I usually have self-control over foods. I don’t eat sticky and sweet stuffs to prevent cavities. I stay away from hard stuffs to avoid the risk of fracturing my teeth and I stay away from softdrinks because it’s very acidic and can cause demineralization of teeth. But as I’ve said, I’ve been bad.

To counteract my uncontrolled eating habit, I bought a mouthwash that can keep the tooth decay away. I normally don’t believe in mouthwash. Listerine doesn’t do anything except make you feel your breath is fresher. Chlorhexidine mouthwash is for people with gum disease, which I don’t. And other concentrated rinses are only prescribed by dentists. Then I discovered ACT mouthrinse.

ACT Total Care Anticavity Fluoride Rinse has the daily recommended dose of  Sodium Fluoride (0.05% in rinse) which can help with making teeth stronger against cavity. Fluoride changes the enamel composition of the tooth to make the tooth more resistant against bacterial attack. And those teeth with incipient (or very tiny) cavity forming in the ENAMEL (if it’s dentin, then it needs filling) can be remineralized and stop the progress of the cavity. But as your dentist will inform you, this mouthrinse can only be a supplement to your oral hygiene. It is still important to brush thoroughly and floss regularly to remove the plaque which contains the bacteria that causes cavity.

In conclusion, I don’t really need to stay away from sweets to get out of having tooth decay. I just need to be meticulous with my oral hygiene. But when it comes to combating weight gain, it’s a different matter.

Related posts:

1. My successful teeth whitening project
2. I hate dental injections!
3. My retainers won’t work

“Please read about this miracle fruit that can kill cancer cells 100,000 times, more effective than chemo that gave you side effects.

Guyabano,… The SourSop Fruit

The SourSop or the fruit from the Graviola tree is a miraculous natural cancer cell killer 10,000 times stronger than Chemo. Why are we not aware of this?
Its because some big corporation want to make back their money spent on years of research by trying to make a synthetic version of it for sale.

This tree is low and is called Graviola in Brazil , Guanabana in Spanish and has the uninspiring name "Soursop" in English. The fruit is very large and the subacid sweet white pulp is eaten out of hand or, more commonly, used to make fruit drinks, sherbets and such. The principal interest in this plant is because of its strong anti-cancer effects. Although it is effective for a number of medical conditions, it is its anti tumor effect that is of most interest.

This plant is a proven cancer remedy for cancers of all types. Besides being a cancer remedy, graviola is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent for both bacterial and fungal infections, is effective against internal parasites and worms, lowers high blood pressure and is used for depression, stress and nervous disorders.

Research shows that with extracts from this miraculous tree it now may be possible to:
* Attack cancer safely and effectively with an all-natural therapy that does not cause extreme nausea, weight loss and hair loss
* Protect your immune system and avoid deadly infections                              * Feel stronger and healthier throughout the course of the treatment                * Boost your energy and improve your outlook on life

The source of this information is just as stunning: It comes from one of America’s largest drug manufacturers, the fruit of over 20 laboratory tests conducted since the 1970′s! What those tests revealed was nothing short of mind numbing…

Extracts from the tree were shown to:
* Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 types of cancer, including Colon, Breast, Prostate, Lung and Pancreatic cancer..
* The tree compounds proved to be up to 10,000 times stronger in slowing the growth of cancer cells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug!
* What’s more, unlike chemotherapy, the compound extracted from the Graviola tree selectively hunts down and kills only cancer cells. It does not harm healthy cells!

One of America ‘s biggest billion-dollar drug makers began a search for a cancer cure and their research centered on Graviola, a legendary healing tree from the Amazon Rainforest. Various parts of the Graviola tree–including the bark, leaves, roots, fruit and fruit-seeds- -have been used for centuries by medicine men and native Indians in South America to treat heart disease, asthma, liver problems and arthritis. Going on very little documented scientific evidence, the company poured money and resources into testing the tree’s anti-cancerous properties– and were shocked by the results. Graviola proved itself to be a cancer-killing dynamo.

But that’s where the Graviola story nearly ended.

