Dental Health
New Vitamin D News
September 15, 2010 Written by JPThere are many different writing styles. Some health reporters seek out a specific niche and stick to it. Others mine a more diverse topic base from which to select material. I tend to fall between the two camps. While researching, I allow the material that I come across in my daily life to dictate what I cover. At times this gives me the luxury of presenting a broad cross-section of information. But occasionally, what I discover prompts me to revisit select topics on a regular basis. Such is the case with research involving Vitamin D. Currently, there is a tremendous amount of scientific attention being paid to this humble “sunshine” nutrient. Some of the more dramatic data makes the evening news. Much of it does not. The latter category is the subject of my column today.
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Tags: Breast Cancer, Diet and Weight Loss, Gums
Posted in Dental Health, Diabetes, Nutritional Supplements | 11 Comments & Updates
Natural Stress Relievers
September 3, 2010 Written by JPThere was a time when stress was largely considered a nuisance and little more than that. You just coped with it by blowing off some steam in one way or another. That could mean having a “drink” or five at the end of a hard day. Or maybe your crutch was cigarettes. Judging by the current obesity epidemic, it now seems that junk food has claimed top spot in the comfort providing department. But what’s changed in recent times is the awareness of how stress hormones affect our physiology. It’s not just “all in your head” any longer.
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Tags: Heart Health, Osteoporosis, Stress
Posted in Dental Health, Diabetes, Mental Health | 29 Comments & Updates
Erythritol and Xylitol News
February 4, 2010 Written by JPYou don’t need to deprive yourself of pleasure or, worse yet, endure pain in order to live a healthy lifestyle. Why do you suppose that so many people find this hard to believe? Part of the reason is often because of disappointing experiences we’ve all had. I believe that many of these failures were likely prompted by poor advice provided by celebrated figures or so called authorities in the health care field. Then there’s the messages that we frequently see in advertisements for nutritional supplements, prescription medications, specialized exercise programs and even surgical procedures. The underlying theme is two-fold: 1) you need to buy something they’re selling in order to lose weight or otherwise regain your health; 2) you can try to do it on your own, but it’ll be very difficult and you’ll probably fail. To that, I say “nonsense”! Read more »
Tags: Dental Health, Surgery, Xylitol
Posted in Dental Health, Diabetes, Diet and Weight Loss | 18 Comments & Updates
Probiotic Supplements
November 20, 2009 Written by JPOne of the hardest “sells” in natural medicine is demonstrating that there can be substantive differences between products that seem similar. Many years ago a skeptical customer was discussing a supplement with an employee at a health food store. At that time, I was a consultant who assisted the owner of that establishment to choose which lines and products to stock. I overheard the conversation and decided to try to help out. The position of the customer was that all echinacea products should be comparably priced. His view was that they all came from the same plant, the same soil, the same planet and therefore should reflect that in their price point. My first approach was to provide details about the specific differences between the brands he was considering – variable concentrations of active ingredients, flower vs. root extracts, the scientific research conducted on certain products, etc. I was unable to sway him with that data. So I tried a different tactic. I asked, “Is it reasonable to pay the same amount for a brand new BMW as you would a used Honda Civic?” “Of course not”, he scoffed. I continued, “Why not? They’re both made with similar materials. They both have four tires and a steering wheel. You can use both cars to get to where you want to go.” Read more »
Tags: Eczema, Flu, Probiotics
Posted in Children's Health, Dental Health, Nutritional Supplements | 29 Comments & Updates
Holistic Healthcare Lobby
November 18, 2009 Written by JPIt’s too bad there aren’t lobbying groups that represent specific foods, practices and supplements. If there were, I could sit back in my office and take meetings all day long. An advocate for wild Alaskan salmon might drop by one afternoon and fill me in on the latest news about the healthiest ways to cook this prized fish. Or maybe a cheerleader for magnesium could make an appointment to reinforce the case for including plenty of this essential mineral in women’s diet in order to discourage cardiovascular disease. I’d even welcome a visit from a good, old fashioned dentist touting dental floss as a way of boosting brain performance in seniors. But alas, this type of lobbyist simply does not exist. That’s why I often travel around (offline and online) to track down such information. I am, in essence, an unpaid lobbyist for all of these causes. Read more »
