutes is “a kind of legal fiction,” because those earlier statutes were created well before the technology of genetic engineering was even developed.

“There was a public policy decision made not to go for special regulation, which would have of course resulted in lots of news articles, congressional hearings and all the rest of it, which would have alerted the public in this country to the existence of this new technology which huge numbers of Americans have no idea exists their food supply, unlike countries where these have all been matters of public debate.

It was a very shrewd decision by the government and by the industry to claim, first in 1986 that this coordinated Federal framework of existing regulatory bodies could handle it, and then in 1992, officially claiming that genetically engineered foods were “substantially equivalent” to their non-engineered counterparts.”

This policy was created and announced not by the FDA itself, but rather by the President’s Council on Competitiveness—a council composed of, you guessed it: corporate executives.

Interestingly, most FDA scientists actually vigorously objected to this policy! This was only made public, however, after a lawsuit granted access to FDA documents in which FDA scientists expressed concerns that there was, naturally, major differences between genetically engineered and conventional foods.

Perhaps the most ironic part of this whole charade is the fact that ever since then, Monsanto and other biotech companies have filed patents arguing that their GM products are completely unique and different from their conventional counterparts, and therefore must receive patent protection and monopoly!

Are GM Crops the Answer to World Hunger as Claimed?

One of the justifications for the use of genetically engineered crops is that it can eradicate world hunger. Clearly, the production of adequate food supply is a noble goal, but the supposition that we can achieve this goal through the use of GM crops is seriously flawed.

“The largest study in the world that dealt with this, which included about 400 scientists, was assembled by the United Nations and the World Bank into something called the IAASTD (International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development). After a long set of studies that were peer-reviewed, portions were sent around and I received elements of the final report,” Dr. Bereano says.

“The IAASTD found little evidence to support a conclusion that genetic engineering or modern biotech are well suited to meet the needs of small scale and subsistence farmers who were of course feeding huge numbers of people, especially in the Third World where hunger is so evident.”

He also accurately points out that we have hunger right here in the US, despite our grain surpluses and despite the fact that we use genetic engineering more than any other country. Food production and hunger is not necessarily a simple one-to-one equation. There’s also the issue of not having enough money to buy the food that is readily available!

Additionally, GM crops sure aren’t less expensive than conventional!

On the contrary, GM seeds are getting increasingly expensive, as are the prerequisite pesticides—not to mention the fact that farmers are forced to buy new GM seeds every year, opposed to saving the best seeds for the next planting, which has been done since the beginning of agriculture. The increased expense of farming with GM seeds has likely already caused more than 180,000 Indian farmers to commit suicide when faced with insurmountable debt, failed crops, and no money to buy new seed.

Not surprisingly, Monsanto and the United States, along with a couple of other countries refused to sign off on the final report that was ultimately issued by the UN…

On the other hand, studies have repeatedly confirmed that farming methods that promote healthy soils and biodiversity can dramatically increase production and yield. For example, as recently as March 8, the United Nations issued a press release with the headline: Eco-Farming Can Double Food Production in 10 Years.

It states:

“Small-scale farmers can double food production within 10 years in critical regions by using ecological methods, a new UN report shows. Based on an extensive review of the recent scientific literature, the study calls for a fundamental shift towards agroecology as a way to boost food production and improve the situation of the poorest.

“To feed 9 billion people in 2050, we urgently need to adopt the most efficient farming techniques available,” says Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food and author of the report. “Today’s scientific evidence demonstrates that agroecological methods outperform the use of chemical fertilizers in boosting food production where the hungry live — especially in unfavorable environments.”

Agroecology applies ecological science to the design of agricultural systems that can help put an end to food crises and address climate-change and poverty challenges. It enhances soils productivity and protects the crops against pests by relying on the natural environment such as beneficial trees, plants, animals and insects.