The company had one huge problem with the Graviola tree–it’s completely natural, and so, under federal law, not patentable. There’s no way to make serious profits from it. It turns out the drug company invested nearly seven years trying to synthesize two of the Graviola tree’s most powerful anti-cancer ingredients. If they could isolate and produce man-made clones of what makes the Graviola so potent, they’d be able to patent it and make their money back.

Alas, they hit a brick wall. The original simply could not be replicated. There was no way the company could protect its profits–or even make back the millions it poured into research. As the dream of huge profits evaporated, their testing on Graviola came to a screeching halt. Even worse, the company shelved the entire project and chose not to publish the findings of its research!

Luckily, however, there was one scientist from the Graviola research team whose conscience wouldn’t let him see such atrocity committed. Risking his career, he contacted a company that’s dedicated to harvesting medical plants from the Amazon Rainforest and blew the whistle.

Miracle Unleashed
When researchers at the Health Sciences Institute were alerted to the news of Graviola, they began tracking the research done on the cancer-killing tree. Evidence of the astounding effectiveness of Graviola–and its shocking cover-up–came in fast and furious…..

….The National Cancer Institute performed the first scientific research in 1976. The results showed that Graviola’s "leaves and stems were found effective in attacking and destroying malignant cells." Inexplicably, the results were published in an internal report and never released to the public…

Since 1976, Graviola has proven to be an immensely potent cancer killer in 20 independent laboratory tests, yet no double-blind clinical trials- the typical benchmark mainstream doctors and journals use to judge a
treatment’s value- -were ever initiated..

A study published in the Journal of Natural Products, following a recent study conducted at Catholic University of South Korea stated that one chemical in Graviola was found to selectively kill colon cancer cells at "10,000 times the potency of (the commonly used chemotherapy drug) Adriamycin.. ."

….The most significant part of the Catholic University of South Korea report is that Graviola was shown to selectively target the cancer cells, leaving healthy cells untouched.

Unlike chemotherapy, which indiscriminately targets all actively reproducing cells (such as stomach and hair cells), causing the often devastating side effects of nausea and hair loss in cancer patients.

…A study at Purdue University recently found that leaves from the Graviola tree killed cancer cells among six human cell lines and were especially effective against prostate, pancreatic and lung cancers…

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY ….

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person’s lifetime.

3. When the person’s immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc., and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

WHAT CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells.. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg’s aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk, cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells.

To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water–best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body’s killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc..) to enable the body’s own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit.. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

Related posts:

1. Why women in China do not get breast cancer?
2. Ready cure for indigestion
3. Mad about watermelons

Indigestion aka dyspepsia is a stomach problem. Indigestion takes the form of gas, bloating, heartburn and abdominal pain and can cause a great deal of discomfort for the sufferer. What causes indigestion? Ruling out any pre-existing medical condition (meaning for healthy people), indigestion can be brought about by: eating too much, eating too fast, eating high fat foods, eating during stressful situations, and swallowing air. It is aggravated by smoking before meals, exercising after meals, and drinking large amounts of alcohol.

Cure/Prevention for indigestion the bloated kind (Note: some doesn’t have medical basis but it works!):

1. Avoid smoking after meals – smoking increases the air you may swallow and can cause bloating.

2. Exercising after meals – wait at least 2 hours before exercising as 2 hours is the gastric emptying time. One morning I decided to go jogging and because I was hungry, I ate half a donut. During my jog, my stomach starts to hurt and all I could say was next 20 minutes on the way home was so uncomfortable. Not going to exercise again. hehehe.

3. Drink warm tea/water when eating or after meal – warm beverage (not the alcoholic or soda kind) can cause blood vessels to dilate and make the stomach work better. During an indigestion, warm water/tea can cause the air to expel.

4. Don’t take antacids for bloating because bloating is not caused by hyperacidity.

5. Lay flat on your stomach – this was very helpful and effective advice from a friend. Lying on the stomach can cause air to expel easier and faster.

6. Put hot compress or liniment oil on your stomach to alleviate the discomfort.

7. Chew gum to facilitate burping. But if you don’t have indigestion, beware chewing gum can cause swallowing of lot of air.

8. Avoid overeating, especially high fat content foods. These are difficult to digest and are likely to cause some degree of discomfort. Overeating causes the stomach to work harder and makes digestion more difficult. The result may be bloating, gas, or heartburn.

