You all know that person (or maybe you are that person) who would not trade coconut oil for anything in the world, and always has a jar of it in the kitchen.

Well, bad news for all in healthy food world and coconut oil lovers – the American Health Association reported that coconut oil might be unhealthy and even risky for your health. The author of the report says he has no idea how could anyone think that this product is healthy and become obsessed with something that contains very high quantity of saturated fat.

 “Coconut oil isn’t healthy. It’s never been healthy,” screamed the viral headline which made the study public. This devastated the members of the wellness world who believed and swore in the miracles that this product provides them with.

Dr. Joel Kahn, a cardiologist and best-selling author says that he was concerned a long time with the extremely high amount of saturated fat. He doesn’t believe in fat-heavy diets. Instead, he encourages his patients to consume fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.

However, every story has two sides. So, the inevitably question remains:

Is coconut oil really unhealthy?

Dr. Will Cole, a functional medicine practitioner says that there is no doubt that coconut oil contains higher levels of saturated fat.

However, AHA cite don’t say that consuming coconut oil can increase the risk of heart diseases. No – they connect it to higher cholesterol numbers which doesn’t necessarily is a predicator of a higher stroke risk and heart attack.

In fact, studies found out that high total cholesterol may not be connected to strokes and heart attack risks. 

Another best-selling author and a hormone expert, Dr. Sara Gottfried, states that many times before the AHA has encouraged low-fat diets. However, these low-fat diets have a downside – they can increase corpulence and can cause diabetes.

“I’m not a fan of blanket statements; the future of medicine is personalized to the individual based on the gene/environment interaction. Coconut oil is unusual in that it contains medium-chain triglycerides that are well-proven to speed metabolism and assist in fat loss. Another component is lauric acid, found in breastmilk, which is antimicrobial.”

The founder of Parsley Health, Dr Robin Berzin, explains that the AHA bases its advice on outdated sources that give a poor understanding of heart diseases and what role plays the cholesterol in them.

While many think that the problem is the high levels of LDL, the fact is the total number of LDL is of no importance – what matters is its composition – the size and shape of the particles.

Namely, the small, thick particles are the ones which can be connected to heart attacks. Contrary, the larger and fluffier ones – are not.

There is still a debate between eating saturated fat and eating fat.

A diet that contains high saturated fat and lacks fibers, but is full of sugars and refined carbohydrates, increases the production of small, thick LDL.

On the other hand, a diet consisting of a monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, and even saturated fat like in our case organic coconut oil, but does not contain any sugars and is high in fibers, can actually help us improve our cholesterol composition.

And while all doctors share this view, they all agree that we must be careful of how we consume the coconut oil.

A problem can arise when we mix coconut oil (and all saturated fats) with refined grains such as pasta, bread, or any food high in sugar. This ‘mix’ can increase the inflammatory effects of sugar in our body.     

All in all, you know your body best and what food agrees with you. Coconut oil interacts differently in different people. It all depends of what you combine it with. For example, if you combine coconut oil with a high-sugar, high-refined-carb diet can lead to an increase of the bad cholesterol in your body along with inflammation.

So, if you are not ready yet to give up junk food and eat vegetables instead – avoid consuming coconut oil.

Moreover, you must figure for yourself what portion of coconut oil works for you. For some 1 to 2 tablespoons work just okay, but for some this amount causes them to gain weight.

The bottom line is – coconut oil can still be considered as healthy food because it contains medium-chain triglycerides and lauric acid. Only, we must be careful with what we mix it with and how much coconut oil do we need daily.

We are all different and we must find out by ourselves what works best for us.

A couple came to amazing results after trying the oil pulling for dental care and their story raised numerous questions in the field of dentistry, some of which are connected to healing cavities and the probability of regeneration of teeth.

As the report states, the couple is strongly behind their claims about getting healthier and stronger teeth, right after trying this oil pulling and their claims go beyond that, their theory of replacing toothpaste with swishing coconut oil every day from 15 to 20 minutes was well supported with an explanation and proof that oil pulling has done wonders for this couple.

Their report would have been just another fraud on the Internet, however the experiment that the couple made and the results that they got makes their report something that it’s worth reading and trying as well.

The experiment have lead the couple to better teeth and they strongly believe that oil pulling have healed cavities and left their teeth in a much better condition than previously.

This is quite a statement, more of a revelation, especially if we bear in mind that it is opposing the orthodox dentistry which claims that cavities are a permanent damage of the teeth and such damage could not regenerate unless you decide to visit the dentist and undergo a dental procedure or filling your teeth.

So, led by these beliefs, people have no other option than choosing a good dentist and following the traditional medicine for repairing the teeth.

This is why the couple’s assertive claims are regarded as controversial, because not only did they go against the orthodox dentistry, but they also prove their experiment right by repairing their teeth and healing cavities, something that was never done in the orthodox dentistry history.

We know the old-fashioned dental care already. Go to the dentist, don’t forget and miss your regular appointments, schedule at least twice a year to check the condition of the teeth, reduce the sugar intake and you’ll be just fine.

