A Homemade Toothpaste Recipe for Tooth Remineralization

Written by Courtney, Contributing Writer- edited

Image by makelessnoise 

A Safer Alternative 

I’ve been experimenting with my own homemade toothpaste recipe for a while now, after I realized how easy it is to make on my own and that I don’t need to spend a fortune on store-bought brands.

The most basic toothpaste alternative is a simple tooth powder. You can use baking soda alone or combine it with salt for a gentle yet abrasive clean, or you can use a mineral powder such as calcium and/or magnesium. I use Natural Calm brand . Some prefer to add hydrogen peroxide to their tooth powder right before use. I rinse with hydrogen peroxide, so I don’t add it to my powder or paste.

I began to add coconut oil to my recipe to form a paste (and for its beneficial antibacterial properties) and essential oils for flavor. For a while, my recipe included coconut oil, baking soda, a dash of salt, and essential oil.

I’ve since been searching for a solution to the salty taste of the baking soda and salt, which my children aren’t crazy about, and have recently decided to add xylitol to help combat the saltiness. I’m new to the use of xylitol, but it does appear to be safe and even looks promising for cavity prevention. I also recently added trace mineral drops to my paste. I use these to add minerals back into our reverse osmosis filtered water when making water kefir and I thought it would be a great addition to our toothpaste as well.

Homemade Toothpaste 

2 Tbsp. coconut oil

2 Tbps. baking soda

2 Tbsp. calcium magnesium powder

2 Tbps. xylitol or green stevia powder

2 tsp. real sea salt

20 drops essential oil (I use peppermint )

10 drops trace minerals

My style recipe would simply read: equal parts coconut oil, baking soda, calcium/magnesium powder, xylitol with a dash of salt, a few drops trace minerals, and essential oils to taste.

This toothpaste is a great follow up to oil pulling . Have you looked into oil pulling? Both oil pulling and a natural toothpaste like this one, in addition to flossing, can keep your teeth clean and healthy. With a proper diet that supports the necessary minerals for re-mineralization of teeth, I believe teeth can be healthier and whiter.

From what I understand, yellow teeth can be the result of reduced/demineralized enamel that allows the dentin beneath to show through.By strengthening that enamel through re-mineralization, teeth are not only healthier and free of cavities but also naturally whiter.

Stephanie's note: For more on the importance of diet for both preventing and reversing tooth decay, and the process of remineralizing teeth, I would highly recommend the book Cure Tooth Decay by Ramiel Nagel. I'm currently reading it and even though I had learned some of these things previously (through Weston Price, etc.) I wish that I had looked more specifically into this topic long ago!

Europe bans pesticides viewed as bee harming

EU member states vote ushers in continent-wide suspension of neonicotinoid pesticides •

A bee collects pollen from a sunflower in Utrecht, the Netherlands. EU states have voted in favour of a proposal to restrict the use of pesticides linked to serious harm in bees. Photograph: Michael Kooren/Reuters

Europe will enforce the world's first continent-wide ban on widely used insecticides linked to serious harm in bees , after a European commission vote on Monday.

The landmark suspension is a victory for millions of environment campaigners concerned about dramatic declines in bees who were backed by experts at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). But it is a serious defeat for the chemical companies who make billions a year from the products and also UK ministers - who voted against the ban. Both had argued the ban will harm food production.

The vote by the 27 member states of the European Union to suspend the insect nerve agents was supported by 15 nations, but did not reach the required majority under EU voting rules. The hung vote hands the final decision to the European commission (EC) who will implement the ban. "It's done," said an EC source.

Tonio Borg, health and consumer commissioner, said: "Our proposal is based on a number of risks to bee health identified by the EFSA, [so] the European commission will go ahead with its plan in coming weeks. I pledge to do my utmost to ensure that our bees, which are so vital to our ecosystem and contribute over €22bn annually to European agriculture, are protected."

"This decision is a significant victory for common sense and our beleaguered bee populations," said Friends of the Earth's head of campaigns, Andrew Pendleton."Restricting the use of these pesticides could be an historic milestone on the road to recovery for these crucial pollinators."

The UK, which abstained in previous vote , was heavily criticised for switching to a "no" vote on Monday. "So much for the precautionary principle," said Joan Walley MP, chair of parliament's green watchdog, the environmental audit committee, whose investigation had backed a ban and accused ministers of "extraordinary complacency" . She said today's vote was a real step in the right direction but added: "A full Commons debate where ministers can be held to account is more pressing than ever."