9. Avoid eating too quickly. Your stomach needs time to adjust to the food that is being eaten. Eating quickly can also trap air in the stomach causing excessive gas and bloating.

Have a happy stomach!

Related posts:

1. Guyabano as cure for Cancer?
2. TROUBLE SLEEPING?

Winter melon is a variety from the family of melon (of course). Its other names are ash gourd or wax gourdWe are familiar with watermelon and cantaloupes which are great summer fruits. Melons in general (applies to winter melon) are rich in potassium and vitamin C. They are fat/cholesterol free and its high water content aids in proper digestive and elimination process. Recent study show that they contain Superoxide Dismutase, an antioxidant enzyme which helps relieve people of stress and fatigue. The SOD also helps against cell damage which can reduce skin aging. Other mineral contents are calcium, phosphorus, thiamine, iron, riboflavin and niacin.

In addition to the benefits, this winter melon soup recipe is a perfect comfort food for the soul. Move over chicken noodle soup.

Winter Melon Soup

1/2 cut of winter melon

5 pcs shiitake mushroom, sliced

1 cup shredded chicken breast, uncooked

2 pcs of chinese eggs (optional)

Directions:

1. Cut the winter melon into small squares/rectangle. Remove the rind/skin. Slice the shiitake mushroom at about 1/4 of an inch.

2. Marinate the shredded chicken with a little bit of salt for 15 minutes.

3. Boil a pot of water. Toss in your shredded chicken and cook for 5 minutes.

4. Put in the mushroom and winter melon and cook for 5 minutes or until melons are slightly tender (not mashed tender)

4. Cut the chinese egg into quarter and toss into the pot stirring to break the white of the egg. The chinese egg will give saltiness to the soup. But you can also add salt and pepper to taste if you don’t want to add the egg.

Related posts:

1. enoki mushroom
2. Basic Chinese Porridge
3. Chicken Teriyaki Recipe

My dad is diagnosed with Benign Prostate Cancer. The doctor has prescribed him to do surgery or take medicines. Because my dad doesn’t want surgery and medicines are expensive, he settles for the next best thing to moderate his PSA…eating watermelon.  I always eat meals with my dad so I always get to eat the fruits that he buys. Nowadays I’m just full of watermelons. I don’t know the health benefit of watermelons for me but for my dad it’s his cancer. With time in my hand,  I researched the health facts and benefits of watermelons.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF WATERMELON

1. The health benefits of watermelon are really great. No matter how it is sliced, it is packed with some of the most important antioxidants found in nature.
2. It is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A, particularly through its concentration of beta-carotene.
3. The beautiful red watermelon is also a source of the potent carotene antioxidant which is called lycopene. These antioxidants travel throughout the body neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are substances in the body that can cause much damage to us. They are able to oxidize cholesterol, making it stick to blood vessel walls and thicken them which can lead to hearty attack or stroke. The lycopene which gives fruits the attractive red color that we find in watermelon can help reduce the risks of prostate cancer.
4. It is a surprising fact that watermelon is the only fruit that contains higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable.
5. Watermelon is a fruit that is rich in electrolytes sodium and potassium that we lose through our perspiration.
6. Watermelon is rich in the B vitamins necessary for energy production. Food experts recommend watermelon as a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin B1 and magnesium. Because of its higher water content approximately ninety percent and calorie value it is ranked more valuable than other fruits.
7. Watermelon has a special cooling effect and is exceptionally high in citrulline, an amino acid that our bodies use to make another amino acid, arginine, which is used in the urea cycle to remove ammonia from the body.
8. The antioxidants help reducing the severity of asthma. It also reduces the risk of colon cancer, asthma, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and prostate cancer.
9. Watermelon is a good source of thiamin, potassium and magnesium which protect our body from so many diseases.
10. Watermelon is fat free but helps energy production. It protects against macular degeneration.