“To date, agroecological projects have shown an average crop yield increase of 80% in 57developing countries, with an average increase of 116% for all African projects,” De Schutter says…

“We won’t solve hunger and stop climate change with industrial farming on large plantations. The solution lies in supporting small-scale farmers’ knowledge and experimentation, and in raising incomes of smallholders so as to contribute to rural development.”

Best of all, these agro-ecological approaches do not pose any danger to the environment or to human health whatsoever—quite the contrary!

So, wouldn’t it make sense to focus on the safest, most beneficial, and most effective methods of food production instead of dabbling around with unproven high-risk technology that may or may not provide any benefit whatsoever to anyone besides the patent holders?

Unfortunately, the fact this isn’t happening is a testament to the immense power of the biotech industry, led by Monsanto, whose corporate officials rotate in and out of the White House administration, the FDA and other regulatory agencies.

What Do We Know About the Health Effects of GMOs?

As Dr. Bereano explains in this interview, genetic engineering is based on an extremely oversimplified model that suggests that by taking out or adding one or several genes, you can create a particular effect or result.

However, this reductionist model is nowhere near complete.

“First of all, genomes are so complicated with so many interactions within the genes of the genome that we don’t really understand it well,” Dr. Bereano says. “Let me give a simple example.

The genome in a cell in your eyeball is identical to the genome of a cell in your pancreas, but your eyeball does not make insulin. The constituents of what’s in a genome are not the end of the story as to what that cell is going to produce and do.

There are in the human body maybe about 30,000 genes but there are millions of proteins. These proteins are produced by very subtle and different interactions among the genes in different locations in the body. There are proteins which turn on insulin manufacturing to the cells in the pancreas and don’t turn it on in your eyeball

… It’s important to understand that the structure of the genome is not determinative of what that cell does.

Yet, the kind of mental model that’s being used in all of these discussions is what I call the Lego model or the tinker toy model. Let’s take out a yellow piece or let’s put in a green piece… but it’s not an issue just of structure—it’s of interaction.

These things are not being studied well. How stable is this genome after it is altered? In many instances we don’t know. It might change spontaneously. There are lots of questions there.

They have this very simplistic model and then they claim that these results are going to flow from it. But biology is much more complicated than that.”

GM Contamination—An Intentional Strategy to Destroy Organic

If you’ve followed the debate about genetically engineered crops for some time, you may remember that the USDA initially proposed that the organic rules should allow GM foods to be labeled organic. Fortunately, the public outcry squashed this atrocious proposal. In fact, it was the second largest citizen response up until that time for any proposed regulation. After several hearings around the US, the final organic rule did not allow for GM ingredients.

However, we now face another problem, namely contamination—both in the fields and during processing.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to guarantee a food will not contain any kind of GM substance. This is an industry fact that holds true for all organic retailers. Even the Non-GMO project has admitted this. The recent approval of GM alfalfa will only make matters worse, as alfalfa is a powerful pollinator.

“Contamination is an intentional strategy,” Dr. Bereano says. “It’s an intentional strategy by both the government and the industry. We have statements to that effect… Contamination in the field by pollen flow; contamination in the processing. They use the same railcars for engineered and non-engineered crops and things like that.”

Ronnie Cummins with the Organic Consumers Association also discussed this in a recent interview, warning that any alfalfa growing within a five mile radius of GM alfalfa will immediately become contaminated. The ramifications of this contamination are actually far worse than you might think, because alfalfa is a major food source for organic dairy cows. So once organic alfalfa becomes contaminated, organic milk and beef goes out the window too.

Echoing Dr. Bereano’s beliefs exactly, Cummins also said:

“I believe that this is an act of premeditated genetic pollution of the gene pool of alfalfa and related plants by Monsanto. They know exactly what they’re doing.

They understand is that if you pollute enough alfalfa across the country to where it becomes impossible to grow organic alfalfa that isn’t contaminated, perhaps then the organic community will weaken and allow genetically engineered animal feed under the rules of organic production.”