Nowadays, the market is full with natural products which can help you in the process of lengthening the life of your natural teeth. Starting from natural mouthwash, toothpastes and even tooth brushes with natural hair, all of this provided in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the product on your natural teeth.

However, “natural” does not always mean good for that matter. Even natural toothpastes contain ingredients which are bad for our teeth, such as glycerin, sweeteners and fluoride. Besides the proper dental hygiene and buying the most suitable dental care product, your diet seems to affect your dental health more than you can ever imagine.

Poor diet, modern food, processed food loaded with sugar and chemicals can ruin your smile and there isn’t a single toothpaste nor the best dentist that can prevent that. Maybe it’s time we do something about it and the best cure comes from the ones who have truly taken the time to explore a certain area, apply their findings on themselves and share the results with us.

First of all, let’s discuss logic. Our bodies are designed in a way that every injury can heal itself because of the regeneration process of our bodies. If a broken bone can grow into a healthy one, then why not a damaged tooth grow into a healthy one?

It seems that we would rather believe that our teeth are incapable of healing themselves, then prove ourselves the other way around. True, we are mainly responsible for the health of our teeth, due to poor diet or neglecting our dental care, but what if we try everything the doctor ordered and we are still left with poor teeth and a tendency of getting worse and worse?

The solution can start with changing your whole diet, implementing more fruits and veggies, consuming good fat such as butter oil or cod liver oil, raw milk, plenty of whole foods, tasty meat. By doing so, it can lead you on a good path to improving your dental care and to stronger teeth, capable to fight off bacteria.

It’s a very logical way to think that teeth problems or tooth decay may be the product of our modern society or a product of agricultural era? When discussing about perfect teeth, if we may put it that way, we should be looking at the tribes who have no touch with modern society or as we may put it, are living in the pre-agricultural times.

For instance, a documentary in the early 1990’s portrays the lives of the ancient Kogi Indian tribe and the creator of this documentary Alan Ereira himself claimed that the members of this tribe had perfect teeth.

This may come as a shocker, because we are all aware of the fact that such tribes have no dental care or any time of medical help and yet, it’s proven that they have a longer life and most of all, they have a healthier life. 

Their health level is much higher than the usual civilized citizen, without ever having the option to visit a doctor or a dentist.

This may be due to the fact that tribes have different sources of food and most importantly, their food is not derived from mineral-depleted soils, which of course is the case of our typical agricultural environment.

Another important moment, which strengthens these theories about perfect teeth in tribe people, is the significant work of Dr. Weston A. Price. He engaged himself by travelling the world and visiting various indigenous tribes.

On his journeys, he was investigating and comparing their dental health. Although people living in tribal groups have none health facilities, nor they have dentist to take care of their teeth, Dr. Price himself discovered and claimed that these people have truly got the perfect teeth. So, the question arises, what do these tribal groups do right and we mess it up?

Dr. Price found the real answer in their diet. Their natural diet, free of chemicals, toxins, is crucial and most important for their flawless teeth. Once Dr. Price introduced modern food to these people, to our disbeliefs, the degeneration of the dental health started.

He also concluded that the proper diet can lead to perfect teeth, but also cure or heal the cavities. He strongly believes and he has good proofs about the negative impact of modern food, mainly affecting the teeth and everything else.

It seems that oil pulling is something that it’s worth to be thoroughly investigated, because it clearly has a positive and amazing results on our teeth.

Source: herbs-info.com

Eating well and staying fit is an imperative for many people. But whatever your healthy routine is, you may not have paid too much attention to the facial muscles. Your face and chin are made up of many muscles that can lose shape if not exercised. Hence, the double chin can slowly take shape.

The double chin is not so uncommon, and it’s a nightmare for many who can’t think of a way to get rid of it. Getting rid of it can, in fact, be very easy, and some muscle exercise wouldn’t hurt along the way for that pretty face to stay pretty.

So, here’s a list of the 7 most effective exercises that can help you to get rid of that double chin and retain your natural beauty for longer.

…and although it’s easy to do them practically anywhere, it’s best to try them when you get home from work because they DO look silly.

Of course, before any exercise, you need to warm up. Have you ever experienced a neck cramp? Well warming up serves for the purpose of avoiding it. You should bear in mind that these exercises activate the muscles and can be tough for the lean muscles that create the double chin.

WARMING UP

For this, you will need to relax your face and start moving your jaw in a circular motion, reaching the furthest points outward and back as it moves. Start slow and smooth, without any sudden jerks.

Repeat 8-10 times.

1. THE SCOOP

Open your mouth and roll up your lower lip completely over the lower teeth. Imagine that you’re making a scoop with your mouth. Then scoop. Move your head down in a scooping motion and close your mouth with your lip inside as you are lifting your head up.

During this exercise, you need to make sure that your lip corners are relaxed.

Repeat 5-7 times.

2. TOUCHING YOUR NOSE

Stick out your tongue and try to touch your nose. You don’t have to succeed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try, right? While stretching your tongue, make sure your lips are relaxed.

Repeat 5 times.

