feel great
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ia^ Bak
eryEnjoying a cup of fresh or
frozen pineapple daily eases
gum bleeding in as little
as 30 days. Credit goes to
bromelain, an enzyme that
helps heal gum tissues.Macular degeneration is the number-one cause of blindness in folks over
- The good news? New science shows we can protect the retinas, halt
the progression of the disease and preserve our vision just by...
Sweet treat for
a healthy smileWe know that dental health is key for overall health, and
new findings make it more important than ever: UCLA
researchers report curing gum disease decreases
dementia risk by as much as 39%! Here, the natural
solutions that combat disease-causing oral bacteriaKeep your eyes young
Cleaner teeth = HEALTHIER YOU
Seems incredible that simply moving
around every day could help keep vision
strong, but a surprising University of
Wisconsin study found that folks over age
55 who exercise lowered their risk of macu-
lar degeneration by 54%. “By keeping your
whole body healthy with exercise, you keep
your retinas healthy too,” explains James
M. Stringham, Ph.D., a research scientist
at Duke Eye Center. And you don’t
even need to exercise, per se. In
fact, scientists found that
doing just 10 hours of
everyday activities a week
like gardening and even
light housework had the
same protective effects.You’ve probably already heard that the
Mediterranean diet can lessen chronic
pain, protect your heart and help you live
longer—now new research proves it staves
off vision loss too! “Many people believe
that macular degeneration is simply an
inherited condition, but actually things
like diet play a ver y signif icant role,” says
Dr. Stringham. “In fact, the Mediterranean
diet has been found to slow the progression
of macular degeneration by 41% —that’s
stronger than what we see for prescribed
medication,” he adds. He credits the diet’s
emphasis on healthy fare (like fruit and
vegetables, whole grains, nuts and fish)
with quenching free radicals responsible for
retina- damaging inflammation.Egg yolks are chock-full of lutein and zea-
xanthin, t wo potent antioxidants that help
the body fend off macular degeneration
by absorbing retina-damaging blue light,
according to Dr. Stringham. Australian
researchers found that folks who ate at least
two eggs daily were 66% less likely to get
macular degeneration than those who ate
less. Other excellent sources of the vitamins
include carrots, broccoli, sweet corn, dark
leafy greens and tomatoes. —K.E. KluznikPuttering around the garden Savoring Mediterranean fare
Boosting “eye vitamins”
Woma n’s World^ 8/5/19 (^17)
Flossing dislodges debris
between teeth to prevent 38%
of the bleeding gums that allow
disease-causing bacteria into the
bloodstream. If you’re one of
the 60% of Americans who avoid
floss, consider a water flosser.
Studies show the devices are
33% more effective at eliminat-
ing bleeding than string f loss.
Using a dry toothbrush cuts
plaque buildup by 63% and
reduces gum bleeding by 55%,
according to one study. To do:
Use a dry brush for one minute,
then brush with toothpaste for
another minute.
Many brands of toothpaste
on drugstore shelves contain
sodium lauryl sulfate, a surface
cleaner that inhibits saliva pro-
duction. That’s a problem since
lack of saliva can make the
mouth a breeding ground for
the bacteria that increase dis-
ease risk. Instead, opt for a paste
made with xylitol, a sweetener
that enhances saliva production
and has been shown to decrease
the risk of tooth decay by 60%.
One to try: Schmidt’s Activated
Charcoal paste (Walmart.com).
Commercial mouthwashes
contain alcohol, which allows
bad-acting bacteria to thrive. A
better bet: swishing with a DIY
rinse made from 3 Tbs. of food-
grade aloe vera juice, 3 Tbs. of
water and a drop of peppermint
oil. One study found that an
aloe rinse reduces plaque and
boosts gum health as effectively
as drugstore mouthwash—
without the harsh ingredients.
Floss with water
Dry brush
Swish with this
Pick a better paste