Final Thoughts

In closing, I want to remind you that you and I do have the power to turn this around, but it will require steadfast avoidance of all genetically modified foods, which by and large means avoiding processed foods that contain corn, soy and canola—unless it’s USDA Certified 100% Organic. Soon this list will also include non-organic sugar beets, as GM sugar beets have also recently been approved.

It will also require steadfast sharing of information to educate those around you about the problems with GM foods and why it’s so essential to vote them off the market with your pocket book. It’s quite clear that we cannot win this fight through regulatory action, but we can still force it off our shelves and out of our fields if sufficient amounts of people simply refuse to buy these products.

What You Can Do to Help Bring About the Tipping Point

To help you do this, the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) has created a variety of tools that makes it easier for you to choose non-GM foods and help educate others to do the same:

1. Distribute widely the Non-GMO Shopping Guide to help you identify and avoid foods with GMOs. Remember to look for products (including organic products) that feature the Non-GMO Project Verified Seal to be sure that at-risk ingredients have been tested for GMO content.
2. Download the free iPhone application that is available in the iTunes store. You can find it by searching for ShopNoGMO in the applications.
3. You can also order the Non-GMO Shopping Guide in bulk and give it to your family and friends.
4. Join the Non-GMO Tipping Point Network, where you can connect with Local and National Non-GMO Action Groups to learn more and help get the word out about GMOs to others.
5. Bring the film Hidden Dangers in Kid’s Meals to your local access TV station, or perhaps your child’s school, along with some educational material specifically designed for teachers and educators.
6. Share Your Milk on Drugs – Just Say No!, and Jeffrey’s lecture, Everything You Have to Know About Dangerous Genetically Modified Foods with everyone you know. Post them to your Facebook page, or email the links to your network of friends and family.
7. Join the Institute for Responsible Technologies Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter.

Also support the Non-GMO Project by urging your local food retailers to join the Non-GMO Project’s Supporting Retailer Program, and food manufacturers to join and become Non-GMO Project Verified. This is currently the best way for manufacturers to get around the fact that there’s no GM-labeling system.

 

 

We deeply appreciate Dr. Mercola for allowing us to share this vital information and his interview with Dr. Phillip Bereano with our visitors today.

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post.  Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline.  Always do business with those you trust implicitly

 

 

In Part I of our message about the health benefits of honey and cinnamon we discussed heart issues, arthritis and cholesterol.  This time around, let’s see what good things can happen with more  issues commonly encountered:

COLDS and FLU: It’s getting to be that time of year, eh?  Rather than pay big money for over the counter or prescription remedies, you could try something different.  Here’s one solution:  Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.   Here is a pragmatic way to deal with  miserable flu symptoms, as well: A  Spanish scientist has proven that honey contains a natural ‘ ingredient’ which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu..

UPSET STOMACH: The holiday season may find some of us with a finicky tummy from too many goodies or the stress of seasonal activities.  Here is a nifty solution: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

FLATULENCE aka gas: Not only is this uncomfy; it can be downright embarrassing.  Here’s an interesting resolution for an annoying problem: According to the studies done in India and Japan , it was revealed that honey, taken with cinnamon powder,  relieves the stomach of gas.  WHO KNEW?

You may be astonished to learn about these simple and cost effective ways to maintain a healthy body.  You may also be astonished to learn that very serious ailments are greatly helped by the use of Energy Medicine.

For more information about being healthy and wealthy without toxic drugs or draconian treatments please visit The Healing Codes. But hurry, because your well being depends on it!

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post.  Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline.  Always do business with those you trust implicitly.

Today we are very pleased to bring you an item we were delighted to find on Holistic Health Articles:

“Ask the Warrior Dentist: What is the Difference Between a DDS and a DMD? By: Dr. Susan

Dentists, like other doctors or people who have earned a PhD degree in their career field will have abbreviations after their name to show their designation or education. But people often wonder what the meaning of DDS and DMD are, and if there are real differences in these two types of doctors of dentistry. Even people who are in the medical field sometimes have trouble explaining why some dentists are designated with DDS and others with DMD, and why some dentistry school programs confer a DDS degree while others give their dentistry grads a DMD diploma instead.

