Healthy with Jodi

Is Chewing Gum Bad for You? (One Ingredient Is Linked to Gut Destruction)

    Disturbing side effects of chewing gum.  Alternative bad breathe ideas and reasons why you should rethink putting gum in your mouth.
    Gut Destruction

    Chewing gum manufacturers have been turning to an ingredient called titanium dioxide for years. Now used in nanoparticle form, this extremely tiny metal compound is posing some serious emerging health threats. This is probably the scariest reason to avoid gum.

    Generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration, this compound is often used in nanoparticle form to create a bright white pigmentation in paints, plastics … and chewing gum. (2) It’s also found in tons of other foods, like candies and powdered white sugar (donuts!) and even bread. Although it’s allowed on store shelves and considered safe, scientists are starting to paint a different picture.

    In fact, a 2017 study published in the journal NanoImpact shows that nano-titanium oxide ingredients like titanium dioxide can severely impact gut health. Researchers exposed small intestinal cells to a meal’s worth of nanoparticles over four hours (acute exposure) or three meal’s worth over five days (chronic exposure). What they found is a bit shocking.

    Chronic exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the diet:

    Weakened the intestinal barrier
    Slowed down metabolism
    Triggered inflammation
    Weakened the gut’s defense against pathogens

    Blocked nutrient absorption of key nutrients like iron, zinc and fatty acids
    The nanoparticles actually blunted the effectiveness of the small intestines’ microvilli. Microvilli are tiny projections that jut off of small intestinal cells and work to absorb nutrients our bodies need to survive. (3)

    People also face this type of titanium dioxide exposure through toothpaste, and it’s even sometimes used to created a smoother texture in chocolates and to create a brighter appearance in skim milk.

    In 2012, Arizona State University found that titanium dioxide nanoparticles turned up in five percent of products tested, including Twinkies and mayonnaise samples. Under public pressure, Dunkin Donuts stopped using nano-titanium dioxide in its donuts’ powdered sugar in 2015.

    “To avoid foods rich in titanium oxide nanoparticles you should avoid processed foods, and especially candy. That is where you see a lot of nanoparticles,” — Gretchen Mahler, PhD, study co-author and assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Binghamton University, State University of New York. (4)

    Beyond that, many chewing gum products contain emulsifiers to retain flavor and keep gum from sticking to your teeth. (5) The trouble is, many emulsifiers act almost like detergent in your digestive tract, throwing off the natural balance of your gut flora. In fact, research in lab animals suggests certain emulsifiers used as food additives could contribute to colon cancer development.

    Is Chewing Gum Bad? More Reasons to Stop

    Migraines

    For children and adolescents dealing with vicious migraines and tension headaches, the natural solution could be right under their noses: Stop chewing gum. A small study published in Pediatric Neurology discovered that nixing gum led to significant improvements in 26 out of 30 adolescents in the study. Amazingly, 19 of them experienced complete headache resolution. No pills, no treatments — they just stopped chewing gum. (6)

    If you’re trying to figure out how to get rid of a migraine naturally, your gum habit is a great place to start. In tweens and teens, common proven headache triggers include stress, lack of sleep, hot weather, video games, noise, sunlight, smoking, skipping meals and menstruation. Now we can add gum to the list. Researchers aren’t sure if it’s the artificial sweeteners or a TMJ issue related to gum and headaches, but the good news is we can stop many headaches with this simple step. (7)

    Sinister Sweeteners

    You’d expect fake sweeteners like aspartame in diet soda, but chewing gum? Come on! Different chewing gum companies turn to ingredients like aspartame, sorbitol, high-fructose corn syrup, acesulfame K, sucrolose and xylitol. Some actually use multiple fake sweeteners in a single gum product.

    These ingredients are linked to serious health issues like tooth decay, liver fat buildup, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, leukemia, lymphoma, kidney tumors and more. Acesulfame potassium, also known as acesulfame K, is among the most common artificial sweeteners detected in breast milk. That’s troubling, since the ingredient is also linked to thyroid dysfunction. Sucralose harms the gut, throwing off healthy levels of enzymes and disrupting the microbiome. (8)

    While xylitol and sorbitol may seem more natural, these processed sugar alcohols aren’t absorbed well by the body and cause an allergic reaction for those who have a sensitivity to it. And then there are the digestive sugar alcohol and xylitol side effects, including bloating, gas, cramping and diarrhea. And get this: Its laxative effect is so pronounced that it’s actually part of the chemical makeup for many over-the-counter laxatives.

