Should you tongue scrape for oral health?; Which cinnamon is best, Cassia of Ceylon?; Thyroid antibodies and your signs/symptoms
Simple tips to improve your life
Is Tongue Scraping Healthy?
Bryan (2017) found that individuals who used mouth wash and did daily tongue scraping removed four healthy oral bacterial strains needed for nitrate conversion. Since they did not isolate mouth wash and tongue scraping, it is difficult to determine which has a more significant effect. However, further research indicates that information regarding tongue scraping is mixed. Tongue scraping pros and cons need more research since nitric oxide production is vital for cardiovascular health and blood pressure regulation.
Reference
Bryan, N.S. (2017). Functional nitric oxide nutrition: What are we missing in our diets? [Video file].
Which is better for you: Ceylon or Cassia Cinnamon?
Cassia cinnamon, originally from Southern China, contains more significant coumarin amounts, which can be toxic if used in large quantities, such as a heavy-handed dose in those with high blood sugar. However, once again, the data is unsettled, and much of the research regarding toxicity was done in animal studies (Lake, 1999). Animals may have a different metabolism of coumarin (Leaf, 2020). Therefore, if using Cassia cinnamon for medicinal purposes, keep the dose at no more than one teaspoon daily.
If you can splurge for pricier cinnamon, choose Ceylon, considered much higher quality than cassia and originates from southern parts of India. Cassia can be used safely at high doses for medicinal purposes.
References
Lake B. G. (1999). Coumarin metabolism, toxicity, and carcinogenicity: relevance for human risk assessment. Food and Chemical Toxicology: An International Journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, 37(4), 423–453. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0278-6915(99)00010-1 (Links to an external site.)
Leaf, A. (2020, February 18). Coumarin isn't liver toxic in humans. https://alexleaf.com/coumarin-isnt-liver-toxic-in-humans/ (Links to an external site.)
Autoimmune Thyroid disorders-Will you have more signs/symptoms the higher your antibodies are?
Why can one person have Hashimoto’s disease signs/symptoms but lower antibody levels (in the double digits), whereas someone else can have antibody levels in the hundreds and yet experience fewer signs and symptoms?
While it is essential to look at antibodies to determine if you have an autoimmune condition, once diagnosed and after a thorough intake, it may be determined that your issue lies with T cell regulation. If so, to promote T cell regulation, adding in Omega 3 EFA, vitamin A and D may be warranted at the individual level. Test your omega 3 EFA levels via a home test from omegaquant, which needs only a blood spot.