#because we remembered that we actually have a microscope. like the real deal. inside our house

[cursedthing]

plagued by visions of what i want to do but alas having no spoons for them

[love-and-monsters]

Alien Encounter Pt. 2: Taste Testing

Here is part two! Posted a day earlier than expected because I finished a day earlier than expected. Hope you enjoy!

Seven days. I had guessed that it would be around four days for a rescue team to come get me. It had been a week. And there was nothing.

No transmission, no lights in the sky, nothing. Not even a signal of some kind that they were looking for me. Not, I supposed, that there were many ways for them to get a signal to me without my ship. But that was not the most pressing concern in my mind. The more pressing concern was that I was slowly starving to death.

“Don’t eat alien food” was one of the first lessons drilled in emergency training. There was almost no way to tell what was safe and what wasn’t. Food that once species could eat with no trouble could kill another in minutes. Humans were a pretty hardy and adaptable species, but even we could easily be offed by eating the wrong berry.

I had some food. I’d grabbed some nutrient bars, a standard space ration, before I’d left the ship. Three bars a day provided enough calories and nutrients for the average human. I was a little smaller than most people, if also a little stockier, so I estimated that about two bars a day would be enough for me. Before leaving the ship, I’d only managed to grab sixteen.

Sixteen bars. Eight days. I’d cut down on the bars after the fifth day, but even with only one bar a day, I still had only four days worth of food left. Four days and I would need to start taking some serious risks.

There was a clicking, scratching noise as Valain scrambled back into the house. I turned my head toward him as he entered.

“How are you doing today?” he asked, swinging his bag off his shoulders and placing it on the ground.

“Fine. Relatively speaking.”

Valain glanced at me, ears pinning back against his head. “How fine, relatively speaking?”

I sighed. “I had one of the bars. I can maybe deal with eating only half another one today.”

“How long do you think you can survive on those bars?” Valain asked. I rubbed my hand over my face. The question was persistent, almost daily. He seemed to believe that if he just kept asking, the answer would change.

“I don’t know,” I said. “If I go down to one bar a day, I have a little less than four days before I run out entirely. Half a bar a day and I have like, seven days. After that, I have, I don’t know. Little less than a month?” Valain frowned, tail twitching. “Uh, that’s about thirty days.”

“Oh.” Valain sighed. “That’s not too bad.”

I cut my eyes at him. “If I’m here for more than a month, I’m probably going to die here. There’s not a rescue coming at that point.”

Valain’s tail drooped. “Oh. No.” He chewed on his lower lip with his pointed teeth. “It has only been seven days. I’m certain they’re coming for you.” He gave me a hopeful smile.

“Mmm,” I grunted. “Sure.”

“Don’t give up,” Valain encouraged. He crept closer to me, flicking his tail out against my leg in what I guessed was a comforting gesture.

“I haven’t given up. There’s just not much I can do.” I glanced at him as he padded across the floor. “How was your patrol?”

“Nothing exciting. I saw one of the other guards.”

“Really?” Valain had explained to me the guard system. Apparently there were eight towers around a large city-state, four for the cardinal directions and four for the ones between. Each guard needed to patrol the spaces on either side of their tower to ensure that there was no trouble, from animals, enemy soldiers, or what-have-you. Sometimes, the guards crossed paths, but more often it was a solitary job.

“It’s not unusual to see other guards. We didn’t talk much, just exchanged some hellos. I asked him if he’d seen anything unusual in the sky.” Valain’s ears drooped. “He, ah, said he hadn’t seen anything.”

I returned my gaze to the ceiling. “Yeah, well. That’s kind of what I was expecting.”

“I’m sorry,” Valain said. “Is there anything I can get you? Maybe some water?”

Water, at least, was fine. Valain’s water was boiled and filtered, which removed pretty much all the pathogens and microscopic creature that could kill me. I was grateful for that small mercy. “Yeah, water would be nice.”

Valain took a cup from one of his cabinets and filled it from a spigot on the wall. He’d explained to me how electricity and water were carried up through metal pipes attached to the trees. It was a fairly clever system, I had to admit. They utilized the trees well.

“Here.” He pressed the water into my hands. My fingers trembled around the glass. I’d grown unusually shaky within the last few days. Low blood sugar, I assumed.

I sipped the water slowly. My stomach snarled, grinding against my insides. I was hungry, so damn hungry. Valain began to empty his pack, pulling out small piles of fruits and berries he’d foraged from the surrounding area. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from them. My mouth watered.

Valain caught my eye and followed it to the food. A look of guilt crossed his face. “Sorry,” he murmured, shifting to block my view. I turned my head away.

“It’s not your fault,” I said. Valain sighed, tail twitching as he looked between me and the pile of food.

“Did you have more food on your ship?” he asked. I nodded. “M-maybe we could try to dig it up?”

“Maybe. Except I don’t remember where I crashed and there’s no way to find it now,” I said. Valain’s tail and ears drooped. “The only thing we can do now is wait.”

And wait we did. For five more days, we waited. After the second day, I dropped to half a bar a day, but my supply still exhausted itself far too quick. I was running out of food and of time.

Things hit a head when I stood up and simply blacked out. I came to on the floor, with Valain holding a cool compress to my head. “Hold still,” he said, when I attempted to sit up. “You nearly hit your head.”

I groaned. My head spun and I could feel the awful, queasy pain of hunger stretching through my body. It felt like someone had hollowed out my middle, leaving a yawning chasm inside me. “I can’t do this shit anymore.”

Valian’s ears flattened against his head and his eyes widened. “Pardon?”

I propped myself up on my elbows. “We’re going to have to start taking some risks.”

He bristled, or at least did something similar. The fins along his head stood straight up and his ears pinned to his head. His tail snapped back and forth across the ground. “What? You can’t!”

“We’re running out of choices and food,” I said.

“You said you could live up to thirty days without food,” Valain said. “Someone could come in that time. You told me you could die if you ate food here.”

“Maybe. I could maybe die. There’s a chance that I won’t.”

“That’s too much of a risk!” Valain’s voice lifted in pitch, straining under stress. “You could wait until your ship comes-”

“If my ship comes, which is looking less and less like a real possibility at this point. Look, if I wait the thirty days before trying any of your food and I have a bad reaction, I will die. Even with the medicine that I have, I’ll be too weak and starving to survive it.” I locked eyes with Valain, staring him down. He quailed under my gaze, looking down at the floor. “This is the best shot we’ve got.”

Valain hissed, ears and tail twitching wildly. “This is a bad idea!”

“I know it’s a bad idea, but we’re between two bad decisions right now. I know that you want to be passive about this, but I need to do something or I am going to go stark raving mad here!”

There was a long moment of silence. Valain crouched on the floor, tail curling around his legs. I slumped back against the wall, panting. My head spun a little from the exertion of yelling.

“You’re sure about this?” he asked. “Really, really sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Valain nodded. “Okay. What do you want me to do?”

It took a little time for Valain to gather up the different kinds of food he had stored in his house. The selection wasn’t terribly wide. “Guards are supposed to gather their own food,” he said. “We’re supposed to live separate from society, on our own. It’s like a test. So all I have is what I could find in season.”

Most of the food was plant-based, though I couldn’t tell if they were fruits or vegetables, or if those distinctions even meant anything on this planet. There were a few hunks of meat too, but given that two were tinged with purple and the other was a strangely rusty red color, I decided to avoid them.

I spread my own stash out in front of me, consisting of four capped syringes and a bottle of twenty pills. “Okay, this is important,” I said. “Listen carefully, all right?” Valain nodded. “These syringes are for allergic reactions. They’ll stop one dead. If I start getting red blotches on my body and I start gasping for air, then you stick me with one of these, fast as you can, got it?” He nodded. “Good. These pills are emetics. They’ll make me vomit. If I start getting really sick after eating something and the shots don’t work, give me the emetic. It’ll make me vomit. Hopefully, that’ll get whatever’s making me sick out of my system and I’ll recover.”

“But you don’t know for sure?” Valain said.

“This is kind of trial and error. These are the only things I have that might work. It’s the best shot we have.”

Valain stared down at the medication, then glanced back up at me. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

I frowned. “Come on. You said you had medical training.”

“Yes!” Valain yelped, throwing his hands up. “I have some basic medical training using medication I am actually somewhat familiar with on my own species! Not emergency medical training for a completely alien species!” His voice trembled. “I can’t do this!”

“You have to. I need you to do this for me.” Valain gave a low groan, covering his face with his hands.

“No. No! What if you die?” He struck me with a look so pitiful it knocked my off-balance. “I don’t want you to die!”

“I don’t want to die either, but we don’t have a ton of options here.” I sighed. “It’s been almost ten days. The ship… I don’t think it’s coming.”

“You don’t know that,” Valain said. I bit down on my lower lip to stop it from trembling and took a deep breath. My eyes stung with tears. Valain blinked at me, hackles lowering. “What is it?”

“I don’t know that the ship’s not coming,” I said. My voice was only just barely steady. “But I have a damn good guess that it isn’t.”

Valain stared at me. “Why?”

I sucked in a deep, slow breath, forcing down the lump that had formed in my throat. “So, there could be a few reasons the ship would be delayed. One is that they’re having trouble scrambling a team for whatever reason, but that would have only lasted a few days. The other issue could be that they’re having trouble finding my personal signal on the planet, but that should have been resolved by signal fire. They flash a morse code in the sky and I can flash a signal back to tell them where I am. But neither of us have seen anything like that, so it’s not that one. Which leaves only two other options.”

There was silence for a moment. Valain stared at me. “Those are what?”

I took another slow, deep breath. I had managed to successfully crush back the threat of tears, leaving my voice emotionless and hollow. “Option one is that the distress signal never fired off. That means that no one knows where I am or what happened. There is almost no chance of a rescue at that point. People just don’t have the resources to scour all of space to find out where I went.”

Valain swallowed. “Ah. And the other option?”

“Option two is, uh.” I hesitated. “So, uh, I told you what my job is, right?”

He nodded. “Courier.”

“Right. I do deliveries for really rich people. They pay a lot for a speedy delivery… and for discretion.”

Valain’s eyes narrowed. “Discretion,” he repeated. “That’s a very nice way of saying you smuggle.”

“Look, it’s not technically illegal,” I said. “It’s just a teeny tiny bit underhanded. Just a little.” Valain’s eyes narrowed further. “It was a job and it paid well, all right? Most of the stuff I delivered was above board, it’s just that there were a few times where maybe a family ordered something and I was just kind of supposed to not look too close.”

Valain glared. “What kind of stuff were you not supposed to be looking at?”

“Not, you know, weapons or anything really illegal. Mostly controlled substances that you’re supposed to pay fees on for interplanetary shipping, or you can’t have more than a certain amount. Stuff the company could always have a little wiggle room for plausible deniability. The last package I delivered was supposed to be some kind of plant, a fungus that grows on a planet a long ways away from here. They produce spores that can be synthesized into a really nasty drug, but I’ve heard it gives you an amazing high. Works on almost every species too, which is rare. Anyway, the fungus is also a really good material to make durable, waterproof fabric out of, so people still sell it, but it’s supposed to be sterilized. Made so it can’t produce any more spores and people can’t breed it and get spores from those new plants. But, uh, the shipment I brought in… well, it’s hard to tell for sure, but I think these ones might have been the unsterilized variety.”

“You smuggled space drugs,” Valain said faintly.

“I smuggled plants. If someone else makes drugs out of them, that’s not my fault,” I snapped back. Valain’s glare told me he didn’t agree, but he just shook his head.

“What does that have to do with how you ended up here?”

“Okay, so, the people who sell the drugs are a part of a very rich, very powerful family. And there’s a solid chance that, if they know that I knew what they were doing, they might have decided that it’s less of a risk if I’m on an alien planet.”

“You think your ship was sabotaged by the crime family you smuggled drugs to,” Valain said.

“Well, no. The ship probably wasn’t sabotaged. If they’d wanted to get rid of me, they would have rigged the ship to explode or decompress or something. Nah, I think this is them just taking advantage of a bad situation. It wouldn’t be too much trouble to pay off someone to just say my ship dropped off the grid. That happens sometimes. People just get lost.” I trailed off, chewing at my lower lip.

“And if they did that, no one will look for you,” Valain murmured.

“People might look for me, but space is pretty big. They wouldn’t know where to start. It’d be a lost cause.” I looked down at the ground. The air was hot, but I felt ice working its way through my veins. “Valain, I don’t think it’s likely that anyone’s coming.”

A heavy weight pressed into my side. I jumped, struggling not to fall over from the sudden heaviness. “Valain, what are you doing?”

He had hopped over to my side and snuggled up against me like an oversized cat. His skin was incredibly smooth and slightly damp. The edges of his ear fin tickled against my cheek. His chin pressed against my shoulder. “I’m sorry.” His voice wavered like he was on the edge of tears himself. He pressed more firmly against my side, nearly pushing me over.

“There’s nothing we can do about it,” I said. “I’ve been coming to terms with it over the last few days, I guess. Just realizing that no one is coming for me.”

Valain made a mournful chirruping noise in his throat. He wrapped his arms around me. It was the first time I’d gotten a hug since… when had I been hugged last? My chest ached and it was suddenly hard to swallow.

“So, uh, we should probably start figuring out which of these things I can eat, huh?” I said. My voice trembled and I had to clear my throat a few times to steady it.

Valain slumped back. His ears twitched and pinned against his head, but he offered a smile regardless. “If you’re ready, then we can try.”

He stayed next to me as I turned back to the selection of plants in front of me. After a moment, I picked up one that looked like an oversized pear. It was covered in a yellow-green skin and was surprisingly hefty. Valain watched, coiled like a spring, while I raised the fruit to my mouth and gave it a sniff. It didn’t smell like much.

I took a deep breath and let my teeth sink into the skin. It tore away easily and the flesh underneath was fairly meaty. Juice dribbled down my chin as I ripped a chunk away. Inside, the fruit was a pale yellow-orange and textured much more like a peach than a pear. It tasted slightly acidic, like an orange, or a particularly sweet lemon. The flavor wasn’t my favorite, but given how hungry I was, it took effort not to immediately gobble the whole thing down.

Valain was still staring at me, one of his hands hovering over a syringe. “Well?” he asked in a voice strained by nerves.

I swallowed. “Nothing yet.”

His hand retreated from the syringes, but did not go all the way back to his side. “Yet?”

“Well, I might have a reaction later, if it metabolizes as a poison or something,” I said. Valain shuddered, wrapping his arms around himself.

“You’re so… cool about this,” he said. “It might kill you.”

“Might not, too,” I said. Valain snorted.

“Regardless,” he said, moving back to my side. “I think I’m going to stay close to you tonight.”

I ate little else that day, except a few bites of a nutrient bar. Valain stayed next to me the entire time, almost close enough for our sides to brush. His tail swished back and forth over the floor, making a soft whooshing noise every time it moved. He looked a lot like a tense cat, eyes wide and locked on me constantly.

When I woke the next morning, Valain was curled up next to me. His side was pressed firmly against mine, though he was facing away. I sat up and his eyes opened. He blinked at me and yawned.

“I’m not dead,” I said, grinning. Valain grinned back.

“No. You’re not.” He sat up. “Does that mean it’s safe?”

“Probably.” Valain’s ears flattened and he gave me an anxious look. “Well, I’m not so severely sickened by it that one bite kills me and I don’t feel sick at all, so hopefully that means there’s nothing too wrong with it.”

Valain looked unsettled, but he sighed. “I have to go out on patrol today. If I find more, I’ll bring them back.”

“Yeah. I’ll eat as many as you can get. It’s probably good to get my strength up before I start eating more dangerous things.” Valain nodded and pulled a few more of the strange fruit out of a cabinet.

“Have as much as you like. I’ll be back soon,” he said. He lingered for a moment longer like he wanted to say or do something else before he scrambled out the door and down the tree.

The process of trying new food was slow. Gradually, I picked something new, ate a few bites, and waited. Often, it was fine. And then I got cocky. I took several bites out of a melon-like item before I realized that by throat was closing up.

Valain acted within seconds, slamming a needle into my thigh as soon as I tumbled back. He even inserted his fingers into my mouth and pulled out the partially-chewed chunks of fruit there.

My throat loosened and I felt my stomach churned. “Basin?”

Valian’s ears twitched toward me. “What?”

“Basin, or I’m going to vomit on your-” I retched and my body heaved as I brought up chunks of barely-digested melon. Valain hopped back a few paces and waited for me to finish before approaching again.

“Sorry,” I rasped when he returned to my side. “The shots usually induce vomiting too.”

“It’s all right.” Valain eyed the vomit unenthusiastically. “I’ll clean up. Don’t worry about it.”

“You’re sure?” I asked. Valain nodded.

“Don’t worry about it. Go lie down.” He nudged me when I didn’t move. “Go on. Lie down.”

After he finished cleaning, he walked over to me and lay down at my side. “How are you feeling?”

“Okay,” I rasped. “Not great, but okay. I mean, my throat hurts, but I can breathe, so that’s a plus.”

“That is usually a plus.” Valian lay his tail over my legs for a moment before tucking it back against his body. “We had to use one of your shots.”

“I know. We’ll have to be more careful now. Might take a few days off from trying new stuff. Just to be safe. We’ve already got a few things I can eat.”

Valain let out a shaky breath. “I might not go on patrol tomorrow,” he said. “I don’t have to go every day. And I want to make sure you’ll be all right.”

I frowned. “You don’t have to. I’ll be all right. That was probably the worst of it.”

Valain shrugged. “I still want to, though.”

I could have protested, but, strangely, I didn’t want to. I appreciated that he wanted to stay with me. “Okay. If you want.”

Even when I wasn’t looking at him, I could sense Valain’s smile. He lay down next to me, side pressed against mine. I stared up at the ceiling as a comfortable silence fell over us.

[mittensmorgul]

I’m rewatching 13.15, A Most Holy Man, right now, and... and I remember when it first aired. The reaction was largely “meh,” or “the noir format doesn’t really do it for me and the episode was kinda boring overall.” It’s possibly the s13 episode I have the least amount of posts for on my blog. It was largely skimmed over as mostly irrelevant, with the only takeaway being:

A. They got the macguffin they needed to progress the A plot by the end of the episode

and

2. They really should’ve cut that scene of Dean going on about how he’d kill everyone who tried to steal his car...

But... this was a Dabb episode. I wrote this post back in May, but I think it merits an additional look now:

https://mittensmorgul.tumblr.com/post/184946657745/so-im-still-out-ahead-of-the-tnt-loop-but-i

Because this single episode functions as a microcosm of their entire lives, at least thematically, if not in a 1:1 fashion. I mean, it is just a 42 minute episode. There were only so many twists and layers they could reasonably shove in, and the Rule Of Three is a convenient metric for demonstrating the pattern in narrative shorthand that invites us to consider the unspoken “etc. etc. ad nauseum” ourselves.

I’d go into the entire structure of the episode, but I’m hoping that just explaining the outcome-- after reading the post I linked above-- everyone will be able to see the parallel itself without me having to write 5k words on the subject today. :P

Let’s start with the exchange at the end of the episode that prompted this realization. Because it’s a bit of chicanery:

FATHER LUCCA: I think I got shot. [DEAN lifts up FATHER LUCCA’s shirt to see only a little blood.] DEAN: Looks like he just grazed you. A few more inches to the left and, uh... FATHER LUCCA: It’s a miracle. [SAM and DEAN, with FATHER LUCCA behind them, search the warehouse and find GREENSTREET still hiding.] GREENSTREET: I didn’t know this would happen. I… I’ll give you anything you want, huh? DEAN: The blood, where is it? GREENSTREET: It, uh… doesn’t exist. SAM: You… what? Wait a second. You told us– GREENSTREET: Exactly what you wanted to hear. It was just a bit of… DEAN: Chicanery? GREENSTREET: Exactly. DEAN: Well… chicane this. [DEAN punches GREENSTREET to the ground.] ACT FIVE EXTERIOR – WAREHOUSE – NIGHT [There are police cars outside the warehouse. A policeman leads GREENSTREET to a car and sits him inside.] GREENSTREET: No, no, no, no. Wait. Don’t – you – you – you’ve made a mistake.

For a refresher, Greenstreet was the author of this entire bit of chicanery. For a while, it appeared as if it was actually each of the other people involved:

Margaret Astor, the first person we meet, and also the one APPARENTLY holding all the cards when they walk into the final deal, who ends up backstabbed (well shot in the back anyway, close enough) by her own assistant

she sent them to Greenstreet, who introduced the term “chicanery” to the narrative, which I’m gonna focus on next, because despite all his plotting, his narrative didn’t end the way he wanted (he’s getting hauled off to jail, but heck, at least he didn’t end up dead like most of the rest of these conspirators...)

Greenstreet sent them to Scarpatti, with the partially true information that he’d been the one to have the artifact stolen in the first place, only to learn that it had been stolen from his man in turn...

(and remember, the skull isn’t actually what Sam and Dean need... it’s the currency they believed they needed in order to trade for what they DO actually need... it’s a bit of a chicane... which I’ll get to... sorry for this meandering on the way to the conclusion, but this little side journey is 100% relevant... you’ll see what I mean in a minute)

While investigating Scarpatti’s side-detour, they end up having to investigate a murder, and inadvertently stumble over Father Lucca Camilleri... but Sam and Dean have no idea that they’re now traveling through this episode with the thing THEY actually need. But rather than just... take what they need because that fact hasn’t been revealed to them yet, or even continue to pursue the currency they believe they need to trade for the elusive thing they need, they selflessly choose to do the morally right thing despite believing that in doing so they are forfeiting their chance to get the macguffin they need.

Ain’t it just Winchesters vs The Cosmos on a microscopic level?

Because one thing I’ve learned about Dabb as showrunner is that his absolute favorite thing is gleefully pointing back at canon and explicitly clarifying things. It’s not always obvious, he tends to be incredibly subtle, but if you’re looking for it, it’s impossible not to see in pretty much all of his writing. He LOVES messing with prior perception, and making us work for the satisfying moment where all the pieces fall into place.

Chicanery and the chicane. THAT ITSELF IS A CLARIFICATION. From vague to specific. Because “a chicane” is a very different thing than “chicanery.” And it’s all a bit of a winding deception.

For reference, the definitions of these two very different words:

chi·can·er·y /SHəˈkān(ə)rē/ noun, the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose. "an underhanded person who schemes corruption and political chicanery behind closed doors" synonyms: trickery, deception, deceit, deceitfulness, duplicity, dishonesty, unscrupulousness, underhandedness, subterfuge, fraud, fraudulence, legerdemain, sophistry, sharp practice, skulduggery, swindling, cheating, duping, hoodwinking

and

chicane (/ʃɪˈkeɪn/) noun, a serpentine curve in a road, added by design rather than dictated by geography. Chicanes add extra turns and are used both in motor racing and on roads and streets to slow traffic for safety.