Fruits are the best way to go if you want to be healthy and eat your dessert at the same time. Although watermelons are best served in a hot summer day, I don’t mind eating it whole year round because it’s just delicious. Before heading straight to your nearest market/grocery store to buy a watermelon, here are some tips in selecting one:

“The best way to choose a flavorful melon is to look at the color and quality of the flesh, which should be a deep color and absent from white streaks. If it features seeds, they should be deep in color. Oftentimes, however, we do not have this liberty when purchasing watermelon since it is more common to buy a whole, uncut fruit. When choosing a whole watermelon, look for one that is heavy for its size with a rind that is relatively smooth and that is neither overly shiny nor overly dull. In addition, one side of the melon should have an area that is distinct in color from the rest of the rind, displaying a yellowish or creamy tone. This is the underbelly, the place that was resting on the ground during ripening, and if the fruit does not have this marking, it may have been harvested prematurely, which will negatively affect its taste, texture and juiciness. For the most antioxidants, choose fully ripened watermelon.” (source)

Happy healthy dessert!

Related posts:

1. Guyabano as cure for Cancer?
2. The 20 Unhealthiest Drinks in America
3. Winter Melon soup: food for the soul

I don’t know why I’m having trouble sleeping. I don’t drink coffee. I don’t have a strenuous exercise before I go to bed.  I don’t have my siesta time anymore. I tried drinking warm milk, or applying liniment oil on my head, or counting sheep, or listening to soft music, or tiring my eyes with reading (it just gave me eyestrain) – nothing seems to work. I don’t know if I’m just anxious about my upcoming classes or I’m worried about my sister who goes home at 3am in the morning – which maybe keeps me awake. I can’t seem to make my brain relax.

I also tried this herbal sleeping pill I bought over the counter in a pharmacy store. It’s called Sleepasil. I downed 2 capsules last night and it didn’t help with my insomnia.  My sister-in-law said that there’s no therapeutic claim on that pill and she was right. I’m feeling that I need professional help…or yoga?! Can yoga relax my body to sleep?

If you know any cure for sleeplessness, please advise me. Advance thanks!

zzzz...

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From what I’ve gathered from the internet, RLS is a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move when at rest in an effort to relieve these feelings. RLS sensations are often described by people as burning, creeping, tugging, or like insects crawling inside the legs. Often called paresthesias (abnormal sensations) or dysesthesias (unpleasant abnormal sensations), the sensations range in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful. RLS affects the general health by depriving a person of sleep and making him/her  unproductive in the day.

What causes RSL? Low levels of iron or anemia, chronic diseases, any underlying neurological disorder, pregnancy especially in the last trimester, certain medications, caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. Treatment of RLS differs with the cause, if idiopathic (meaning of unknown cause) then movement can temporarily relieve the sensation, hot bath, massage, heating pad…basically the treatment is geared toward the relieving of symptoms. A lifestyle change can also help by decreasing intake of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. For any underlying chronic or neurological disorder, medications like dopaminergics, benzodiazepines (central nervous system depressants), opioids, and anticonvulsants can help per a physician’s prescription.

RLS is generally a lifelong condition for which there is no cure. Symptoms may gradually worsen with age, though more slowly for those with the idiopathic form of RLS than for patients who also suffer from an associated medical condition.

My RSL is idiopathic and of all the causes listed, I think a low level of iron is causing this RSL. However everytime I’m attacked by this sensation, what I do is I’ll wrap my legs like a mummy with my blanket to keep my legs from moving and eventually I’ll get tired and fall asleep and the sensation will go away. It works everytime.

To learn more about this condition, click here.

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I’m very conscious on the choice of my make-up. I have somewhat sensitive skin, my face gets a little bit oily sometimes and I’m prone to break-outs. I also don’t want to spend too much on makeup especially if I haven’t tested it first. And many times I read a lot of reviews before purchasing a product.

