Thursday, August 16, 2007

Chocolate Toothpaste Better than Fluoride

For a healthy smile brush between meals, floss regularly and eat plenty of chocolate? According to Tulane University doctoral candidate Arman Sadeghpour an extract of cocoa powder that occurs naturally in chocolates, teas, and other products might be an effective natural alternative to fluoride in toothpaste. In fact, his research revealed that the cocoa extract was even more effective than fluoride in fighting cavities.

The extract, a white crystalline powder whose chemical makeup is similar to caffeine, helps harden teeth enamel, making users less susceptible to tooth decay. The cocoa extract could offer the first major innovation to commercial toothpaste since manufacturers began adding fluoride to toothpaste in 1914.

The extract has been proven effective in the animal model, but it will probably be another two to four years before the product is approved for human use and available for sale, Sadeghpour says. But he has already created a prototype of peppermint flavored toothpaste with the cavity-fighting cocoa extract added, and his doctoral thesis research compared the extract side by side to fluoride on the enamel surface of human teeth.

Sadeghpour's research group included scientists from Tulane, the University of New Orleans, and Louisiana State University's School of Dentistry.
Posted by Ajay :: 2:17 PM :: 0 comments

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---------------oOo--------------- When Court Says "Don't Breastfeed Your Child"

ST. CLOUD, Minn. A St. Cloud, Minn. woman in the middle of a custody battle is facing an unusual order from the court. A district court investigator is recommending that Christa Burton stop breastfeeding her 15-month-old child, Carter.

"It makes me sad. It does. Because this is really what is best I feel for Carter," said Burton.

Carter Burton was born six weeks premature. Christa Burton said, her doctor told her that breastfeeding would be best for Carter. At first, Burton said she didn't think she could breastfeed, because she's taking three medications.

She takes Topomax to ease migraine headaches, Baclofin for muscle spasms because of a car accident and Ambien to help her sleep.

Burton showed WCCO-TV a letter from her nurse practitioner who urged her to breastfeed. They consulted the book, "Medications and Mothers' Milk" which lists all three medications as being safe.

"Carter and I have been bonding for almost 15 months. Every meal that he takes has been from me," said Burton.

On July 7, 2007, Carter's father, Andrew Ahmann, asked the district court to appoint a guardian ad litem to advocate for the best interests of the child. Ahmann is trying to get custody of his son, Carter.

The guardian ad litem's report relies heavily on the testimony of the same nurse practitioner that originally recommended breast feeding. She told the investigator "she recommended that given the developmental delays that Christa stop breast feeding" as the various medications can cause delays.

Burton said she was shocked with the result of the report.

"I just think mothers everywhere need to fight for the right to breastfeed their children, because it can be taken away just like that," she said.

Dr. Tom Hale, the author of "Medications and Mothers' Milk" e-mailed Burton, writing about the medications saying, "They are basically all fine, particularly in a 14-month-old infant who can metabolize drugs as good if not better than an adult."

Another expert, Dr. Jack Newman wrote, "I think you are being railroaded by people who don't know what normal is for breastfeeding."

"It's a tough call on some of these issues," according to Brian Ansberry, manager of the 7th District Court guardian ad litem program. He said his investigator was "not a medical expert herself" and "erring on the side of safety."

Carter's father, Andrew Ahmann, declined to answer questions about his interest in the case.

"I'm just trying to do what's right for Carter," Ahmann explained.

"It makes me sad that they're taking away something that's so vital to Carter, and we've bonded so closely for," said Burton. "It's been forced away from Carter. It's not a natural transition for him. It's not something he can say, 'OK Mommy, I'm done.'"

Posted by Ajay :: 2:16 PM :: 0 comments

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---------------oOo--------------- When Black Money Celebrated Independence Day

Tinku:have you celebrated Independence Day?
Minku :Yes..
Tinku:How?
Minku:I just went into river and let my body flow with flow of river.
Tinku:Oh..
Minku:And..I took all your black money with me and let them flow with me into the river...
Tinku:Ayeeeeeeee.....

Posted by Ajay :: 9:38 AM :: 0 comments

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