What the definition of “chicane” doesn’t provide is that in auto racing, a chicane isn’t seen as a “safety” measure, but an obstacle. If you’ve ever watched road racing, the chicane is where a lot of drivers wipe out. It’s a choke point where everyone HAS to slow down, but when you’re RACING each other, the objective is to remain out in front, you know? Jockeying for position, trying to get through the obstacle as quickly as possible to get back to direct racing toward the finish line. So while a chicane literally slows the racing by design, forcing drivers to adapt to the physical reality of safely navigate through the pinch point while not wrecking themselves, they need to maintain absolute focus to retain their position, as well. It’s not about slowing down for safety but about finding the balance point between “safely navigating through without wrecking myself or being wrecked by the other cars trying to achieve the same objective I am” and “but we’re still racing and I can’t let anyone pass me so I’m still gonna push it as fast as I can while still conforming to the laws of known physics.” It’s... difficult.

THREE TIMES in this episode, they use the word “chicanery” before Dean clarifies it to “chicane.” For reference, out of the other 306 episodes of this show that exist at the time of writing this post, they’ve used “chicanery” a grand total of ZERO other times. Seems significant, yes?

In the same way the show has frequently used Wizard Of Oz imagery to convey these same points, with the reminder in the end of the “you had the power inside you all along” sort of themes, this episode takes it one step further. Which... logical considering the nature of the spiral narrative, that when it comes around again, the circumstances aren’t exactly the same. Think of it in terms of that racetrack with the chicane.

In the case of the plot of this episode, a similar comparison can be drawn to The DaVinci Code, since through most of the wild goose chase running through all the games and puzzles, the guy is literally traveling with the object he seeks. It just doesn’t become obvious, like with Dorothy and her Ruby Slippers, until they’ve worked their way through all the puzzles and subterfuge along the way. As Dean says in Scoobynatural when Sam points out that if he knows how the episode ends, why don’t they just get to the point already, and Dean replies “Because sometimes it’s about the journey.” Rather intuitive meta observation about the point of the narrative structure, yes?

Back to our road race analogy now, after passing through the chicane chicane. Every lap, the drivers are driving through the same essential course. The shape of the road doesn’t change in the most fundamental way. The same parts are still paved, the walls around the edges don’t move, etc. But each time they drive around, other conditions vary. Their tires wear down so their traction changes. Heck, the drivers themselves are wearing out physically and mentally. Maybe a dude’s just thirsty or has an itch on his nose or just has to pee real bad. Maybe the wind speed or direction has changed. Maybe the sun has moved so different turns become more tricky with a glare in their eyes. Their engines are slowly shifting as wear and tear of operating at a high performance level alters performance. Their brakes might be wearing down. They may be in need of more fuel and are driving more conservatively, or may have just gotten new fuel or new tires or made some other alteration to their car that shifts not only their ability to go faster, but changes how they handle corners, etc. But there’s also the factor of all the OTHER cars driving around them. Maybe they’ve hit the chicane all by themselves because they’re out ahead of the pack (or trailing far behind it). Maybe they’re clustered tightly together with other drivers. Maybe there was a wreck that altered the road surface... cleaning up fuel/oil spills, sand or dirt having “spilled” out onto the road surface, maybe a slight drizzle started making it more slippery, or even random trash has blown from the stands into the road, or debris from a wreck-in-progress hampers their progress. There are SO MANY FACTORS at play that make each lap around the course an entirely different experience, you know?

Same with the spiral narrative. The major landmarks might be similar, but everything else is new.

And the moment Dean says “chicane this” and punches the author of this series of events in the face, that’s basically 14.20, yes?

They’re tired, and they’re on the last lap, and they’ve been through this chicane so many times now. And they’ve just been told that after every lap, Chuck refused to wave the checkered flag. They kept reaching the finish line over and over, only to discover it was also the starting line and the race was still going. And each time through Chuck’s big chicane, he’d deliberately change those variables, so the more experience they gained on the track, there’d always be a bit of new debris to navigate, a new difficulty level added.

And now in 14.20, it’s like they finally caught him in the act of throwing thumbtacks down on the road, you know? They caught him at his tricks.

And like, to use a favorite metaphor of Dabb’s, it’s like the roadrunner and the coyote. Only the roadrunner had always known all along that the coyote was laying traps for him and always found the most hilarious ways to foil the coyote’s plans and turn it back around on him. It took them 14 seasons for TFW to finally pull a roadrunner.

This has always been Dabb’s ending, because it’s actually the story he has been telling all along. The spiral’s broken, and instead of continuing lap after lap with no end in sight, they’ve finally realized they can just... stop driving in carefully paved loops and drive in a direct line to the finish.

(and maybe the only way to make it to the finish is to pave their own road around all of Chuck’s chicanery... it’s gonna be some heavy lifting and some rough off-roading, but it’s the only way to get off the track to victory lane)

(apologies, this is the sort of place my brain goes when Mr. Mittens is watching nascar at Road America in the background... but it’s super apt, and full disclosure, I started writing this about an hour before he turned the tv on. I was already on this road course >.>)

[douxreviews]

The Good Place - ‘The Book of Dougs’ Review

By Lamounier

"We're four Oreos from heaven."

It turns out the Soul Squad landed on a side sector of the Good Place, just not the main area.

And that was enough to make Eleanor super anxious. How can you be this close to heaven and not make it? After all they have been through (and she just remembers a tiny portion of it), it's understandable that all she wants is just to rest in peace.

But there is more going on in Eleanor's mind, and it's brought to the surface when Chidi tries to cheer her up (by dressing up as a mailman and looking damn fine) and she bursts into tears. Because she has never been this happy and she fears it will go away. Eleanor never had a meaningful, lasting connection with anyone in her lifetime like the one she has with the members of the Soul Squad, especially with Chidi. She freaked out earlier in the season over the possibility of losing them, and her insecurity pops out here again. But as Chidi tells her, she should focus on the now. I love that quote by Tolstoy because it's so truthful. The past can't be changed and it's naive to think that we can assure the future will be a certain way. We never know what's coming next, and best we can do is live the now, the only time we have any power over. Eleanor gets the message, and since she can't guarantee she will be with Chidi forever, she decides they better off consume their love while they can. And so they hit the sheets.

Another character who has trouble dealing with her emotions is Janet, and it happens after she learns that Jason and Tahani discovered she has feelings for him. She's still exhausted from keeping the four humans inside her void and doesn't want to deal with emotions while pretending to be a Neutral Janet. I loved Tahani trying to take care of the situation, particularly her misguided attempt to end her marriage with Jason. Her certificate was adorable, albeit incorrect. I mean, death literally didn't part them, in fact, it brought them together in the first place, but, okay, that second part she doesn't remember.

I liked the resolution to that subplot, which focused more on the ladies and less on the man in the middle, and I also liked how the three of them just ended up group-crying, no matter how silly Jason's inclusion in the moment was. These people can keep being rebooted and they'll still grow the strongest ties to one another. Although, since we are talking about it, this season better not end on another reboot.

While the humans and Janet worked their issues, Michael continued his journey to save humanity and it was a rather frustrating experience since the Useless Committee of Uselessness did nothing to help him. I mean, 1,400 years to select and align an investigative team? I know the writers were poking fun at endless bureaucracy and supposedly good people that just sit around and do nothing useful, but come on. There you have a demon trying his hardest to save humanity against a bunch of self-proclaimed good guys who do nothing more than pass memorandum to each other saying how concerned they are (that was totally a jab at social media activists, right?). Are those guys just that clueless or are they not really good to begin with?

In any case, Michael realizes through a quick chat with Tahani that the Bad Place isn't tampering with the points system, but in reality the world has become so complex and people so interconnected that being a good person became harder. Buying your grandmother roses would earn a few points 500 years ago, but now it will actually lose you some points, because such an action will indirectly condone pollution of the planet and slavery.

Okay, so, I want to nitpick this a little bit. First, even though we are very connected now, there are still a few groups who are largely disconnected or completely isolated. I understand that the writers of The Good Place live in the super connected side of humanity, but that's not how it is for everyone. However, this is a fantasy show and I can let that issue slide if I assume that in the world of The Good Place everyone is connected, no exceptions. My biggest problem with the logic behind Michael's realization, though, is that our stand against slavery, for instance, is rather new. 500 years ago, slavery was normalized and voices against it were dissonant noises, not the choir. So if today the biggest problem for humanity is how complex the world has become, back then it would be the lack of a more consolidated notion of human rights. In both eras, though, I can see a handful of people making it to the Good Place.

But, again, this is a fantasy show and I'm probably being too dense, because, leaving logic aside, I was rather fascinated by the concept of how far the ramifications of our actions should be taken into our account. People become vegan when they stop and think about how much their eating habits contribute to the abuse of animals. I have a colleague at work who is a vegetarian, so not really a vegan, but he told me he has a few rules, such as buying the most expensive eggs (according to him, the cheaper the egg, the more the chicken suffered). But he'd still be totally forked in the points system, because transportation of the eggs probably polluted atmosphere and so on. We have been speculating for a while the likelihood of the points system setting the bar too high, and now we have proof that's exactly what it does. However, in our real world, should we put our actions under the microscope? Are we to blame for the unintended consequences of our good deeds? I love how this show keeps asking some really interesting moral questions as it takes us along the ride.

Favorite Things/Smells

Eleanor: Typhoon Falls, her favorite water park. "Chlorine, suntan lotion, Band-Aids and a thick cloud of teen hormones."

Chidi: either warm pretzels or the smell of absolute moral truth. They do smell alike, Janet confirmed.

Jason: Black Bortles holding the Super Bowl MVP trophy. Also, weed.

Tahani: a curtain closing between first class and economy.

Doorman: frogs, obviously.

Bonus: Eleanor's tears tasted like the nacho cheese from her favorite movie theater.

Too bad we didn't learn what Janet's and Michael's favorite things/smells were. Janet's would certainly have something to do with Jason.

Other Bits

- There is only one door for humans to enter the Good Place, the official entrance.

- Everything Eleanor used to try to unlock the other door to the Good Place turned to glitter.

- Jason spoke of the time they were in Janet's void as if it had been ages ago.

- Janet worried that her emotions would come out of her butt.

- Michael's jawline is indeed great.

- I'm usually annoyed at characters who are too naive, but Gwendolyn was adorable.

- The note on the champagne Eleanor and Chidi opened said: "Gwendolyn, here's some champagne for you for thanking me for thanking you for thanking me for thanking you for thanking me for the champagne you sent me." I wonder how many champagne bottles Gwendolyn and the writer of that note gave one another.

- Was it me or Jameela's delivery of "but we really didn't deal with my thing" was very Buffy-esque?

- Next stop: IHOP, Interdimensional Hole of Pancakes.

Quotes

Tahani: "Are you sure we're in the actual Good Place? It's rather carpeted."

Jason: "What kind of messed-up place would turn away refugees?"

Tahani: "Jason, you seem thoughtful. And that concerns me."

Jason: "It's nice to know I can talk about girls with my wife."

Chidi: "It's like when my parents would go to a symposium and I would sneak into their office and read the unabridged dictionary." Eleanor: "I can't believe I'm attracted to you."

Chidi: "Is this a horny cry?"

Chidi: "There is a quote I like by Tolstoy. 'There is only one time that is important. Now. It is the only time when we have any power.'" Eleanor: "I know that quote. An unverified Tyra Banks account posted that meme on Instagram." Chidi: "Well, now I hate it."

Michael: "The Titanic is sinking, and they're writing a strongly-worded letter to the iceberg."

Tahani: "There are so many unintended consequences to well-intentioned actions. It feels like a game you can't win."

Janet: "Why are you crying?" Tahani: "I don't know. I'm British, I never cry."

It's so unfair that there are only two more episodes left this season. Three out of four closed doors to heaven.

[furederiko]

"A universe without Naga... I can't even imagine it" Can Balance save his BFF, and bring him back into the light? Kyuranger's 31st episode delivers the answer, and it's a tearful one...

- Expecting a utopian present after defeating the real Don Armage proves to be a wishful thinking. According to Hammy, everything remains the same and Jark Matter's reign is still at large. In a way, it also feels that our heroes is losing more winning this war. The team is no longer the 12 members unit as it was with Commander Xiao and Champ being left behind 333 years ago in the past. And they don't only lose one, but seemingly two Orions: the warrior who gave up his life to give Lucky the miracle power-up, and ORION the spaceship that is heavily damaged due to the time travel trip. - Things aren't faring better for the 'Save Naga' team either. Ever since Lucky went to the past, Balance has gone MIA, and both the Blues were captured by Dark-Naga and Akyanba. Dark-Naga is now using Garu and Kotarou as baits to lure out Balance, because he wants to "get rid of him, personally". Ouch! On the opposite side, Echidna is still determined to eliminate Naga. Since this new formation of Kyuranger also refuses to aide her, she decides to do it alone. Which is obviously NOT a wise choice. - The battle between Ophiucus Metal and Echidna is shortlived, but it does get pretty dark. The former now has the ability to take control her body with his freezing ray! Great goodness, he's only mere seconds away from making Echidna kills herself!!! Thankfully the Kyurangers (sans Raptor and Stinger) arrive just in time to prevent that. Pursuing his goal, Ophiucus Metal specifically targets Libra Gold, and unleashes the Black Hole Kyu Globe to eliminate him. Leo Red jumps in to protect Libra Gold... and, the two of them are obliterated. Wait... WHAT? - Well, if you somehow sense the over-the-top "Mamma Miaaaaa!!!" reactions of the other Kyurangers feel... bizarre, then you're totally not alone. And no, it also doesn't mean that the director simply forgot to tell these actors to act. This scene was nothing more than a deliberate ruse! A brilliant one at that. Beside, Kyuranger has pulled off many emotional scenes that were waaaaay better executed than this, so clearly something is amiss. - But seriously, what happens to Leo Red and Libra Gold, then? This is where things get faux-sciency. Turns out, Balance hasn't been sulking or sobbing in a bar, making himself wasted due to the loss of his BFF (unlike... a certain someone I'm familiar with). All these time, he has been actively working for a solution: analyzing the people who were also 'emotionally' affected by Akyanba, and tweaking the Microscopium Kyu Globe as the tool required for his big rescue plan. Last we saw this Skill Kyu Globe in action, Raptor used it to detect the 'microscopical Mothma' affecting ORION's control. With Balance's special add on, the Kyu Globe not only magnifies object, but actually gives its user the ability to SHRINK down into microscopical size! Ladies and gentlemen, Kyuranger had just officially gone "ANT-MAN" on us. Marvel-ous surprise. LOL. Fun fact: the same episode that debuted Microscopium, also had Naga as 'victim' to a supposed-crime incident. In actuality, we all knew he only passed out while practicing expressions in front of the mirror! At the time, it was set as a silly humor. But was that really a coincidence, knowing this episode revisits the same Kyu Globe, while also trying to rescue Naga as a victim? Hmmm... I don't think so. - You see, there's a faux-scientific reason to why Akyanba's victim got emotionally warped. Turns out, she planted microscopic Indavers into their brains, and they messed around with their nerves (remember, emotions are triggered by particular neurons. That's actual science...). Don't get the wrong idea though, Naga DID have his emotions unlocked by the Vice-Shogun. He wasn't mind-controlled, and still accepted Akyanba's offer on his own free will. But at the same time, Akyanba also infected him with the same 'virus' that caused every victims to go berserk, hence the aggressive result. It all made sense! I can't believe I didn't realize this sooner, when the evidence (the civillians? duh...) has always been there in plain sight. That's brilliant writing, I say. - As Lucky and Balance cleans up the Indavers that are twisting Naga's neurons, the other Kyurangers are also able to track their location to free Garu and Kotarou. Now, the 'BRAIN' setting is where things get a bit... surreal and/or metaphorical. When Balance is approaching 'Good Naga' to free him, Malistrate Microtsuyo-Indaver stops him and seemingly summons 'Dark-Naga' to the place. This is NOT actually happening in reality, because the real flesh and blood Dark-Naga is still on the ground, guarding his two captives. Simply put, Balance is fighting the 'virus', or negative conscience that takes the form of 'Dark-Naga', so he can free the body's positive conscience (something like... immunity system, perhaps?) that's taking the form of 'Good Naga'. Get it? - Then again, understanding this tricky metaphor shouldn't really be much an issue. I'm sure any audience would pretty much be carried away by their own emotions, that they don't have time to nitpick or pointlessly analyze (like what I've been doing LOL). Seriously, if you don't feel an inch of pain and sadness or concern as you see Balance taking all the hits, even throwing away his own life to protect 'Good Naga'... then you probably don't have a heart. This scene is heartfelt and moving, and amplified to the optimum when the other Kyurangers (with Hammy as the lead) begin calling out Naga's name to 'come back'. No kidding. Those flowing tears from his eyes? Dang it, the feels. And that flashback of him wanting emotions so he can cry or be angry? Aaaaaw... THE FEELS!!! T_T - Of course the rescue plan would be a success. 'Good Naga' champions over 'Dark-Naga' to protect Balance, winning back the control over his emotions. It's basically a "Persona 4" situation of fighting their own demons/shadows. Naga himself chose to have emotions, so it's him who needs to choose and filter how it would take shape of. But there's one more surprise to the outcome. Naga gets to keep his power-up in tact!!! After the BN Thieves team up to take down Microtsuyo-Indaver (who grows giant... into regular size. Comedy gold. LOL), Ophiucus Silver transforms into benevolent Ophiucus Metal! He then uses the Black Hole Kyu Globe, combining Leo Red Orion's "All Star! In-Finish Blast" with his "Metal Ophiucus Crash" to defeat Akyanba. Other Kyurangers then use their own finishers. Everyone (just 6 members) form Kyutamajin to deal with giant Ophiucus Metal, a manifestation of Dark-Naga's rage that has built up inside Microtsuyo-Indaver's body. The Vice-Shogun walks out alive, but the battle is still won. NOTE: Leo Red Orion's space manipulation to create portals in battle is wicked-awesome to see in action. The scarf/mantle part is really effective to add flare in battles. Even in stage performance, as evidenced by the G-Rosso's theatre footage that was aired during commercial breaks. However, the dearly-missed reunion of Libra Gold and Ophiucus Silver naturally sucks up all the attention and glory. It's just really good to see the BN Thieves together again, am I right? That includes taking the spotlight in that ending sequence. As for Ophiucus Metal, worth noted that it's pretty rare for recent Sentai series to assign power-up to a non-Red member. The last one whom I recall received similar treatment was Super StarNinger who achieved a new poncho thanks to the Gekiatsutou. - The closing scene takes us back to another heartfelt moment. Despite his carefree facade, Balance can no longer hold back his feelings, and cries his heart out for Naga. Such a moving scene. Aaaaw... the feels. Dang it, Kyuranger! Dang it. Echidna witnesses this teary celebration, and attests that everyone is strong because of their emotions. I WAS kind of expecting her to have a more important role, perhaps a twist of her being someone's close to Naga or something. Alas, that turns out not to be the case. I'm definitely not disappointed or anything, but it's still a potential that could've been explored. Then again, before heading home, she decides to let Naga's supposed 'treasons' slide. Since Naga is off the hook, does this mean Echidna has a change of heart? After all, he does prove that having emotion isn't that much of a threat for people from the Ophiucus System... as long as one can contain it to focus only on the positive sides. I wonder if this turn of event will encourage change to their home planet? - Celebration time! Unfortunately, this celebratory mode is not fully shared by everyone in the room. One particular Kyuranger, is firmly setting her sight on another pressing matter: the ORION's condition. That's the story for another day...

Overall: This tearjerker episode had a tough task, coming out after a powerful entry that was last week's episode. Comparison between both episodes, particularly for nitpickers like yours truly, would be inevitable. In general however, I personally call this a success. It had a fine balance of tone shift that wondrously transitioned from emotional moments, to humor and action in between without ever breaking the flow. The 'Evil Ranger' arc was wrapped nicely, and it was crucially tied to the next plot right away. More importantly, the minor/personal arcs of both Balance and Naga that began since their debut, were given a sweet and wonderful closure. The BN Thieves are bounty and treasure hunters, so it's heartwarming to know that the ultimate treasure they have been looking for, has always been close by all along. Balance discovered, realized, and acknowledged that the greatest treasure he could ever wanted, was none other than the BFF he cared and trusted the most. While Naga's desire to acquire true emotions was obtained, fulfilled through darkness, but only made full circle with the selfless love and help of his BFF. The pair complemented and strengthened each other, proving why they were always meant to work as a duo, and not solo. Not unlike Chewbacca, and Han Solo, right? Next week: Story of Raptor & dear uncle ORION PS: TV-Nihon has released their fansub for the first episode of "High School Wars". Word of advice though, you might want to postpone any desire to see it. Do NOT watch it until late October, unless you're okay having the next four episodes (episode 32 to 35) to be potentially spoiled. The mini web-series works as a coupling to V-Cinema "Episode of Stinger", which according to report, takes place around episode 35. So it's probably best to avoid "High School Wars" accordingly as well, at least until episode 35 airs.

Episode 31 Score: 8,2 out of 10

Visit THIS LINK to view a continuously updated listing of the Kyutama / Kyu Globes. Last Updated: September 27th, 2017 - Version 2.15. (WARNING: It might contain spoilers for future episodes)

All images are screencaptured from the series, provided by the FanSubber Over-Time. "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger" is produced by TOEI, and airs every Sunday on TV-Asahi. Credits and copyrights belong to their respective owners.

[raes-dirty-laundry]

Stress

I didn’t realize exactly the depth of pure shit I was in until I wrote, be it a very summarized version, of it all down. That version was sent off never to be seen again but this version I’m about to write all down for you here is the extended directors cut. From my brain to this social media platform to you, in all its angsty glory;

1. Constant worry about the wellbeing of my ex girlfriend, that I haven’t seen in three weeks. And when I say constant I mean not a moment goes by where she’s not on my mind. I’m ether formulating the next text I’m going to send her, the next conversation I’m going to have with her (the next time she decides to fucking bless me with her presence), the next accusation, confrontation, confession, concession, profession of everything I’ve been holding in; or I’m bombarded with the mental image of her lying dead on the carpet, all the years and decades passing by where we’re in love and nothing could keep us down as long as we got eachother, successful or poor, fat or thin, living or dying or somewhere in between. that life, that track, that winding road I could have kept her going on if I wasn’t selfish, didn’t take myself away from her for my own good. What’s my own good any good for if she’s gone anyway? And sometimes when I think of her all I feel is relief that it’s over, and guilt that its really, really not. Sometimes all I think is how much I miss her, not that I miss us or what we had together but believe it or not she was good company and an even better friend. Sometimes when I think of her I’m furious and sometimes I’m sad, but mostly I just want closure. A closure I don’t deserve and I’ll probably never get anyway.