3. THE PERFECT OVAL 

This exercise takes care of more than one thing. It activates so many muscles, that your face can return to a younger look and pull your cheeks up.

Start left, by turning your head that way. Push your lower jaw forward until you feel a comfortable strain in your neck muscles. You should feel your neck muscles stretch. Don’t stay too long and return to the initial position, now turning right.

Repeat 5 times on each side.

4. KISSING THE GIRAFFE

Imagine you want to kiss a giraffe (or someone very tall). Now do it. Look up, and lift your chin high. Now bring your lower jaw slightly forward and pucker your lips to give the giraffe a kiss. Wait for 5-8 seconds and slowly release.

If you’re doing it right, you should feel a strong tension in your neck.

Repeat 5 times.

5. RESISTANCE

Make your hands into fists and rest your chin on them. Next, start pushing down with your lower jaw to strain your muscles. The pressure should gradually increase as you press, and when you reach the maximum pressure, hold there for 3 seconds, release slowly, and relax.

Repeat 5-7 times.

6. SMILING

Make a big clenched smile! Clench your teeth and stretch your lips as wide as possible. Then, push against your hard palate with your tongue to gradually increase the pressure. You should get to the point when you start feeling a strong tension in your chin muscles.

When you get there, hold for 5 seconds and relax.

Repeat 5-8 times.

7. PUFFY CHEEKS

Fill your cheeks with air and puff them up. Now, while holding the air, press your cheeks with your hands until your feel a tension in your muscles. Hold for 3-5 seconds, slowly let the air out, and relax.

Repeat 5-6 times.

Please Share.

Sources:
Fitnesshealthzone
Huffingtonpost
Ladyformula

You can find toys around every corner nowadays. From the newest fads to good old-fashioned teddy bears and Barbie dolls, there are so many choices and price ranges that you may very often make the wrong choice for your child’s health.

It may sound like too much, but the reality is that not every toy is to be toyed with. It’s because of the likely presence of lead in toys that come from countries with not so strict quality regulations, such as China.

One such example turned out to be the newest fad, the fidget spinner. You can read more about it here. Whatever the toy, the risk is equally present, since so many toys seem to cross the border and get into your homes, without you being aware of the possible outcome.

The outcome is lead poisoning. It can enter the body by inhaling, swallowing, or even by absorbing it through the skin (just touching lead-ridden paint is enough). Lead can severely affect both the physical and mental health of a child, and the most vulnerable are children aged under 6.

The main problem with lead is that the body distributes it throughout like the helpful minerals (such as iron, copper, zinc, or calcium). Since most of it ends up in the bones, the lead will interfere with and lower the production of blood cells, and the absorption of the much-needed calcium.

Even small amounts of lead invade the child’s organism and they result in a lowered IQ and behavioral problems, which are believed to be irreversible. Regarding the physical health, small doses of lead can cause anemia, hypertension, renal impairment, toxicity to the reproductive organs, immunotoxicity.

And the most concerning part is that the obvious lead poisoning symptoms are shown after the lead has been deposited in the body in dangerous amounts.

The World Health Organization warns that in high doses, the lead will attack the brain and the central nervous system of the child, which can cause coma, convulsions, and even death.

If your child exhibits this kind of behavior, you might want to check with your child’s doctor

The most common symptoms of lead poisoning are psychological and behavioral, and you can spot them easily if you know your child well.

• Lack of attention: Seems to be less attentive than usual
• Antisocial behavior: Has started showing increased antisocial tendencies
• Reduced educational attainment: Has started failing at school, and it’s unusual for him/her to fail.
• Increased irritability: Is more irritable than usual.
• Wild tantrums: Has started acting violently for reasons he/she wouldn’t usually be triggered from.
• Loss of appetite: Has gradually started losing appetite.
• Weight loss: Because of the reduced appetite and the blood’s inability to distribute oxygen to the blood cells to provide the necessary energy and thus nutrition
• Sluggishness or fatigue: The same lack of oxygen needed to provide the necessary energy.
• Muscle and joint weakness or pain: The inactivity and the malnutrition can contribute to this.
• Headaches: Has started experiencing headaches more regularly.
• Constipation: The child started having constipations no matter what food he/she eats.
• Abdominal pain: Resulting from the constipations.
• Vomiting or nausea: The body’s natural response to poisoning.
• Pale skin: Resulting from lead-caused anemia.
• Seizures

If your child has started exhibiting these symptoms, they may be victims of lead poisoning. However, sometimes these symptoms can indicate to a variety of other illnesses. Whatever the case, talking to your child’s doctor about them is essential.

Lead is not only found in toys (or more particularly in toy paint and batteries). Your water may contain lead if the pipes are leaded, and your food may contain lead from lead-glazed or lead-soldered containers.

The best prevention against lead poisoning is to be more cautious with the sources you can control. That includes the choice of toys (their country of origin), drinking water, and food. Speaking of food, a healthy diet that contains Vitamin C, Calcium, and Iron will help to decrease the body’s lead-absorption potential.

Sources:
World Health Organization
Kids Health