Dental Health: Artisanal Toothpaste

I spend 2-3x a day brushing my teeth. Why not get the best product I can afford since, supposedly, the number one source of disease is the mouth?

So, high-quality,good-for-me toothpaste here I come.

My first purchase.  I chose Schmidt's   tooth+mouth paste for the variety of flavours plus it was affordable (need to wean myself of on-sale toothpaste from Walgreens).  Set of 5 for $25.99 + s/h.  Otherwise, $5.99 each.  My next order with Schmidt's earned me a free shipping code.

Per Schmidt's website:

INGREDIENTS FIRST

We prioritize ingredients that are derived from nature. When developing our formulas, we look to innovative botanicals and mineral-derived ingredients that are packed with healthy benefits for our bodies. Everything we produce is manufactured without harming any animals, and we never purchase ingredients from suppliers that test their products on animals — Schmidt’s is committed to staying certified vegan and cruelty-free. Schmidt’s Naturals products are always free of aluminum, propylene glycol, SLS, PEG, parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrance, artificial flavor, artificial colorants, and artificial sweeteners.

looks good!

First up: Wintermint with Activated Charcoal.  Paste not as black as son wanted it to be. Kind of reminds me of bird doodoo, lol.  Refreshing mint taste comes thru.

Schmidt's description:

• Activated Charcoal, flavored with Wondermint: Enticingly cool, fresh mint, without the bitter aftertaste. A fresh and wondrous take on classic minty flavors.
• Appealing onyx grey toothpaste color from the addition of charcoal. Not a dark black paste.
• Helps freshen breath and whiten teeth with regular brushing.
• With CoQ10, goji and pomegranate extracts, organic aloe leaf juice, magnolia bark extract, and vitamin E.
• Encourages mouth health, helping combat plaque and tartar with regular brushing.
• Free of SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), SCS (Sodium Coco-Sulfate), PEG (Polyethylene Glycol), artificial sweeteners and dyes.

After we go through these Schmidt's products, I'd like to buy this very expensive toothpaste ... to match one of my favourite fragrances, hahaha.

pc: Anthropologie

 Lebon toothpaste
Not only is it free of chemicals and toxic ingredients, but it’s also handmade in the same factory as Chanel No. 5. It's the creme de la creme of French toothpaste. And boy has it elevated my teeth game. Not only do my teeth feel clean, they feel French and fancy—très chic. (K Limoges, Domino Magazine)

Top 10 Reasons to Avoid SLS

Activated Charcoal Uses & Benefits

Schmidts: 5-pack

Boka: Science-backed Ingredients

Himalaya Toothpaste




9.10.19.18

Healthy Monday: Must Haves for a Healthy Heart

(reader discretion advised) Ask anyone what is the nation’s number one killer and most people will say heart attack. But how many know that congestive heart failure is the fastest growing cause of heart disease in North America? Why is this happening? And why are mitochondria of vital importance, particularly as we all grow older?

Congestive Heart Failure occurs for several reasons. A coronary attack might have destroyed cardiac muscle. Or hypertension over a period of years has weakened it. Or obesity and diabetes has resulted in hardening of coronary arteries, decreasing blood flow to the heart. So, in addition to aging, a series of events might injure the heart.

As the “Gifford-Jones Law” states, one problem leads to another and another.

It’s mitochondria that determine how long the heart will beat. And when the heart says enough is enough, death occurs.

Mitochondria are tiny power plants present in almost all living cells that constantly produce energy. These allow cardiac muscles to beat 100,000 times every 24 hours. Or 2.7 billion times by age 70, without stopping. I’m sure most readers have experienced “brownouts,” when electricity fails, and civilization as we know it, momentarily ends. It’s the power plant that keeps cities functioning. Can you imagine the chaos if toilets failed to flush for a few days.

People can have brownouts due to malfunctioning mitochondria. These cause days when we lack energy, feel exhausted, have muscle weakness, difficulty remembering things or become seriously ill. For instance, researchers have linked Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease to ineffectual mitochondria.

Experts on congestive heart failure say much can be done to maintain healthy mitochondria and increase cardiac longevity. A workout of 30 to 60 minutes is ideal and the more intensive the better, but there appears to be little benefit beyond 60 minutes.

A limited consumption of food allows mitochondria more time to remove free radicals, the metabolic ash that’s left after energy has been consumed and which is linked to aging. Intermittent fasting is advised, which allows time for mitochondria to remove unwanted cellular debris such as old mitochondria. This might decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. A diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates also has a beneficial effect on mitochondria.

say, NO!

Researchers at Saudi Arabia’s King Saud University report that a healthy blood level of vitamin C protects and restores enzyme activity in aging mitochondria, which provide energy for the proper function of cardiac muscle. The report does not say how much vitamin C. But I’d suggest one scoop of Medi-C Plus, which contains 2,000 milligrams of powdered vitamin C, after breakfast and the evening meal.

A report in the publication LifeExtension says: “A deficiency of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) deprives the heart of a critical factor of energy supply and can be a key contributor to an impaired pumping of the heart.” This is because mitochondria cannot make energy without an adequate supply of CoQ10.

Researchers add that a group of international cardiologists enrolled 420 people with moderate to severe heart failure in a double blind study. They were prescribed either a placebo or 100 mg. of CoQ10 three times a day for two years, in addition to standard drug therapy.

At the end of the study those taking CoQ10 had a 50 per cent reduction in the risk of heart failure and stroke. They also had a lower death rate from both cardiovascular and other causes. The study also revealed that the heart’s muscle had become more efficient, reducing the risk of auricular fibrillation, an irregular rhythm of the heart. Medi-C Plus and other brands of powdered vitamin C along with CoQ10 are available in health food stores.

Finally, a deep massage removes toxins, improves blood and oxygen circulation and growth of mitochondria.

It’s never too early to start being kind to your heart. Dr. Michael McDonald, an expert on heart failure at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at the University of Toronto, says: “This diagnosis of failure usually means life-expectancy of from two to five years. Today, if you’re over the age of 65, it’s the most common reason for being admitted to hospital.”

via: The Eisenstein Group

Be Kind to Your Heart

Empowering Power Plants for Your Heart

Mitochondrion

Coenzyme Q10

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