2. Me passing this semester, this whole year is solely dependent on a paper I mean to write but never have the time or the motivation or the ability to create. It was due a week from torrow and I’ve promised my professor it’d be on his desk tomorrow morning, but I think we both knew that’s not going to happen. I’m going to fail his class and fail this year and there’ll be no one to blame but my own shitty inability to make good on my word. My word is all I fucking have and I can’t even keep that straight. I’m unwilling to hand in a crap paper and I’m unwilling to do what it takes to completely it and I’m unwilling to show up to his class empty handed, so what the fuck am I supposed to do now? All my options are exhausted, I’m exhausted, and I’ve not even begun to suffer for it.

3. Speaking of classes, I’m on the verge of failing two of them and only with a month left in school there is absolutely no time and little I can do to make it up. Not only will this hinder my ability to pursue further education but it will also without a doubt put strain on my home life as well, when the truth comes out either by admission or that cold hard evidence when the grade report comes in. Let it be known that at least I’ll take the responsibility for my own damn action and conscious choices that led me to fuck everything up. Let it be known that my free will is strong, and as much as it blesses me it is also my greatest burden, but I’m learning to live with it as I am will all things.

4. I’ve been severely deprived of possitive social interactions, friendships and what have you, for god knows how long: since I fell out with my childhood best friend, Jacob, surely. Because of this for the longest time I had aloud shit people into my life because I was desperate, and just up until recently I have come to terms with my inherent isolation and found peace with the one solid and good friendship I have, I found peace with putting my all into being happy with myself and not needing others to define my value. Since that epiphanic moment for some god forsaken reason everyone from here to whoville has been coming out of the woodwork to be my ‘friend’. By friend I mean they want to use me as an emotional dumpster, and somehow I’m the one left feeling guilt deep in my soul for just not giving a rats ass about thier shorty problems and thier shitty lives that I can’t do anything about and if I tried they’d be pissed and if I have advice they wouldn’t take it and if I just listened they’d tell me they don’t feel valued and I act like I don’t care and they’d spit in my face. So forgive me if this irony is fucking shocking when I say, the moment I stop lusting for friendship and start actually examining the quality of those I let influence me, a cascade of shit people become vying for my attention, right when I gain the ability so see through said shit too. Where were these people when I was desperate and would have bent over backwards for their every whim? Where were they when I was honest to god lonely and just needed one friend, one person to talk to no matter how shitty or using or manipulative? Now that I’m free of my blissful ignorance, free from letting scum walk all over me just because they give me the time of day, now they all see my value? It’s not fair and entirely too patronizing, even for god this is gone too far.

5. I’m almost certain that the only constant, stable good thing I’ve got left in my life is getting closer and closer to his end and it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever has to deal with in my entire goddamn life. After he’s gone I’m afraid of what will become of me. I’m sure that everything good about my soul that was ever worth anything of value will leave with him. I’m almost relieved that the squishy, vulnerable, loving bits left still inside me will be burried with his soft little body in the dirt where it will all go back to creation, hopefully where it can be used and remade and turned into the thread that twines around true loves hearts. Meanwhile I’ll be left here to live on my life, cold and careless and unseeing, where I will finally be able to throw myself into the Work. all that I see now, all the suffering thag hurts to ignore, all the love and the heartache and everything that makes me who I am will be deep in the dirt where it belongs and I’ll be blessedly empty and there’ll nothing left to hurt any longer. Or at least that’s what I hope.

6. The responsibilities I’ve been turning a blind eye too for far too long are finally nipping at my heels and I can barely contain them inside my any longer. I’ve got a responsibility to myself to take care of myself far better than I have been. I owe it too the one friend I truly have to try and take better care of her and our friendship. I have a responsibility to make sure my boy he’s happy and safe and well cared for, but I can’t bring myself to take him in and find out how long we’ve really got, it would break what little of me that’s stable that I have left and I just can’t to that to him, I’ve got to be strong enough to be there when the time comes but it’s selfish to keep myself in this dark, it’s wrong of me to do this too him but I just don’t know what to do. What I can do, if there’s anything, and I’m too scared to go find out. I’ve got a responsibility to myself to actually be responsible with my life for once, do what I must do to progress on my path but I just can’t find it in myself to break out of the routine and do something with myself. Ive got the will, but I just can’t seem to find my way.

7. The nightmares, if they can even be called that, have been plaguing me for a week or so and it’s probably the worst possible development nueralogically that could have happened to me as of late. My dreams, for years, have been the only peace I find in my horrible useless life. The only place in my mind that I don’t have conscience control of, hence it is salvation for a person like me. A whimsical everchanging world that has always brought me joy has now been ruined. Every night it begins like how it used to be, funky little nonsensical dreams where I’m free to just enjoy for a moment a life where I am simply lead, no choices to make and no prices to pay. Hours of harmless everlasting fun safe tucked away in my mind where no one can rain or take away. I’ve always had a vivid imagination, so it’s always been sometime bright and new and exciting. But now? It’s dull. Not scary, not terrifying, not traumatic or chaotic, just my life through a lens. It’s like stepping into a version of my own life where I make irriversable mistakes, where every bad trait is put under the microscope and examined in depth, or it’s replaying every mistake I’ve ever made before, over and over until I can’t tell what’s real life and what’s inside, or worst of all, I’ll wake up and not remember a damn thing; a completely dreamless night. I never knew one of the last good things in my life that were truely mine could so easily slip through my grasp, and now my peace is gone and I’m scared every night that the next time I fall asleep will be even later than the last until I’m so fed up with my dreams not being the salvation that it used to be, that sleep while once was the hope on the horizon getting me through the day will now be so useless and horrible that I’ll give up on sleeping all together and just be an empty sleepless lifeless zombie. I’m scared that I’ll never get my dreams back. I’m scared that one day I might even learn to be content with the dull dreams that leave me racked with despair every time I open my eyes and just have my own sad twisted life thrown back at me.

That pretty much sums it all up. Those are the factors in which are making it extremely difficult to life my life at the moment. These are the reasons I’ve moved beyond stress and anxiety to a simmering ball of hazy rage doused dread. I know one day it’ll all be irrelevant or I’ll just be used to it, but I almost prefer feeling too much all the time, as apposed to not being able to feel anything at all, but I’m sure my stance on that there will change with time and I become more and more numb to the world around me, duller and duller until I am blind to the machinations of my own demise.

[amandafoxy1]

Lots of  people talking, many words, so much is spoken,

Bottled, traded, commoditised, disconnected, chain is broken.

We focus on the profit and the ego that we gain

Construct our own reality and distract ourself from pain.

But out there stand the gum trees, their real names long unspoken

Turning sunlight into liquid gold

To soothe that which is broken.

I’m not from this land, my bones come from the northern hemisphere at least for as long as I remember or can trace.  But that doesn’t stop me from feeling my spirit in this Wiradjuri soil and from celebrating the fruits of its toil.

Last Friday I was lucky enough to be able to attend a Eucalyptus Identification Day with my local Land Care group – Central Tablelands.  Well, I say ‘local’  it sort of is, the land in this picture is actually just slipping over into the Central West Slopes and Plains region which means our land is a sort of mash-up of two types of vegetative habitats, that makes is even more interesting in my eyes. In any case,  the boundaries are ‘white people’ stuff which of course I understand but I really shouldn’t get too hung up on.

The reason I’m so keen to get to know the Eucalypts in my area (and all areas to be honest) is because these trees really exude Australia from every fibre of their being. They look like Australia, smell like Australia and give us a range of resources of a quality and strength that could only ever be Australian!  I love this country and of course I want to reflect it back in everything I do and say so what better way to do that than to get to know its trees. Once known, they can be celebrated to their fullest potential rather than just seen as ‘just another bottle of oil’.

So there are hundreds of species of Eucalyptus here in Australia and as such it can be very difficult to work out what is what.  The take-home tip I took from the workshop was to be careful to gather lots of pieces of evidence from the trees including a big picture of the whole tree,  notes on the bark appearance including whether the bark changes throughout the growth of the tree (a substantial number of Eucalypts have bark that is rough in parts then smooth in others),  young leaf shape, older leaf shape and size, fruit shape and size (young and old) plus flowers.  It can he hard to get all of that in one go but the more that can be gathered, the better.  I was interested to find that a Eucalyptus tree’s leaves can go through lots of changes in shape and even orientation during their life-cycle with baby leaves often looking nothing like their future adult selves – I guess you could say the same about us humans…  Anyway, once that data has been gathered you can go to one of a number of online tools to pop in your data using a Dichotomous key:

A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the user to determine the identity of items in the natural world, such as trees, wildflowers, mammals, reptiles, rocks, and fish. Keys consist of a series of choices that lead the user to the correct name of a given item. “Dichotomous” means “divided into two parts”.

Sourced here. 

The actual key that I’ve been using for my Eucalyptus Tree ID is called Euclid and you can pop straight into the database by clicking here. 

A note on using the key.

Full Disclosure here, the key sounds simple, it’s either a choice between this or that, but it is not that simple to implement.  The key uses plant part names that may be unfamiliar to you (they still are to me) and as such it can be easy to get confused and put the wrong data into the key.  That’s no big deal, you can always start again but it can feel quite stressful when you narrow it down to 2-3 trees and none of them look anything like what you have seen.   I took four tries and several more visits to one of my trees to narrow it down to a positive ID and even then I was still a little un-confident in my final answer until I’d double and triple checked it.  I assume it’s just like anything else new, it takes experience and practice to get right.

The Oily Stuff.

Pictures I took of my Eucalyptus leaves under the microscope.

I am a complete tree lover to be honest so there is nothing about these trees that I don’t want to learn about but one of the most interesting and relevant initial focuses has to be their oil.  As I mentioned above, you only have to step out off the plane in Australia to smell the magic of these trees in the air.  The essential oil doesn’t require extensive processing to access either, the oil glands can be broken, at least partly, by crushing the leaves under thumb and finger and unlike crops like Lavender (which can also be smelled in this way), the oil is available all year around.

After the workshop I went back to our property and collected up some fresh-growth leaves from our junior Eucalyptus bushes.  The new leaves are lighter in colour and much more malleable to the touch than the older leaves which seem to take on a stiffer structure.  In addition, the leaves are smaller so every handful of branch contains more leaf matter than you get from picking an older branch.

I have a 30 litre essential oil still that I use for educational purposes and in that I can produce anything from 10-30ml of essential oil at a time (so not really enough to turn into a business venture).   It takes roughly one of those re-usable shopping bag lots full of small twigs and leaves to pack the vessel which is then filled up with cold water. The water is then boiled along with the plant matter with the Alembic still attached.  Once the mixture reaches a temperature of around 80C the essential oil starts to flow and by 98C the oil and condensed hydrosol flows freely for around 40 minutes before the whole thing starts to slow down again.

My Own Essential Oil Research Method.

My professional interest in this is for me to have a deeper appreciation of all of the things that make a difference when processing essential oils in general and Eucalyptus oils specifically.  My aim is to then use this research to write papers, teach and empower communities and brand owners to develop their own boutique batch ingredients as a way of building a better connection to their materials.

My own approach is to take this in two stages, I’m currently in the first stage which is ‘discovery and play’.

I feel that science and scientists are often too quick to jump into the proper method of things and keep notes, change one thing at once and be super organised. Of  course, I see the massive benefits in that and there is no doubt that you can’t draw proper conclusions without a proper method but there is also so much to be gained through play and yes, adult scientists can play too!

My playing revolves around me letting what I feel about the process dictate the process rather than letting what I think is right form my method- so it’s more intuitive than academic.  What I mean by that is that I will make sure I’m 100% present in choosing the leaves, that I observe the whole plant and how happy it looks and feels (to the touch).  It’s all a bit abstract and ‘soft’ compared to how I’ve been trained but it helps me to keep my head up and feel on the floor.  When packing the still I think about bathing the leaves and about how they will interact with the water. I use pure observation to dictate when the process is finished – smell and appearance – rather than focusing on times, temperatures and yields.  It all feels like so much more fun and has been instrumental in my noticing more about what matters in this process.   The final step has been to use my other eyes (my microscope) to look closer at the product and the leaves in different stages to ‘see’ at a closer level, what’s happened.

The Spent Leaves.

The Point for me and you. 

I’ve been in the cosmetics industry for 22 years now and I feel that the best thing I can do for my future enjoyment, engagement and professional development is to go deeper both psychologically and physically.  The process that I’m undergoing here with Eucalyptus is taking me in all sorts of interesting directions and on many different journeys both inside and out.

I don’t see me becoming an essential oil producer anytime soon although I’m enjoying the oils that I’m creating.  Neither do I feel that I’ll be able to become a Eucalyptus expert, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day of cells in my brain for that. What I do see me becoming is someone who has got deeper roots, many more bountiful and welcoming branches and a crown that’s grown out of my striving towards the light.  I think that should all prove worthwhile,  extremely fulfilling and totally scalable don’t you?

I dream of gum trees.

  I dream of Gum Trees. Lots of  people talking, many words, so much is spoken, Bottled, traded, commoditised, disconnected, chain is broken.

[ughfrey]