First of all, the DDS initials stand for Doctor of Dental Surgery, whereas the DMD abbreviation means Doctor of Dental Medicine. Also the training and education required to earn either of these degrees is almost identical, but some dental schools choose the DDS while others prefer to use DMD. The differences began a long time ago, and a brief look into dentistry history can help us to more easily sort out this confusing business of dentist titles.

When the profession of dentistry began centuries ago, one type of person would specialize in surgery and treatment of teeth using tools and medical instruments, while another branch of dentistry was devoted to the use of pharmacology and medicines. So when the DDS designation was first used it applied to those who were surgeons. Back in those days there were few schools of dentistry, and those who studied the profession went to small independent schools that are much like today’s trade schools. If you wanted to be a dentist you could go to one of those institutions and earn your DDS diploma. But as the field of dentistry grew, expanded, and matured, mainstream universities took notice and began to incorporate dentistry into their studies. Harvard opened a dental school in the late 1800s and decided to award its graduates the DMD degree, and that is where that alternative abbreviation began. Soon after, a university in Oregon opened another dental college and it followed in the footsteps of Harvard by also using the DMD designation to distinguish its graduates from those who went to other dental schools.

By the end of the 20th century nearly half of all dental schools in North America also adopted this DMD degree for their graduates, and that is why about half of the dentists you visit are called DMD while the other half are designated as DDS. The American Dental Association, which is the main professional organization over the dental industry in the USA, accepts both designations equally, so whatever your dentist happens to be – either a DDS or a DMD – the training and certification is essentially the same. Basically it just depends on where your particular dentist went to college.

There have been efforts in recent years on behalf of dental organization including the state association in California and the American Dental Association to consolidate the titles or make them interchangeable in order to avoid confusion, but so far nothing has been officially decided or resolved. Meantime the dental industry will continue to have many practicing dentists who go by the title of DDS, while there are also about the same number who call themselves DMD. But as far as patients and consumers are concerned, they both mean the same thing – a certified graduate who holds a doctor of dentistry degree.
Dr. Susan Wells DMD has been a warrior dentist practicing dentistry in Warrior, Alabama since 1978. She treats patients for all aspects of general dentistry including preventive dental care oral hygiene instruction and full scale exams and cleanings. Visit her site to learn even more:  Dr. Susan Wells

*I hope Dr. Susan knows all about the superior dental care provided by ToothSoap!

Connie Baum

Some people think of massage therapy as a luxury.  It really is a way of life.  After all, you get your hair cut, you visit your dentist and eye care professional on a regular basis.  Why not incorporate massage sessions into your regimen?  It is the perfect way to meditate your way to Health and Wealth.

I found a piece about the benefits of massage therapy and want to share it with you here.  It comes from Holistic Health Articles and I think you’ll appreciate it very much.

SIDEBAR:  There are some misspelled words in this piece.  I am asking you to overlook those for the worth of the message.  END SIDEBAR.

Therapeutic Affects Of Massage Therapy

By: Amy Nutt

Massage therapy is one of the oldest methods of physical therapy. It is the practice of pressing, kneading, and rubbing specific areas of the body in order to promote pain relief and relax and stimulate the tissues of the body. It works on the tendons, ligaments, and muscles to improve muscle tissues. It can not only benefit the tissues, but even the body s organs.

A massage has traditionally been known as a method of achieving relaxation and relieving tension. However, many of today s health problems can benefit from massage therapy. Massage therapy treatments will improve one s health by targeting and impacting such areas such as the immune, muscular, nervous, and circulatory systems.

