March 19, 2012

Did You Know...

Nearly 10,000 new processed foods are introduced each year.

Nutrition  

Xylitol...

I'm sure you have seen this ingredient in various products along the way.  Not sure exactly what to make of it, keeping maybe in moderation because the name looks scary.  Actually, xylitol is a natural sweetener, unlike aspartame or sucralose.  It is a sugar alcohol that does not require insulin to breakdown, therefor resulting in a lower glycemic response.  What does this mean for consumers?   Well first off it is a safe sugar alternative, even for diabetics.  With 40% less calories than sugar, this easy switch can help shave  calories.  The decreased need for insulin will help with weight loss efforts.  As a side note, most gum will contain sucralose or aspartame.  For avid gum chewers, this is a steady flow of neurotoxic chemicals that you could easily avoid. 

My main reason for discussing xylitol, however, is for mouth health.  Xylitol has been found to dramatically reduce tooth decay, stop acid formation from bacteria in the mouth (a reaction of sugar intake), and reducing dental caries.  Because the mouth is the starting point of the digestive tract, it is important that we keep it just as healthy as the rest of our body.  

Some xylitol products you may like to dabble in:

Epic Xylitol Mouthwash

FragMints

Spry chewing gum

Spry mints

Spry toothpaste

Natural Health 

While I'm on the topic of mouth health.

I had a conversation with my mom today about using spilanthes for gum disease, generating growth of receeding gum lines, and killing bacteria.   Interesting story, in just 3 recent weeks, Lynn was able to cancel a scheduled gum surgery with daily use of her spilanthes infused tinctures.  Without mentioning what she had done at first, the periodontist was extremely puzzled at why in 3 weeks she had 50% improvement. Well done mother herby.

That being said, gum health is directly related to heart issues (such as heart disease, stroke & diabetes), which is why I stress the importance of keeping your chompers up to par.  Here is a quick test you can take to see if you're at risk for gum disease.  http://www.perio.org/consumer/4a.html#

So what is spilanthes?  It is known as the toothache plant, and for good reason.  The leaves and flower heads will actually cause a numbing effect when chewed (great for toothaches and sore gums).  Spilanthes has a neat effect of stimulating the salivary glands to produce more saliva.   I remember being little and mom would say, hey chew on this.  Maybe her devilish look and half hidden smirk should have warned us that in minutes our mouth would be numb & we'd be salivating like rabid dogs.  Of course we came back for more because it was so cool!

The antibacterial and antifungal properties make it great for killing bacteria and keeping your mouth & dentist happy.   Spilanthes tinctures are easiest to use.  Add a few drops to water and swish around in your mouth for a few.  Do this daily when brushing your teeth. 

Exercise

Using yoga for digestion.

Yoga moves strenghten muscles, improve flexibility, and elongate posture.  Did you know that during this process your digestion can also benefit?  Internal organs are not exempt from all yoga has to offer.  Some benefits include improved circulation to the gastrointestinal tract, enhanced nutrient absorption and regulating bowel movements.  Praticing yoga on a regular basis is best for digestive results, however I would encourage even just once a week to establish somewhat of a routine. 

  "Yoga is an excellent muscle toner that balances all parts of the body including your internal organs - heart, lungs, glands, nerves and more."