inspiration

The Art of Doing Nothing

by Marlaina Donato

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Most of us can remember having the glorious ability to do absolutely nothing of practical significance as children. We rolled in the grass, laughed ourselves silly with friends on the street corner and happily squandered away Saturdays.

Somewhere along the line, someone planted a seed in our brains that programmed us to believe that we must earn our existence. We became self-conscious perfectionists that equate leisure and “be-ing” with laziness. As adults, we see “non-doing” as something trivial, something forbidden, unless we become ill or injured, and only then can we shrug off the societal guilt trip. Somehow, well-being has become a luxury, and our physical bodies are paying for it. We feel old before our time and suffer Monday morning blues every day of the week. The Yiddish proverb, “The hardest work is to go idle,” rings truer than ever.

We envy our beloved pets when they stretch out in a patch of inviting sun or dream away rainy days, not realizing that we, too, can curl up with the idea of doing nothing. Even foxes and squirrels pause in the survival game to soak up an hour of summer. Unplugging brings us back to our breath, aligns us with our true North and prompts our blood pressure to drop a few numbers. Taking a little time to exhale and watch the clouds overhead can also kickstart our immune systems. If need be, we can appease the to-do lister inside of us by scheduling half an hour of inactivity into the weekly calendar, and when we realize how much we like shooting the breeze, we can increase it to an hour.

Consider the last time we gave ourselves permission to sip a little freedom and watch the grass grow. Poet Winifred Druhan noted, “Wasting time is being free.” We won’t win any accolades for doing nothing, but we’ll surely be happier.

Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

Your Mouth and Your Digestive Health

by Dr. Yolanda Cintron

Ahealthy digestive system is crucial for optimal overall health. An unhealthy mouth will give you an unhealthy digestive system, meaning poor digestion and absorption of nutrients, rendering you weak, tired, unhealthy.

We see this daily, even in young, strong individuals with healthy diets and ideal life habits who exercise and sleep 8 to 10 hours. A light bulb goes on: “It must be something in the mouth…” That is how they find us. We are the last (missing) link and probably should be the first. These individuals had to exhaust all the doctors, tests, diets, and healthcare providers before they finally arrived on our doorstep.

Both in your mouth and your gut, there are billions of beneficial bacteria that influence many of your bodily functions, including your immune system. Studies show that an estimated 80 percent of your immune system is located in your gut which is directly affected by your oral health. You swallow your oral infection directly into your stomach. Some dental restorations have metals, aluminum porcelain crowns, lead, and more, and these elements alter the electrical current of your cells, oral and gut bacteria and overall health.

The ratio of good and bad gut bacteria is a crucial indicator of the condition of your health. Your gut should have a balance of somewhere near 85 percent good and 15 percent bad. An imbalance between good and bad bacteria can predispose you to a wide number of health problems more serious than bad breath and body odor. Crohn’s is rampant, as are GERD, acid reflux, poor absorption of nutrients and poor elimination of toxins. Having less-than-optimal gut flora can make you vulnerable to health conditions. A fishy smell in the breath suggests kidney problems, while fruity-smelling breath may mean uncontrolled diabetes. By the odor from the mouth, I can tell if a patient has a sinus infection, gum disease, stomach dysbiosis, intestinal, liver or pancreas blockages.

Did you know that if you have mercury fillings, your body produces yeast to block mercury from going to your organs? After removing mercury fillings, gum infections, cavitations and detoxifying your body, the mouth and gut microbiome can then get restored, using pre- and probiotics to replace what you lost. Digestion and digestive health start in your mouth. Even before you place food in your mouth, the thought of sucking on a lemon will produce saliva, or the smell of your favorite meal initiates enzymes to be produced in your mouth and get your stomach processes going. Re: Foods. A Paleo diet keeps grains and legumes off-limits due to their protective survival coating known as phytic acid which helps them absorb phosphorus and minerals (in nuts, seeds and grains) but prevents us humans from absorbing necessary vitamins. Among these nutrients are zinc, iron, and magnesium, as well as one of the most important minerals for building healthy gums and teeth and preventing tooth decay—calcium. Furthermore, phytic acid has been shown to interfere with vitamin D absorption which is needed to absorb calcium, both needed for good oral, gum and bone health, as well as cancer prevention. Vitamin D as well as A, E and K are fat-soluble vitamins—they need fat to be absorbed. If you follow a healthy, diversified, balanced diet, you most likely get your healthy fats regularly from avocado, avocado oil, coconut oil, coconut meat, and/or small amounts of (soaked) nuts and seeds.

Getting healthy can actually be enjoyable. For more information or to book an appointment, visit GoNaturalDentistry.com or call 954-938-4599; we will take care of your needs and get you healthy again—pain-free!

With Love,

Dr. Yolie

DrYolie.com