Tags: Fish, Inflammation, Magnesium
Posted in Dental Health, Heart Health, Memory | 6 Comments & Updates
The Gingivitis Diet
October 1, 2009 Written by JPEvery now and then a story appears on the news about the house that’s the neighborhood eyesore. The lawn is dying and overrun with weeds. A rusted, broken down car is parked in the driveway. Paint is peeling from the walls and windows are boarded up. In such instances, the lack of care of that residence impacts the entire “health” of the neighborhood. The same is true of the human body. If one part of the anatomy isn’t properly cared for, it frequently affects many of the neighboring organs and systems. Read more »
Tags: Carotenoids, Gums, Probiotics
Posted in Dental Health, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 18 Comments & Updates
Natural Dental Care
July 7, 2009 Written by JPA heartfelt smile doesn’t just convey contentment and warmth, it’s also an external sign of health. Like most other measures of wellness, genetics do play a roll in the shape, size and the whiteness of our teeth. We’re all aware of the commonly prescribed oral care basics. But there are also some emerging trends that are sprouting up in medical literature that I think you should know about. Besides regular brushing and flossing, there are a few additional steps that you can take to improve the status of your breath, gums and smile. Read more »
Tags: Probiotics, Vegetables, Xylitol
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Dental Health, Nutrition | 8 Comments & Updates
Chewing Gum for Stress Relief
May 22, 2009 Written by JPChew on this: When you’re stressed out or feeling less than mentally focused, you may just want to pop a piece of gum into your mouth. Over the past few years several scientific studies have all pointed to a very real psychological benefit derived from simply masticating repeatedly. Read more »
Tags: Anxiety, Stress
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Dental Health, Mental Health | 11 Comments & Updates
Preventing Premature Births
April 1, 2009 Written by JPSome compelling research was just presented at the Society for General Microbiology in Harrogate, England, the implications of which could impact the success rate for healthy births in women who might otherwise deliver prematurely. This same evidence may also reduce the risk of low birth-weight babies and infections in newborns. Read more »
Tags: CoQ10, Pregnancy, Xylitol
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Dental Health, Women's Health | 3 Comments & Updates
Green Tea and Periodontal Disease
March 5, 2009 Written by JPOne of the first things you notice about someone is their smile. It gives you an indication about their mood, personality and quite frankly, their hygiene. But even more importantly, the mouth is the gateway to good nutrition. If we can’t chew properly, then we can’t fully digest our food. Modern science is also building case for the connection between poor periodontal (gum) health and heart disease. So it’s more important than ever to practice good oral care. In today’s blog, I’m going to share some information that can help keep gums and teeth in prime shape. Read more »
Tags: Dental Health, Green Tea, Gums
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Dental Health, Food and Drink | 19 Comments & Updates
Yogurt for Fresh Breath
February 7, 2009 Written by JPLet’s be honest. Having bad breath stinks. It’s makes everyone uncomfortable. The person with bad breath suffers. The people who are exposed to the bad breath suffer. It’s just an annoying problem that leads to feelings of self consciousness for everyone involved. Read more »
Tags: Dental Health, Probiotics, Yogurt
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Dental Health, Food and Drink | 7 Comments & Updates
Natural Ingredients for a Healthier Smile
January 31, 2009 Written by JPA few weeks ago I wrote a column about xylitol’s beneficial effect on the health of teeth and gums. But there are many other natural extracts that you’ll probably see in oral care products in the coming years. Ironically, many of these natural substances are derived from sweet fruits. Today I’m going to present a brief overview of three up and coming natural ingredients that will soon be appearing in a toothpaste or mouthwash near you. Read more »
Tags: Cavities, Cranberries, Pomegranate
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Dental Health | 5 Comments & Updates
Xylitol for Dental Health
January 13, 2009 Written by JPWhat’s one of the best things you can do to promote healthier teeth and gums? The answer may surprise you. Some dentists are suggesting that you include more sweets in your daily routine. You read right: More sweets. Read more »
Tags: Calcium, Dental Health, Xylitol
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Dental Health | 27 Comments & Updates