This birth chart report shows the positions of the planets for Cara . The Sun represents vitality, a sense of individuality and outward-shining creative energy. Sun in Leo There’s an unmistakably regal air to Solar Leos. These are dignified–even noble–folk. Leos have a reputation for being conceited, but think again. Leos do feel important, but this generally takes the form of wanting to change the world in some way–to make the world a better place. They are generally motivated by affection for people, and often have big dreams and plans to make people happy. Generally, Leos are hard-working. After all, they are attracted to the good things in life, and they know they have to work to get them. It is sometimes difficult to imagine Leos as go-getters if you happen to catch them in one of their languid moods. These people can sleep in, laze around, and luxuriate for long periods of time. However, when they do get to work, they do it with intensity and determination. In this way, they are not unlike their symbol, the lion. The worst thing you can do to a Leo is accuse them of bad intentions. Displaying behavior that makes them think you don’t appreciate them runs a close second. These happy, jovial people become mighty hurt when others don’t see them for their noble intentions. Loyal, and sometimes rather traditional, Leos are, after all, a fixed sign. They’ll hold on to situations and people for a very long time before they give up. There is an unmistakable idealism to Leo’s view of the world and the people in it. Often, Leos have a very noble inner code that they answer to. Although on the surface, Leos appear rather confident, they can actually be some of the most humble souls around. They are the first to blame themselves when something goes wrong. Once again, it’s the Leonine self-importance at work, and this characteristic works in unexpected ways. Instead of being the conceited, self-absorbed show-offs of reputation, they are usually very self-aware, self-conscious, and, yes, even humble. Short description: She is masterful, likes authority, aspires towards an ideal. She likes to give advice. She is honest, frank, loyal, open and sincere. Weaknesses: pride, vanity, arrogance, presumption and disdain of others. Leo ascendant Scorpio Sun in IX You have a deep need to understand the world around you. You have high ideals and you have your eye on what’s on the horizon. You are looking ahead, and at times can seem quite restless. You are proud of your knowledge and of your morals. Be sure to avoid self-righteousness in your enthusiasm to share your knowledge. When used correctly, you are a tolerant, adventurous, and curious person, and you want to see the best in people and in life. 1127 Conjunction Sun - Moon Your emotions and your will are at peace with one another, suggesting a rather balanced personality. The “messages” you received in childhood were not contradictory overall, and you have a stronger sense of purpose and appreciation of harmony than most people. You are likely personally popular, mainly because you expect harmony in your relationships. You are attractive to most people, and your self-confidence and security make you easy to deal with on many levels. Your relaxed, easygoing disposition puts others at ease. You may not be prepared for conflict and you often avoid “rocking the boat”. You may acquiesce to others a little too often, if only to maintain a feeling of balance and harmony, as conflict is something you not only dislike, you might fear it. The tendency towards too much acceptance–of the self and of others–is usually present. You must be encouraged to question life, or you run the risk of taking things for granted. Vitality is usually good and quite constant. You are not necessarily hard-driving, unless other indications in the chart point to it, but your constitution is generally strong. At any rate, you are not as prone to the kinds of ups and downs that plague those with challenging aspects between the Sun and Moon. This is because even though your life goals and your emotional needs are different, they are in harmony. Short description:She has lots of vitality. She likes public life, she is popular and her company is appreciated. She is balanced, at ease with herself and usually gets on very well with her parents. 170 Trine Sun - Jupiter Endowed with generosity and friendliness, in some ways you appear to be lucky in life. You attract good things with a positive frame of mind and a charitable disposition. Rarely entirely “down and out”, you are usually well-received, helpful, and well-informed. You may enjoy travel and have a special affection for foreign places and people. You’re generally not very competitive, and for the most part not combative either. As a result, you are usually well-liked. You are usually good-hearted, possessing strong morals and much faith in life and in people. You prefer to find the good in situations and in people. You don’t have a lot of patience with those who break the rules, as you generally believe in order, equality, and the law. You usually make good on your promises, and the sincerity you exude can be trusted. Looking on the bright side is your forte–people can turn to you for a pleasing dose of faith and optimism. You are quick to chuckle and can’t resist any appeal to your sense of humor. Some people with this aspect are downright jolly. Others are less conspicuous, but their faith in life and willingness to find humor in life are nevertheless obvious. -140 Square Sun - Saturn You faced a fair number of challenges in your life, especially in the first half of life, in which your attempts to express your will were often thwarted. There can be a persistent feeling that you don’t get what they want in comparison to others. You can feel unlucky at times. Attempts to control your environment, and sometimes others, may be frequent. You want to be considered an accomplished and important person, and when you face obstacles, you don’t always see that you are your own worst enemy. You may long to be considered important in the eyes of the world, yet you harbor fear of success at the same time. You take failures and minor setbacks to heart, and may even practically beat yourself up over them. Self-awareness to the point of real self-consciousness is a possibility. The truth is, nobody holds a microscope over you, except for yourself. A little setback or a faux pas needn’t be analyzed to death. Fingers needn’t be pointed. No, you didn’t make a spectacle of yourself when you made a mistake. You need to stop worrying about always being right, or appearing suave and accomplished. When you ease the pressure you put on yourself, you find that you don’t face as many brick walls. It is very much about what you feel you deserve. Deep down inside, if you let yourself truly believe that you deserve happiness and peace of mind, you will find it.You may engage in a lot of self-censoring: “I shouldn’t..” is a common censoring mechanism with you. When you express egotism of any form, some part of you feels guilty. As the Sun rules our conscious mind, it does enough censoring on its own. It is the “adult” within us. Saturn, on the other hand, is more like the “parent” within us. We need parents to guide us when we are children, and to some degree as adults, but for the most part, we don’t need to be censored indefinitely–something that seems to be the case with Saturn-Sun hard aspects, except that the censoring and parenting is coming from within. Ideally, you eventually learn that the standards you set for yourself are too high, and that may be the reason you seem to hit brick walls. You have a sarcastic sense of humor, a keen intelligence, and the ability to apply caution and strategy. The vitality may suffer, and troubles with the bones, teeth, and circulation may surface, especially at times of stress in your life. -350 Opposition Sun - Neptune You have a desire to be something special or to experience something more than the ordinary. You are a day-dreamer and idealist. It is easy for you to trust others, even (and perhaps especially) people who might seem from the outside looking in as unsavory types. You are looking to identify with something beyond what is normally expected of people. You may have had a childhood that didn’t help you direct or define your life. Perhaps the early family life was lacking in supervision or clearly defined rules. A father figure may have been absent or distant and ineffective. You may have a glorified image of your father. Whether the image is very positive or very negative (or if it swings between these extremes), the image is not very clear or rational. Whatever the case may be, you struggle with defining who you are. You might gravitate towards the “wrong people”, or get in with the “wrong crowd” in an attempt to define who you are. You might be susceptible to being taken advantage of by others, especially by men or authority figures. You may be easily led astray by peculiar desires or self-destructive habits. In order to add a greater-than-ordinary dimension of experience to your life that helps you to feel special and important, you might be attracted to Neptune-ruled behaviors, such as secret affairs, drugs, or other escapist behaviors. In some way, you may feel a strong urge to glamorize your role in the world. There can be some confusion about the past (such as remembering childhood experiences in ways that are far removed from reality), and a tendency to daydream about being someone more “important” than you feel you are. You may struggle with early conditioning that made you feel tossed aside or neglected in some way, and certainly not directed or supported. You are very sensitive, especially with regards to any real or imagined blows to your ego. If the natal chart shows a strong sense of reality and a robust mind (Mercury and Saturn well-placed, for example), the negative interpretations of this aspect are less extreme. Still, you are likely to recognize at some point in your life that you have a tendency to engage in escapist and self-destructive fantasies and/or habits. It is useful to be able to connect these behaviors with their probable source, which is likely to be a weakly-defined ego and identity in childhood. 1 Trine Sun - Pluto You have much sexual vitality and passion. It is easy and natural for you to find a passion and pursue it, and to focus on a goal. You are not much scared of anything. You enjoy and embrace growth, especially of the psychological kind. You love a good mystery, and you are adept at solving it.You readily assign meaning to what others might consider “ordinary” events. You look for symbols, and read between the lines in most any situation. The physical vitality is generally strong, and the body is usually able to heal quickly. You are not afraid to get your hands dirty, and you are usually quick to help others–not only with mundane tasks, but also on a spiritual or psychological level. Your insight is sharp and sometimes awe-inspiring. You are perceptive and not easily rattled or surprised in life. You are not a do-gooder nor are you a law-breaker. However, you are not afraid of the “dark side” of human nature, and you will bend the rules from time to time if you feel the need to do so. You take particular pleasure in growth and life’s lessons. You are not fond of superficiality, and are generally the first to spot pretense of any kind. You are passionate and can be intense. You have a hunger to experience more than just an “ordinary” life, and you can be quite ambitious. Some people with this aspect are perfectionists, demanding much from themselves and reasonable amounts of effort and honesty from others. -40 Square Sun - Lilith You might worry about a friend betraying you, although your partner will undoubtedly find this person full of charm! -19 Square Sun - Ascendant She can face conflicts in life due to a projection of character that doesn’t match what is on the inside. Misrepresentation of the self is frequent. She must strive to understand how others perceive her and work on presenting a more accurate persona to the world, or she will rub people the wrong way or feel unrecognized and misunderstood. The Moon represents the emotional responses, unconscious pre-destination, and the self-image. Moon in Leo Depending on other positions in the chart, Moon in Leo people are not necessarily outgoing. When they feel comfortable, they do like being the center of attention. That is, they like being in the “spotlight” in the comfort of their own homes and with family and friends. They enjoy entertaining others, and often take on the role of comic. Lunar Leos often feel a need to organize, and even control, their families and friends. They have an inner mission to set things right, and generally like to oversee the goings-on in their little circle. This is a rather creative position of the Moon. At the very least, Moon in Leo people want to create and entertain. They can be rather lazy at times, and a little bossy too. Generally, though, they have a deep need to treat others fairly and justly. Lunar Leos require lots and lots of love and care in order to function well in the world. When they feel slighted, these people can be dramatic in their emotional displays. When their pride has been hurt, they are given to big scenes and sulking. This rarely happens in public, however. Lunar Leos are far too concerned about their image to make splashy scenes outside the comfort of their own homes. In public, they prefer to take things in dignified ways. At home, however, they���re given to big displays of emotional drama. These scenes generally don’t last too long, however. Lunar Leos are often personally popular folk who are valued for their integrity and strong sense of justice. Generally, it is easy to reason with a Lunar Lion. Appealing to their well-developed sense of fairness usually works well. Short description: She is brave and knows how to take risks, has the courage of her convictions, is honest , imposing and sharp. She has a great sense of, and respect for, justice. Organizational sense. Selectivity in friends, but is not overly influenced by them. Taste for splendor. Weaknesses: changing and numerous affections. Emotionally demanding and proud. Brooding when attention is not forthcoming. Moon in IX Highly imaginative. Prolonged studies, is intuitive. Professionally successful abroad, or in import-export or as a diplomat. Contact with foreigners. Long journeys. Ability to learn foreign languages. This is a position that can indicate a deep longing for stimulation above and beyond the everyday, mundane routine. You are a philosophical sort, interested and curious about the world, other people, and perhaps different cultures. You can be extremely restless and discontented if you don’t have a definite goal in mind. You might find yourself longing to be somewhere else when you are unhappy, imagining that if you were to move or travel, you would be much happier. However, this attitude can only keep you from enjoying and improving upon the situation you are now in, only serving to make you feel more unhappy in the present and with your current circumstances. Trying to avoid the attitude that “the grass is greener on the other side” will be important, while attending to your needs to get away from time to time will help scratch the seemingly incurable itch for something more. 110 Trine Moon - Jupiter She is generally pleasantly composed, due to an inner sense of harmony and emotional balance. She is optimistic–and realistically so, most of the time–which contributes to her overall “luck”. She is able to get a real perspective on emotional matters that not only benefits her outlook, she is able to offer support to others when needed. Broad-mindedness is a wonderful characteristic. Quick to find humor in situations, she is generally warm and fun to be around. Deep down, she believes in the basic goodness of people and of life in general, and this basic and natural attitude helps her to attract positive circumstances and to make good connections. One of her best qualities is tolerance. Usually, she doesn’t take life too seriously in the sense that she believes in having a bit of fun. her hunches are more often than not bang-on. She is frank, honest, optimistic and generous. She likes good cooking, her comforts. Her friendships are sincere. She is a worker and knows how to surround herself with the right people: She is appreciated at work. -85 Square Moon - Saturn When Moon is in hard aspect to Saturn in the natal chart, natives need to learn to trust others more. Fear keeps them from fully enjoying personal relationships, and fear is behind the occasional rigidity that they express. When they let themselves receive nurture or care from others, an inner voice cautions them that it might not be sincere, long-lasting, or enough! There can be some reluctance about becoming a parent, but once taken on, these people don’t take their responsibility lightly. Emotional reticence is the main theme of these aspects. Many people with this aspect had a lot of conditions placed on the love they received in early childhood. They tend to expect the same later in life. With hard Saturn aspects, individuals are often plagued with doubts, not only about the self but about what to expect from life itself. The problem is that expecting difficulties or negative situations creates an aura around them that perpetuates the problem. They must work hard at positive thinking and expecting more from life. Ironically, many people with hard Saturn aspects can be quite sarcastic, skeptical, and rigid in manner. This is essentially a defense mechanism designed to protect themselves from harshness in the world. It is extremely likely that they feel neglected because they perceive it in the first place, and later expect it, to be the case. There’s a vicious circle going on here that can only be broken when the patterns created by negative conditioning are broken. Adjusting one’s perceptions and expectations is the key to breaking out of these negative patterns. Otherwise, natives of hard Moon-Saturn aspects will live life feeling left out–attracting circumstances that perpetuate a feeling of deep unhappiness and dissatisfaction. Short description: She has changeable moods, a reserved character, is stubborn and lacks assurance. Her relationship with her mother may have been difficult, she has may have had considerable family problems. This is the standard aspect for children who are abandoned or who lacked maternal love. -211 Opposition Moon - Neptune She lacks firmness, and can be a sucker for a sob story! She likes to live in a dream, in the world of imagination, and can hope so much that reality checks can be brutal. -25 Square Moon - Lilith Love-at-first-sight is to be avoided, as it will make one forget all other duties and lead to problems. -10 Square Moon - Ascendant She is unhappily influenced by the family. She is probably loved insufficiently by her parents, but looks for more love especially from her mother. She is susceptible, has superficial sensitivity and is sometimes irascible. Mercury represents communication, Cartesian and logical spirit. Mercury in Leo She wants to know the bottom line, and is good at scoping out a situation and finding answers to problems. In fact, she is a problem-solver, and will spend a lot of time helping others solve problems if need be. Very friendly and usually positive, she can be charming in a warm way. Enthusiastic speaker, speaks with authority and sincerity. Great sense of organization. Playful. Likes to take risks in jest and for amusement. Might sometimes come across too strongly or offend sensitive folk with a somewhat authoritative tone. Mercury in X Her home and comfort are the only things important for her. She is intelligent and speaks easily and cogently. Easily keeps many irons in the fire and concludes her activities. Moves house a lot for business reasons. You are good with language, and generally use this talent in your profession. You can have an authoritative air about you, or you are talented at communicating and negotiating with those in authority. You might have more than one job going at once much of the time, you could change your career directions frequently, or you could be attracted to jobs that keep you on the move. You require frequent changes of setting or activities in order to remain stimulated and challenged. You are skilled at bringing fresh energy to your conversations or to your job, perhaps because you need the stimulation. 124 Sextile Mercury - Lilith Venus represents an interest for emotions and values, exchange and sharing with others. Venus in Cancer Love for Venus in Cancer is best when it is committed and rather predictable. These people are sensitive in love, even if their Sun sign is the more playful and outgoing signs of Gemini or Leo. You may even say their egos are a little underdeveloped when it comes to love, but they have a lot to give in return: namely, security, comfort, and care. Venus in Cancer people show their love by caring for you. They pay more attention to your feelings than your words, and observe you rather carefully. They want a safe, solid relationship. They can be a little moody in love, and some go so far as giving silent treatments and engaging in pouting routines to get attention from their mate. They are turned off by anything impersonal, and too much rationalizing leaves them cold. They are not afraid of emotional confrontations (even if they have a Gemini Sun and appear flighty in other areas of life). Still, these lovers are always worried they’ll be left high and dry. If you’ve hurt them, they’ll have a hard time forgetting. Every so often, they’ll retreat into themselves (not unlike a Crab), and it can be difficult to pull them out. This is when they use their extraordinary “nursing” abilities on themselves, instead of you…and you simply don’t want that! Pleasing Venus in Cancer involves lots of snuggling and sentimentality. Recognize their attachments to their family and home. Help them to feel confident with you – when they are fearful of being rejected, they can resort to some frustrating tactics to find out just how loved they are. Think about how a crab (the symbol of Cancer) moves towards its goal, and you will get a fair idea of Venus in Cancer’s approach. Do your best to make them feel secure and cared for, and you will be rewarded with a patient, dependable, and loving mate. Venus in VIII Not frightened by the unknown, death. Sometimes this position means she has a peaceful and happy or natural end of life. Possible inheritance. Intensity is what you seek in your love relationships, so that casual encounters are not necessarily your game. You are easily bored with mechanical interactions between partners, and might prefer drama in your relationships to anything mundane or superficial. However, you also fear being vulnerable in love, and, in youth, you may control your emotions in love. Fears of being betrayed may be at the heart of your somewhat jealous and possessive nature in love. When you give yourself over to love, you love wholeheartedly and expect all-consuming, total devotion and attention in return. You find passion a healing force in your life. Your charm runs deep–just below the surface. You are attracted to all that is taboo, hidden, forbidden, and find beauty in the broken, disenchanted, obsessed, and passionate. In some cases, people with this position might make a business out of love, romance, and eroticism. There is an intensity about you that others pick up readily. Either they run or they are completely intrigued! 83 Conjunction Venus - Mars She is amorous, not a peaceful and calm lover but a passionate one with a strong temperament. She is demonstrative in love, and likes healthy pleasures. She enjoys life to the full. -29 Square Venus - Jupiter She is nonchalant, pretentious, full of self-importance. She likes what is beautiful and sometimes ostentatious, and spends lots of money for the sake of appearances. She likes to please and has numerous amorous adventures. She is unfaithful and undergoes tribulations in love. 162 Sextile Venus - Saturn She has a good grasp of reality and of duty. She is thrifty, reserved and does not show off. She likes truth and justice. In love, her sentiments are sincere and deep, she never plays false. She is, of course, faithful in love and friendship. She can love a much older person and appreciates her intelligence and good sense. 32 Trine Venus - Ascendant She likes everything beautiful, the Arts, balance and harmony. She is amiable and sociable. She likes entertainment and has a loving nature. Mars represents the desire for action and physical energy. Mars in Cancer This position inclines toward passive-aggressiveness. These people seem to resist change and to shy away from direct confrontations. They need to feel secure before they act. As a result, they can appear rather slow at times. Their motto is “The best offence is defense”. They may appear weak to some, but they can be very strong. Their strength lies in their tenaciousness. Their sex drive can be very tied up with emotional need. At their best, they turn others on with a protective, almost therapeutic way about them. The protective nature of Cancer is best expressed when Mars in Cancer natives are turning the energy outward – when they are being the protectors of others. Turning it inwards is when there are problems. They must avoid over-sensitivity and self-protection when it comes to sex. Some Mars in Cancer people are especially turned on by the thought of creating a baby. These people are threatened by indifference. They can be argumentative and manipulative. Their energy levels are variable, and they can appear to move rather slowly. They have defensive reactions and bursts of emotional displays when they feel cornered. With reassurance and confidence, these natives are protective, helpful, and dependable in the long haul. They prefer to handle situations peacefully and humanely. Mars in VIII Sexually very powerful, she is also capable of tremendous focus and hard work. Sexually intense and deep. Is adept at professions requiring research, strategy, uncovering truths, and analysis. Arguments may occur over inheritance. 6 Trine Mars - Ascendant Jupiter represents expansion and grace. Jupiter in Pisces She attracts the most good fortune when she is charitable, tender, devoted, compassionate, looks out for the underdog, and is giving. Values compassion and charity, and is motivated by a universal vision. Peaceful personal philosophy. Faith in the goodness of life brings rewards. Jupiter in V She likes games and distractions. She has passion which lights up her days. She is lucky in love, but also professionally, with pleasant working conditions and duties. She loves her children and gets much enjoyment from them. 113 Sextile Jupiter - Neptune She is very generous and altruistic, helping people in difficulty or sick people. She knows how to listen or, at least, how to give that impression. She is a dreamer, with lots of imagination: she likes the Arts. Saturn represents contraction and effort. Saturn in Taurus Doesn’t like to see greed or waste in others. Must not shun materialism and possessiveness completely, and learn to build up a sense of being “deserving” of some pleasures in life. Saturn in VI She is a worker, very steady in all she does. She likes precision, method. She is serious and likes continuity at work. She can focus on a job in the medical field, where she will probably be successful, as she possesses all the necessary qualities. -42 Square Saturn - Neptune Living conditions are difficult for -12 Opposition Saturn - Lilith She will live with an older person: whereas this will seem quite amazing at the beginning of their life together, she will end up by hating the older person in time. -45 Opposition Saturn - Ascendant Her life is difficult and cramped. She is a worker, but success takes time in coming. She has problems in being open. She accepts solitude, rather than looks for it. Family problems. Uranus represents individual liberty, egoistic liberty. Uranus in Aquarius Gets over-excited at the start of a task that interests her. Her debonair personality gives others a banal impression. Uranus in III She is curious and inventive. If she does not study for a long time, she will be self-taught. She is intelligent, with a strong personality. She does not like routine and will regularly go on mission for work purposes. 5 Sextile Uranus - Pluto She fights to improve her daily life, she is persevering. -24 Square Uranus - Ascendant She is inconstant, lacks control and is nervous. Neptune represents transcendental liberty, non-egoistic liberty. Neptune in Aquarius Generosity, likes to resolve problems in order to satisfy everyone. Neptune in III She has a lot of imagination, high ideals. She is nostalgic. Dry, cold facts are hard for her to absorb, so traditional academics might not appeal. 13 Sextile Neptune - Pluto -5 Square Neptune - Lilith Love dominates her life. She could lose her head over someone to whom there’s an intense attraction, which can become troublesome, because she loses all idea of reality. If she is not loved in return, so what - she will love for the two of them. With time, if the loved one loses patience, she will have difficulty disentangling herself and she can suffer enormously. It’s best to look to a trusted outside source for guidance in vulnerable times. -3 Square Neptune - Ascendant She is very easily influenced and fragile. She suffers disappointments. Pluto represents transformations, mutations and elimination. Pluto in Sagittarius Great aspirations: sexuality and love are idealized. House I is the area of self identity. The ascendant is a symbol of how one acts in life. It is the image of the personality as seen by others, and the attitude that one has towards life. Leo ascendant Scorpio Ascendant in Scorpio Scorpio Ascendant people have a lot of presence. There is something about them that tells the world that they are not to be pushed around. Their manner commands respect, and in some cases, fear. Scorpio rising people can be quiet or loud, but they always seem powerful and determined. You either love or hate Scorpio rising people– they are rarely people who go through life unnoticed. In fact, some of them are confused when faced with the fact that they get such strong reactions from others. They seem to look right through people, seeing through superficiality. This can be quite intimidating to some, and intriguing to others. Scorpio rising people, in their dealings with others, look for answers by reading between the lines. Surface details are discarded when they are getting a feel for people and situations around them. Scorpio rising people value their privacy so much, it can border on paranoia. They have a strong need to control their environment and are experts at strategy. Rarely people who will blow their chances with impatience, they plan out their moves carefully and deliberately, relying on their awesome ability to feel out others and situations. Scorpio rising natives are drawn to down-to-earth, natural partners. Reliability in their partner is very important. They generally look for complete commitment and have little patience with flighty partners. House II is the area of material security and values. It rules money and personal finances, sense of self-worth and basic values, personal possessions. House II in Sagittarius Financial success may come through an import/export company dealing regularly with foreign countries. She may have a laissez-faire attitude towards money. May take risks financially, as making and spending money is seen as an adventure. The house and sign placement of Jupiter can show more clues to where and how money is made. House III is the area of social and intellectual learning. House III in Capricorn Nothing is left to chance, everything is calculated, dissected slowly and methodically, twice rather than once, in peace and quiet by herself. She is introverted, and doesn’t speak about her plans until they are underway. House IV is the area of home, family, roots, and deep emotions/sense of self-worth. House IV in Aquarius She will leave the family home reasonably young. Likes liberty, wants a life that is out-of-the-ordinary, and certainly one that does not correspond with mum and dad’s. House V is the area of creative self-expression, romance, entertainment, children, and gambling. House V in Pisces With lofty feelings, she is full of tenderness, sentimentality. Things do not always go her way. A meeting with a person who is either not free, too young or from a different family or social background means that living together will be done in the utmost secrecy while waiting for the chance to legalize the situation quietly, without any trouble. This state of affairs will make her melancholy. A lovely little family will result from this union. House VI is the area of learning by material transaction. House VI in Aries Ability to command, knows how to take up her responsibilities at work. Weak point: headaches, fevers. House VII is the area of one-to-one relationships such as marriage and partnership, and of social and intellectual action. House VII in Taurus Marries for love but also wants security. A peaceful union even if exchange of ideas isn’t always smooth. House VIII is the area of emotional security and of security of the soul. House VIII in Gemini If she is a writer, a painter or involved in another of the Arts, and if fame doesn’t come when living, then it will come posthumously. Small inheritance from near relations. Take care of the lungs - if a smoker, then it is advisable to stop. House IX is the area of learning that shapes the identity. House IX in Cancer Fertile imagination. She is easily influenced. Likes travel, especially cruises. House X is the area of material action. The Mid-heaven represents the work one will do in his life, the place one will take in the world of society. It becomes more important as one grows older House X in Leo All the leadership qualities are there: authority, sense of organization, initiative, intelligence, but also thanks to outside help. She is a fighter. House XI is the area of search for social and intellectual security. House XI in Virgo Friends must resemble her, anyone having different ideas or ways of doing things cannot be friends. Discussing ideas is not her cup of tea. Her knowledge is the result of study but also of the down-to-earth nature that characterizes her. House XII is the area of education and of emotion. House XII in Libra Marriage doesn’t bring luck, honors come as she imagined they might.

[doubledrivel-blog]

06. Lebron Sauvignon - Rodney Hood Robbed of a Contract - CJ McCollum Off the Bench

Greg: Welcome to another quickie episode of Double Drivel. We are a weekly podcast offering a fan's perspective on the news and issues surrounding the NBA. Thank you for joining us. My name is Greg and I am joined as always by my co-host JT. You can find us on twitter @doubledrivelers or email us @doubledrivelpodcast@gmail.com. JT what up my friend?

JT: Christ Greg, I just want to talk about basketball. I'm tired of talking about fucking Twitter beefs and this bullshit. How long do we have we have?

Greg: A quickie episode worth, and two days of real time. I'm actually fairly excited. I love this stuff. This is why I watch basketball, not just for the exciting athleticism, the suspense, and all the other stuff you get. I love the little beefs, the fights, and all the trash. We are chock-full of that today.

JT: Fights? These fools don't fight Greg.

Greg: We'll get to that later, relax. We have a few little issues to get to, Rodney Hood, Mr. CJ McCollum making some poor decisions, and MJ and LeBron in wine country. We're gonna start with a quick little story about LeBron James. This really gets to my heart. He had a quote this week that shined a little light on himself. What was that quote JT?

Greg: Here's a quote from our man LeBron, “I'm not turning on data roaming. I'm not buying no apps. I still got Pandora with commercials.” and quote.

Greg: How great is that? I personally love that. How do you feel?

JT: It's confusing to me man. It's funny to me how you can be so particular about penny-pinching in certain areas, but then in other areas have no problem spending money.

Greg: I can understand that not turning on data roaming. That's insane to just jump on any carrier. You never know who you're gonna end up on. I like that he doesn't like to waste his money. That makes me happy. Not buying apps, it pains me to say, but I can't remember the last time I bought an app. Especially an app that cost more than a dollar. I'm a sucker for a free app, or at worst a dollar. I don't like spending that. The $2 app I'm gonna hem and haw, and I'm gonna go back and forth. If it's $5, it might as well be five million. I'm not buying that app, it's just not gonna happen. I can understand where he's coming from. Pandora with commercials, he's probably on half of them and has to endorse them. He makes so much money off of commercials. He has to endorse the experience of listening to something with commercials like he has to act like he rides in a Kia and enjoys it.

JT: I can't see LeBron in a Kia IRL.

Greg: They got that huge Kia though so, maybe.

JT: One thing that LeBron seems to have no problem paying top dollar for is his beverage of choice.

Greg: Oh you have some inside info on Mr. James, and his, I don't even know what it is, like a merlot? Is that a red wine?

JT: Merlot is a red wine.

Greg: Oh yea, look at me. I got a bottle of Gatorade in my hand talking about some Merlot.

JT: This is not secret stuff. This took me just a minute or two on the old Google machine to find. People have compiled all the wines that Mr. James has tasted and enjoyed. and posted pictures of the bottles and labels on his Instagram over the years. And I tell you my friend, Mr. James, he's got an affinity for the upper echelon of cabernet sauvignon of the Napa Valley region of Northern California.

Greg: He spoke out on Twitter this week about the fires that are going on, something that you know a lot about. He spoke out in support of the Sonoma area and the Napa region.

JT: LeBron frequents the area during his offseason. He has a taste for a certain variety of wine that is very popular in the Napa Valley. May I throw some numbers at you Greg?

Greg: Oh please do.

JT: LeBron, who's not really willing to shell out a dollar or two for an independent developer who probably worked his tail off to buy or to create an app or game, has no problem paying-

Greg: I'm sure he doesn't pay.

JT: He likes a certain wine called Opus One Proprietary Red, and the cost for the public Greg comes in around $350 a bottle. Another one he enjoys, Staglin Family Vineyard’s Booth Bella Oaks is about $400 a bottle Greg.

Greg: Hm, yes, unquark one of those for me to.

JT: I've had the opportunity to drop in the Opus One winery on Highway 128 in the Napa Valley. At any other winery Greg, a tasting costs five, ten, dollars. At Opus, $180 to $120 Greg, just for tasting. Just to let my lips touch the bottle. So if we're gonna be conservative with our money Mr. James, perhaps we stay out of Opus One. Staglin’s not cheap either my friend.

Greg: That's why you have money. If you're not drinking expensive wine then you're not doing it right. He does all the other stuff right. He's got nice houses, nice cars, and an insane medical staff. You’ve got to drink the expensive wine, that's just part of the game. There's no other reason to be rich. It's one of the one of the top reasons. It's something you have to do. I support it.

JT: I feel no ill will towards our friend LeBron. We both love him very much, and I appreciate him bringing attention to the food and wine industry and in particular the region in Northern California affected by the fires. he is good people and we love him.

Greg: I saw some growers on the news and they said the best thing you can do is continue to buy our wine, continue to come and visit. It's not the end of the world. It's just some fires. Things will be rebuilt. Don't be scared away. Tourism is a big deal. Get out there.

There's no real way to transition, so I'll just go into it. CJ McCollum is going to be suspended for the first game of the season. It's for a stupid rule, but he was also stupid to violate it. It's a rule that's been instituted for a few years now. It's about leaving the bench when there is a fight. I'm gonna turn this over to JT because you were watching this as though it were your final for some sort of class. I've never seen you go over a video this much just try to figure out what exactly was going through his head. I'll let you explain JT, please take it away.

