All Toothpaste is NOT Created Equal

Toothpaste

All toothpaste is the same, right? Crest, Colgate, Close-up, Sensodyne, Aim.....the list could go on and on. 

What do all these toothpastes have in common? They all contain fluoride and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Fluoride has always been thought to be a good thing. It has been found to strengthen the dentine on teeth. However, it does not seem to prevent decay. Fluoride is neither a nutrient nor essential to health. Fluoride deficiency does not lead to tooth decay. Poor diet causes cavities and fluoride can’t fix poor diet. 

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is there for the foaming effect. It is also found in shampoos and creams. Like fluoride, SLS is very controversial. It is said to cause cancer. You will find pros and cons to using it.(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/07/13/sodium-lauryl-sulfate.aspx)

My personal opinion of these chemicals being added to toothpaste is: why add chemicals to your body if it is not necessary. We use toothpaste multiple times every day. If in doubt, get it out. There are many products on the market today that get the job done without adding these chemicals to them: Tom’s of Maine, Jason’s, Nature’s Gate. In Australia I have found Macro Whole Foods toothpaste which is the Woolworth's Brand (it costs less than 3$ a tube, which is cheaper than the leading brands). Some of these may cost more than the standard brands, but prevention is always cheaper than medical treatment.

On a personal note: I have found that taking these chemicals out of my toothpaste has eliminated the sensitivity in my teeth. On occasion I have reverted back to fluoride and SLS and the sensitivity comes back. Such a simple thing...it’s worth a try. 

Inflammation

It all starts with Inflammation.....    

Considering all disease starts with Inflammation it would be a good idea to learn which foods are anti-inflammatory and which foods cause inflammation. Stay away from pro-inflammatory foods, which accelerate the aging process. A simple rule of thumb is to consider the following: If it contains processed flour, and/or sugar or other sweetener, it will be pro-inflammatory. Sugary, starchy foods are poor choices and will not only pack on excess pounds, they will make you look older than your years.

Here are a few anti-inflammatory foods that you may already be eating. If you haven’t discovered them yet, expand your horizons and give them a try.

Brown Rice - filled with lots of fiber it goes with practically everything. It has an almost nutty taste. If your family won’t switch from white rice, try adding a little brown rice each time you make it. They will adjust. 

Legumes - beans! Black, pinto, chickpea and lentils are all delicious and filling. They are all have large amounts of fiber to give you that full feeling longer. There are endless possibilities in using legumes. Be creative.

Whole Grain - Look for the word “whole” when buying breads. If it says “wheat flour” or just “flour”, it is not whole grain. Once you get used to a hearty whole grain bread, you will never go back to plain white bread. Eat whole grains in a cooked cereal or salad also. 

Frozen Berries - Power up with polyphenols! Frozen berries are a great way to make sure you get some polyphenols in your anti inflammatory diet every day. Try adding a handful to your morning cereal (hot or cold) or start the day with a berry smoothie, blended with ice, orange juice, and Greek yogurt.

Omega 3 - This heart healthy oil is not that hard to come by. Chia Seeds are very high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Flax seed, kiwi seed, and walnuts are also high in Omega 3 (and my favorite source: Juice Plus Omega Blend)

Start adding one new anti-inflammatory food to your diet each week. Remember since ALL disease starts with inflammation, you will want to do all you can to reduce it or even stop it.  

Here is a Anti-Inflammatory salad made with Quinoa (Keen-wa), a whole grain very high in fiber:

Quinoa Salad

Ingredients 

3 - 4 cups cooked quinoa

1/2 cup red bell pepper (chopped) 

1/2 cup yellow bell pepper (chopped) 

1/4 cup kalamata olives (chopped) 

1/4 cup crumbled feta (optional)

1/4 cup fresh dill (chopped) 

1/4 cup red onion (chopped) 

1/4 cup celery (chopped) 

1 tablespoon lemon juice 

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil 

1 garlic clove (finely minced) 

1/2 teaspoon pepper 

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Directions 

1. Prepare quinoa according to package directions. (*Tip instead of preparing it with water, add 1/2 the amount of water and replace the other 1/2 with chicken or vegetable broth. Then you do not have to add salt at the end.)

2. Allow quinoa to cool to room temperature before you add any vegetables.

3. Add the chopped bell peppers, olives, feta cheese, dill, red onion, celery, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic clove and pepper.

4. Mix well. Add salt to taste. Enjoy.

Try experimenting with different kinds of vegetables or add more to the mix. 

Cacao

I have a New Love - Cacao Nibs! 

Yes, Chocolate! With no downside! I found these "nibs" at a local health food store. I've heard how good they are for you so decided to try them. At first bite they were really awful, bitter. So I looked it up and found that they are an accent to other things.

If you add them to something sweet, they have a sweet flavour. I added them to my Juice Plus "Complete" drink and it went from a very nice drink to a fantastic treat! So why do we want to add cacao beans to our meals? antioxidants! Cacao adds antioxidants, which protects your body from the damage of life.

It also enhances circulation throughout the body. I have found that I have added energy, like the boost of caffeine - but without the jittery feeling. You can add them to many of your meals: desserts, baking, smoothies. Be creative and let me know what you come up with.

www.gale4juiceplus.com

Why I love Nutmeg

Nutmeg has a taste unlike any other spice in the world. It can be used for many different treatments: pain relief, lowering cholesterol, improving memory and sexual desire, relieving anxiety, indigestion, even reducing wrinkles. 

For pain relief, massage nutmeg oil on the joints. It will reduce inflammation (the start of all disease), to help ease muscular and joint pain. It is very effective for reducing the painful swelling of joints in arthritis.

Used in small doses, nutmeg can help indigestion by reducing flatulence, aid digestion, improve the appetite and treat diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. Nutmeg has been found to reduce total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol.

Nutmeg is a relaxant, therefore it helps relieve anxiety and depression. So be generous with your applications of nutmeg: use it in baking, sprinkle it in your hot drinks, rub the oil into the skin.

Adding small benefits to the diet daily will improve the overall health of the body. Nutmeg is just one of these beneficial ingredients.