So here are my beauty picks:

1. Facial Cleanser – I finally found compatibility with Cetaphil Facial Cleanser. Its advertisement is really true: it’s a really gentle cleanser! I don’t use make-up remover and just use this to totally clean my face. It’s not harsh on the skin and doesn’t dry out the skin. My face feels supple after washing.
2. Facial Moisturizer – I always go for moisturizer with vitamin E because the extra vitamin is a good antioxidant and will make my face healthier. I’m satisfied with Myra E facial moisturizer. It’s very light and easily glides on the face. Although it doesn’t do much with keeping the face hydrated. My sister introduced to me Clinique moisture surge extended thirst relief. I really love it because it’s cool and refreshing on the skin and it does keep your skin hydrated. I just started using Myra E with SPF. I always go out without putting sunblock on my face. I know it’ll give me brown spots but I’m just so lazy. So Myra E with SPF solves that problem for me.
3. Face powder – face powder really gives me hives and breakouts so it was a long time before I found one that is really light on my skin. Clinique Superpowder Double Face Makeup combines both pressed powder and foundation powder into one. I like using this because it’s a combo already and it’s also noncomedogenic. But I think it’s really important to change the powder sponge every once in a while to prevent any break-outs.
4. Concealer – the best concealer for my dark circles and blemishes would be TheBalm. It’s cream based so it glides smoothly and blends well with my skin. It’s not messy to apply unlike some concealer sticks that I’ve used before. It’s cheap and a pot can last me months. If I want a flawless concealment, I would combine it with Clarins Instant Light Perfecting Touch. I hate using Clarins because it’s wand-type and it’s messy to apply. It’s also liquid based and after a few hours my face gets extra oily from it.
5. Make-up Primer – I’m glad that I discovered that it’s really important to use a primer before putting your makeup. I’m happy with Smashbox Photofinish Color Correcting (Blend) Primer. It makes my skin tone even, makes applying makeup easier and makes my face look flawless. However I only use this when I want to do some serious make-up. In ordinary days I would just use concealer and face powder.
6. Eyes – eyeliner, eye curler and mascara are the basic eye makeup for me. The best eyeliner for me would be Ulta automatic eyeliner. It’s so easy to use and doesn’t smear when applying. I also have Prestige liquid eyeliner which I use when I’m not feeling lazy. It has great color, doesn’t smudge or streak and gives a fine uniform line. I use Shu Uemura for eye-curler. I just joined the Shu bandwagon even though after years of using it, it still doesn’t curl my eyelashes really well. I have short Asian eyelashes and  Shu has a wide clamp which has hard time curling my eyelashes on both sides of my eye. The best mascara for me would be DiorShow Blackout. It totally makes my eyelashes look longer and fuller. A cheaper but good mascara is Maybelline Lash Discovery which has mini brush to get even the shortest eyelashes without smearing.
7. Eyeshadow – I like BareEscentuals Bare minerals eye shadow because it doesn’t wear off easily and gives a vivid color. But I use this so seldomly because my face gets allergic with Bare minerals.  I often use drug-store eyeshadow products which wears off easily so I just compensate it with using basic color like black, silver, and different shades of brown.
8. Cheeks – I haven’t found a good blush-on make-up. Before I used WeiEast blush-on powder which blends perfectly with my skin tone. But I find it too harsh on my skin. This goes the same for Bare minerals. I tried the Smashbox O-Glow Intuitive Cheek Color and it has avery nice tint. I was hesitant to buy it because I have a problem with blending cheek stain/tint properly. Sometimes it makes me look like a porcelain doll because there are 2 pink spots on my cheek. Right now I’m using Covergirl blush-on (Rose Silk) which is still kinda harsh on my skin, it wears away easily and it needs a lot of application before the color pops out.
9. Lips – if my lips are too dry especially in cold weather, I just use vaseline petroleum jelly. I like Burt Bees lip balm too because it’s soothing to the lips. Then I put lipstick or gloss over it. A good lip plumper would be BareMinerals Buxom Lips.  I feel the tingle which psychologically convince me that my lips are getting plumper. When I’m too lazy to put lipstick and balm I use the Body Shop Born Lippy Strawberry lip balm because it gives color and a little bit of moisture to my lifeless lips.

I still believe that the important things on how to keep the face healthy are to minimize the use of make-up, drink lots of water, take Vitamin E supplement, clean and moisturize the face and get a goodnight sleep! Well that’s how I do it anyway.

