An Unusual Detox Drink

For those of us interested in daily detoxing, this recipe is a real treat.  It’s not your usual lemon or apple cider vinegar base, but relies on a whole onion and a whole apple for a new and unusual taste sensation.

This combo is excellent at producing quercetin, a potent antioxidant flavonoid. Its benefits include:

• boost immunity

• fight inflammation

• combat allergies

• stabilize blood sugar levels

• aid exercise performance

• has cancer fighting effects

• improve brain function

• lower blood pressure

• lower cholesterol

• maintain general health

  
  

The drink itself has a unique flavor, and you should drink it immediately after making it for maximum benefits.

Here’s the recipe:

Apple Onion Tea

1 apple

1 onion

2 cups water

 

Cut the apple and onion into chunks. You are including the peels and seed.  Boil all for 10 minutes in the water.

Drink immediately.

You can be adventurous and add ginger or cinnamon to the drink, but it is delicious as is.  The actual quercetin is released from the peels when boiled, so it would be good to use pesticide-free or organic ingredients.

 

As for the remainder of the boiled fruit, either compost it or use it as a flavor enhancer or thickener in other recipes.  It’s delicious as an addition to your homemade tomato marinara sauce.

Bon appetit!

 

If you like this post you may also like: Scurvy Tea- A Healthy Detox Drink 

Green Drinks   

How to Take Control of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal (gum) disease is a broad term for conditions involving inflammation and infection of the tissues (gum and bone) that surround and support the teeth. Being that the mouth is a microcosm for other body parts, it is important to heal this gum disease ASAP, to prevent further deterioration of the rest of your health.

Periodontitis is a very common type of gum disease among U.S. adults:

• About 4 in 10 U.S. adults 30 years or older had a mild, moderate, or severe level of periodontitis in 2009–2014.

• About 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women 30 years or older had some level of periodontitis.

Periodontitis is more common as people age. About 60% of adults 65 years or older have periodontitis. 

There are different levels of Periodontal Disease, ranging from Gingivitis (inflamed bleeding gums) up to full blown Periodontitis (severe bone loss, loose teeth).  There are several causes of Periodontal Disease which are listed below:

1.   Poor oral hygiene

2.   Nutritional deficiency

3.   Bacteria overgrowth

4.   Genetics                     

I have seen a direct correlation between dental bone loss and systemic bone loss. If you are losing the bone that supports your teeth, there is a high probability that you are losing bone elsewhere.  No surprise when we find that patients with periodontal bone loss, also have osteopenia or osteoporosis.

There are many ways to treat Periodontal Disease, but it depends on the root cause. From the list above, #1 and #2 are  straight forward in terms of treatment; #3 and #4 require some further investigation.

There are other diseases that correlate with Periodontal Disease. The chart below lists most of them.  The little circles listed next to the disease are the abridged names of the bacteria that are usually present in the saliva with each of the diseases listed. Once we know which bacteria are present in your saliva, this will guide us in treating the periodontal condition with the best medicament.

Luckily we have a simple, painless saliva test to figure these out.  The test involves rinsing with saline for a half minute and spitting into a test tube.  The specimen is sent out to a lab, and the results are back within a week.  Not only will the test tell you which bacteria are present in your mouth but will also tell you if you are genetically predisposed to getting Periodontal Disease.  Knowing these factors can make a huge difference in successfully treating your condition.

Conventionally, most dentists will treat Periodontal Disease with deep cleanings or surgery. This will not address the root cause. It will only treat the symptoms.  By learning which bacteria are present, we know which medicament can eradicate it.

So if you have bleeding gums, receding gums, moving or loose teeth, it would be wise to have the saliva test done to rule out bacterial infection, as well as genetic factors.

Diagnosing Periodontal Disease is easy. Addressing the root cause for proper treatment is the tricky part. Be sure to ask for your saliva test at your next visit.

If you like this post, you may also like: Ozone Dental Therapy for Gum Disease

Rebuilding Bone Naturally  

Intermittent Fasting

Looking for a simple way to lose excess weight and gain more energy? Then Intermittent Fasting may be the answer for you.

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern where you cycle between periods of eating and fasting.

It is not a question of which foods to eat, but rather when you should eat them.

There are several different intermittent fasting methods, all of which split the day into eating periods and fasting periods. This diagram explains more.

                         

There are lots of health benefits to Intermittent Fasting, so it is definitely worth a try. If you find it difficult to go the distance, it might be helpful to have an electrolyte drink or herbal tea to hold you over.

Most people already “fast” 8 hours every day, while they sleep. So if you can just hold off a few more hours, it can make a world of difference in your health.

The easiest method is to skip breakfast, eat your first meal at noon or later and then your last meal by 8 pm. In this way, you’re technically fasting for 16 hours every day, and restricting your eating to an 8-hour eating window. This is the most popular form of Intermittent Fasting, known as the 16/8 method.

Despite what you may think, Intermittent Fasting is actually fairly easy to do. Many people report feeling better and having more energy during a fast.

Hunger is usually not that big of an issue, although it can be a problem in the beginning, while your body is getting used to not eating for extended periods of time.

Here are some health benefits that occur when you fast:

• Human Growth Hormone (HGH): The levels of HGH skyrocket, increasing as much as 5-fold. This has benefits for fat loss and muscle gain. A game changer in losing unwanted pounds and improving overall stamina.
• Insulin: Insulin sensitivity improves, and levels of insulin drop dramatically. Lower insulin levels make stored body fat more accessible to be utilized. A1c  may enter a more perfect range (lower than 5.7%)
• Cellular repair: When fasting, your cells initiate cellular repair processes. This includes autophagy, where cells digest and remove old and dysfunctional proteins that build up inside cells.
• Improve heart function by reducing inflammation. See this recent study
• Reduce pain caused by inflammation.
• Gene expression: There are changes in the function of genes related to longevity and protection against disease.
• Improve brain function. See this link.  

         Oral Health Benefits

·        Lowers the number of microbes in your mouth

·        Balances the saliva pH

·        Reduces inflammation of periodontal disease.

·        Reduces the risk of decay

 It is important to keep hydrated during Intermittent Fasting, as dehydration can occur while eating and drinking less frequently.

Personally, I make sure to keep up my electrolyte intake throughout the fasting time. This is as simple as drinking water with a quality mineral salt added or adding a flavored electrolyte powder to your water.

When you come for your next appointment, we can discuss specifics on the best way to do this.

There are tons of anecdotal stories on Goggle search or Pub Med where chronic disease has disappeared with fasting. So if this is a concern of yours, Intermittent Fasting may help you on your road to healing.