Greenpeace's chief scientist, Doug Parr, said: "By not supporting the ban, environment secretary, Owen Paterson, has exposed the UK government as being in the pocket of big chemical companies and the industrial farminglobby." On Sunday, the Observer revealed the intense secret lobbying by Paterson and Syngenta .

But a spokesman for Syngenta, which makes one of the three neonicotinoids that have been suspended, said: "The proposal is based on poor science and ignores a wealth of evidence from the field that these pesticides do not damage the health of bees. The EC should [instead] address the real reasons for bee health decline: disease, viruses and loss of habitat."

Bees and other insects are vital for global food production as they pollinate three-quarters of all crops. The plummeting numbers of pollinators in recent years has been blamed on disease, loss of habitat and, increasingly, the near ubiquitous use of neonicotinoid pesticides. A series of high-profile scientific studies has linked neonicotinoids - the world's most widely used insecticides - to huge losses in the number of queens produced and big increases in "disappeared" bees, those that fail to return from foraging trips.

The EC proposed the suspension after the European Food Safety Authority concluded in January that three neonicotinoids - thiamethoxam, clothianidin and imidacloprid - posed an unnacceptable risk to bees . The three will be banned from use for two years on flowering crops such as corn, oil seed rape and sunflowers, upon which bees feed.

"Bayer remains convinced neonicotinoids are safe for bees, when used responsibly and properly," said a spokesman for Bayer Cropscience. "As a science-based company, Bayer is disappointed that clear scientific evidence has taken a back-seat in the decision making process."

Prof Simon Potts, a bee expert at the University of Reading, said: "The ban is excellent news for pollinators. The weight of evidence from researchers clearly points to the need to have a phased ban of neonicotinoids. There are several alternatives to using neonicotinoids and famers will benefit from healthy pollinator populations as they provide substantial economic benefits to crop pollination."

Lynn Dicks, at the University of Cambridge, said: "This is a victory for the precautionary principle, which is supposed to underlie environmental regulation."

Neonicotinoids have been widely used for more than decade and are less harmful that some of the sprays they replaced, but scientific studies haveincreasingly linked them to poor bee health . Many observers, including the National Farmers' Union, accept that EU regulation is inadequate, as it only tests on honeybees and not the wild pollinators that service 90% of plants. The regulatory testing also only considers short term effects and does not consider the combined effects of multiple pesticides.

The chemical industry has warned that a ban on neonicotinoids would lead to the return of older, more harmful pesticides and crop losses. But campaigners point out that this has not happened during temporary suspensions in France, Italy and Germany and that the use of natural pest predators and crop rotation can tackle problems.

"It is imperative that any alternative chemicals to be used in their place must first pass the same tests failed by the neonicotinoids," said Dr Christopher Connolly, a bee expert at the University of Dundee. "The recent findings have highlighted an urgent need for more rigorous safety testing protocols."

In Brussels, the countries that voted against the ban were: the UK, Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Austria and Portugal. Ireland, Lithuania, Finland and Greece abstained. Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, France, Cyprus, Germany, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia and Sweden voted in favour.

Why coconut oil is good for you 

Coconut oil is arguably the healthiest oil to use in frying, and it can transform the most humdrum of dishes 

• Rosie Sykes's coconut and parsnip cake recipe

Photograph: Jill Mead for the Guardian

By Joanna Blythman , recipe by Rosie Sykes

Forget scented candles – there's nothing quite like the aroma of gently warming coconut oil to transport your mind to a Mutiny on the Bounty island with lapping waves, golden sand and swaying palms.

Don't buy the odourless, flavourless "pure" type that has been industrially refined. Go for the raw, cold-pressed, virgin sort. Its fragrance and tropical opulence can elevate even a humdrum weekday dal into something special.

Coconut oil lends a convincing authenticity to a whole host of Asian dishes, from beef rendang to Thai green curry, but its use needn't be restricted to oriental recipes. It's fantastic for frying fish, for instance, or for sauteing onions for a rice or grain-based pilaf.

Why is coconut oil good for me?

White and solid at room temperature, coconut oil is slower to oxidise and less damaged and chemically altered by heat than other cooking oils. So it's arguably the healthiest oil to fry with.

