HEALTHY LIVING TIPS

I think that all of you must have heard about Green tea and its healthy benefits. Green tea is getting all the attention in the world because it contains an antioxidant epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG), the main component considered good for one’s health which is preserved in green tea but lost in oolong and black varieties when fermented. Green tea has been shown to positively affect many systems in the body.

Green tea acts as an antiviral agent. It contains fluoride; a mineral that helps prevents cavities and strengthens tooth enamel. A cup a day can help reduce plaque formation and bacterial infections in the mouth. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, maintains a healthy, active metabolism and circulatory system just to name a few. The antioxidant level of green tea is hundred times more effective than vitamin C and twenty-five times better than vitamin E in protecting our immune systems.

Eight reduction or control has become a serious problem in western countries these days and people adopt various methods for shedding the extra flab. Although green tea will not cause you to shed pounds directly, one special property of it will greatly help any attempt you make to do so – its ability to speed up your metabolism. This drink actually has the ability to increase your body’s metabolic rate by helping your body process calories at a more efficient rate.

Green tea has also been used to cure or reduce the amount of blood sugar level. Green tea may help regulate glucose in the body. A few small clinical studies have found that daily supplementation of the diet with green tea-extract powder lowered the hemoglobin A1C level in individuals with borderline diabetes. Green tea may also reduce inflammation associated with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the two types of IBD.

Fights Cholesterol

It is proven that green tea decreases the level of cholesterol in body. Pu-erh tea has been shown to help enhance fat metabolism. Both green and Pu-erh teas seem to bond to the cholesterol, retarding absorption as it goes through the digestive tract.  Green tea also acts as a blood thinner and helps prevent unhealthy clotting. It has also been shown to be relaxing to the blood vessels. This translates to a decrease in fatal heart disease and stroke.

Well, above are some of the health benefits of having green tea!

By: Daniel Parker

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GREEN TEA PURITY BENEFITS

Many kids and teenagers nowadays have colorful smiles – literally. They have teen braces used as a fashion statement. These teens wear braces in hopes of getting straight teeth at the end of their treatment period. The options for braces have multiplied in the recent years. They now come in a number of styles and colors, and kids can express their own fashion sense when it comes to what they put on their teeth. There are even those which are not visible at all!

It is not surprising that more and more teenagers are wearing braces. In fact, experts estimate that more than 60% of teens need teen braces in order to remedy dental problems before they worsen. These include cases such as protruding, crooked or overlapping teeth, and those that have abnormal gaps between teeth. Some teens have braces for better looking, straight teeth and to correct their bite. Whatever the reasons and circumstances, both parents and children know how teen braces can help improve their appearance and give them beautiful straight teeth.

Still, some parents opt not to allow their children to get braces due to one reason or another. Although teens who have dental problems don’t tend to outgrow them. The misalignment or the malocclusion will not go away on its own. If your child has crooked, overlapped or wide-spaced gaps, they will stay that way until treatment is administered. You can also expect an increase in bacteria as well as plaque which lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Also, misaligned teeth can wear out your child’s tooth enamel rather quickly, exposing your teeth to further damage.

When should your child see an orthodontist? As soon as your child’s first permanent tooth appears (around the age of 5 to 7), you may take your child to an orthodontist. You can ask your dentist for referrals. An early appointment is mainly just an assurance that you spot any possible dental problems that will require treatment later on. The earlier the diagnosed, the easier and faster it is for the condition to be treated. Many orthodontists will agree that the teenage years are most ideal to correct dental problems. The jaws have considerably hardened at this time, yet still tensile enough to be treated more easily. Waiting until the teenage years also minimizes the chances of needing additional orthodontic applaiances later in life.

Many teenagers opt to have braces these days. There is no more stigma associated with teen braces. Besides, your child will for sure know a few classmates who have teen braces as well. Remember to always remind them that there is no reason for them to be shy or embarrassed about their teen braces. It will take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, so they will need to deal with their braces everyday. Remind them to smile and not conceal them. It won’t be long before these braces give way to the straight teeth and beautiful smile your child deserves.



By: Clint Jhonson

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FREE TEETH WHITENING

THE EFFECTS OF FOOD ON TEETH WHITENING

All of us have been born with naturally dazzling teeth; our teeth are meant to be as white as snow thus making our smiles even beautiful. But unfortunately due to many contributing factors, we fail to maintain the whiteness of our teeth and our snow white smile tends to fade as well. Aggravating the conditions further, our dietary habits and the food and other things that we eat on a regular basis also hampers the color of teeth greatly.

Generally, our teeth comprises of the enamel layer which is further covered by a clear and colorless protein layer called the pellicle. The food that we eat often sticks to this particular protein pellicle, thus staining our white teeth and our smiles as well.

Some of the potentially detrimental foods for our teeth are:

Ø Acidic Foods: Foods having acidic properties, such as citrus fruits can contribute significantly to the discoloration of our tooth enamel in the long run. Such foods must be avoided before going to bed at night. If you take such foods, by any chance, you must brush and rinse your teeth very well.

Ø Extremely Cold/Hot Liquids or fluids: When you consume liquids which are either too hot or too cold, your teeth’s temperature changes dramatically. This change in temperature causes the expansion and contraction of your teeth thus allowing the penetration of stains.

Ø Dark Beverages: Remember, any substance, be it liquid or solid, that can stain your white T-shirt can as well satin your teeth; this is the rule that implies here. So dark beverages, such as , tea, coffee, cola, soy sauce, wine (red wine) must be strictly avoided as these can discolor your teeth to a great extent. You need not give up these beverages totally; a bit of consciousness from your end to wash off your mouth after taking such beverages can prevent the after effects.

Ø Chocolates and Sweets: Sweet foods and similar other food groups can be harmful for your teeth. Chocolates are usually sticky and can be very harmful for your teeth. If not cleaned and rinsed after eating, bacteria would develop inside the mouth and would not only discolor your teeth but would also cause damage to your teeth enamel.

Ø Cigarette Smoking: Cigarettes contain nicotine and when this comes into contact with our teeth stains tend to manifest. These stains gradually turn black. You should try to actually give up this habit altogether as it can be a great threat to your life as well.

As there are damaging foods, there are certain teeth whitening foods as well. You can try these foods to lighten the spots and prevent them:

Ø Strawberries: You can swear by strawberries when it concerns your teeth; these are the best natural teeth whiteners. Rub mashes strawberries on the teeth and you’ll notice the shine. You can also make a paste out of baking soda and crushed strawberries and use it for brushing your teeth twice every week. But you must leave the paste in your teeth for a few minutes before rinsing it off. Also make sure that you rinse your mouth thoroughly as strawberries contain sugar and have acidic properties as well that can cause tooth decay.

Ø Lemon Juice: We know that lemon juice is a good bleaching agent for hair, but do you know that it can whiten your teeth also? Well, it can. But be careful while using lemon juice as it has acidic properties and might as well cause damage to the enamel of your teeth. A bit of lemon juice can be used with baking soda or salt for teeth whitening.

Ø Orange Peel: The inside part of orange peel is a great teeth whitener. You can also use dried form of orange peel in combination with ground bay leaves to form a paste and this can be used for brushing.

Ø Vegetables and Crunchy fruits: Carrots, apples, pears, cauliflower, celery and several crunchy fruits as well as veggies can help you in getting rid of teeth stains. When all these natural food fibers come in contact with the saliva in your mouth, it helps in washing away the food particles and bacteria that causes stains.

By: Matt Wittchow.

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TRY AT HOME TEETH WHITENING