Protect your brain with oral care

The delicate balance of bacteria in your mouth is as important to your health as your gut microbiome

Periodontal disease is initiated by an increase in Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacteria that also impairs your innate immune response and increases your risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, pneumonia, autoimmune conditions and mental health disorders

When bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease enter into your circulatory system, your liver releases C-reactive proteins, which have inflammatory effects. Inflammation, in turn, is known to be a disease-causing force leading to most chronic illness

P. gingivalis has been found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, and may be a causative contributor to the condition. Failing to brush twice a day has been shown to increase the risk of dementia by as much as 65%, compared to brushing three times a day

A recent study involving 40,175 middle-aged adults with no history of stroke or dementia found that people with poor oral health had higher levels of neuroimaging markers associated with white brain matter injury. Because these markers precede and are established risk factors of stroke and dementia, the results suggest that oral health is a promising target for very early interventions focused on improving brain health

 

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Avoiding Urinary Tract Infections

About 80% to 90% of the time, UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria introduced to your urinary tract

UTI-causing E. coli may be introduced to your body from the food you eat, namely chicken, as well as pork and beef

One study suggested E. coli from food may cause 640,000 UTIs in the U.S. each year, and numbers may be higher in areas near concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) 

If not effectively treated, UTIs can progress to kidney infections and sepsis; deaths from UTIs increased by 2.4-fold from 1990 to 2019

Methylene blue is a highly effective agent against UTIs, as it kills virtually any pathogen in your bladder without disrupting the microbiome the way antibiotics do
 

Tips to avoid & cure UTIs

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Ineffective, but antidepressants use still growing

Between 1999 and 2014, use of antidepressants in the U.S. rose by 65%. As of 2014, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 11 men over the age of 12 reported taking antidepressant medication

One-quarter of those who had taken an antidepressant in the past month reported being on them for 10 years or more 

In Scotland, antidepressant use among children under the age of 12 quadrupled between 2009 and 2016; use among children under 18 doubled in the same time frame

In 2023, 21 million adults reported having had at least one major depressive episode
 

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Did Pfizer lie about the effectiveness of Covid jabs?

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Pfizer, alleging the Big Pharma giant lied about the effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine

Pfizer “broadcast to the world” that its COVID-19 shot was 95% effective, leading Americans to believe that this was the panacea to end the pandemic, prompting them to receive the experimental product

Pfizer’s representation of its shot being 95% effective was deceptive, the suit claims, because Pfizer used relative risk reduction, which “unduly influences” consumer choice

Pfizer also engaged in a “deception campaign” surrounding its shot’s duration of protection and ability to stop transmission and protect against variants

As it became increasingly clear that Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot wasn’t living up to the hype, Pfizer engaged in a campaign to silence any critics by using censorship and intimidation against those telling the truth

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Plastic in food

A Consumer Reports investigation into plasticizers, which are chemicals widely used to make plastic flexible, found the compounds in 84 out of 85 food and beverages tested

Bisphenol A (BPA) was found in 79% of the samples, which included fruits, vegetables, milk, meat, seafood, baby food and more; phthalates were detected in every food tested except one

The product with the most phthalates was Annie’s Organic Cheesy Ravioli, with 53,579 nanograms per serving; Del Monte sliced peaches and Chicken of the Sea pink salmon had the next highest levels 

Phthalates enter food via multiple avenues, including agriculture, pasteurization, packaging and from plastic tubing, conveyor belts and vinyl gloves

Plasticizer chemicals may contribute to multiple health problems, including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, birth defects, premature birth, neurodevelopmental disorders and infertility

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Lactobacillus reuteri supports gut & hair

The probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus reuteri help upregulate the hormone oxytocin, a chemical messenger that plays important roles in the male and female reproductive systems and influences aspects of human behavior, including sexual arousal, recognition, trust and interpersonal bonding

L. reuteri also upregulate systemic immune responses, thereby promoting wound healing, mental health, metabolism and myoskeletal maintenance

Aged mice fed L. reuteri-containing probiotic yogurt experienced skin and hair changes that mimic the peak health and reproductive fitness seen in younger animals, including thicker dermis, and thicker, shinier, more lustrous fur. In contrast, age-matched controls that ate chow alone had dull fur and suffered from occasional alopecia and dermatitis

L. reuteri have antimicrobial, immune-boosting and immune-regulating effects, and strengthen the intestinal barrier. Lactobacilli also benefit your health by breaking down dietary fiber into beneficial short-chain fatty acids, breaking down phytonutrients, promoting the growth of other beneficial gut microbes, maintaining an appropriate pH level in your gut, and inhibiting endotoxin production

Mental health problems have in recent years been linked to gut health and immune function, and studies have confirmed that different species of Lactobacillus can help prevent and/or treat these conditions
 

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Getting rid of bad breath

Tonsil stones, also known as tonsilloliths, are whitish, smelly accumulations of bacteria and cellular debris that develop in the tonsils’ grooves, or “crypts”

A primary problem caused by tonsil stones is halitosis, or bad breath Tonsil stones contain many varieties of anaerobic bacteria associated with the production of volatile sulfur compounds, which explains tonsil stones’ rotten egg smell 

A water flosser, directed toward the stones, can be effective for removal, as can gargling with salt water or diluted apple cider vinegar

Oil pulling is another option that may help to soften and loosen the stones, while improving oral health and reducing bad breath at the same time

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