The therapeutic benefits of massage therapy include:

1. Massage therapy will relieve sore muscle tissues and alleviate pain which can help speed up recovery time. A minor muscle injury can often prevent one from staying physically active. Massage therapy helps one return to their active lifestyle much more quickly.
2. Many people who work often find themselves working long hours and undertaking strenuous physical tasks. They can suffer from tight and tense muscles in the neck and back. A massage therapist can locate the source of muscle tension and apply massage techniques to alleviate the condition. Back pain can be treated with massage therapy. Deep tissue massage is a popular choice for back pain as it helps to soothe aching muscles.
3. Massage therapy can greatly improve circulation. The pressure and movements causes blood to circulate into and out of muscles and joints. Improved circulation can help speed up the recovery of muscle tissue injuries. The increased blood flood helps increase the nourishment to the muscles and the stimulation of blood circulation assists the lymphatic system in improving the removal of waste throughout the body.
4. The motions of massage can help increase flexibility in muscles. The therapist can also use methods such as Muscle Energy Technique to increase flexibility by relieving tension and reducing stiffness.
5. A massage can improve skin health by regulating oil production.

Other physical benefits of massage therapy include: relieves muscle tension and stiffness that includes the neck region, reduces discomfort during pregnancy, promotes healing of strained muscles and sprained ligaments, reduces pain and swelling, reduces muscle spasms, improves joint flexibility and range of motion, enhances the health and nourishment of skin, reduces blood pressure, and relieves tension headaches and the negative effects of eye strain.

Mental and emotional benefits of massage therapy include: promotes a relaxed state of mind, relieves mental stress, promotes clear thinking and creativity, reduces anxiety, and promotes a state of well being.

Regular massages can have the therapeutic effect of strengthening and toning the entire body which will help to prevent strains and injuries. A massage can also stimulate the nervous system to help reduce exhaustion and restore one s physical and mental levels.

Massage therapists work in a variety of settings such as sport and fitness facilities, rehabilitation facilities, work places, hospitals, nursing homes…etc. More people are now discovering the therapeutic effects of massage therapy.

Article From Holistic Health Articles

Connie Baum

It’s true.  You cannot be too healthy nor can you be too rich.  It’s all about your mindset.  My good friend Ralph Brown talks about this often and since Ralph is featured as Expert Author of the Week on Holistic Health Articles, I thought you’d find his words as fascinating as I did:

“How to get Anything you Want in Life

by Ralph P. Brown

Okay, let’s talk about the Universe.

Say you are employed in the purchasing department of a business. You are in your office and what you need for the company is in a warehouse across town. That’s okay because you are linked by computer and all that you need to do to get what you need is enter the proper command and send. (Note that there is a difference between command and demand.)

So what happens when you enter the proper command and instead of “send” you hit the back arrow?
What if you enter the proper command and then hit delete or any other button than send?
And what happens if you enter the proper command and hit send – but then call to cancel or hold the order?
What about this scenario – send the order, okay – wait, okay send it, oh no, stop – alright, I need this. Uh no… maybe I don’t. What is the warehouse going to do?

If you see where I am am going with this, good for you! If not, the office is YOU, the computer is your LINK TO SPIRIT and the warehouse is the UNIVERSE, which is waiting to fill your needs. Whatever we ask for, the Universe sees as an order and seeks to fill it.

What if we ask for something and we follow this request with “I don’t deserve this”, “I’m not worthy” or “I’m not good enough”? This is the spiritual equivalent of the delete button. The Universe presumes your attention is on what you want – so it provides the same. However if what you want is not what you THINK, your order will be shipped with errors. Your order is sent through your thoughts and the Universe reads the order and sends it. This may not be what you desire to manifest in your life if you are sending that you are not worthy, good enough, not deserving. The Universe will hold your order until you’re ready.

The Universe reads exactly what you are thinking and sends back exactly what you are ready for – no more, no less.

So… What are you thinking?”
___________________________________

Author Resource:-> Ralph P. Brown is a registered tribal member of the St. Regis band of Mohawk Indians. An educator and instructor on the use of the Medicine Wheel, he is a pipe carrier, ceremony leader, traditional storyteller and author of “Awakening the Eagle: A Guide to the Medicine Wheel” and “13 Virtues to a New Life: A Journey Around the Medicine Wheel”. Learn more at Mirrored Windows

Article From Holistic Health Articles

There is a review by your humble blogger about Ralph’s book on Holistic Health Articles, as well as a great many other offerings about health and wealth by Ralph P. Brown.