JT: When a scuffle takes place on the floor during active play players that are not currently playing, ie on the bench, may not leave the bench. You're not allowed to do it. In this instance Caleb Swanigan and Alex Len, two big men, positioning down low for a rebound. They got tangled up. A little shove here, a little shove there. This wasn't that serious of a scuffle as far as NBA scuffles go. None of these motherfuckers are trying to fight each other okay? No one's tried to fight in the NBA in like 20 years okay?

Greg: Bill Laimbeer was the last guy that was getting pissy or throwing fists. There hasn't been a lot since then.

JT: You're not trying to fight each other. Everyone should just shut this shit down because it's so stupid. These guys get mixed up, and then CJ McCollum takes four steps onto the floor. He doesn't touch anyone. Then one of the Blazers trainers or medical staff, some suited individual, comes and pushes it off. That gets you 86 for a game. He's gonna miss the first game of the season for taking four steps on the floor, doing nothing, and getting pushed off.

Greg: My only contention is it's not a new rule. It's probably been a rule close to as long as he's been in the league. I can't say that I feel bad for the guy.

JT: I can. This is so stupid. Especially because in the West, the Blazers are positioned similarly to the Jazz as far as projections go. They're both looking at competing for the final playoff spot. Every game matters. You're looking to win every single game. You need your best players available who aren't injured, and you're taking yourself out of the game for nothing. You didn't even get a chance to intimidate someone. You didn't get to send a message for next time these guys are in town you’re going to remember this. I think CJ just kind of forgot what he was supposed to do in this situation. He just let instinct take over.

Greg: You can't let a game go in the West. He's giving a game away.

JT:This is really taking it under a microscope, but at the very least you’re teammates are gonna have to play harder. If you look at the whole season maybe that takes a toll. Maybe that has an effect somewhere down the line. It's just so dumb.

Greg: It's actually pretty funny. Their first game of the season is verse the Phoenix Suns, who this whole incident occurred against.

JT: Advantage Suns, I have to say.

Greg: They gave up a nobody player. No one got suspended from that right, the two guys that were actually in the scuffle just got technicals? CJ was the only one that was actually dumb enough to go on the court. That's too bad.

JT: I've had the pleasure, the displeasure, of seeing Damian Lillard play opening day two years ago.

Greg: Oh, Dame D.O.L.L.A got them beats!

JT: He smoked the Jazz. He came out just 100% ready to go. Maybe Lillard is on point for game one and makes it no big deal. He could be dropping dimes everywhere. He's nasty Gregg.

Greg: He's a guy that's missed the all-star team a couple years because of various things. I think he may have made it last year. I know on his contract year, I think it was two years ago, he didn't make it. That was a big deal. He didn't expect to not make it. He was on the cover of the video game NBA 2k that year. To make that all-star team in the West, very tough in the West. Certainly not the East. It is so tough in the West because of something that people call super teams. A super team is some team with a lot of superstars. I don't consider the Warriors a super team.

JT: What the fuck?

Greg: Before Kevin Durant they were still winning. I guess now that they have Durant they are a super team. Fine, I'll take that back. The Warriors are a super team now. Previous to that they built their team. They did it the right way. That's how you're supposed to do it. Buying Durant was just a ridiculous cherry on the top of it all. There's a lot of teams in the league who are just building out the way of super teams. One person who does not like this is Michael Jordan of all people. Michael Jordan is an owner in the league. He is an owner of my favorite team, the Charlotte Hornets. His quote kind of worries me. He said with super teams you end up with 28 teams that are garbage and two that are good. That makes me think he's not talking about the Hornets as one of those two good teams. If even he knows his team is garbage how does that make me feel? I'm rooting for these guys every single night. He's not gonna lie. It concerns me that even the other owners know that they're up against very difficult odds.

JT: Not the best way to pump your people up man. Give us some fluff. Sell it a little bit.

Greg: He could say it just means we have to work harder to beat these supposed super teams, anything is possible, or me and Scottie weren't a super team. He could say other things. We needed Rodman to win. It's just too bad. He's probably right, but it makes me feel bad about my team and I don't like that.

All right well that's about it for today's episode. What'd you think JT?

JT: Greg can't we talk about my man Rodney Hood?

Greg: I tried to skip it. I did all I could to skip it. We can certainly talk about Rodney Hood. We're gonna end on some news-

JT: Greg he’s my man! Tell me your beef with my man!

Greg: I don't think he's good. You know what, fine, let's talk about this. It makes sense to talk about. Please continue. What are we talking about with Rodney Hood?

JT: S Jazz fans are hoping that Rodney Hood and jazz brass would come to a contract extension agreement before the season began or at the deadline, which was yesterday.

Greg: He wants his playoff performance to be the last thing in their mind before he signs some sort of contract or does negotiations?

JT: That's not a great way to phrase it. These guys get their rookie deal as soon as they get drafted. That lasts three years. Then they get their next deal wherever so you're not a rookie anymore.

Greg: You're not a rookie anymore, you're a man! You're in the league, and now that your man in the league, that's the kind of performance that you put on for us in the playoffs.

JT: I don't know why you have to keep phrasing it that way. It’s like, we have to do this next deal, and can we agree on it or or do you want to not agree on something? Then it goes to restricted free agency and he can shop around and hear what other teams have to say. Jazz aren't gonna lock him up where it gets to that stage. They're gonna let him play a little bit of basketball, see how he looks, and then shop his value around. It could work out fine for everyone, but depending on the individual it can leave a bitter taste in your mouth if he team you're playing for didn't want to settle up with you right away, worry about other shit, and want to see you perform more. You know I love Rodney Hood. It's all gonna work out great. He's gonna win Most Improved Player of the Year this year. It's not gonna be a big deal.

Greg: Mr. Hood woke up and realized that he didn't get this contract extension because of that sour taste he left in their mouth at the end of the playoffs last year. I bet you they gave him the chance. Now that that trader named Gordon Hayward is gone he's gonna have new opportunities. He's gonna have a whole new chance to prove himself. Maybe they're gonna give him the opportunity because they're very good about that in Utah. They're very giving there. They will give you the chance. We'll see if he takes advantage of it. If he has a performance like he did, and continues to play that way, then they made the right decision. I would not have resigned him either. I wonder who would be itching to get their hands on Rodney Hood. I wonder who the GM's are they're sitting around with him up on the big board. They got Rodney Hood penciled up as number one, like “f my man Rodney becomes available we're gonna make some moves. We're gonna make it happen to get Rodney Hood in a Magic uniform. What it’s gonna take to get you in Orlando Mr. Hood? I don't think so.

JT: You're a Hood hater. That's nice I see it and I recognize it, and that's alright. You'll see.

Greg: I must say, I was impressed with the Jazz in the final or the finals.

JT: Oh my god, last year verse the Warriors in the playoffs?

Greg: They played very hard. You can tell they’re a good team. They're coached well. If they had a better player where Rodney Hood’s spot was they could have made a little bit of a difference. He definitely let them down when the lights were the brightest and it mattered the most.

JT: So did a lot of other teams playing the Warriors. They wiped the floor with everybody last year. There's not a fucking mouthwash strong enough to clean your whore mouth Greg.

Greg: It's just true. I can't help it. You're not gonna beat the Warriors with players like him. I'd hate to take the gloves off on Rodney Hood of all people. You're not beating the Warriors with subpar players. You're not beating them with bullshit. The best player since Michael Jordan can't beat them. It's not about the players it's the supporting cast. He is not part of a supporting cast. That's troubling because somebody needs to beat them, and God forbid it be the Rockets. I hope it's Oklahoma City or somebody.

JT: You remember all this next time you want to skip a talk on my man Rodney Hood.

Greg: This is a great little great chat we had about Rodney Hood, you and I enjoyed it. We'll be back next week for opening night. In the meantime, follow us on Twitter @doubledrivelers, and you can email us at doubledrivelpodcast@gmail.com. Subscribe to the show on iTunes, podbean, or Google Play. We are also on Instagram so check us out. Until Tuesday, see you on the Internet.

[sundaymomma-ing]

This is the day. Ten years ago on this very day I became a mother. I remember so many details from this child coming into the world. I’d love to share them all here and regale you all with the details of her birth story, but I won’t. I realize that, apart from select circles of women, sharing birth stories is like sharing vacation photos. As you can imagine, I have been reflecting on the birth of my girl. I’ve been trying to figure out how much I’ve changed over the past ten years. I wonder this morning, if 28-year-old-me would recognize now-me?

It is safe to say that I did not navigate the first ten years of mothering only to get to this place unchanged. I not only mothered my baby girl, but when she was only a year and a half old our lives were changed forever. With that change came two children that I’ve had the privilege to take part in raising. Two kids who were barely 10 and 13 when my baby was not yet two. That alone has changed me more than I knew was possible. We’ve made two more babies and a home and a life in these years and when I look back I see only good.

So in all of this, what are my take-aways from ten years of mothering kids at every stage? I made a list and I think it’s the best way to share where I’m at mentally after all this time. First off; Things I learned from labor:

In the labor and delivery room as well as in life you must advocate for yourself. Everyone else in that room, and in life, believes that they know all of the things and that they have the best for you and your child in mind. When in actuality, only you know yourself, there is no one in this world who will have to deal with your decisions or their consequences more greatly than you. And so you must tell people what you know to be best for you. You must speak actual words and put all of your belief behind them. You can not, should not, allow others to make your choices. Not in labor and not in life.

You’ll throw up a lot. Okay, so maybe I knew this before labor, but the message was really driven home in the hours preceding the births of my children. When I was first in labor I had no idea that I would vomit, no one told me this was a possibility. This seems to be the story of my life! I had no idea that so many things were even possible for me when I was young, no one told me and so I believed my small world was all there was. Had someone just spoken a few well timed words to me, my life would have been filled with different experiences. This lesson is more that life is messy, there is sadness, and brokenness that must be lived through. It’s also a reminder to me to tell someone else that while life is full of hard things, they were made to do this exact hard thing! And then do it with them, because the people who hold your hair back, they are keepers.

You are stronger than you know. Laboring to bring a child into this world is easily the most difficult yet empowering thing that I’ve ever done. In delivering my babies I learned that I am capable, I have strength. Truly. In being a mother I’ve learned that mothering will open your eyes to how you don’t stop delivering your children. It’s not a single act. I feel like the strength found in me while laboring to bring babies earth-side sustains me through the early years. How else can one explain being able to mother (sorta) well on weeks of minimal sleep because a preschooler refuses rest?

Stubbornness is, like, a really good thing. During labor my stubbornness really came out. I wanted my babies to be birthed a certain way and I was determined to make that happen, regardless of how difficult it was. I can see how this stubbornness is all encompassing. It allows you to stand on your soapbox even when no one is listening. How you’ll press through all of the really hard years. How you will keep giving your best when you feel there is no more to give. Being stubborn, determined, strong-willed has carried me through the past ten years. I don’t doubt that it will serve me well in the years of mothering I have ahead of me.

The things I’ve learned from being a mom are no less meaningful. Jumping in at the midpoint of a child’s life is not easy, but it is educational. Homeschooling littles has its own way of teaching the teacher. The lessons from the last ten years could fill a book, and perhaps one day they will. Here are the most apparent to me as I look back.

Nothing goes as planned. Not one, teeny, tiny, microscopic thing. Every time I feel I have something figured out, that thing will flip inside out and I’ll be lost again. Babies sleep, you fall exhausted to your cozy bed, the babe wakes. Littles play sweetly together, you swap the laundry, littles are bashing each other with their toys. A teenager texts to get your opinion on a moral issue she’s facing, you cautiously reply, she does not speak to you for the next three days. I don’t get it, but I do understand that I will not “get it” and that it’s okay. One day, when I feel like everything is figured out, my children will likely all be grown. Change is the constant in mothering and I suppose out there in “real life” as well. Learning to live through all of the change and chaos makes me a stronger person.

Time is sketchy. You’ve heard it; “The days are long, but the years are short.” Sometimes a week with my children lasts 4,768 hours. Yet, as I look back at specific events that have happened over the last decade, some of them seem to have happened moments ago. How is this possible? There is only one reasonable explanation, time does not move in a straight line, it flows much more like a river. I believe this firmly, it’s a theory that you will not convince me to abandon. There is no other possible reason why four weeks of my tiny sleeping fitfully seems to have lasted more like four years, but I can recall holding her just-born self in my arms (what feels like) just this morning! If nothing else, I have learned that the time is fleeting and I can not cause it to be still during the good or hurry through the hard.

Lessons must be encountered repeatedly to be learned. My children have taught me this, I feel like every time we are working on a difficult life lesson, I have to be reminded that they will need to be told this same thing a minimum of 76 times before the lesson sticks. Human children don’t seem to be able to master a concept until they have come across it multiple times and I have not yet been able to remember this either. In my mothering I am constantly reminded that I’ll be doing this again, whatever “this” may be. I read somewhere, more than once, that the things we most struggle to learn will continue to circle back to us as our struggles. Once we have learned what we need, a new challenge will present itself, but not until we are ready for it.

Stubbornness is, like, not a good thing at all. I know what I said before, but I was wrong! At least it’s not good when you mother many stubborn people who would sooner walk barefoot through the snow than put on their own shoes. When you have strong-willed children-and you don’t want to break them, you have to allow yourself to be broken a bit. This is hard, maybe harder than giving birth. Allowing your people to listen to their own internal voice, to follow what is right for them, to not give them the answers…this might just break me a lot. Some days I want to scream, some days I do. There are days though when I see that they are becoming, growing into themselves, exploring the bigger versions of who they are now, those brief glimpses make the tears worth it.

  Finally the things I’ve learned about myself as I look back over the past ten years. These are things I’ve written about; I need white space; quiet, to be well. Seeking after God is the best choice, one that I make every day. Sometimes you just need to get your hands dirty, or; why gardening is awesome. The things that you bury deep will continue to call to you. So many more. I think that the person I was ten years ago would be proud to be the person I am now. While I’ve lived through the yuck, I’ve learned a lot and knowledge is not wasted on those who will listen.

A last thought if you’ll indulge me a few more words. With a large, blended together family things are not easy. We know that we have introduced a lot of the hard into our days, there is no need to tell us. The best things have also come through this joining of people. Last night we had birthday dinner. My big kids were home, we all took time. We sat together, deliberately. We avoided our smart phones, we laughed, we talked, we ate. This is the best lesson for me, one that I never thought I’d want or need. Bringing my people together is what brings me the absolute most joy. I pray that my kids will continue to come to my table as they grow and change and become, I pray it nearly every day. Family dinner can make all of the hard seem less than, it can bring some peace. And any peace found while mothering is a blessed relief and a true joy.

    Ten This is the day. Ten years ago on this very day I became a mother. I remember so many details from this child coming into the world.

[simmonssheilaas]

How To Eat For Healthy Teeth and To Prevent Tooth Decay

How To Eat To Prevent Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is an infection of the tooth. Your teeth are the hardest things in the human body and yet tooth decay can turn your tooth to soft squidgy mush.

We are told tooth decay is caused by eating too much sugar that feeds the decay bacteria in your mouth making them produce bacteria that dissolves your tooth enamel and then the insides of your tooth.

Part of how susceptible you are to this process depends on how well the tooth protein scaffolding and matrix developed and was calcified into a hard crystalline structure.

Tooth decay occurs when tooth brushing and flossing is inadequate. Brushing and flossing physically remove the bacteria form your teeth known as plaque. This means we are responsible for controlling the environment in the mouth and preventing tooth decay.

But tooth decay is not this simplistic as there is more to it than brush, floss and don’t eat sugar. There are other factors that contribute to tooth decay.

Dentinal Fluid Flow and What Causes Tooth Decay

One aspect is the flow of fluid in your teeth.  A healthy tooth is like a closed high pressure system and during experiments in the 1960’s conducted by Dr Ralph Steinman of Loma Linda School of dentistry it was found that the fluid or lymph (like that that flows in your lymphatic system) inside the tooth from the pulp chamber, or the inner part of the tooth that contains your blood supply and nerves, migrated under pressure to the outside of the tooth. So there is a flow of fluid coming in through the tip of the tooth root, and passing inside the tooth to the surface like sweat coming through the skin. This fluid comes out of the tooth where it is attached to the ligament in your mouth that holds it in place in your jawbone.

As long as there is a positive fluid pressure from the inside to the outside bacteria from the mouth cannot enter and live in the microscopic tubes in the tooth.

However, during those experiments it was discovered that when you eat sugar this fluid pump is reversed and begins to act like a suction pump allowing bacteria to enter and drawing them into the tooth.

This mechanism is under the control of a parotid hormone in the salivary glands, which is the gatekeeper for the direction of flow of fluid in the teeth. This is called the dentinal fluid flow theory of decay.

What You Eat Affects Your Gut and Immune System

What you eat not only affects your teeth and the fluid flow; it also affects your gut and the bacteria that live in it. The majority of bacteria in our mouth and gut are good bacteria that are designed to work with our body, support the immune system and defend us from bad harmful bacteria and microorganisms like yeasts.

If we feed our bacteria the wrong foods the harmful bad bacteria will overgrow causing inflammation and poor immune response, and damage to the gut wall allowing partially digested food and toxins to escape from the gut and into the body. This is known as leaky gut syndrome.

Sugar Upsets Your Gut Bacteria

When you gut is not right, you are not right. For your teeth and gut to be healthy the most important thing is to avoid sugar in all its forms so as not to reverse that fluid pump in your teeth and draw tooth decay causing bacteria into your teeth. 

Sugar and processed grains and refined foods disturb the balance of your healthy bacteria, are pro-inflammatory (they cause inflammation) and weaken your immune response. They will also increase your tenancy toward insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and obesity, which are all factors in diabetes, poor cardiovascular health, increased risk of dementia and cancers. 

How To Eat For Healthy Teeth and To Prevent Tooth Decay

Now I’m going to give you an overview of what eating for health looks like, this is not about controlling calories or trying to loose weight but about providing optimal nutrition to your body with a diet that is nourishing, satiating and anti-inflammatory. By eating the way nature intended you keep your blood sugars, weight and bacteria in check without the effort of dieting or extreme exercise.

Eat as close to nature as you can, include a wide variety of vegetables especially the leafy greens. Have a rainbow on your plate eat foods that have a range of colours on your plate. Not only do they contain antioxidants and great nutrients they look appetizing and that stimulates our body ready for the digestive process. Your mouth and your teeth are the first step in digestion as they break down the food and introduce digestive enzymes before the food gets swallowed and hits your stomach.

When we eat we need to feed our brain although it is only 2-3 percent of body weight it consumes around 25 percent of our energy. Interestingly our gut is called the second brain as it contains a huge complex of nerve endings that signal our brain more than it signals the gut. This is called the gut-brain connection and we are feeding it directly when we eat. We are also feeding the bacteria and microorganisms that reside in our gut before we feed ourselves.

Eat Alkaline, Primitive and Colourful

I’m not going to go into all the different myriads of diet types that are out there but give you an overview of some principles to apply to your food choices. 

This simplest way to think about this is to eat foods that are primitive (as nature intended), alkaline, colourful and where you can organic.

These principles will help to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many more illnesses. They will help you maintain a healthy weight to feel vibrant and alive well into old age.

Eating primitive means eating less processed and packaged foods and snacks like potato chips and sweets. It means eating more food that comes straight from the farm to the table. It’s about eating real food not manufactured and manmade. So this includes meats, fish, vegetables and seasonal fruit.

Eating alkaline means keeping a good balance between acidic foods which are animal based foods and alkaline or plant based foods. We are designed to be alkaline with the pH inside our cells at about 7.3-7.5. Consuming alkaline foods reduces inflammation in your blood and your body. 

Tooth decay occurs in an acidic environment and if your body and saliva are not kept alkaline enough your teeth will rot. Foods that contain lots of minerals like calcium and magnesium will help alkalise your body and your mouth so don’t skimp on those green leafy veg and nuts and seeds. 

Eating colourful means choosing foods that are naturally green, red, yellow, orange and purple for at least 6 servings a day. This provides important minerals, vitamins and antioxidants for your body without you resorting to supplements. They also provide fiber, which is essential for good gut health. You need vitamin A, C and E from your vegetables for healthy teeth and gums.

Eating organic foods means avoiding pesticides and toxins and GMO foods. Research has shown that our bodies do not know how to process or cope with these substances. For example we now have wheat that has been developed for fast growth and to be insect and pest resistant but because of that it now contains mega quantities of gluten which we are not designed to deal with in our guts and hence one of the reasons we are seeing the huge increase in people with gluten intolerance.

How To Change Your Eating Habits The Easy Way

The easiest way to change your eating habits is to shop and buy foods only from the perimeter of the supermarket or food stores as this is where the majority of fresh produce is. Avoid those middle aisles where all the processed foods are in packets, boxes and cans.

Don’t Forget Your Minerals

What else do you need to eat for healthy teeth; you need fat-soluble vitamins A and K2, plus vitamin D and calcium.

Calcium is best obtained from your diet and not in the form of supplements as these cannot replace the lack of calcium in your diet because they actually contain the wrong form of calcium to be utilised and absorbed correctly by the body. In fact there are schools of though that say we are having too much calcium in our food and that this is resulting in illness. And drinking milk is not the source of calcium we think it is because the calcium in it is not readily absorbed into the body, as it is actually insoluble.

The best way to get the calcium your teeth and bones need is to eat lots of green vegetables like kale, broccoli, bok choy and Asian greens. Proteins such as sardines, salmon and almonds are also great sources of calcium and so are figs and oranges when they are in season.

Now the key to optimal nutrition and being able to utilise these foods with their abundance of nutrients is that our digestion needs to be firing on all cylinders.

Digestion, Saliva, Teeth and Chewing Well

Digestion begins in the mouth, so what we put in our mouth and the health of our mouth affects how our food is digested. Remember that your immune system relies on you having a healthy gut. 70 percent of your immune system function develops in your gut, and your mouth is the beginning of your gut.

The enzymes in saliva begin the process of digestion by breaking down starches and wetting your food to make it moist. Your teeth chew the food to break it down so there is more surface area for your digestive enzymes in your stomach and intestines to work on. Chewing also releases products that boost our immune system response. When you teeth are damaged, missing or you have a poor misaligned bite it effects how well you can digest your food because you can’t chew properly and your food doesn’t get adequately broken down. The same is true if you wolf your food and don’t chew it enough. When you lose teeth your bite drifts and shifts and because of this the remaining teeth just aren’t as efficient.

Yes we can live without teeth but it comes at a price. You get fewer nutrients that are readily available for your gut to absorb because you can’t chew and break your food down effectively in the mouth.