    Special note to dog owners: Xylitol and other sugar alcohol-based sweeteners are life-threatening toxins to dogs. Be mindful of breath mints, candies, sugar-free gum, frozen desserts and other foods when your pets are around. (9)

    Better Bad-Breath Fighters & Gum Alternatives

    Bad breath is a good excuse to reach for gum, but as you can see, the side effects are bad news, especially for your gut. Luckily, there are better ways to cope. After ruling out potential underlying issues for bad breath, you can turn to these things to naturally improve your breath:

    Eat parsley.
    Drink enough water, especially tap into the benefits of lemon water.
    Learn how to safely tap into peppermint oil benefits.(Not recommended for young children.)
    Learn about oil pulling with coconut oil.
    Avoid grains and added sugars.
    Final Thoughts on ‘Is Chewing Gum Bad for You?’
    American played a huge role in spreading the popularity of chewing gum all around the world.
    However, today’s ingredients include fake dyes and flavors. But perhaps most concerning is nanoparticle-sized titanium dioxide, an ingredient used in everything from gum, candy and bread to paint and plastics.
    Nano-titanium dioxide helps create a vibrant white color, but scientists now show that it can impact small intestinal cells in a way that blocks absorption of key nutrients, slows the metabolism, increases inflammation and weakens the gut’s ability to protect against dangerous pathogens.
    Chewing gum is also linked to migraines and tension headaches in children and adolescents.
    There are still some chewing gum companies that rely on old-fashioned, real-food ingredients, but they are sometimes harder to come by.

    Source: www.draxe.com

    Outside Allergies & cross reacting foods

      Environmental allergens/Cross-Reacting Foods

      I hear my clients or friends talk about the plants they are allergic to, what about the foods that we take in from those same plants and trees, do you consider those? It’s easy to feel the immediate effects of the blooming trees but not the delayed response of gluten or dairy allergy 2-5 days later.  

      When your immune System is low, the outside allergies present themselves quickly.  A food panel is more valuable and  important to your health then knowing what tree you are allergic too.  Let’s take a look at the inside of our bodies first and build those systems up so the outside environment has less of an affect on us.  

      Five categories of cross reaction and some of the key foods involved.
      This is not intended to represent all possible environmental allergens, or all possible cross-reacting foods. Instead, it is meant to provide you with examples of common pollen allergens and commonly cross-reacting foods.

      Environmental Allergen                  Cross-Reacting Foods
      1. alder tree pollen                               1. almonds, apples, celery, cherries, peaches, pears, parsley, hazelnuts

      2.grass pollen                                       2.melons, tomatoes, oranges

      3.mugwort weed pollen                    3.carrots, celery, coriander, fennel, parsley, bell peppers, hot peppers, sunflower seeds

      4.ragweed pollen                                 4.bananas, cantaloupe, cucumbers, zucchini, honeydew, watermelon, chamomile

      5.birch tree pollen                             5. almonds, apples, apricots, carrots, celery, cherries, coriander/cilantro, fennel, hazelnuts, kiwifruit, lychee fruit, nectarines, oranges, parsley, parsnips, peaches, pears, bell peppers, hot peppers, persimmons, plums/prunes, potaotes, soybeans, wheat

      Environment-food cross reactions can be as complicated or even more complicated to recognize as food allergies and food intolerances. On the environment side, they might be seasonal and only a problem during certain times of year. On the food side, they are likely to be year round, and may involve a half dozen or more foods. Blood work is strongly recommended to identify the cause of “allergy Symptoms”.