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Men’sHealth magazine wrote about America’s Worst Mall Foods (click here) and this is the gist of the article:

Although this food are so affordable, it’s just not worth it when it comes to your health,

WORST CHINESE MEAL
Panda Express
Orange Chicken
500 calories
27 g fat (5.5 g saturated, 1 g trans)
42 g carbs
810 mg sodium

FAT EQUIVALENT: 9 strips of Oscar Mayer Bacon!

Compared to other traditional Chinese meals (think multi-serving takeout boxes of carb-loaded lo mein), 500 calories doesn’t seem so bad. But consider the source—one small serving of Panda Express orange chicken usually comes with a second entrée (add another 300-400 calories) and a side of rice (add 450 calories if you choose the fried variety, 380 for the steamed). Make it a double serving of orange chicken and a side of fried rice and you’ve just consumed 75 percent of your day’s calories in one moment of weakness.

Eat This Instead:
Broccoli Beef
150 calories
7 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
510 mg sodium
11 g carbs

WORST SNACK
Auntie Anne’s
Glazin’ Raisin Pretzel
510 calories
107 g carbs
4 g fat (2 g saturated)
480 mg sodium

CALORIC EQUIVALENT: 2 slices of Pizza Hut cheese pizza!

It’s hard to consider this meal. Not all of Auntie Anne’s options are this heavy, though. The jalapeno pretzel (without butter) is a reasonable-sized snack that can give you the energy boost you need to make it through your shopping spree, without loading you down and threatening your waistline.

Eat This Instead:
Jalapeno Pretzel, no butter
270 calories
58 g carbs
1 g fat (0 g saturated)
780 mg sodium

WORST SLICE OF PIZZA
Sbarro
Stuffed Pepperoni Pizza, 1 slice
890 calories
g fat: unknown
mg sodium: unknown

CALORIC EQUIVALENT: 3 Snickers bars!

It’s probably no surprise that a pizza labeled “stuffed” would pack a caloric punch—but 890 calories for a single slice? You’d have to eat 3 Snickers bars, or 20 Chicken McNuggets, or 15 KFC Hot Wings to match that load. And that’s not even taking into account what are surely stratospheric fat and sodium counts. (Sbarro’s doesn’t release full nutritional information for their menu items. Check out what other dirty little secrets your favorite restaurants are hiding in this eye-popping expose!)

Eat This Instead!
New York Style Thin Crust Cheese, 1 slice
460 calories

WORST SIDE
Steak Escape
Ranch and Bacon Fries
1,044 calories
71 g fat
1,398 mg sodium
84 g carbs

CALORIC EQUIVALENT: 23 McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets!

Consuming half your day’s allowance of calories in one meal is bad enough—but in one side dish? Claiming innocence will never hold up in a Food Court of Law, though—not when a flood of ranch, a flurry of bacon, and a mountain of fried potatoes are involved. Until some nutritionally savvy company starts baking their fries in the oven, you’ll need to seek out alternative treatments to get your spud fix.

Eat This Instead:
Smashed Potatoes
246 calories
0 g fat
43 mg sodium
53 g carbs

WORST DRINK
Smoothie King
Grape Expectations II (40 oz)
1,096 calories
0 g fat (0 g saturated)
266 g carbs
250 g sugars

SUGAR EQUIVALENT: 13 Dunkin’ Donuts Chocolate Frosted Donuts!

Smoothie King calls this a way to “snack right”; we call it one of the quickest ways to pack on extra pounds. Even if most of the sugar comes from some form of fruit or fruit juice (in this case, ultra-sweet grape juice), the resulting blood-sugar surge (and inevitable energy crash) from this much sweetness may leave you struggling to find that last gift for Aunt Elma.

Drink This Instead:
Slim-N-Trim Orange-Vanilla 20 oz
250 calories
1 g fat (0 g saturated)
46 g carbs
38 g sugars

WORST BREAKFAST
Cinnabon
Regular Caramel Pecanbun
1,100 calories
56 g fat (10 g saturated, 5 g trans)
141 g carbs
47 g sugars

CALORIC EQUIVALENT: 8 White Castle hamburgers

Cinnabon and malls are inseparable. Consider it a symbiotic relationship: Researchers have found that men are turned on by the smell of cinnamon rolls, and further studies have shown that men are more likely to spend money when they’re thinking about sex. But just because Cinnabon might be good for the Gap doesn’t mean it’s at all good for you. This dangerously bloated bun—among these Fattiest Foods in America—contains nearly an entire day’s worth of fat and more than half of your daily allotment of calories. Reconsider your breakfast or snack options, but if you absolutely must eat something, make it Stix.