Chewing also signals your nervous and hormonal systems, instructing the liver to produce bile and your stomach to produce acid both are which are needed to break down and absorb the goodness from your diet.

You can optimise digestion by limiting or excluding drinking fluids while you eat so as to not dilute your stomach acids. You need to adequately chew your food to mix in your saliva and turn the food into a slushy paste that is easily swallowed and more able to be digested. Stomach acids further break down the slushy food and allow it to be processed and absorbed through the small intestine.

Drinking while eating can interfere with the levels and activity of stomach acid and bile. Bile emulsifies the fats in our diet. And just a point of note here eating fats do not make you fat – you need fats to survive and to be able to absorb and transport fat soluble vitamins. Low fat diets can actually contribute to illness.

Drinking fluids while eating slows your digestive processes down, allowing for the build up of toxic waste even if you are having a really healthy diet. It’s recommended to drink water more than 30 minutes before and after you eat to help your digestion.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome is a condition where you intestines become more permeable; the cells that line the intestinal wall aren’t joined together well. This allows larger molecules of undigested food and toxic substances to leak into your blood stream. These trigger your white blood cells to multiple to fight what they perceive to be an infection in your blood. This ramps up and stresses your immune system to the point where it becomes exhausted and is not able to fight other types of infections.

It puts your entire body into a perpetual fight or flight mode, which stresses all your vital organs. 

This can be avoided by having sound healthy teeth and gums with a balance of chewing forces so that the foods are chewed well and mixed properly with saliva for optimal use in the body. It is also important to have a good flow of quality saliva to support this and unfortunately due to excess inflammation or if we are on certain types of medication like anti-depressants the saliva flow and quality is compromised. This can be combated with saliva stimulating products to protect the teeth from being more prone to decay and also to support your digestive processes.

Gluten and Gut Inflammation

One of the main causes of gut inflammation for many people is gluten. Gluten causes your gut cells to release a protein zonulin that breaks apart the cell junctions of the intestinal lining causing inflammation.

Infections, stress, age and a build up of toxins can also cause these tight cell junctions to break apart and cause leaky gut.

Toxins

Toxins are a big problem and removing them from your system is a good way to rebalance your body. Your body becomes weaker as it encounters molecules it wasn’t designed to handle. These molecules include toxins you eat in your food like steroids, antibiotics, hormones and GMOs.

We are exposed to toxins in the environment that are locked into are body like arsenic, lead, mercury, aldehydes, carbon dioxide and airbourne particles.

Removing toxins from your bloodstream especially heavy metals can be done through a process known as chelation. A chelate is a chemical compound that contains at least one metal ion attached to two nonmetal ones. It’s a natural process that removes the metal toxins from your system. Your body is designed to both produce toxins as byproducts of cell metabolism and also the chelates needed to mop them up. But if there are too many toxins or the innate mechanisms of detoxification are not working well then extra help in the form of chelation is needed.

There are products like zeolites that can be used to help remove and shift mercury for example, as using these can cause an array of challenging systemic symptoms I advise you seek the services of a skilled practitioner to support and direct your detoxification and chelation program.

As I mentioned early we have what is considered to be a second brain in our gut that is created by the massive volume of bacteria that live there and also a vast network of nerve cells. The bacteria are called are human microbiome – a sophisticated and helpful population of bacteria that communicates with our body and vice-versa via the millions of nerves and neurons in our gut which help control muscle movement and the secretion of hormones and enzymes. 

The microbiome is also present in the mouth since it is the start point of the gut. This microbiome is so intertwined with our existence and wellbeing it is no wonder it has been stated that our health begins in the gut.

Acid Alkaline Balance For Healthy Bacteria

To sustain healthy gut bacteria (and that includes the ones in the mouth) we need to balance the pH of our system. When there is a pH imbalance the microbiome goes out of balance and can lead to an overgrowth of Candida, a yeast that is responsible for bloating and a whole host of symptoms associated with leaky gut.

In the mouth this pH imbalance allows bad bacteria to take over which results in tooth decay and gum disease.

Imbalances occur when we don’t properly chew our food, drink too much fluid with our meals, eat the wrong foods like processed refined grains, gluten, sugar, coffee or alcohol. Antibiotics will also destroy our gut bacteria. The imbalance in pH robs the body of vital nutrients like minerals need for our body to function.

One of the paths to health is to eat to restore and retain the balance of our intestinal bacteria. This process can also be supported by the use of probiotics.

There is a fine balance between what we eat, our health and the prevention of disease and dental decay. By addressing our eating and reducing toxins we can go a long way to living a vital energised life and having less dental decay and gum disease.

It’s simply a choice to shift away from our modern unhealthy processed diet back to one that nature intended.

To prevent tooth decay and gum disease it is essential to have regular dental checks, call us now to book an appointment 07 3720 1811

[turce1985]

How To Eat For Healthy Teeth and To Prevent Tooth Decay

How To Eat To Prevent Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is an infection of the tooth. Your teeth are the hardest things in the human body and yet tooth decay can turn your tooth to soft squidgy mush.

We are told tooth decay is caused by eating too much sugar that feeds the decay bacteria in your mouth making them produce bacteria that dissolves your tooth enamel and then the insides of your tooth.

Part of how susceptible you are to this process depends on how well the tooth protein scaffolding and matrix developed and was calcified into a hard crystalline structure.

Tooth decay occurs when tooth brushing and flossing is inadequate. Brushing and flossing physically remove the bacteria form your teeth known as plaque. This means we are responsible for controlling the environment in the mouth and preventing tooth decay.

But tooth decay is not this simplistic as there is more to it than brush, floss and don’t eat sugar. There are other factors that contribute to tooth decay.

Dentinal Fluid Flow and What Causes Tooth Decay

One aspect is the flow of fluid in your teeth.  A healthy tooth is like a closed high pressure system and during experiments in the 1960’s conducted by Dr Ralph Steinman of Loma Linda School of dentistry it was found that the fluid or lymph (like that that flows in your lymphatic system) inside the tooth from the pulp chamber, or the inner part of the tooth that contains your blood supply and nerves, migrated under pressure to the outside of the tooth. So there is a flow of fluid coming in through the tip of the tooth root, and passing inside the tooth to the surface like sweat coming through the skin. This fluid comes out of the tooth where it is attached to the ligament in your mouth that holds it in place in your jawbone.

As long as there is a positive fluid pressure from the inside to the outside bacteria from the mouth cannot enter and live in the microscopic tubes in the tooth.

However, during those experiments it was discovered that when you eat sugar this fluid pump is reversed and begins to act like a suction pump allowing bacteria to enter and drawing them into the tooth.

This mechanism is under the control of a parotid hormone in the salivary glands, which is the gatekeeper for the direction of flow of fluid in the teeth. This is called the dentinal fluid flow theory of decay.

What You Eat Affects Your Gut and Immune System

What you eat not only affects your teeth and the fluid flow; it also affects your gut and the bacteria that live in it. The majority of bacteria in our mouth and gut are good bacteria that are designed to work with our body, support the immune system and defend us from bad harmful bacteria and microorganisms like yeasts.

If we feed our bacteria the wrong foods the harmful bad bacteria will overgrow causing inflammation and poor immune response, and damage to the gut wall allowing partially digested food and toxins to escape from the gut and into the body. This is known as leaky gut syndrome.

Sugar Upsets Your Gut Bacteria

When you gut is not right, you are not right. For your teeth and gut to be healthy the most important thing is to avoid sugar in all its forms so as not to reverse that fluid pump in your teeth and draw tooth decay causing bacteria into your teeth. 

Sugar and processed grains and refined foods disturb the balance of your healthy bacteria, are pro-inflammatory (they cause inflammation) and weaken your immune response. They will also increase your tenancy toward insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and obesity, which are all factors in diabetes, poor cardiovascular health, increased risk of dementia and cancers. 

How To Eat For Healthy Teeth and To Prevent Tooth Decay

Now I’m going to give you an overview of what eating for health looks like, this is not about controlling calories or trying to loose weight but about providing optimal nutrition to your body with a diet that is nourishing, satiating and anti-inflammatory. By eating the way nature intended you keep your blood sugars, weight and bacteria in check without the effort of dieting or extreme exercise.

Eat as close to nature as you can, include a wide variety of vegetables especially the leafy greens. Have a rainbow on your plate eat foods that have a range of colours on your plate. Not only do they contain antioxidants and great nutrients they look appetizing and that stimulates our body ready for the digestive process. Your mouth and your teeth are the first step in digestion as they break down the food and introduce digestive enzymes before the food gets swallowed and hits your stomach.

When we eat we need to feed our brain although it is only 2-3 percent of body weight it consumes around 25 percent of our energy. Interestingly our gut is called the second brain as it contains a huge complex of nerve endings that signal our brain more than it signals the gut. This is called the gut-brain connection and we are feeding it directly when we eat. We are also feeding the bacteria and microorganisms that reside in our gut before we feed ourselves.

Eat Alkaline, Primitive and Colourful

I’m not going to go into all the different myriads of diet types that are out there but give you an overview of some principles to apply to your food choices. 

This simplest way to think about this is to eat foods that are primitive (as nature intended), alkaline, colourful and where you can organic.

These principles will help to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many more illnesses. They will help you maintain a healthy weight to feel vibrant and alive well into old age.

Eating primitive means eating less processed and packaged foods and snacks like potato chips and sweets. It means eating more food that comes straight from the farm to the table. It’s about eating real food not manufactured and manmade. So this includes meats, fish, vegetables and seasonal fruit.

Eating alkaline means keeping a good balance between acidic foods which are animal based foods and alkaline or plant based foods. We are designed to be alkaline with the pH inside our cells at about 7.3-7.5. Consuming alkaline foods reduces inflammation in your blood and your body. 

Tooth decay occurs in an acidic environment and if your body and saliva are not kept alkaline enough your teeth will rot. Foods that contain lots of minerals like calcium and magnesium will help alkalise your body and your mouth so don’t skimp on those green leafy veg and nuts and seeds. 

Eating colourful means choosing foods that are naturally green, red, yellow, orange and purple for at least 6 servings a day. This provides important minerals, vitamins and antioxidants for your body without you resorting to supplements. They also provide fiber, which is essential for good gut health. You need vitamin A, C and E from your vegetables for healthy teeth and gums.

Eating organic foods means avoiding pesticides and toxins and GMO foods. Research has shown that our bodies do not know how to process or cope with these substances. For example we now have wheat that has been developed for fast growth and to be insect and pest resistant but because of that it now contains mega quantities of gluten which we are not designed to deal with in our guts and hence one of the reasons we are seeing the huge increase in people with gluten intolerance.

How To Change Your Eating Habits The Easy Way

The easiest way to change your eating habits is to shop and buy foods only from the perimeter of the supermarket or food stores as this is where the majority of fresh produce is. Avoid those middle aisles where all the processed foods are in packets, boxes and cans.

Don’t Forget Your Minerals

What else do you need to eat for healthy teeth; you need fat-soluble vitamins A and K2, plus vitamin D and calcium.

Calcium is best obtained from your diet and not in the form of supplements as these cannot replace the lack of calcium in your diet because they actually contain the wrong form of calcium to be utilised and absorbed correctly by the body. In fact there are schools of though that say we are having too much calcium in our food and that this is resulting in illness. And drinking milk is not the source of calcium we think it is because the calcium in it is not readily absorbed into the body, as it is actually insoluble.

The best way to get the calcium your teeth and bones need is to eat lots of green vegetables like kale, broccoli, bok choy and Asian greens. Proteins such as sardines, salmon and almonds are also great sources of calcium and so are figs and oranges when they are in season.

Now the key to optimal nutrition and being able to utilise these foods with their abundance of nutrients is that our digestion needs to be firing on all cylinders.

Digestion, Saliva, Teeth and Chewing Well

Digestion begins in the mouth, so what we put in our mouth and the health of our mouth affects how our food is digested. Remember that your immune system relies on you having a healthy gut. 70 percent of your immune system function develops in your gut, and your mouth is the beginning of your gut.

The enzymes in saliva begin the process of digestion by breaking down starches and wetting your food to make it moist. Your teeth chew the food to break it down so there is more surface area for your digestive enzymes in your stomach and intestines to work on. Chewing also releases products that boost our immune system response. When you teeth are damaged, missing or you have a poor misaligned bite it effects how well you can digest your food because you can’t chew properly and your food doesn’t get adequately broken down. The same is true if you wolf your food and don’t chew it enough. When you lose teeth your bite drifts and shifts and because of this the remaining teeth just aren’t as efficient.

Yes we can live without teeth but it comes at a price. You get fewer nutrients that are readily available for your gut to absorb because you can’t chew and break your food down effectively in the mouth.

Chewing also signals your nervous and hormonal systems, instructing the liver to produce bile and your stomach to produce acid both are which are needed to break down and absorb the goodness from your diet.

You can optimise digestion by limiting or excluding drinking fluids while you eat so as to not dilute your stomach acids. You need to adequately chew your food to mix in your saliva and turn the food into a slushy paste that is easily swallowed and more able to be digested. Stomach acids further break down the slushy food and allow it to be processed and absorbed through the small intestine.

Drinking while eating can interfere with the levels and activity of stomach acid and bile. Bile emulsifies the fats in our diet. And just a point of note here eating fats do not make you fat – you need fats to survive and to be able to absorb and transport fat soluble vitamins. Low fat diets can actually contribute to illness.

Drinking fluids while eating slows your digestive processes down, allowing for the build up of toxic waste even if you are having a really healthy diet. It’s recommended to drink water more than 30 minutes before and after you eat to help your digestion.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome is a condition where you intestines become more permeable; the cells that line the intestinal wall aren’t joined together well. This allows larger molecules of undigested food and toxic substances to leak into your blood stream. These trigger your white blood cells to multiple to fight what they perceive to be an infection in your blood. This ramps up and stresses your immune system to the point where it becomes exhausted and is not able to fight other types of infections.

It puts your entire body into a perpetual fight or flight mode, which stresses all your vital organs. 

This can be avoided by having sound healthy teeth and gums with a balance of chewing forces so that the foods are chewed well and mixed properly with saliva for optimal use in the body. It is also important to have a good flow of quality saliva to support this and unfortunately due to excess inflammation or if we are on certain types of medication like anti-depressants the saliva flow and quality is compromised. This can be combated with saliva stimulating products to protect the teeth from being more prone to decay and also to support your digestive processes.

Gluten and Gut Inflammation

One of the main causes of gut inflammation for many people is gluten. Gluten causes your gut cells to release a protein zonulin that breaks apart the cell junctions of the intestinal lining causing inflammation.

Infections, stress, age and a build up of toxins can also cause these tight cell junctions to break apart and cause leaky gut.

Toxins

Toxins are a big problem and removing them from your system is a good way to rebalance your body. Your body becomes weaker as it encounters molecules it wasn’t designed to handle. These molecules include toxins you eat in your food like steroids, antibiotics, hormones and GMOs.

We are exposed to toxins in the environment that are locked into are body like arsenic, lead, mercury, aldehydes, carbon dioxide and airbourne particles.

Removing toxins from your bloodstream especially heavy metals can be done through a process known as chelation. A chelate is a chemical compound that contains at least one metal ion attached to two nonmetal ones. It’s a natural process that removes the metal toxins from your system. Your body is designed to both produce toxins as byproducts of cell metabolism and also the chelates needed to mop them up. But if there are too many toxins or the innate mechanisms of detoxification are not working well then extra help in the form of chelation is needed.

There are products like zeolites that can be used to help remove and shift mercury for example, as using these can cause an array of challenging systemic symptoms I advise you seek the services of a skilled practitioner to support and direct your detoxification and chelation program.

As I mentioned early we have what is considered to be a second brain in our gut that is created by the massive volume of bacteria that live there and also a vast network of nerve cells. The bacteria are called are human microbiome – a sophisticated and helpful population of bacteria that communicates with our body and vice-versa via the millions of nerves and neurons in our gut which help control muscle movement and the secretion of hormones and enzymes. 

The microbiome is also present in the mouth since it is the start point of the gut. This microbiome is so intertwined with our existence and wellbeing it is no wonder it has been stated that our health begins in the gut.

Acid Alkaline Balance For Healthy Bacteria

To sustain healthy gut bacteria (and that includes the ones in the mouth) we need to balance the pH of our system. When there is a pH imbalance the microbiome goes out of balance and can lead to an overgrowth of Candida, a yeast that is responsible for bloating and a whole host of symptoms associated with leaky gut.

In the mouth this pH imbalance allows bad bacteria to take over which results in tooth decay and gum disease.

Imbalances occur when we don’t properly chew our food, drink too much fluid with our meals, eat the wrong foods like processed refined grains, gluten, sugar, coffee or alcohol. Antibiotics will also destroy our gut bacteria. The imbalance in pH robs the body of vital nutrients like minerals need for our body to function.

One of the paths to health is to eat to restore and retain the balance of our intestinal bacteria. This process can also be supported by the use of probiotics.

There is a fine balance between what we eat, our health and the prevention of disease and dental decay. By addressing our eating and reducing toxins we can go a long way to living a vital energised life and having less dental decay and gum disease.

It’s simply a choice to shift away from our modern unhealthy processed diet back to one that nature intended.

To prevent tooth decay and gum disease it is essential to have regular dental checks, call us now to book an appointment 07 3720 1811

http://ift.tt/2fNerFW

[gonzalesconniehk]

How To Eat For Healthy Teeth and To Prevent Tooth Decay

How To Eat To Prevent Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is an infection of the tooth. Your teeth are the hardest things in the human body and yet tooth decay can turn your tooth to soft squidgy mush.

We are told tooth decay is caused by eating too much sugar that feeds the decay bacteria in your mouth making them produce bacteria that dissolves your tooth enamel and then the insides of your tooth.

Part of how susceptible you are to this process depends on how well the tooth protein scaffolding and matrix developed and was calcified into a hard crystalline structure.

Tooth decay occurs when tooth brushing and flossing is inadequate. Brushing and flossing physically remove the bacteria form your teeth known as plaque. This means we are responsible for controlling the environment in the mouth and preventing tooth decay.

But tooth decay is not this simplistic as there is more to it than brush, floss and don’t eat sugar. There are other factors that contribute to tooth decay.

Dentinal Fluid Flow and What Causes Tooth Decay

One aspect is the flow of fluid in your teeth.  A healthy tooth is like a closed high pressure system and during experiments in the 1960’s conducted by Dr Ralph Steinman of Loma Linda School of dentistry it was found that the fluid or lymph (like that that flows in your lymphatic system) inside the tooth from the pulp chamber, or the inner part of the tooth that contains your blood supply and nerves, migrated under pressure to the outside of the tooth. So there is a flow of fluid coming in through the tip of the tooth root, and passing inside the tooth to the surface like sweat coming through the skin. This fluid comes out of the tooth where it is attached to the ligament in your mouth that holds it in place in your jawbone.

As long as there is a positive fluid pressure from the inside to the outside bacteria from the mouth cannot enter and live in the microscopic tubes in the tooth.

However, during those experiments it was discovered that when you eat sugar this fluid pump is reversed and begins to act like a suction pump allowing bacteria to enter and drawing them into the tooth.

This mechanism is under the control of a parotid hormone in the salivary glands, which is the gatekeeper for the direction of flow of fluid in the teeth. This is called the dentinal fluid flow theory of decay.

What You Eat Affects Your Gut and Immune System

What you eat not only affects your teeth and the fluid flow; it also affects your gut and the bacteria that live in it. The majority of bacteria in our mouth and gut are good bacteria that are designed to work with our body, support the immune system and defend us from bad harmful bacteria and microorganisms like yeasts.

If we feed our bacteria the wrong foods the harmful bad bacteria will overgrow causing inflammation and poor immune response, and damage to the gut wall allowing partially digested food and toxins to escape from the gut and into the body. This is known as leaky gut syndrome.

Sugar Upsets Your Gut Bacteria

When you gut is not right, you are not right. For your teeth and gut to be healthy the most important thing is to avoid sugar in all its forms so as not to reverse that fluid pump in your teeth and draw tooth decay causing bacteria into your teeth. 

Sugar and processed grains and refined foods disturb the balance of your healthy bacteria, are pro-inflammatory (they cause inflammation) and weaken your immune response. They will also increase your tenancy toward insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and obesity, which are all factors in diabetes, poor cardiovascular health, increased risk of dementia and cancers. 

How To Eat For Healthy Teeth and To Prevent Tooth Decay

Now I’m going to give you an overview of what eating for health looks like, this is not about controlling calories or trying to loose weight but about providing optimal nutrition to your body with a diet that is nourishing, satiating and anti-inflammatory. By eating the way nature intended you keep your blood sugars, weight and bacteria in check without the effort of dieting or extreme exercise.

Eat as close to nature as you can, include a wide variety of vegetables especially the leafy greens. Have a rainbow on your plate eat foods that have a range of colours on your plate. Not only do they contain antioxidants and great nutrients they look appetizing and that stimulates our body ready for the digestive process. Your mouth and your teeth are the first step in digestion as they break down the food and introduce digestive enzymes before the food gets swallowed and hits your stomach.

When we eat we need to feed our brain although it is only 2-3 percent of body weight it consumes around 25 percent of our energy. Interestingly our gut is called the second brain as it contains a huge complex of nerve endings that signal our brain more than it signals the gut. This is called the gut-brain connection and we are feeding it directly when we eat. We are also feeding the bacteria and microorganisms that reside in our gut before we feed ourselves.

Eat Alkaline, Primitive and Colourful

I’m not going to go into all the different myriads of diet types that are out there but give you an overview of some principles to apply to your food choices. 

This simplest way to think about this is to eat foods that are primitive (as nature intended), alkaline, colourful and where you can organic.

These principles will help to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many more illnesses. They will help you maintain a healthy weight to feel vibrant and alive well into old age.

Eating primitive means eating less processed and packaged foods and snacks like potato chips and sweets. It means eating more food that comes straight from the farm to the table. It’s about eating real food not manufactured and manmade. So this includes meats, fish, vegetables and seasonal fruit.

Eating alkaline means keeping a good balance between acidic foods which are animal based foods and alkaline or plant based foods. We are designed to be alkaline with the pH inside our cells at about 7.3-7.5. Consuming alkaline foods reduces inflammation in your blood and your body. 

Tooth decay occurs in an acidic environment and if your body and saliva are not kept alkaline enough your teeth will rot. Foods that contain lots of minerals like calcium and magnesium will help alkalise your body and your mouth so don’t skimp on those green leafy veg and nuts and seeds. 