Coconut oil is one of the best sources of heart-healthy medium-chain fatty acids, notably lauric acid, which enhances the immune system through its antiviral and antibacterial effects. These acids also stimulate metabolism, and some research suggests they can aid weight loss.

Where to buy and what to pay?

Coconut oil isn't cheap, but then a small amount makes a big impact. You'll find attractively inexpensive coconut oil in Asian groceries and Chinese supermarkets, but usually only the industrially refined sort. Look for it in wholefood shops where 500g of cold-pressed, virgin, organic coconut oil costs £8.50-£10.50. It stays fresh for ages, so if you can afford a big jar it should be much better value.

• Joanna Blythman is the author of What To Eat (Fourth Estate, £16.99). To order a copy for £11 with free UK p&p, go to guardianbookshop.co.uk

Coconut and parsnip cake 

Parsnip and coconut have some similar flavour notes, so they compliment each other well in this dairy-free cake. It's great with coconut icing, and delicious warm with coconut ice-cream.

For the cake
175g coconut oil, warm enough to spread
200g caster sugar
100g soft brown sugar
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
3 large eggs at room temperature, beaten
250g parsnip, peeled and coarsely grated
50g desiccated coconut
250g self-raising flour
1½ tsp baking powder
Flavourless oil to grease the cake tin

For the icing
20g desiccated coconut
150g coconut oil, warm enough to spread
150g icing sugar
1 tbsp lemon juice with 1 tbsp warm water

1 Preheat the oven to 160C/320F/gas mark 3. Spread out the dessicated coconut for the icing out on a baking tray, and place into the warming oven until golden brown. Leave to cool.

2 Grease a 20cm cake tin. Line the base with baking paper. Put the coconut oil for the cake in a mixing bowl and beat until soft and light. Add the sugars and lemon zest and blend together. Add the eggs gradually; if the mixture starts to curdle, add a bit of flour. Carefully fold in the parsnip and coconut, then the flour and baking powder. Loosen with the lemon juice.

3 Turn the mixture into a tin and bake for 45 minutes to an hour until an inserted knife comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes then turn out of the tin to cool completely.

4 Ice the cake when cold. Beat the oil in a mixer and gradually add the sugar, beating with each addition. Once smooth and thick, drizzle in the lemon juice mixture. Beat for 2 more minutes, leave to sit for 10 minutes, then spread over the cake. Once iced, sprinkle over the toasted coconut. Give the icing 30 minutes to set before eating.

• Rosie Sykes is head chef of Fitzbillies (fitzbillies.com ) and co-author of The Kitchen Revolution (Ebury Press, £27.50). To order a copy for £19.99 with free UK p&p, go to guardianbookshop.co.uk

 

Why Google Glass Could Be Bad For Your Eyes

Samantha Murphy 18 hours ago

Google Glass isn't even out yet, and people are heralding the part-camera, part-mobile device as the future — a revolutionary product that will surely change the way we use (and view) technology.

But some vision specialists are worried the high-tech specs, which you'll be able to wear on your head, could lead to health issues, including eye strain, headaches and neck pain.

"While Google Glass is a brand new interactive heads-up display (HUD) technology, there are some things we can presume based on the information Google has released," said Dr. Nathan Bonilla-Warford, a VSP optometrist forBright Eyes Family Vision .

"Consumers may experience a physiological impact while wearing these glasses, such as increased eye-strain and dry eyes from reduced blinking," he added."This could ultimately cause headaches and neck pain and are the symptoms of computer vision syndrome or digital eye strain."

SEE ALSO: Conan Makes Google Glass 'Butt' of the Joke

Most people who spend long hours in front of the computer or mobile devices know the discomfort associated with prolonged eyestrain. That could also be compounded by the fact that Google Glass will be extremely near the eye, increasing the chances of irritability.

"The glasses themselves are too close for the eyes to focus, so the display alters the light so that the perceived image is located up and to the side, about two feet away from the user," said Warford, adding that despite the effect, it will still cause straining.

A Google spokesperson told Mashable that the company has studied design comfort and safety very closely, and hasn't found a cause for concern. They said it plans to continue to watch this area carefully.

Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Ehrenhaus of New York Cornea Consultants believes eyestrain isn't going to be as much of a concern as the distraction it can cause users on the street.

"We still need to learn more about the technology and what exactly people will be seeing, but there may not be a lot of eye straining at all," Ehrenhaus said.

"The bigger issue is that you don't want to fall into a manhole while trying to look at an image in the glass."

