healthbriefs
A recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal General Dentistry found that aloe vera gel worked as well as regular toothpaste to clean teeth and eliminate cavity-causing bacteria. Moreover, the study showed that the gel isn’t as
Aloe Vera Gel for Teeth
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hard on the teeth as abrasive toothpastes and so may be better for folks with sensi- tive teeth or gums. However, warns Dilip George, a master of dental surgery and co-author of the study, to be effective, products must contain the stabilized gel from the center of the plant and adhere to gentle manufacturing standards. To find a good aloe vera tooth gel, the researchers suggested checking with the International Aloe Science Council (iasc.org) to review the products that have received its seal of quality.
The Smell of Virtue
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TAI CHI LESSENS ARTHRITIS PAIN
ho would have thought that a clean-smelling room, infused
with a barely noticeable scent of cit- rus, could turn us into better people? A new study at Brigham Young Uni- versity shows that people who enter a clean-smelling environment do just that; they become fairer, more generous and more charitable. In one experiment, participants
received $12, allegedly sent by an anonymous partner in another room. They then had to decide how much to keep and how much to return to their partner, who trusted them to divide it fairly. People in the clean-
scented room returned an average of $5.33 to their partner, versus only $2.81 by those in a normal room. In another experiment, those in the citrus-scented clean room showed a
higher interest (4.21 on a 7-point scale) in volunteering for a Habitat for Humanity service project than those in the other room (3.29). Also, 22 percent in the clean room pledged to donate money, compared to only 6 percent in the control group. Cleanliness can help shape our actions, the researchers concluded, as well
as our judgments about others and ourselves. “This is a very simple, unobtrusive way to promote ethical behavior,” observes Katie Liljenquist, the lead author on the report in Psychological Science, noting its potential usefulness in workplaces, stores and other organizations that typically rely on traditional surveillance and security measures. Perhaps the findings could be applied at home, too, Liljenquist conjectures: “It could be that getting our kids to clean up their rooms might help them clean up their acts, too.”
20 Collier/Lee Counties swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com
that patients with knee osteoarthri- tis who engage in regular Tai Chi exercise both improve their physical function and experience less pain. Tai Chi benefits arthritis sufferers, re- port researchers, because its range of slow rhythmic movements enhances balance, strength and flexibility and induces mental relaxation, all of which contribute to a more positive perception of health and well being.
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Source: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009
loe vera gel can soothe burned skin, take the itch out of bug bites and help treat rashes from poisonous plants. It also appears to be good for our teeth.
ew research from Tufts Univer- sity School of Medicine shows
How To Stop Junk Mail
Junk mail not only clogs our mailboxes and the postal system, it consumes valuable natural resources and contributes to pollution, litter and landfill loads. Celebrate Earth Day by banishing this unhealthy junk; search the step- by-step guide at
EcoFuture.org.
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