Thank you for coming to this page; it is our sincere hope that you will leave your comments for us to peruse.  They are moderated so they do not always appear instantly.

Connie Baum

Today we offer a “Guest Post” from an article found on Holistic Health Articles…this reinforces the need for ToothSoap!

“What’ s the Best Diet to Keep my Teeth and Gums Healthy?

By: Dr. Pamela

Since early childhood we are warned by parents and dentists about the dangers of eating the wrong kinds of things for our teeth, such as candy. We are told to avoid sugary soft drinks, and are admonished against eating such things as rock candy, “atomic fireballs,” “lemonheads,” and other types of candy that are so hard they sometimes cause teeth to chip or breaks. We are told that chewing bubble gum is bad for our teeth, that lollipops should be avoided, and that we need to eat our spinach. But even though we ignore many of those early bits of advice, there is lots of truth in the notion that diet has a strong correlation to dental health. Not only can biting down on a peach pit or piece of hard candy cause a crack or chip, but just neglecting to eat a balanced diet full of nutritious foods can ruin our teeth, cause cavities, and create diseased gums. The easy part to figuring out what we should eat – as opposed to what we should not eat – is that it is essentially the same diet that would be followed for any healthy diet. Lots of fresh green vegetables, a healthy dose of fresh fruits, whole grains, and other vitamin and mineral laden foods are the ticket – whether you want to get a healthy physique and lose unwanted pounds or you want to retain a sparkling smile and not lose any of your permanent teeth.

Of course sugar is a real enemy of healthy teeth because too much sugar not only deprives us of energy giving and nutritious calories but it can etch the surface of the tooth’s enamel and lead to decay, cavities, and even serious problems like root canal procedures. Other sweeteners like honey are less harmful, and your doctor or dentist can teach you how to use things like fruit sweeteners to minimize your intake of processed white sugar.

But teeth need calcium – which we usually get from foods like milk and cheese – and they need iron and other substances that give us healthier blood and stronger tissues that comprise the inner pulp of the tooth and the all important gums that secure and protect healthy teeth. Another often overlooked part of any good healthy diet – especially a diet for stronger and more lasting teeth – is fresh water. Most Americans, for example, drink many more gallons of coffee, tea, beer, and soda pop each year than they do water – which is sometimes at the bottom of the list in terms of the beverages people consume. Drink plenty of water along with nutrient rich foods for better dental health.

Of course each of us is different. Some people have illnesses or food allergies that restrict the kinds of food they should eat. Others just have an aversion to certain foods, or follow a different kind of diet for religious reasons. That’s why the real answer to what is the best kind of diet to eat to ensure healthy teeth should be arrived at in consultation with your own dentist. The dentist should be able to discuss your particular situation and help you develop a meal plan and a nutritious and affordable diet that will work for you, be convenient and appropriate, and will nourish your teeth and gums as well as the rest of your body.”

Author Dr. Pam Dassenko has been practicing Dentistry for over 25 years. She is a 1980 graduate of Loma Linda University where she has also taught restorative dentistry and prosthodontics. Her caring and expertise are translated into beautiful and quality dental care from cosmetic to advanced modern dental procedures.  See her website here:  Dr. Dassenko

Thank you, Holistic Health Articles for this informative piece!

Please bear in mind, dear readers, that the ToothSoap people have a wonderful affiliate marketing program as well as effective dental and personal care products! Their customer care service is the best you’ll find anywhere.

We encourage you to leave your comment behind as you leave-the good dentist will appreciate that and so do we!  Thank you!
Connie Baum

By: Connie Baum

Some of us have taken water for granted. We took a drink of water when we were thirsty or if we ran out of our beverage of choice, but perhaps we did not really understand the critical need for good water in order to be truly well. However, if our health faltered or if we got an education in water, we began to pay closer attention.

