Page 21 - Florida Sentinel 12-23-16 Online Edition

Health
Don’t Do Mindless Eating This Holiday
Mindless eating is consuming food just because it’s there.
• Awareness
When you pay attention to what you’re eating, you can make small changes that make a big difference. Here are some tips toward a more mindful approach:
• Control portions. Especially during the holidays, know that you’ll have more opportunities to eat festive snacks and desserts. You don’t have to deprive yourself, just eat smaller portions and less often.
• Eat when you’re hungry. Just because the clock says noon doesn’t mean you have to eat. If you’re not hungry, wait until you are – just don’t wait until you’re famished because you might overeat.
• Plan. Prepare healthy snacks throughout the day. If you tend to get hungry between meals, bring along a 200-calorie, whole grain, high-fiber snack.
• Slow down. Enjoy each bite and put your fork down while chewing, then take a drink between each bite. This gives your body enough time to trigger your brain that you are satisfied (not neces- sarily full).
• Pay attention. Do not eat in front of the TV or computer, or while standing in the kitchen or talking on the phone. When you do these things, you’re more likely to lose track of how much you’ve eaten.
• Keep a food diary. Write down everything you eat, look at it, then identify why you ate it – was it hunger, stress, boredom?
• Eat In Moderation. A little of something you love to eat, is better than none at all.
Don’t be fooled, in addition to brushing and floss- ing daily, there are several ways you can reverse cav- ities naturally and maximize your oral health.
Here are just a few ways to reverse cavities natu- rally for you to consider, while also avoiding fluoride:
1. Remove Sugar
Probably the worst culprit of them all for anyone who desires healthy, cavity-free teeth, sugar should be avoided like the plague.
So kick that sugar addiction stat. Not only does sugar feed oral bacteria that prevents a healthy flow of dental fluids, but it’s highly acidic and can liter- ally decalcify or demineralize the structural content of teeth that create dental decay.
This means staying away from soda, candy and baked goods with sugar.
Use raw honey and maple syrup, and drink juices sparingly, as too much sugar can contribute to cav- ity formation.
Be careful of artificial sweeteners because of their health risks as well.
Bottom line: Make stevia your new best friend along with raw honey in moderation!
2. Eliminate Phytic Acid
Phytic acid (phytate) is a mineral blocker and en- zyme inhibitor found in grains, nuts, seeds and beans that can cause serious health problems in our diets. The main reason phytic acid has become an issue today is because we have stopped ancient food preparation techniques, such as sprouting or sour- dough fermentation, which kills off the phytic acid.
A good rule of thumb is to limit your grain con- sumption and stay completely clear from unfer- mented soy products. (7)
Because phytic acid is much higher in foods grown using modern high-phosphate fertilizers, than those grown in natural compost, try to only eat foods that are organic and GMO-free.
3. Consume Raw Dairy and Nutrient-Rich Foods
Raw dairy is filled with the vitamins and minerals that contribute to a healthy dental fluid flow and help maintain strong teeth and promote oral well- ness.
Thus, it’s a great way to get cavity-free teeth. Loaded with calcium, vitamin K2, vitamin D3, mag- nesium, phosphorus and fat-soluble vitamins, it’s a good idea to consume raw dairy products at least weekly.
Goat milk kefir, raw cheeses and organic grass- fed butter as great options.
Ideal diet to follow, it would look like this:
* Rich in animal foods like bone broth, meat, fish and eggs.
* Raw and cooked vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables.
* Raw dairy like kefir, cheese and grass-fed butter. * Fruit, one piece daily early in day.
* Vitamin D — get plenty of sunshine, and days
not in sun supplement with 5,000IU daily of D3. * Foods high in healthy fats like coconut oil, avocado,
olives, and fish or fermented cod liver oil.
* Fermented grains only and in moderation, such as true sourdough bread (or even better no grains at
all). You can buy raw flours and breads.
* Nuts, seeds and beans only that have been sprouted. * Finally, NO processed foods, packaged
foods or fast food.
4. Use Mineralizing Toothpaste
There are several brands of fluoride-free tooth- paste that you won’t have to pay a small fortune to get your hands on.
Second, if you’re looking to save a buck or two and also want to remineralize your teeth in a particularly powerful way, try making your own Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste:
* 4 tablespoons coconut oil
* 2 tablespoons baking soda (aluminum-free)
* 1 tablespoon xylitol or 1/8 teaspoon stevia
* 20 drops peppermint or clove essential oil
* 20 drops trace minerals or (calcium/magnesium
powder)
5. Try Oil Pulling
Used for centuries by Ayurvedic medicine, oil pulling is a fantastic oral detoxification procedure that has gained some popularity in the U.S. the last several years.
Simply done by swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for 20 minutes, this simple oral detoxi- fication procedure has been praised to cure every- thing from gingivitis to headaches to systemic diseases like diabetes.
If you can’t do 20 minutes, three to five minutes is still good.
Use coconut oil and a drop or two of clove and/or tea tree essential oils for maximal antiseptic and an- tifungal power.
Here are some tips:
* The best time to oil pull (like most other detox- ification procedures) is first thing in the morning right after you get out of bed.
* Don’t let the 20-minute time frame deter you. You won’t even notice 20 minutes have gone by if you do this during your normal morning routine (i.e., while you shower, put your clothes on and prep for the day).
* Spit the spent oil in the trash rather than into the sink, as an accumulation of oil could pose prob- lems for household plumbing down the road.
* Immediately afterward, rinse your mouth out with warm water. Use salt water for added antimi- crobial properties.
* Don’t be shocked if the oil/saliva mixture you spit out is milky white or yellow.
* Finally, brush your teeth as normal.
Note: This should be a relatively relaxing process, so don’t feel compelled to vigorously swish your mouth with oil for the entire time or else you’re bound to get sore jaw muscles. Simply and gently move the oil in your mouth and through your teeth without swallowing any of it.
ESSENTIAL OILS
That Help During
Chemotherapy And Radiation Treatment
So many family members, friends and acquaintances are being di- agnosed with the dreaded C... Most are being treated with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
While chemotherapy and radiation are two very different types of treatment, they're often used simultaneously and can elicit similar side effects.
Here are several natural ways essential oils can support the body during chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment:
* Radiation can severely damage skin and vital organs, so the use of gentle, antioxidant essential oils in combination with proper nu- trition internally can help minimize damage. Use sandalwood, hys- sop, peppermint or frankincense and apply topically by diluting with a carrier oil (coconut oil) and massaging on affected area 1-2 times each day.
* Neuritis is another common side effect of radiation and can be treated with melrose, lavender or nutmeg.
Apply 2-4 drops mixed with a carrier oil directly to affected areas 3-5 times each day. These oils can also be used with a cold compress on affected location 2-3 times each day.
* Chemotherapy breaks down good blood cells while destroying cancer cells. Cypress can help rebuild white blood cells and can be ap- plied directly to skin, inhaled from the bottle or a diffuser or taken orally.
* Stomach upset and nausea are common side effects of both treat- ments and can be relieved by using ginger, peppermint or nutmeg. Dilute 1-3 drops with a carrier oil and massage behind each ear and over navel. These oils may also be used with a warm compress over stomach as needed or inhaled directly from bottle.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-B