Aloha Beautiful Souls,
Introduction: You Are Your Best Health Advocate
As a certified health coach, I’m committed to staying informed and up-to-date with food and health trends. If I’m not walking my talk, I’m just full of empty words rather than genuine wisdom. One of my core responsibilities is to summarize essential health issues from trusted sources so you can expand your understanding and learn more yourself.
Sharing my findings keeps me energized, and I’m thrilled that you’ve joined me on this health journey. Together, we can get healthier and stay that way. The foundation of wellness is understanding that your lifestyle choices determine, on average, 80% of your health outcomes—far more than genetics alone.
”Unity in Community Builds our Immunity”
The Oral-Systemic Health Connection
If you want to be truly healthy and as free as possible from disease-perpetuating conditions, take matters into your own hands. Understand that your oral health directly affects your overall well-being. The shortcut of taking pills and doing unnecessary procedures often shortens and reduces your quality of life.
The most effective and cost-effective way to be and stay healthy is changing our lifestyle to foster vibrant health, not disease. Yes, your DNA influences your overall health, but you have more control than you think. Lifestyle, diet, habits, emotions, and physical environments determine the majority of your health outcomes.
Did you know your oral health offers clues about your overall health? Yes, it’s true; problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body. It’s amazing how many diseases originate in our mouths and are caused by what we put in them. Only you have control of what you put in your body.
My Personal Oral Health Journey
Last week, I had another tooth extracted, two ceramic implants placed, sinus lifts, and bone grafts in preparation for two more implants. After nearly 2 hours of drilling and inhaling Nitrous oxide, I was thoroughly exhausted. Pain is a drain! Considering I am a dentist’s daughter, you’d think I’d have healthy oral hygiene ingrained in my brain.
Like most defiant kids, I ignored my dad’s warnings about sugar and believed the powerful words of corporate advertising enticing innocent children to compromise their health for profits. As a child, no one told me that a diet of Kool-Aid, Milk Duds, and Juicy Fruit gum was addicting and would set me up for a lifetime of battling sugar addiction and tooth decay. Instead, I remember “Sugar Frosted Flakes are Grrrrrr-reat!”
Later, I went into the sugar-pushing business when I was 25 years old. Even though my sweet confections at our natural foods bakery were organic, I ate more sugar in three decades than most people eat in two lifetimes. 80 percent of all grocery items have added sugar! No wonder diabetes and obesity have ramped up with sugar as the culprit.
Preparing Yourself for Medical Procedures
Realizing it was up to me to know how to care for myself, I learned everything I could about my diagnoses and procedures. I spent a lot of time in nature, just being present. I forgave myself for all the sugar I had consumed and accepted my situation. I watched nearly every YouTube video I could find on implants, bone grafts, and the do’s and don’ts for pre and post oral surgery.
A week before surgery, fully armed with knowledge and questions, I called and got answers. The staff and doctor then knew that I knew what I was talking about. Before going in for oral surgery, I wasn’t even informed I was having a sinus lift—a sheet of paper with general do’s and don’ts given weeks before wasn’t enough to prepare me.
Besides educating myself, I had blood work done and consulted my naturopath doctor and acupuncturist. I even got some CBD/THC gummies. Preparing and receiving support from multiple health practitioners put me at ease. Having a loving, caregiving, and supportive spouse was invaluable.
Pre-Surgery Preparation: Food as Medicine
The day before surgery, I spent hours in my kitchen preparing healthy food. Preparing nutrient-dense foods is my passion. I did a batch cook of all my favorite foods, roasting ten pounds of assorted vegetables from sweet potatoes to mushrooms. My pre-prepared vegetables made a variety of nutrient-dense pureed soups.
I also made bone broth with medicinal plants and herbs, simmering for 24 hours. This potent anti-inflammatory broth loaded with minerals, collagen, and amino acids would assist the healing process. Bones themselves are rich in vitamins and nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous, supporting deep cellular healing.
Medical News Today notes that brewing connective tissue into bone broth provides the body with natural compounds and collagen, which turns to gelatin providing amino acids—the building blocks of proteins.
Post-Surgery Recovery: The Importance of Bacteria Control
Why am I sharing this story about my oral ordeal? Because if my story helps you avoid pain, expense, and a drawn-out difficult experience, then that’s truly worthwhile. My oral health has unveiled many of the root causes of other chronic health concerns I’ve experienced.
We must get a better grip on those harmful bacteria lurking in our mouths. Your body is teeming with primarily harmless bacteria, but some are harmful and affect your teeth and overall health. Our mouth is the entry point to our digestive and respiratory tracts, where unhealthy bacteria can settle, causing pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.
Poor dental hygiene, certain medications, lack of saliva, and genetics all play a role in dental health. Your oral health can contribute to various diseases including endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, and pregnancy complications. Studies suggest that oral bacteria and inflammation from gum disease play a role in these serious conditions.
Your Recovery and Prevention Plan
Mentally and emotionally, I’m preparing for my next dentist visit in three months. I anticipate being healed and ready for crowns and the next phase of implants. I’m trusting that long-term benefits of being able to chew solid food again will make a difference in my digestion.
The cost of eating a sugary diet most of my life has been an expensive, time-consuming, painful experience that I do not recommend. My amped-up healthy oral routine started when toothaches became chronic. I’ve already seen significant improvements in my remaining healthy teeth and overall health with better oral hygiene.
In Summary: Take charge of your own health, which includes oral health. The connection between oral health and our overall health is inseparable. Do not be at the mercy of pills and procedures. By educating yourself and seeking multiple professional opinions, you become your best health advocate.
Today’s A-Z Immune Booster SUPERFOOD is Berries
Eating a variety of mixed berries is best for optimal immune-boosting effects. All berries are rich in bioflavonoids, vitamin C, and phytochemicals, which work as antioxidants protecting our cells. Dark berries, such as blueberries, are super high in bioflavonoids with anthocyanin providing antioxidant characteristics. A cup of strawberries has as much vitamin C as a cup of orange juice and fewer calories.
Your Call to Action
This week, schedule a comprehensive health assessment with a practitioner who listens and educates you, research one health condition you’re curious about, or take one preventive action toward better oral health. Notice how empowered you feel when you take control. Share in the comments: What is one health area where you’re ready to become your own best advocate?
🥰 A Dose of Positivity
The healthier we are, the healthier the world can become. Join us for a weekly uplifting discussion every Thursday at 4 pm PST, 7 pm EST.
We’ll talk about how to be our best health advocate, the value of consulting with a naturopath and seeking multiple opinions concerning our health.
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