Eat This Instead:
Cinnabon Stix
379 calories
21 g fat (6 g saturated, 4 g trans)
41 g carbs
14 g sugars

WORST SOUP
Au Bon Pain
Large Macaroni and Cheese Stew with Bread Bowl
1,120 calories
42 g fat (19 g saturated, 1 g trans)
3,070 mg sodium
157 g carbs

SODIUM EQUIVALENT: 22 small orders of McDonald’s French Fries!

Whether it’s made from a giant fried tortilla or a massive hunk of sourdough, if you’re serving vessel is edible, you’re asking for trouble. In this case, the bread bowl adds a belly-building 600 calories to what is already one of America’s most decadent, over-the-top spoonables. If soup’s your thing, you’ll have a hard time keeping the sodium down no matter which bowl you order; good, old-fashioned tomato soup is as good as you’ll do at Au Bon Pain.

Eat This Instead:
Medium Old Fashioned Tomato Soup
200 calories
7 g fat (3 g saturated)
1,150 mg sodium
27 g carbs

WORST MALL FOOD IN AMERICA
Quizno’s
Large Tuna Melt Club with cheese and dressing
1,820 calories
147 g fat (27 g saturated, 1.5 g trans)
2,020 mg sodium
85 g carbs

CALORIC EQUIVALENT: 12 Taco Bell Fresco Style Beef Tacos!

Tuna off the grill or straight from the can is perfectly healthy; tuna drowning in mayonnaise, blanketed in melted cheese, and slicked with oily dressing is decidedly not. Not only does this sandwich carry with it nearly an entire day’s worth of calories and sodium, it also contains as much fat as 49 strips of bacon. In fact, it’s so bad that it will replace Quizno’s Classic Italian in our list of the 20 Worst Foods in America when we update it for 2009.

Eat This Instead:
Small Tuna Melt, no cheese, no dressing
500 calories
33 g fat (5 g saturated)
630 mg sodium
37 g carbs

Of course one can’t help being hungry after spending a long time in the mall and these food stores are readily available and cheap and eating is comforting. But keep in mind to eat in moderation and avoid foods that are really blatantly unhealthy!

Related posts:

1. 10 Things to Never Eat from Vending Machines
2. The 20 Unhealthiest Drinks in America
3. Most Expensive Foods

I’ve always known that I’m a bruxist. I will wake up with a sore jaw. And aside from my snoring, my sister claims that she hears me grinding my teeth. Just recently my boss has revealed to me that I have shiny spots on my amalgam/silver fillings. It is indicative of grinding. He prescribed me a mouthguard which I declined. Some people will show wear on the occlusal surface of their teeth – the cusps are flattened, the incisal edges of the incisors are trimmed. Generalized teeth sensitivity is also experienced.

So what can be the repercussions of a untreated bruxism?

1. Decrease in the occlusal height of the the teeth – which is hard to reconstruct if you want to get it back to its original height. I’ve seen a patient whose teeth were too short because of excessive teeth grinding. My boss can’t just crown all his teeth to increase the height of the teeth because the patient will just grind it away.
2. Decrease in vertical height of the face – the proportion of the mouth area will be smaller than the other proportions of the face.
3. TMJ problems – clenching and grinding can wear away the articular disc of the jaw causing it to become thin and resulting to almost bone to bone friction instead of ligament to bone contact.
4. Chronic headache

How do we treat bruxism?

1. Mouthguard – simplest and noninvasive way of treating bruxism. It is a hard acrylic splint that covers the occlusal surfaces of the upper teeth. It protects the teeth and re-train the nerves and muscles of the jaws from grinding.
2. Botox – it weakens or relaxes the muscles of the jaws from clenching or grinding.
3. Avoid stress and enjoy a restful sleep.

Related posts:

1. My successful teeth whitening project
2. Resignation Drama
3. My retainers won’t work