Eating colourful means choosing foods that are naturally green, red, yellow, orange and purple for at least 6 servings a day. This provides important minerals, vitamins and antioxidants for your body without you resorting to supplements. They also provide fiber, which is essential for good gut health. You need vitamin A, C and E from your vegetables for healthy teeth and gums.

Eating organic foods means avoiding pesticides and toxins and GMO foods. Research has shown that our bodies do not know how to process or cope with these substances. For example we now have wheat that has been developed for fast growth and to be insect and pest resistant but because of that it now contains mega quantities of gluten which we are not designed to deal with in our guts and hence one of the reasons we are seeing the huge increase in people with gluten intolerance.

How To Change Your Eating Habits The Easy Way

The easiest way to change your eating habits is to shop and buy foods only from the perimeter of the supermarket or food stores as this is where the majority of fresh produce is. Avoid those middle aisles where all the processed foods are in packets, boxes and cans.

Don’t Forget Your Minerals

What else do you need to eat for healthy teeth; you need fat-soluble vitamins A and K2, plus vitamin D and calcium.

Calcium is best obtained from your diet and not in the form of supplements as these cannot replace the lack of calcium in your diet because they actually contain the wrong form of calcium to be utilised and absorbed correctly by the body. In fact there are schools of though that say we are having too much calcium in our food and that this is resulting in illness. And drinking milk is not the source of calcium we think it is because the calcium in it is not readily absorbed into the body, as it is actually insoluble.

The best way to get the calcium your teeth and bones need is to eat lots of green vegetables like kale, broccoli, bok choy and Asian greens. Proteins such as sardines, salmon and almonds are also great sources of calcium and so are figs and oranges when they are in season.

Now the key to optimal nutrition and being able to utilise these foods with their abundance of nutrients is that our digestion needs to be firing on all cylinders.

Digestion, Saliva, Teeth and Chewing Well

Digestion begins in the mouth, so what we put in our mouth and the health of our mouth affects how our food is digested. Remember that your immune system relies on you having a healthy gut. 70 percent of your immune system function develops in your gut, and your mouth is the beginning of your gut.

The enzymes in saliva begin the process of digestion by breaking down starches and wetting your food to make it moist. Your teeth chew the food to break it down so there is more surface area for your digestive enzymes in your stomach and intestines to work on. Chewing also releases products that boost our immune system response. When you teeth are damaged, missing or you have a poor misaligned bite it effects how well you can digest your food because you can’t chew properly and your food doesn’t get adequately broken down. The same is true if you wolf your food and don’t chew it enough. When you lose teeth your bite drifts and shifts and because of this the remaining teeth just aren’t as efficient.

Yes we can live without teeth but it comes at a price. You get fewer nutrients that are readily available for your gut to absorb because you can’t chew and break your food down effectively in the mouth.

Chewing also signals your nervous and hormonal systems, instructing the liver to produce bile and your stomach to produce acid both are which are needed to break down and absorb the goodness from your diet.

You can optimise digestion by limiting or excluding drinking fluids while you eat so as to not dilute your stomach acids. You need to adequately chew your food to mix in your saliva and turn the food into a slushy paste that is easily swallowed and more able to be digested. Stomach acids further break down the slushy food and allow it to be processed and absorbed through the small intestine.

Drinking while eating can interfere with the levels and activity of stomach acid and bile. Bile emulsifies the fats in our diet. And just a point of note here eating fats do not make you fat – you need fats to survive and to be able to absorb and transport fat soluble vitamins. Low fat diets can actually contribute to illness.

Drinking fluids while eating slows your digestive processes down, allowing for the build up of toxic waste even if you are having a really healthy diet. It’s recommended to drink water more than 30 minutes before and after you eat to help your digestion.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome is a condition where you intestines become more permeable; the cells that line the intestinal wall aren’t joined together well. This allows larger molecules of undigested food and toxic substances to leak into your blood stream. These trigger your white blood cells to multiple to fight what they perceive to be an infection in your blood. This ramps up and stresses your immune system to the point where it becomes exhausted and is not able to fight other types of infections.

It puts your entire body into a perpetual fight or flight mode, which stresses all your vital organs. 

This can be avoided by having sound healthy teeth and gums with a balance of chewing forces so that the foods are chewed well and mixed properly with saliva for optimal use in the body. It is also important to have a good flow of quality saliva to support this and unfortunately due to excess inflammation or if we are on certain types of medication like anti-depressants the saliva flow and quality is compromised. This can be combated with saliva stimulating products to protect the teeth from being more prone to decay and also to support your digestive processes.

Gluten and Gut Inflammation

One of the main causes of gut inflammation for many people is gluten. Gluten causes your gut cells to release a protein zonulin that breaks apart the cell junctions of the intestinal lining causing inflammation.

Infections, stress, age and a build up of toxins can also cause these tight cell junctions to break apart and cause leaky gut.

Toxins

Toxins are a big problem and removing them from your system is a good way to rebalance your body. Your body becomes weaker as it encounters molecules it wasn’t designed to handle. These molecules include toxins you eat in your food like steroids, antibiotics, hormones and GMOs.

We are exposed to toxins in the environment that are locked into are body like arsenic, lead, mercury, aldehydes, carbon dioxide and airbourne particles.

Removing toxins from your bloodstream especially heavy metals can be done through a process known as chelation. A chelate is a chemical compound that contains at least one metal ion attached to two nonmetal ones. It’s a natural process that removes the metal toxins from your system. Your body is designed to both produce toxins as byproducts of cell metabolism and also the chelates needed to mop them up. But if there are too many toxins or the innate mechanisms of detoxification are not working well then extra help in the form of chelation is needed.

There are products like zeolites that can be used to help remove and shift mercury for example, as using these can cause an array of challenging systemic symptoms I advise you seek the services of a skilled practitioner to support and direct your detoxification and chelation program.

As I mentioned early we have what is considered to be a second brain in our gut that is created by the massive volume of bacteria that live there and also a vast network of nerve cells. The bacteria are called are human microbiome – a sophisticated and helpful population of bacteria that communicates with our body and vice-versa via the millions of nerves and neurons in our gut which help control muscle movement and the secretion of hormones and enzymes. 

The microbiome is also present in the mouth since it is the start point of the gut. This microbiome is so intertwined with our existence and wellbeing it is no wonder it has been stated that our health begins in the gut.

Acid Alkaline Balance For Healthy Bacteria

To sustain healthy gut bacteria (and that includes the ones in the mouth) we need to balance the pH of our system. When there is a pH imbalance the microbiome goes out of balance and can lead to an overgrowth of Candida, a yeast that is responsible for bloating and a whole host of symptoms associated with leaky gut.

In the mouth this pH imbalance allows bad bacteria to take over which results in tooth decay and gum disease.

Imbalances occur when we don’t properly chew our food, drink too much fluid with our meals, eat the wrong foods like processed refined grains, gluten, sugar, coffee or alcohol. Antibiotics will also destroy our gut bacteria. The imbalance in pH robs the body of vital nutrients like minerals need for our body to function.

One of the paths to health is to eat to restore and retain the balance of our intestinal bacteria. This process can also be supported by the use of probiotics.

There is a fine balance between what we eat, our health and the prevention of disease and dental decay. By addressing our eating and reducing toxins we can go a long way to living a vital energised life and having less dental decay and gum disease.

It’s simply a choice to shift away from our modern unhealthy processed diet back to one that nature intended.

To prevent tooth decay and gum disease it is essential to have regular dental checks, call us now to book an appointment 07 3720 1811

[fosterannrf]

How To Eat For Healthy Teeth and To Prevent Tooth Decay

How To Eat To Prevent Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is an infection of the tooth. Your teeth are the hardest things in the human body and yet tooth decay can turn your tooth to soft squidgy mush.

We are told tooth decay is caused by eating too much sugar that feeds the decay bacteria in your mouth making them produce bacteria that dissolves your tooth enamel and then the insides of your tooth.

Part of how susceptible you are to this process depends on how well the tooth protein scaffolding and matrix developed and was calcified into a hard crystalline structure.

Tooth decay occurs when tooth brushing and flossing is inadequate. Brushing and flossing physically remove the bacteria form your teeth known as plaque. This means we are responsible for controlling the environment in the mouth and preventing tooth decay.

But tooth decay is not this simplistic as there is more to it than brush, floss and don’t eat sugar. There are other factors that contribute to tooth decay.

Dentinal Fluid Flow and What Causes Tooth Decay

One aspect is the flow of fluid in your teeth.  A healthy tooth is like a closed high pressure system and during experiments in the 1960’s conducted by Dr Ralph Steinman of Loma Linda School of dentistry it was found that the fluid or lymph (like that that flows in your lymphatic system) inside the tooth from the pulp chamber, or the inner part of the tooth that contains your blood supply and nerves, migrated under pressure to the outside of the tooth. So there is a flow of fluid coming in through the tip of the tooth root, and passing inside the tooth to the surface like sweat coming through the skin. This fluid comes out of the tooth where it is attached to the ligament in your mouth that holds it in place in your jawbone.

As long as there is a positive fluid pressure from the inside to the outside bacteria from the mouth cannot enter and live in the microscopic tubes in the tooth.

However, during those experiments it was discovered that when you eat sugar this fluid pump is reversed and begins to act like a suction pump allowing bacteria to enter and drawing them into the tooth.

This mechanism is under the control of a parotid hormone in the salivary glands, which is the gatekeeper for the direction of flow of fluid in the teeth. This is called the dentinal fluid flow theory of decay.

What You Eat Affects Your Gut and Immune System

What you eat not only affects your teeth and the fluid flow; it also affects your gut and the bacteria that live in it. The majority of bacteria in our mouth and gut are good bacteria that are designed to work with our body, support the immune system and defend us from bad harmful bacteria and microorganisms like yeasts.

If we feed our bacteria the wrong foods the harmful bad bacteria will overgrow causing inflammation and poor immune response, and damage to the gut wall allowing partially digested food and toxins to escape from the gut and into the body. This is known as leaky gut syndrome.

Sugar Upsets Your Gut Bacteria

When you gut is not right, you are not right. For your teeth and gut to be healthy the most important thing is to avoid sugar in all its forms so as not to reverse that fluid pump in your teeth and draw tooth decay causing bacteria into your teeth. 

Sugar and processed grains and refined foods disturb the balance of your healthy bacteria, are pro-inflammatory (they cause inflammation) and weaken your immune response. They will also increase your tenancy toward insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and obesity, which are all factors in diabetes, poor cardiovascular health, increased risk of dementia and cancers. 

How To Eat For Healthy Teeth and To Prevent Tooth Decay

Now I’m going to give you an overview of what eating for health looks like, this is not about controlling calories or trying to loose weight but about providing optimal nutrition to your body with a diet that is nourishing, satiating and anti-inflammatory. By eating the way nature intended you keep your blood sugars, weight and bacteria in check without the effort of dieting or extreme exercise.

Eat as close to nature as you can, include a wide variety of vegetables especially the leafy greens. Have a rainbow on your plate eat foods that have a range of colours on your plate. Not only do they contain antioxidants and great nutrients they look appetizing and that stimulates our body ready for the digestive process. Your mouth and your teeth are the first step in digestion as they break down the food and introduce digestive enzymes before the food gets swallowed and hits your stomach.

When we eat we need to feed our brain although it is only 2-3 percent of body weight it consumes around 25 percent of our energy. Interestingly our gut is called the second brain as it contains a huge complex of nerve endings that signal our brain more than it signals the gut. This is called the gut-brain connection and we are feeding it directly when we eat. We are also feeding the bacteria and microorganisms that reside in our gut before we feed ourselves.

Eat Alkaline, Primitive and Colourful

I’m not going to go into all the different myriads of diet types that are out there but give you an overview of some principles to apply to your food choices. 

This simplest way to think about this is to eat foods that are primitive (as nature intended), alkaline, colourful and where you can organic.

These principles will help to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many more illnesses. They will help you maintain a healthy weight to feel vibrant and alive well into old age.

Eating primitive means eating less processed and packaged foods and snacks like potato chips and sweets. It means eating more food that comes straight from the farm to the table. It’s about eating real food not manufactured and manmade. So this includes meats, fish, vegetables and seasonal fruit.

Eating alkaline means keeping a good balance between acidic foods which are animal based foods and alkaline or plant based foods. We are designed to be alkaline with the pH inside our cells at about 7.3-7.5. Consuming alkaline foods reduces inflammation in your blood and your body. 

Tooth decay occurs in an acidic environment and if your body and saliva are not kept alkaline enough your teeth will rot. Foods that contain lots of minerals like calcium and magnesium will help alkalise your body and your mouth so don’t skimp on those green leafy veg and nuts and seeds. 

Eating colourful means choosing foods that are naturally green, red, yellow, orange and purple for at least 6 servings a day. This provides important minerals, vitamins and antioxidants for your body without you resorting to supplements. They also provide fiber, which is essential for good gut health. You need vitamin A, C and E from your vegetables for healthy teeth and gums.

Eating organic foods means avoiding pesticides and toxins and GMO foods. Research has shown that our bodies do not know how to process or cope with these substances. For example we now have wheat that has been developed for fast growth and to be insect and pest resistant but because of that it now contains mega quantities of gluten which we are not designed to deal with in our guts and hence one of the reasons we are seeing the huge increase in people with gluten intolerance.

How To Change Your Eating Habits The Easy Way

The easiest way to change your eating habits is to shop and buy foods only from the perimeter of the supermarket or food stores as this is where the majority of fresh produce is. Avoid those middle aisles where all the processed foods are in packets, boxes and cans.

Don’t Forget Your Minerals

What else do you need to eat for healthy teeth; you need fat-soluble vitamins A and K2, plus vitamin D and calcium.

Calcium is best obtained from your diet and not in the form of supplements as these cannot replace the lack of calcium in your diet because they actually contain the wrong form of calcium to be utilised and absorbed correctly by the body. In fact there are schools of though that say we are having too much calcium in our food and that this is resulting in illness. And drinking milk is not the source of calcium we think it is because the calcium in it is not readily absorbed into the body, as it is actually insoluble.

The best way to get the calcium your teeth and bones need is to eat lots of green vegetables like kale, broccoli, bok choy and Asian greens. Proteins such as sardines, salmon and almonds are also great sources of calcium and so are figs and oranges when they are in season.

Now the key to optimal nutrition and being able to utilise these foods with their abundance of nutrients is that our digestion needs to be firing on all cylinders.

Digestion, Saliva, Teeth and Chewing Well

Digestion begins in the mouth, so what we put in our mouth and the health of our mouth affects how our food is digested. Remember that your immune system relies on you having a healthy gut. 70 percent of your immune system function develops in your gut, and your mouth is the beginning of your gut.

The enzymes in saliva begin the process of digestion by breaking down starches and wetting your food to make it moist. Your teeth chew the food to break it down so there is more surface area for your digestive enzymes in your stomach and intestines to work on. Chewing also releases products that boost our immune system response. When you teeth are damaged, missing or you have a poor misaligned bite it effects how well you can digest your food because you can’t chew properly and your food doesn’t get adequately broken down. The same is true if you wolf your food and don’t chew it enough. When you lose teeth your bite drifts and shifts and because of this the remaining teeth just aren’t as efficient.

Yes we can live without teeth but it comes at a price. You get fewer nutrients that are readily available for your gut to absorb because you can’t chew and break your food down effectively in the mouth.

Chewing also signals your nervous and hormonal systems, instructing the liver to produce bile and your stomach to produce acid both are which are needed to break down and absorb the goodness from your diet.

You can optimise digestion by limiting or excluding drinking fluids while you eat so as to not dilute your stomach acids. You need to adequately chew your food to mix in your saliva and turn the food into a slushy paste that is easily swallowed and more able to be digested. Stomach acids further break down the slushy food and allow it to be processed and absorbed through the small intestine.

Drinking while eating can interfere with the levels and activity of stomach acid and bile. Bile emulsifies the fats in our diet. And just a point of note here eating fats do not make you fat – you need fats to survive and to be able to absorb and transport fat soluble vitamins. Low fat diets can actually contribute to illness.

Drinking fluids while eating slows your digestive processes down, allowing for the build up of toxic waste even if you are having a really healthy diet. It’s recommended to drink water more than 30 minutes before and after you eat to help your digestion.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome is a condition where you intestines become more permeable; the cells that line the intestinal wall aren’t joined together well. This allows larger molecules of undigested food and toxic substances to leak into your blood stream. These trigger your white blood cells to multiple to fight what they perceive to be an infection in your blood. This ramps up and stresses your immune system to the point where it becomes exhausted and is not able to fight other types of infections.

It puts your entire body into a perpetual fight or flight mode, which stresses all your vital organs. 

This can be avoided by having sound healthy teeth and gums with a balance of chewing forces so that the foods are chewed well and mixed properly with saliva for optimal use in the body. It is also important to have a good flow of quality saliva to support this and unfortunately due to excess inflammation or if we are on certain types of medication like anti-depressants the saliva flow and quality is compromised. This can be combated with saliva stimulating products to protect the teeth from being more prone to decay and also to support your digestive processes.

Gluten and Gut Inflammation

One of the main causes of gut inflammation for many people is gluten. Gluten causes your gut cells to release a protein zonulin that breaks apart the cell junctions of the intestinal lining causing inflammation.

Infections, stress, age and a build up of toxins can also cause these tight cell junctions to break apart and cause leaky gut.

Toxins

Toxins are a big problem and removing them from your system is a good way to rebalance your body. Your body becomes weaker as it encounters molecules it wasn’t designed to handle. These molecules include toxins you eat in your food like steroids, antibiotics, hormones and GMOs.

We are exposed to toxins in the environment that are locked into are body like arsenic, lead, mercury, aldehydes, carbon dioxide and airbourne particles.

Removing toxins from your bloodstream especially heavy metals can be done through a process known as chelation. A chelate is a chemical compound that contains at least one metal ion attached to two nonmetal ones. It’s a natural process that removes the metal toxins from your system. Your body is designed to both produce toxins as byproducts of cell metabolism and also the chelates needed to mop them up. But if there are too many toxins or the innate mechanisms of detoxification are not working well then extra help in the form of chelation is needed.

There are products like zeolites that can be used to help remove and shift mercury for example, as using these can cause an array of challenging systemic symptoms I advise you seek the services of a skilled practitioner to support and direct your detoxification and chelation program.

As I mentioned early we have what is considered to be a second brain in our gut that is created by the massive volume of bacteria that live there and also a vast network of nerve cells. The bacteria are called are human microbiome – a sophisticated and helpful population of bacteria that communicates with our body and vice-versa via the millions of nerves and neurons in our gut which help control muscle movement and the secretion of hormones and enzymes. 

The microbiome is also present in the mouth since it is the start point of the gut. This microbiome is so intertwined with our existence and wellbeing it is no wonder it has been stated that our health begins in the gut.

Acid Alkaline Balance For Healthy Bacteria

To sustain healthy gut bacteria (and that includes the ones in the mouth) we need to balance the pH of our system. When there is a pH imbalance the microbiome goes out of balance and can lead to an overgrowth of Candida, a yeast that is responsible for bloating and a whole host of symptoms associated with leaky gut.

In the mouth this pH imbalance allows bad bacteria to take over which results in tooth decay and gum disease.

Imbalances occur when we don’t properly chew our food, drink too much fluid with our meals, eat the wrong foods like processed refined grains, gluten, sugar, coffee or alcohol. Antibiotics will also destroy our gut bacteria. The imbalance in pH robs the body of vital nutrients like minerals need for our body to function.

One of the paths to health is to eat to restore and retain the balance of our intestinal bacteria. This process can also be supported by the use of probiotics.

There is a fine balance between what we eat, our health and the prevention of disease and dental decay. By addressing our eating and reducing toxins we can go a long way to living a vital energised life and having less dental decay and gum disease.

It’s simply a choice to shift away from our modern unhealthy processed diet back to one that nature intended.

To prevent tooth decay and gum disease it is essential to have regular dental checks, call us now to book an appointment 07 3720 1811

[emmavernnw]

How To Eat For Healthy Teeth and To Prevent Tooth Decay

How To Eat To Prevent Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is an infection of the tooth. Your teeth are the hardest things in the human body and yet tooth decay can turn your tooth to soft squidgy mush.

We are told tooth decay is caused by eating too much sugar that feeds the decay bacteria in your mouth making them produce bacteria that dissolves your tooth enamel and then the insides of your tooth.

Part of how susceptible you are to this process depends on how well the tooth protein scaffolding and matrix developed and was calcified into a hard crystalline structure.

Tooth decay occurs when tooth brushing and flossing is inadequate. Brushing and flossing physically remove the bacteria form your teeth known as plaque. This means we are responsible for controlling the environment in the mouth and preventing tooth decay.

But tooth decay is not this simplistic as there is more to it than brush, floss and don’t eat sugar. There are other factors that contribute to tooth decay.

Dentinal Fluid Flow and What Causes Tooth Decay

One aspect is the flow of fluid in your teeth.  A healthy tooth is like a closed high pressure system and during experiments in the 1960’s conducted by Dr Ralph Steinman of Loma Linda School of dentistry it was found that the fluid or lymph (like that that flows in your lymphatic system) inside the tooth from the pulp chamber, or the inner part of the tooth that contains your blood supply and nerves, migrated under pressure to the outside of the tooth. So there is a flow of fluid coming in through the tip of the tooth root, and passing inside the tooth to the surface like sweat coming through the skin. This fluid comes out of the tooth where it is attached to the ligament in your mouth that holds it in place in your jawbone.

As long as there is a positive fluid pressure from the inside to the outside bacteria from the mouth cannot enter and live in the microscopic tubes in the tooth.

However, during those experiments it was discovered that when you eat sugar this fluid pump is reversed and begins to act like a suction pump allowing bacteria to enter and drawing them into the tooth.

This mechanism is under the control of a parotid hormone in the salivary glands, which is the gatekeeper for the direction of flow of fluid in the teeth. This is called the dentinal fluid flow theory of decay.

What You Eat Affects Your Gut and Immune System

What you eat not only affects your teeth and the fluid flow; it also affects your gut and the bacteria that live in it. The majority of bacteria in our mouth and gut are good bacteria that are designed to work with our body, support the immune system and defend us from bad harmful bacteria and microorganisms like yeasts.

If we feed our bacteria the wrong foods the harmful bad bacteria will overgrow causing inflammation and poor immune response, and damage to the gut wall allowing partially digested food and toxins to escape from the gut and into the body. This is known as leaky gut syndrome.

Sugar Upsets Your Gut Bacteria

When you gut is not right, you are not right. For your teeth and gut to be healthy the most important thing is to avoid sugar in all its forms so as not to reverse that fluid pump in your teeth and draw tooth decay causing bacteria into your teeth. 