      For more information I can order the correc labs for you to get the answers you are looking for, just email, call or text me and we can set up a consultation.  If you would like more information on this article:

      http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=faq&dbid=51

      Pumpkin Seed Dip

        Pumpkin Seed Dip 

        Vegan, GF, Paleo
        Happily serves 6-8

        ALL ORGANIC INGREDIENTS

        5 ounces Raw pumpkin seeds
        2 TBSP Avocado oil
        1/2 cup finely chopped shallots

        1 large jalapeno, finely chopped

        3 garlic cloves, chopped (let sit 5 min)
        1/4 Cup Parsley

        1/4 Cup Cilantro

        Juice of a lime

        1 TBSP Extra-virgin Olive oil or Avocado oil

        1/4 tsp finely grated orange zest

        2 TBSP Maple syrup or 1/4 tsp maple extract and stevia
        Blend seeds in a food processor.
        Cook shallots & garlic in the avocado oil.
        *Add Sea salt and pepper, let cool.*
        Add parsley, cilantro, lime juice, maple syrup, orange zest (and water if needed)
        Add shallot mix when cooled, mix thoroughly
        Sea salt to taste.

        Variation: Can also be used a spread in a lettuce wrap.

        NanoGreens Plus Probiotic

          NanoGreens Plus Probiotic
          BioPharma Scientific
          300grams $54.95

          What makes nanogreens + probiotics different?
          *Green powder mixed with DE111 Probiotic
          *UTI Health Support
          *Pouch Form -> Nitrogen Flushed
          *5 Billion CFU dose after 2+ years
          *DE111 Probiotic does not require special storage conditions like many other probiotics.
          *Oral administration of Bacillus Subtilis DE111 helps digest and convert sugars and fats, and helps maintain glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.
          Vegan
          Vegetarian
          Gluten Free
          All Natural
          Non-GMO
          Probiotic
          Kid Friendly
          How To Enjoy: Mix one scoop of nanogreens + probiotic with 6-8 oz of cold water, milk or juice. For best results, use shaker cup. Children under 12 should take 1/2 serving.  Refrigerate after opening.

          Servings Per Container: 30

          Serving Size: 10g (1 scoop)
          Amount Per Serving
          Calories … 45
          Calories from Fat … 10
          Total Fat … 1g
          Total Carbohydrate … 7g
          Dietary Fiber … 2g
          Sugar … 2g
          Protein … 2g
          Vitamin A … 2500IU
          (as Beta Carotene)
          Vitamin C … 30mg
          Sodium … 20mg
          Potassium … 130mg
          DE111®
          Bacillus subtilis … 5 billion CFU
          Greens Blend … 2250mg
          (Proprietary)
          Organic Barley Grass Juice, Spiruline, Chlorella
          Phytonutrient Blend … 360mg
          (Proprietary)
          Green Tea Extract, Silybin (from Milk Thistle), Grape Seed Extract, Blueberry, Cranberry, Raspberry, Tart Cherry, Pine Bark Extract, Organic Broccoli, Tomato, Organic Carrot, Organic Spinach, Organic Kale, Bilberry, Elderberry, Pomegranate, Blackberry
          Quercetin/Rutin … 100mg
          50/50
          Organic Rice Bran Soluble … 2081mg
          Raspberry Extract … 50mg
          (20% Ellagic Acid)
          Organic Aloe Vera Powder Extract … 30mg
          (100:1 freeze dried)
          Fruit & Vegetable Blend … 930mg
          (Proprietary) (freeze-dried, low temperature dried)
          Organic Apple, Organic Carrot, Organic Mango, Organic Lemon, Organic Sweet Potato, Organic Peach, Organic Parsley, Organic Kale, Organic Broccoli, Organic Spinach, Organic Leek, Organic Cabbage, Beet, Organic Cranberry (Quinic Acid 6%)
          Organic Acerola Cherry Powder … 175mg
          (17.5% AscorbiC Acid)
          Green Tea Extract, White Tea Extract … 100mg
          (decaffeinated 50% Polyphenol)
          Polygonum Cuspidatum Extract … 70mg
          (15% Resveratrol)
          Oat Beta Glucan … 1500mg
          Cinnamon Blend … 50mg
          (Proprietary)
          cinnamon Extract 8%, Organic Cinnamon Bark Powder
          Milk Thistle … 50mg
          (20% Silymarin)
          Marigold Extract … 50mg
          (5% Lutein with Zeaxanthin)
          Dunaliella Salina Extract … 100mg
          (Natural Carotenoids)
          Enzymes … 40mg
          (Plant-based)
          Alpha Amylase, Bromelain, Cellulase, Galactosidase, Glucoamylase, Hemicellulase, Lipase, Papain, Protease
          Lecithin … 1000mg
          (non GMO)
          Lycopene Extract-10% … 25mg
          (from tomato)
          Organic Lemon Peel Powder … 25mg
          Organic Quinoa Sprout … 90mg
          Artichoke Extract … 20mg
          (5% Cynarin)
          Organic Atlantic Kelp Powder … 20mg
          (laminaria Digitata, 0.4% Iodine)
          Stevia Leaf Crystals … 200mg
          (Stevia Rebaudiana)
          Other Ingredients: Natural Flavors (Plant Based), Citric Acid, Soy Phospholipds.

