You might think ear infections are reserved only for children, but I assure you that’s not the case. A little water left in your ear from the shower or a trip to the beach is all it takes to spawn one nasty infection. But good news awaits: chewing gum sweetened with xylitol can help reduce your risk of developing an inner ear infection by 40%!
I’ve reported on the merits of xylitol before, and now it seems you can add yet another reason to incorporate this sugar substitute made from the fiber of fruits and veggies into your life. Sounds good …read more

Get on your knees and prepare to worship the researchers in Seattle that have developed a cavity-fighting version of gummy bears, bless their scientific hearts.
The scoop? Children who ate these special gummy bears five days a week had a significant decrease in the plaque bacteria that causes tooth decay.
So what’s so special about these special bears? In place of sugar, the scientists sweetened the bears with xylitol, which interferes with cavity-causing bacteria. In fact, this bacteria was reduced enough that, in theory, tooth decay could be prevented. *Cue parents and children cheering all across the world*
At this point, the study …read more

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Is there just anything better than reading about the health benefits of steak, beer or chocolate? Methinks not.
So here’s another gem for you: German researchers say that eating a square of dark chocolate every day can reduce your systolic blood pressure (the top number) by 3 points and your diastolic pressure by 2! And you don’t have to worry about breaking the diet bank, either. Each square only totals about 30 calories (calories full of bliss, I might add.)
The trick? Natural compounds found in dark chocolate raise your levels of nitric oxide, …read more

Image details: Fast food meal. served by picapp.com
Slow to hop on the bandwagon of apples vs. french fries, Burger King will soon be unleashing a massive ad campaign directed at parents. Their goal? To entice you into their eating establishment by way of offering “healthier” fast food choices for your rugrats.
In theory, this sounds nice. In actuality, it’s a joke. Why? Because their “healthy” kids meal consists of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, apple fries, and milk. For $3.49.
$3.49?!? Are you kidding me? I could buy 6 boxes of mac-n-cheese for that! I could buy a whole bag of apples …read more

Ice Cream as a fertility booster? Bring it on!
Image details: Couple sharing gelato cone served by picapp.com
1 in 8 couples has trouble conceiving. This, I did not know, but given how many folks I’ve met who are having a hard time getting pregnant, sadly, I’m not surprised.
But, the fix could be just the thing that summertime is all about…Ice Cream!!!!
I’m not making this up, I swear! The good folks at Harvard University have found that along with the usual suspects of increasing fruit and veggie intake, limiting red meats, adding healthy fats by way of nuts and fish, and …read more

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More good news on the nasty habit/I-thought-this-was-junk front. Turns out all the gum-smackers of the world (myself included) have got a good thing going. Jeez, between this and the news from last week, could life get any better?!?
Here, a few reasons why sugarless (operative word) gum is great for you:
* Alert! Alert! Yes, chewing gum can help boost alertness. In fact, one study showed that students and shift workers who chewed gum during the wee hours felt less tired than those in the same situation who didn’t chew gum. The …read more

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Happy Weekend, everyone!
Don’t you just love when your favorite “bad” foods suddenly appear with a glowing halo hovering above them? Yeah, me too. Makes my day.
Like today. Suddenly that steak craving I’ve been having is validated, as is the beer I’m sure to consume throughout the weekend. Why, you ask? Why, I’m so glad you asked. Please, allow me to share:
Steak builds muscles. Okay, so you may not become the next Ah-nold (or Arnold-ette) by sidling up at the nearest steakhouse, but you’ll be happy to know that women who …read more

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Macaroni and cheese, pizza, chocolate chip cookies. Not usually found at the top of a dietician’s “Nice” list, are they? Well, no more. With a few tweaks here and there, your favorite foods can go from Nutritionally Naughty to Superfood instantaneously.
Add this: Cauliflower
To: Macaroni and Cheese
For the benefit of: Preventing Lung Cancer
Yep, adding just a 1/2 cup of pureed cauliflower to your comfort food go-to on a regular basis can lower the odds of getting lung cancer by 30% for non-smokers and 69% for smokers!
Add this: Toasted Shelled Hempseeds
To: …read more

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If your Valentine’s Day is likely to have some chocolate interspersed into it, then lucky you! Be sure you either grab your lovah or position yourself in Cupid’s path because Hallelujah, you’re in for a treat.
What’s all the fuss, you ask? Well doctors from The Mind Lab in England hooked up the hearts and brains of study couples to monitors, then asked them to experience both chocolate and a kiss independently (that is, one without the other). What they found is that the chocolate stimulated their hearts to pound and the pleasure centers in their brains to fire up …read more

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When’s the last time you made like Pooh Bear and attacked a pot of honey with a feverish zeal? If it’s been a while (or, um, never) maybe you should give it a try. Honey is packed with more than just a natural sweetness – it’s got some serious health benefits, too.
Try to incorporate four tablespoons of buckwheat honey (the darker the better) to:

Boost the levels of polyphenolic antioxidants in your blood. These little ditties are powerful compounds that prevent free radicals and other ickies from messing with your immune system.
Save some calories. Though honey does pack more cals …read more