"The bigger issue is that you don't want to fall into a manhole while trying to look at an image in the glass."

Research has been conducted on pilots and drivers in the past reveal that when a person is mentally focused on the HUD, they are not paying attention to the world around them.

Warford agrees, noting clinical studies will eventually evaluate concentration factors, as well as visual skills and ocular physiology before and after extended use of Google Glasses to see its impact.

"For now, we can extrapolate what we know about visual processing of HUD data, the eye movements needed to use the glasses and the effects of prolonged digital screen usage," he added. "Consumers should also keep in mind the experience will not be like the original concept video or the holy-grail of augmented reality. It will be more like a phone you can see without having to hold."

What do you think about the possible health concerns surrounding Google Glass? Would you be nervous to give it a try or can you not wait to get your hands on it? Let us know in the comments.

Google Glass: How It Will Look 

"OK, Glass ..."

More than a catchphrase, "OK, Glass" is how the wearer will engage the headset, enabling it to listen to commands.

Show As List

Three Insightful Quotes on the Power of the Menstrual Cycle

We negate a vital part of our intelligence and power as women if we are unable to appreciate the menstrual cycle as a key dynamic in our spiritual evolution.--Chim Li Yen

“For our ancestors the menstrual cycle was a source of wonderful creative, spiritual, sexual, emotional, mental and physical energies. It was a gift that empowered women to renew themselves each month, to manifest and create the world around them, to connect deeply with the land and their family, and to express deep wisdom and inspiration. This ancient female teaching is still available to us in our mythology and nursery tales,” explains Australian author Alexandra Pope.

Photo Source and credits

The power of the menstrual cycle goes beyond its role of baby–making. Getting in touch with her cycle opens a woman to different levels of awareness:-Chim Li Yen
From:The wisdom of menstruation on http://publichouse.sg/categories/health/item/89-the-wisdom-of-menstruation
See also Meditation in Motion

Wisdom of the Menstrual Cycle

Wisdom of the Menstrual Cycle - Health Conditions and Advice - Dr. Christiane Northrup

The menstrual cycle is the most basic, earthy cycle we have. The macrocosmic cycles of nature, the waxing and waning, the ebb and flow of the tides and the changes of the seasons, are reflected on a smaller scale in the menstrual cycle of the individual female body. In many cultures, the menstrual cycle has been viewed as sacred.

Even in modern society, where we are cut off from the rhythms of nature, the cycle of ovulation is influenced by the moon. During the new moon, ovulation and conception rates are decreased overall, and an increased number of women start their menstrual bleeding. ¹ The timing of the menstrual cycle, the fertility cycle, and labor also follows the moon-dominated tides of the ocean.Environmental cues such as light, the moon, and the tides play a documented role in regulating women’s menstrual cycles and fertility. In one study of nearly two thousand women with irregular menstrual cycles, more than half of the subjects achieved regular menstrual cycles of twenty-nine days’ length by sleeping with a light on near their beds during the three days around ovulation.

The menstrual cycle governs the flow not only of fluids but of information and creativity. We receive and process information differently at different times in our cycles. Many women find that they are at their peak of expression in the outer world from the onset of their menstrual cycle until ovulation.One woman, a waitress who works in a diner where many truckers stop to eat, has reported to me that her tips are highest at midcycle, around ovulation. Another man described his wife as "very vital and electric" during this time of her cycle.

Picture credit: http://thebraveclass.blogspot.com

The menstrual cycle itself mirrors how consciousness becomes matter and how thought creates reality.

Our creative biological and psychological cycle parallels the phases of the moon; recent research has found that the immune system of the reproductive tract is cyclic as well, reaching its peak at ovulation, and then beginning to wane.From ancient times, some cultures have referred to women having their menstrual periods as being "on their moon." When women live together in natural settings, their ovulations tend to occur at the time of the full moon, with menses and self-reflection at the dark of the moon.

If we do not become biologically pregnant at ovulation, we move into the second half of the cycle, the luteal phase—ovulation through the onset of menstruation.

Studies have shown that women’s dreams are more frequent and often more vivid during the premenstrual and menstrual phases of their cycles.
Read full article  http://bit.ly/YCSyZJ

Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom  by Dr. Christiane Northrup

The Wisdom of Menopause (Revised Edition): Creating Physical and Emotional Health During the Change  The Wisdom of Menopause (Revised Edition): By Dr. Christiane Northrup