          Herb Vs. Spices

            Herb Vs. Spices
            The difference between the two is where they are obtained from a plant.

            Herbs come from the leafy and green part of the plant.
            Spices are parts of the plant other than the leafy bit such as the root, stem, bulb, bark or seeds.

            We often hear the term “herbs and spices”. As any amateur chef knows, herbs and spices are vital ingredients in many dishes. They add flavor, aroma, color, texture and even nutrients.

            Both spices and herbs are parts of plants (fresh or dried) that are used to enhance the flavor of foods. They’ve also been known to preserve foods, cure illness and enhance cosmetics.

            Herbs are usually grown in more temperate areas than spices and have great medicinal value and are also used in the preparation of cosmetic products.

            Spices are usually dried before being used to season foods. Unlike herbs, they are grown in more tropical countries. They’ve also been known to preserve foods and some have medicinal value, such as turmeric with its anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal properties.

            Despite the above clarification, according to the American Spice Trade Association, spices are defined as “any dried plant product used primarily for seasoning purposes”. This really broadens the definition of spices, allowing it to include herbs, dehydrated veggies, spice blends and spice seeds.

            Here are a few example of herbs and spices, along with their reported nutritional/health benefits.

            Spice Nutrition
            Cinnamon
            Lowers blood sugar levels, LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides especially in people with type 2 diabetes

            Ginger
            Can stop nausea and may also relieve heartburn

            Cloves
            Have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiseptic properties; they are known for relieving flatulence and can actually help promote good digestion as well as metabolism

            Chili
            Contains capsaicin which puts the heat in chilies, may lower the risk of skin and colon cancers, shown to suppress appetite and boost metabolism

            Mustard seeds
            Contain phytonutrient compounds that protect against cancers of the gastrointestinal tract; believed to reduce the severity of asthma

            Herb Nutrition
            Basil
            Rich in Vitamin A and K. Assists with combatting bowel inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis

            Oregano
            Assists with inflammation

            Mint
            Helps with digestion and asthma

            Parsley
            Protects against rheumatoid arthritis, antioxidant-rich, fights cancer, high in vitamin C and iron.

            Thyme
            Contains the oil, thymol, especially helpful for chest and respiratory problems, also acts as an antiseptic and disinfectant.

            Sweet Potato Quinoa Cranberry Stuffing

              Sweet Potato Quinoa Cranberry Stuffing

              Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian 

              Happily serves 4

              ALL ORGANIC INGREDIENTS

              1 cup Tricolor sprouted quinoa, rinsed

              2 diced Sweet potatoes

              1/2 red onion

              1 crushed garlic clove (cut and let sit 5 mins)

              1 TBSP Coconut oil

              2 tsp Cumin

              3 TBSP Chopped parsley

              1.5 C Bone broth

              Sea Salt & White Pepper to taste

              Optional: 1/2 C cranberries

              Optional: 1/4 C pecans

              Preheat oven to 375 

              Rinse Quinoa.  Heat 1 1/2 cup bone broth, add quinoa and simmer for about 15 minutes until water is absorbed.  Do not over cook.  Remove from heat and let cool.

              On a baking stone, Add sweet potatoes, onions and garlic. Drizzle with Coconut oil and roast for 15-20 minutes, until soft.

              Combine sweet potatoes and onions with cooked quinoa. Stir in cumin, cranberries, pecans, parsley, salt and pepper.

              More Stuffing Recipes