Women’s Health USA – September 2019

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SEPTEMBER 2019 WOMEN’S HEALTH

Source: American College of Cardiology

Shifting teeth...as an adult? No, you’re not imagining it. As you age,

mouth space for your teeth shrinks as the back teeth move forward,

explains Alex Waldman, DMD, an orthodontist in Beverly Hills. The

result: crowding and, sometimes, gaps. It can happen even if you had

braces as a kid, BTW, since our teeth like to revert back to their original

state (annoying). But crooked ones aren’t just a cosmetic issue. If they

prevent you from cleaning your set well, bacteria around your gums can

enter the bloodstream, creating health issues. See an orthodontist for

invisible aligners and regular check-ins, or if you have mild shifting and

are on a budget, consider custom mail-ins from SmileDirectClub.

Chomper Check

Nothing puts a damper on dinner

quite like a sudden case of chest or

stomach pain. To the rescue: all-

natural remedies! If you’re a victim

of frequent hear tburn at tacks, tr y

popping an enteric-coated pepper-

mint-oil tablet before a meal. It can

soothe the muscles in your upper GI

tract to reduce esophageal spasms,

plus curb colon activity (as in, bloat-

ing and gas), according to a new study.

If you always feel crampy or consti-

pated, sip on fennel tea after eating.

Typically nauseous beyond belief?

Ginger (in the form of tea or a lollipop)

can calm an upset tum post-nomz.

Sources: Digestive Diseases and Sciences (study);

Samantha Nazareth, MD, WH advisory board member

Low-carb diets may be a go-to for fast

weight loss (looking at you, keto and

paleo), but they come with a red flag.

People who depend on carbs for less

than 45 percent of their daily calories

are more likely to develop atrial fibril-

lation (AFib), or an irregular heart-

beat, according to new research

presented at the American College of

Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Ses-

sion. Why care? Folks with AFib are

five (!) times more likely to have a

stroke than those without. Research-

ers believe that because low-carb

dieters often eat fewer fruits, veggies,

and grains (all sources of carbs), they

miss out on the anti-inflammatory

benefits of these foods. Plus, eating

more protein and fat may lead to oxi-

dative stress, which has been linked

to AFib too. Your carb sweet spot, per

the study authors: 45 to 52 percent of

your daily calories—on a 1,500-calorie

diet, that means about 168 to 196

grams of carbs a day.

Eat With Ease

LOW-CARB

CAUTION

WARM UP HEALTH