Sugar and processed grains and refined foods disturb the balance of your healthy bacteria, are pro-inflammatory (they cause inflammation) and weaken your immune response. They will also increase your tenancy toward insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and obesity, which are all factors in diabetes, poor cardiovascular health, increased risk of dementia and cancers. 

How To Eat For Healthy Teeth and To Prevent Tooth Decay

Now I’m going to give you an overview of what eating for health looks like, this is not about controlling calories or trying to loose weight but about providing optimal nutrition to your body with a diet that is nourishing, satiating and anti-inflammatory. By eating the way nature intended you keep your blood sugars, weight and bacteria in check without the effort of dieting or extreme exercise.

Eat as close to nature as you can, include a wide variety of vegetables especially the leafy greens. Have a rainbow on your plate eat foods that have a range of colours on your plate. Not only do they contain antioxidants and great nutrients they look appetizing and that stimulates our body ready for the digestive process. Your mouth and your teeth are the first step in digestion as they break down the food and introduce digestive enzymes before the food gets swallowed and hits your stomach.

When we eat we need to feed our brain although it is only 2-3 percent of body weight it consumes around 25 percent of our energy. Interestingly our gut is called the second brain as it contains a huge complex of nerve endings that signal our brain more than it signals the gut. This is called the gut-brain connection and we are feeding it directly when we eat. We are also feeding the bacteria and microorganisms that reside in our gut before we feed ourselves.

Eat Alkaline, Primitive and Colourful

I’m not going to go into all the different myriads of diet types that are out there but give you an overview of some principles to apply to your food choices. 

This simplest way to think about this is to eat foods that are primitive (as nature intended), alkaline, colourful and where you can organic.

These principles will help to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many more illnesses. They will help you maintain a healthy weight to feel vibrant and alive well into old age.

Eating primitive means eating less processed and packaged foods and snacks like potato chips and sweets. It means eating more food that comes straight from the farm to the table. It’s about eating real food not manufactured and manmade. So this includes meats, fish, vegetables and seasonal fruit.

Eating alkaline means keeping a good balance between acidic foods which are animal based foods and alkaline or plant based foods. We are designed to be alkaline with the pH inside our cells at about 7.3-7.5. Consuming alkaline foods reduces inflammation in your blood and your body. 

Tooth decay occurs in an acidic environment and if your body and saliva are not kept alkaline enough your teeth will rot. Foods that contain lots of minerals like calcium and magnesium will help alkalise your body and your mouth so don’t skimp on those green leafy veg and nuts and seeds. 

Eating colourful means choosing foods that are naturally green, red, yellow, orange and purple for at least 6 servings a day. This provides important minerals, vitamins and antioxidants for your body without you resorting to supplements. They also provide fiber, which is essential for good gut health. You need vitamin A, C and E from your vegetables for healthy teeth and gums.

Eating organic foods means avoiding pesticides and toxins and GMO foods. Research has shown that our bodies do not know how to process or cope with these substances. For example we now have wheat that has been developed for fast growth and to be insect and pest resistant but because of that it now contains mega quantities of gluten which we are not designed to deal with in our guts and hence one of the reasons we are seeing the huge increase in people with gluten intolerance.

How To Change Your Eating Habits The Easy Way

The easiest way to change your eating habits is to shop and buy foods only from the perimeter of the supermarket or food stores as this is where the majority of fresh produce is. Avoid those middle aisles where all the processed foods are in packets, boxes and cans.

Don’t Forget Your Minerals

What else do you need to eat for healthy teeth; you need fat-soluble vitamins A and K2, plus vitamin D and calcium.

Calcium is best obtained from your diet and not in the form of supplements as these cannot replace the lack of calcium in your diet because they actually contain the wrong form of calcium to be utilised and absorbed correctly by the body. In fact there are schools of though that say we are having too much calcium in our food and that this is resulting in illness. And drinking milk is not the source of calcium we think it is because the calcium in it is not readily absorbed into the body, as it is actually insoluble.

The best way to get the calcium your teeth and bones need is to eat lots of green vegetables like kale, broccoli, bok choy and Asian greens. Proteins such as sardines, salmon and almonds are also great sources of calcium and so are figs and oranges when they are in season.

Now the key to optimal nutrition and being able to utilise these foods with their abundance of nutrients is that our digestion needs to be firing on all cylinders.

Digestion, Saliva, Teeth and Chewing Well

Digestion begins in the mouth, so what we put in our mouth and the health of our mouth affects how our food is digested. Remember that your immune system relies on you having a healthy gut. 70 percent of your immune system function develops in your gut, and your mouth is the beginning of your gut.

The enzymes in saliva begin the process of digestion by breaking down starches and wetting your food to make it moist. Your teeth chew the food to break it down so there is more surface area for your digestive enzymes in your stomach and intestines to work on. Chewing also releases products that boost our immune system response. When you teeth are damaged, missing or you have a poor misaligned bite it effects how well you can digest your food because you can’t chew properly and your food doesn’t get adequately broken down. The same is true if you wolf your food and don’t chew it enough. When you lose teeth your bite drifts and shifts and because of this the remaining teeth just aren’t as efficient.

Yes we can live without teeth but it comes at a price. You get fewer nutrients that are readily available for your gut to absorb because you can’t chew and break your food down effectively in the mouth.

Chewing also signals your nervous and hormonal systems, instructing the liver to produce bile and your stomach to produce acid both are which are needed to break down and absorb the goodness from your diet.

You can optimise digestion by limiting or excluding drinking fluids while you eat so as to not dilute your stomach acids. You need to adequately chew your food to mix in your saliva and turn the food into a slushy paste that is easily swallowed and more able to be digested. Stomach acids further break down the slushy food and allow it to be processed and absorbed through the small intestine.

Drinking while eating can interfere with the levels and activity of stomach acid and bile. Bile emulsifies the fats in our diet. And just a point of note here eating fats do not make you fat – you need fats to survive and to be able to absorb and transport fat soluble vitamins. Low fat diets can actually contribute to illness.

Drinking fluids while eating slows your digestive processes down, allowing for the build up of toxic waste even if you are having a really healthy diet. It’s recommended to drink water more than 30 minutes before and after you eat to help your digestion.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome is a condition where you intestines become more permeable; the cells that line the intestinal wall aren’t joined together well. This allows larger molecules of undigested food and toxic substances to leak into your blood stream. These trigger your white blood cells to multiple to fight what they perceive to be an infection in your blood. This ramps up and stresses your immune system to the point where it becomes exhausted and is not able to fight other types of infections.

It puts your entire body into a perpetual fight or flight mode, which stresses all your vital organs. 

This can be avoided by having sound healthy teeth and gums with a balance of chewing forces so that the foods are chewed well and mixed properly with saliva for optimal use in the body. It is also important to have a good flow of quality saliva to support this and unfortunately due to excess inflammation or if we are on certain types of medication like anti-depressants the saliva flow and quality is compromised. This can be combated with saliva stimulating products to protect the teeth from being more prone to decay and also to support your digestive processes.

Gluten and Gut Inflammation

One of the main causes of gut inflammation for many people is gluten. Gluten causes your gut cells to release a protein zonulin that breaks apart the cell junctions of the intestinal lining causing inflammation.

Infections, stress, age and a build up of toxins can also cause these tight cell junctions to break apart and cause leaky gut.

Toxins

Toxins are a big problem and removing them from your system is a good way to rebalance your body. Your body becomes weaker as it encounters molecules it wasn’t designed to handle. These molecules include toxins you eat in your food like steroids, antibiotics, hormones and GMOs.

We are exposed to toxins in the environment that are locked into are body like arsenic, lead, mercury, aldehydes, carbon dioxide and airbourne particles.

Removing toxins from your bloodstream especially heavy metals can be done through a process known as chelation. A chelate is a chemical compound that contains at least one metal ion attached to two nonmetal ones. It’s a natural process that removes the metal toxins from your system. Your body is designed to both produce toxins as byproducts of cell metabolism and also the chelates needed to mop them up. But if there are too many toxins or the innate mechanisms of detoxification are not working well then extra help in the form of chelation is needed.

There are products like zeolites that can be used to help remove and shift mercury for example, as using these can cause an array of challenging systemic symptoms I advise you seek the services of a skilled practitioner to support and direct your detoxification and chelation program.

As I mentioned early we have what is considered to be a second brain in our gut that is created by the massive volume of bacteria that live there and also a vast network of nerve cells. The bacteria are called are human microbiome – a sophisticated and helpful population of bacteria that communicates with our body and vice-versa via the millions of nerves and neurons in our gut which help control muscle movement and the secretion of hormones and enzymes. 

The microbiome is also present in the mouth since it is the start point of the gut. This microbiome is so intertwined with our existence and wellbeing it is no wonder it has been stated that our health begins in the gut.

Acid Alkaline Balance For Healthy Bacteria

To sustain healthy gut bacteria (and that includes the ones in the mouth) we need to balance the pH of our system. When there is a pH imbalance the microbiome goes out of balance and can lead to an overgrowth of Candida, a yeast that is responsible for bloating and a whole host of symptoms associated with leaky gut.

In the mouth this pH imbalance allows bad bacteria to take over which results in tooth decay and gum disease.

Imbalances occur when we don’t properly chew our food, drink too much fluid with our meals, eat the wrong foods like processed refined grains, gluten, sugar, coffee or alcohol. Antibiotics will also destroy our gut bacteria. The imbalance in pH robs the body of vital nutrients like minerals need for our body to function.

One of the paths to health is to eat to restore and retain the balance of our intestinal bacteria. This process can also be supported by the use of probiotics.

There is a fine balance between what we eat, our health and the prevention of disease and dental decay. By addressing our eating and reducing toxins we can go a long way to living a vital energised life and having less dental decay and gum disease.

It’s simply a choice to shift away from our modern unhealthy processed diet back to one that nature intended.

To prevent tooth decay and gum disease it is essential to have regular dental checks, call us now to book an appointment 07 3720 1811

http://ift.tt/2fNerFW

[broomon1]

How To Eat For Healthy Teeth and To Prevent Tooth Decay

How To Eat To Prevent Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is an infection of the tooth. Your teeth are the hardest things in the human body and yet tooth decay can turn your tooth to soft squidgy mush.

We are told tooth decay is caused by eating too much sugar that feeds the decay bacteria in your mouth making them produce bacteria that dissolves your tooth enamel and then the insides of your tooth.

Part of how susceptible you are to this process depends on how well the tooth protein scaffolding and matrix developed and was calcified into a hard crystalline structure.

Tooth decay occurs when tooth brushing and flossing is inadequate. Brushing and flossing physically remove the bacteria form your teeth known as plaque. This means we are responsible for controlling the environment in the mouth and preventing tooth decay.

But tooth decay is not this simplistic as there is more to it than brush, floss and don’t eat sugar. There are other factors that contribute to tooth decay.

Dentinal Fluid Flow and What Causes Tooth Decay

One aspect is the flow of fluid in your teeth.  A healthy tooth is like a closed high pressure system and during experiments in the 1960’s conducted by Dr Ralph Steinman of Loma Linda School of dentistry it was found that the fluid or lymph (like that that flows in your lymphatic system) inside the tooth from the pulp chamber, or the inner part of the tooth that contains your blood supply and nerves, migrated under pressure to the outside of the tooth. So there is a flow of fluid coming in through the tip of the tooth root, and passing inside the tooth to the surface like sweat coming through the skin. This fluid comes out of the tooth where it is attached to the ligament in your mouth that holds it in place in your jawbone.

As long as there is a positive fluid pressure from the inside to the outside bacteria from the mouth cannot enter and live in the microscopic tubes in the tooth.

However, during those experiments it was discovered that when you eat sugar this fluid pump is reversed and begins to act like a suction pump allowing bacteria to enter and drawing them into the tooth.

This mechanism is under the control of a parotid hormone in the salivary glands, which is the gatekeeper for the direction of flow of fluid in the teeth. This is called the dentinal fluid flow theory of decay.

What You Eat Affects Your Gut and Immune System

What you eat not only affects your teeth and the fluid flow; it also affects your gut and the bacteria that live in it. The majority of bacteria in our mouth and gut are good bacteria that are designed to work with our body, support the immune system and defend us from bad harmful bacteria and microorganisms like yeasts.

If we feed our bacteria the wrong foods the harmful bad bacteria will overgrow causing inflammation and poor immune response, and damage to the gut wall allowing partially digested food and toxins to escape from the gut and into the body. This is known as leaky gut syndrome.

Sugar Upsets Your Gut Bacteria

When you gut is not right, you are not right. For your teeth and gut to be healthy the most important thing is to avoid sugar in all its forms so as not to reverse that fluid pump in your teeth and draw tooth decay causing bacteria into your teeth. 

Sugar and processed grains and refined foods disturb the balance of your healthy bacteria, are pro-inflammatory (they cause inflammation) and weaken your immune response. They will also increase your tenancy toward insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and obesity, which are all factors in diabetes, poor cardiovascular health, increased risk of dementia and cancers. 

How To Eat For Healthy Teeth and To Prevent Tooth Decay

Now I’m going to give you an overview of what eating for health looks like, this is not about controlling calories or trying to loose weight but about providing optimal nutrition to your body with a diet that is nourishing, satiating and anti-inflammatory. By eating the way nature intended you keep your blood sugars, weight and bacteria in check without the effort of dieting or extreme exercise.

Eat as close to nature as you can, include a wide variety of vegetables especially the leafy greens. Have a rainbow on your plate eat foods that have a range of colours on your plate. Not only do they contain antioxidants and great nutrients they look appetizing and that stimulates our body ready for the digestive process. Your mouth and your teeth are the first step in digestion as they break down the food and introduce digestive enzymes before the food gets swallowed and hits your stomach.

When we eat we need to feed our brain although it is only 2-3 percent of body weight it consumes around 25 percent of our energy. Interestingly our gut is called the second brain as it contains a huge complex of nerve endings that signal our brain more than it signals the gut. This is called the gut-brain connection and we are feeding it directly when we eat. We are also feeding the bacteria and microorganisms that reside in our gut before we feed ourselves.

Eat Alkaline, Primitive and Colourful

I’m not going to go into all the different myriads of diet types that are out there but give you an overview of some principles to apply to your food choices. 

This simplest way to think about this is to eat foods that are primitive (as nature intended), alkaline, colourful and where you can organic.

These principles will help to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many more illnesses. They will help you maintain a healthy weight to feel vibrant and alive well into old age.

Eating primitive means eating less processed and packaged foods and snacks like potato chips and sweets. It means eating more food that comes straight from the farm to the table. It’s about eating real food not manufactured and manmade. So this includes meats, fish, vegetables and seasonal fruit.

Eating alkaline means keeping a good balance between acidic foods which are animal based foods and alkaline or plant based foods. We are designed to be alkaline with the pH inside our cells at about 7.3-7.5. Consuming alkaline foods reduces inflammation in your blood and your body. 

Tooth decay occurs in an acidic environment and if your body and saliva are not kept alkaline enough your teeth will rot. Foods that contain lots of minerals like calcium and magnesium will help alkalise your body and your mouth so don’t skimp on those green leafy veg and nuts and seeds. 

Eating colourful means choosing foods that are naturally green, red, yellow, orange and purple for at least 6 servings a day. This provides important minerals, vitamins and antioxidants for your body without you resorting to supplements. They also provide fiber, which is essential for good gut health. You need vitamin A, C and E from your vegetables for healthy teeth and gums.

Eating organic foods means avoiding pesticides and toxins and GMO foods. Research has shown that our bodies do not know how to process or cope with these substances. For example we now have wheat that has been developed for fast growth and to be insect and pest resistant but because of that it now contains mega quantities of gluten which we are not designed to deal with in our guts and hence one of the reasons we are seeing the huge increase in people with gluten intolerance.

How To Change Your Eating Habits The Easy Way

The easiest way to change your eating habits is to shop and buy foods only from the perimeter of the supermarket or food stores as this is where the majority of fresh produce is. Avoid those middle aisles where all the processed foods are in packets, boxes and cans.

Don’t Forget Your Minerals

What else do you need to eat for healthy teeth; you need fat-soluble vitamins A and K2, plus vitamin D and calcium.

Calcium is best obtained from your diet and not in the form of supplements as these cannot replace the lack of calcium in your diet because they actually contain the wrong form of calcium to be utilised and absorbed correctly by the body. In fact there are schools of though that say we are having too much calcium in our food and that this is resulting in illness. And drinking milk is not the source of calcium we think it is because the calcium in it is not readily absorbed into the body, as it is actually insoluble.

The best way to get the calcium your teeth and bones need is to eat lots of green vegetables like kale, broccoli, bok choy and Asian greens. Proteins such as sardines, salmon and almonds are also great sources of calcium and so are figs and oranges when they are in season.

Now the key to optimal nutrition and being able to utilise these foods with their abundance of nutrients is that our digestion needs to be firing on all cylinders.

Digestion, Saliva, Teeth and Chewing Well

Digestion begins in the mouth, so what we put in our mouth and the health of our mouth affects how our food is digested. Remember that your immune system relies on you having a healthy gut. 70 percent of your immune system function develops in your gut, and your mouth is the beginning of your gut.

The enzymes in saliva begin the process of digestion by breaking down starches and wetting your food to make it moist. Your teeth chew the food to break it down so there is more surface area for your digestive enzymes in your stomach and intestines to work on. Chewing also releases products that boost our immune system response. When you teeth are damaged, missing or you have a poor misaligned bite it effects how well you can digest your food because you can’t chew properly and your food doesn’t get adequately broken down. The same is true if you wolf your food and don’t chew it enough. When you lose teeth your bite drifts and shifts and because of this the remaining teeth just aren’t as efficient.

Yes we can live without teeth but it comes at a price. You get fewer nutrients that are readily available for your gut to absorb because you can’t chew and break your food down effectively in the mouth.

Chewing also signals your nervous and hormonal systems, instructing the liver to produce bile and your stomach to produce acid both are which are needed to break down and absorb the goodness from your diet.

You can optimise digestion by limiting or excluding drinking fluids while you eat so as to not dilute your stomach acids. You need to adequately chew your food to mix in your saliva and turn the food into a slushy paste that is easily swallowed and more able to be digested. Stomach acids further break down the slushy food and allow it to be processed and absorbed through the small intestine.

Drinking while eating can interfere with the levels and activity of stomach acid and bile. Bile emulsifies the fats in our diet. And just a point of note here eating fats do not make you fat – you need fats to survive and to be able to absorb and transport fat soluble vitamins. Low fat diets can actually contribute to illness.

Drinking fluids while eating slows your digestive processes down, allowing for the build up of toxic waste even if you are having a really healthy diet. It’s recommended to drink water more than 30 minutes before and after you eat to help your digestion.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome is a condition where you intestines become more permeable; the cells that line the intestinal wall aren’t joined together well. This allows larger molecules of undigested food and toxic substances to leak into your blood stream. These trigger your white blood cells to multiple to fight what they perceive to be an infection in your blood. This ramps up and stresses your immune system to the point where it becomes exhausted and is not able to fight other types of infections.

It puts your entire body into a perpetual fight or flight mode, which stresses all your vital organs. 

This can be avoided by having sound healthy teeth and gums with a balance of chewing forces so that the foods are chewed well and mixed properly with saliva for optimal use in the body. It is also important to have a good flow of quality saliva to support this and unfortunately due to excess inflammation or if we are on certain types of medication like anti-depressants the saliva flow and quality is compromised. This can be combated with saliva stimulating products to protect the teeth from being more prone to decay and also to support your digestive processes.

Gluten and Gut Inflammation

One of the main causes of gut inflammation for many people is gluten. Gluten causes your gut cells to release a protein zonulin that breaks apart the cell junctions of the intestinal lining causing inflammation.

Infections, stress, age and a build up of toxins can also cause these tight cell junctions to break apart and cause leaky gut.

Toxins

Toxins are a big problem and removing them from your system is a good way to rebalance your body. Your body becomes weaker as it encounters molecules it wasn’t designed to handle. These molecules include toxins you eat in your food like steroids, antibiotics, hormones and GMOs.

We are exposed to toxins in the environment that are locked into are body like arsenic, lead, mercury, aldehydes, carbon dioxide and airbourne particles.

Removing toxins from your bloodstream especially heavy metals can be done through a process known as chelation. A chelate is a chemical compound that contains at least one metal ion attached to two nonmetal ones. It’s a natural process that removes the metal toxins from your system. Your body is designed to both produce toxins as byproducts of cell metabolism and also the chelates needed to mop them up. But if there are too many toxins or the innate mechanisms of detoxification are not working well then extra help in the form of chelation is needed.

There are products like zeolites that can be used to help remove and shift mercury for example, as using these can cause an array of challenging systemic symptoms I advise you seek the services of a skilled practitioner to support and direct your detoxification and chelation program.

As I mentioned early we have what is considered to be a second brain in our gut that is created by the massive volume of bacteria that live there and also a vast network of nerve cells. The bacteria are called are human microbiome – a sophisticated and helpful population of bacteria that communicates with our body and vice-versa via the millions of nerves and neurons in our gut which help control muscle movement and the secretion of hormones and enzymes. 

The microbiome is also present in the mouth since it is the start point of the gut. This microbiome is so intertwined with our existence and wellbeing it is no wonder it has been stated that our health begins in the gut.

Acid Alkaline Balance For Healthy Bacteria

To sustain healthy gut bacteria (and that includes the ones in the mouth) we need to balance the pH of our system. When there is a pH imbalance the microbiome goes out of balance and can lead to an overgrowth of Candida, a yeast that is responsible for bloating and a whole host of symptoms associated with leaky gut.

In the mouth this pH imbalance allows bad bacteria to take over which results in tooth decay and gum disease.

Imbalances occur when we don’t properly chew our food, drink too much fluid with our meals, eat the wrong foods like processed refined grains, gluten, sugar, coffee or alcohol. Antibiotics will also destroy our gut bacteria. The imbalance in pH robs the body of vital nutrients like minerals need for our body to function.

One of the paths to health is to eat to restore and retain the balance of our intestinal bacteria. This process can also be supported by the use of probiotics.

There is a fine balance between what we eat, our health and the prevention of disease and dental decay. By addressing our eating and reducing toxins we can go a long way to living a vital energised life and having less dental decay and gum disease.

It’s simply a choice to shift away from our modern unhealthy processed diet back to one that nature intended.

To prevent tooth decay and gum disease it is essential to have regular dental checks, call us now to book an appointment 07 3720 1811

http://ift.tt/2fNerFW