Virtually everyone has measurable levels of several chemicals present, including lead, mercury, toluene, perchlorate, bisphenol A (BPA), and some phthalates, pesticides, perfluorochemicals (PFCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenol ethers (PBDEs). The good news is that far infrared saunas are a great way to detoxify the body from harmful toxins. Today I am going to talk about mercury and other toxins and how saunas can help.
Read MoreI started eating the carnivore diet on January first of this year. So far the results have been very positive. I have decided to do periodic updates as the improvements become permanent. I have great news about my chronic medial epicondylitis…
Read MoreAfter 31 years of practice, I have seen a correlation between my patients with higher numbers of missing teeth and their failing health. Research largely bears my observations out. Today I am going to discuss five papers that give a little more clarity to the subject of dental health as it relates to overall health and mortality.
Read MorePrevalence of metabolic health in American adults is alarmingly low, even in normal weight individuals. The large number of people not achieving optimal levels of risk factors, even in low-risk groups, has serious implications for public health. In this post I discuss the poor state of our health, why it is so bad, and what to do about it.
Read MoreThe modern history of the discovery of vitamin C is an interesting one, and, as you will see, we are still uncovering new information about its role in our health. More interesting is the evolutionary history of vitamin C metabolism in humans, which is somewhat unique among the animal kingdom, and has led to confusion over the amount we need in our diet. This post will set the record straight.
Read MoreWhen just looking at BMI, some very obese patients show no clinically measurable markers of disease, whereas patients with healthy BMI demonstrate illnesses associated with obesity, leading many clinicians to shun using only BMI as a reliable predictor of disease. It turns out that it matters where the fat is, especially if it is around your organs. Fat around the organs is called visceral fat and it is associated with increased risk of disease. Today, I will cover what those risks are and what to do about it.
Read MoreOrthodontic treatment is a great option to get that perfect smile you always wanted. To many of us, the need for orthodontics is obvious when the teeth are crowded and misaligned. Sometimes, the teeth can appear straight, but other more subtle problems may be going on. There are many reasons why moving the teeth may be a good option. Today, I will discuss some of the things dentists look at to determine whether orthodontic tooth movement is an option, and the risk factors involved if treatment is delayed.
Read MoreVitamin B3 is needed for 400 functions in the body, making it the most useful one. It has a special place in human history according to the authors of a journal article. Today I am going to talk about what it is, what foods contain it, what it does, and its place in shaping human history.
Read MoreSugarless gum chewing is touted as being supported by four out of five dentists. Sadly, there are many risks to habitual gum chewing that most people are unaware of. Today I will talk about the range of problems gum chewing can lead to. Some of them can be quite severe.
Read MoreI have been researching the carnivore diet for the last seven months and have decided to give it a try. The more I learned about it, the more I liked the idea of it as an elimination diet. The one thing I can say with confidence is that it is a very healthy choice when it comes to avoiding tooth decay and gum disease.
Read MoreLow magnesium status is known as hypomagnesemia. Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), insulin resistance, type-2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease (e.g., stroke), migraine headaches, and osteoporosis are all associated with low magnesium status. Over half of Americans are deficient in it. Today I am going to talk about all things magnesium, including its use in dentistry.
Read MoreAlthough there are several ways our diets have diverged from our ancient ancestors, today, I want to especially touch upon the two primary ingredients in our food supply, causing untold havoc on our health and well-being.
Read MoreOccasionally, the ducts can get clogged, causing unusual pain and swelling. Crystals can form within the saliva that create a nidus for stone formation, known as sialoliths, similar to those in the urinary tract. Like kidney stones, they usually occur on one side only. They can lead to obstruction of the duct with rapid swelling and pain in the gland and, ultimately, infection. In this post, I discuss blocked salivary glands and what you can do to prevent and treat them.
Read MoreYeast infections of the mouth are somewhat common. They are usually caused by illness, corticosteroid use, and antibiotics; however, there are numerous additional causes. In today’s post, I discuss the types, causes, treatment, and prevention.
Read MoreAlthough virtually every physician agrees that regular physical activity, weight loss, adequate nutrition, and quitting smoking all result in health benefits, their business model does not allow the integration of these lifestyle modifications due to the short duration of the average visit, reliance on pharmaceuticals and lack of integrative care. Functional Medicin, on the other hand, focuses more on lifestyle changes than medication. A new study shows that this is a superior approach.
Read MoreDental insurance, although a benefit is more limited than it appears. The amount of money insurance companies are willing to pay in any given calendar year does not go very far. To that end, I am dedicating today’s post to the ins and outs of insurance, the typical indemnity-style ones, and the traditional insurance our ancestors all benefited from.
Read MoreAccording to The Vegan Society, “Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.” They state on their site that “There are many ways to embrace vegan living. Yet one thing all vegans have in common is a plant-based diet avoiding all animal foods such as meat (including fish, shellfish, and insects), dairy, eggs, and honey - as well as avoiding animal-derived materials, products tested on animals and places that use animals for entertainment.” You can see from their definition that the primary goal is admirable, but not related to health and wellness. You may be surprised to hear that vegan (or any other) diets done carelessly can cause some harm.
Read MoreStatin drugs are the most commonly prescribed drugs. How effective are they? What are the potential risks? You may be surprised at the answers, and even more surprised at the tricks the pharmaceutical industry uses to inflate their perceived effectiveness.
Read MoreThe CDC reports that 40 percent of children between the ages of 3 and 6 use potentially dangerous amounts of toothpaste. Fluoride-containing toothpastes have a warning on their label stating “Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison control center immediately”. There are definite risks for toxicity from the fluoride in toothpaste. However, topical fluoride can help prevent tooth decay. The decision to use it is the focus of today’s post.
Read MoreTraditionally, humans have always eaten fats and oils that were predominantly saturated and animal-based. New industrial seed oils have replaced the traditional fats like butter, tallow, and lard. These oils contain large amounts of omega-6 oils which are problematic for our health. We utilize fats for a variety of uses including building blocks for cell membranes, and energy storage. This high omega-6 substitution has had a dramatic effect on our health which I will discuss in today’s post.
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