I was surprised to learn that by the time I am thirsty, I am already beginning to be dehydrated! And even the least dehydration can cause stress hormones to rise to the point of brain damage! SIDEBAR: I don’t want to hear any comments from the peanut gallery about my brain damage! END SIDEBAR.

I was also astonished when I first learned that our brains are composed of 80% water!

Scientific studies indicate cognitive impairment can be reduced with the proper amount of dietary antioxidants, which help the body to be rid of toxicity. Water-good, clean water-is critical to this process.

I have always subscribed to the theory that our bodies heal themselves. But in order to heal properly, we need to be able to DE-toxify our systems. Every cell needs to be able to access the nutrition needed for repair. If even good water cannot enter our cells, allowing toxicity to exit, wellness will be denied.

The generally accepted rule of thumb for the proper amount of water to drink each day is ½ ounce of water for each pound of body weight. For instance, if you weigh 100 pounds, the ideal amount of water for you should be 50 ounces.

When this subject is broached, people will wail, “But I drink water all day long! Don’t tell me I’m not drinking enough water!” If you drink a proper AMOUNT of water and that water enters your cells correctly your body should be symptom free. If symptoms are an issue, you can be certain there is malabsorption, which creates a climate of acidity in the body. If your body cannot take in necessary nutrients the pH of your blood will reflect that there is a problem. The calcium and magnesium in your bones and teeth will be compromised. Osteoporosis is believed by many nutritionists to be the result of a lifetime of acidic stress, creating bone loss. Minerals, like the minerals we get from water, can minimize this kind of loss.

Symptoms that indicate the need for mineral-rich water can range from chronic fatigue and constipation to heartburn and migraine headaches. People whose bodies are literally dying for mineral-rich water can experience gastric upset or obesity, leg cramps and high blood pressure, just to mention a few of the issues raised when proper water is not ingested.

SIDEBAR: Could it be that children who have been identified as ADD or ADHD might benefit from mineral rich foods and water? END SIDEBAR.

That’s the PROBLEM; what is the SOLUTION?

The solution, of course is to have a proper water system installed in your home. There are many choices available from the kind of filter that not only cleans but mineralizes and magnetizes the water to the type that beams ultra-violet light on the water to kill any bacteria that might lurk there.

There are the systems which offer clean but dead water-Reverse Osmosis. If this type of water is used exclusively there will be health issues ensuing from water that has no life whatsoever. Reverse Osmosis water is clean but it is also devoid of minerals, rendering it useless for good health.

Simple kinesiology testing will prove to any Doubting Thomas the difference between tap water, filtered water, enhanced water, bottled water, and mineral enhanced water. It is almost comical to see the difference, really. Water you might never suspect to be deficient and not life supporting can make your muscles as weak as a kitten’s. Good, clean water with proper pH for your body will make you strong as an Iron Man Triathlon competitor!

Something else about water I’d like to share is a lesson I took from aging massage therapy instructors whose wisdom was golden:
1. Cold water constipates
2. Warm water lubricates
3. Hot water eliminates

Ridding the body of toxicity is as critical as taking in good water. This little admonition, learned as I sat at the feet of elderly, knowledgeable teachers, has proved to be very helpful to me in maintaining my own well being. I offer it to others with a heart full of hope that we all might help one another.

It’s important to pay strict attention to the role of water in your overall plan for health. After all, when you wear out your body, where are you going to live?

So, dear readers, let’s raise our water glasses high and toast one another’s good health! Cheers! Bottoms up!

Author Resource: Connie Baum is a health enthusiast who enjoyed a successful career in massage therapy before turning to the internet for fun and profit! You can learn more about water and detoxification if you visit High Tech Health; be sure to mention Mother Connie when you connect with the good folks there. Visitors to Mother Connie Sez are always welcome, too!

Article From Holistic Health Articles