March 13, 2020
Welcome to Ben Greenfield's Weekly Roundup and Cool New Discoveries!
Ben Greenfield's discoveries, from the latest news on the fronts of fitness, nutrition, health, wellness, biohacking and anti-aging research. I also recap my upcoming events and special announcements so you can keep up with giveaways, discounts, and more!
New Discoveries Of The Week: Cool New Things I'm Trying, Books I'm Reading, And More!
Charcoal Toothpaste Myth Debunked?
A while back, I addressed a Vice magazine article debunking certain health practices, and in that podcast episode, mentioned that charcoal toothpaste may not actually be all it's cracked up to be based on British research finding that it may actually wear down tooth enamel. Recently, my friends at Living Libations filled me in on some subtle nuances that I felt compelled to report to you.
Here's what they emailed to me:
“There are very few published scientific research articles on activated charcoal and its effect on teeth except for a medical literature review stating how there is no usable data on this. (Yet, activated charcoal has been used for hundreds of years to remove surface stains from the teeth.) As we were researching to answer your question, we also noticed that there are a few dentists/dental product sites that state that activated charcoal isn't safe, which seems bogus considering there is no supporting data.
The British Journal article, “Charcoal-containing dentifrices,” that you referred to appears to draw from the same limited research as the other journal article. The main concern was the potential that charcoal could damage enamel (secondary concerns were that charcoal is ineffective), yet neither set of researchers carried out any testing to prove or disprove their concern. Their central statement was this: “In considering abrasivity, it is to be remembered that users of charcoal-based dentifrices may have been persuaded to buy the product by claims of tooth whitening… and in pursuing this goal may brush frequently and vigorously and for extended periods of time using the product.” Essentially, their argument isn’t about the charcoal but the duration of brushing and the pressure used on the toothbrush.
Here’s their final statement: “Conclusions: Charcoal-based dentifrices, in the absence of supporting scientific evidence, may be considered to be a fashionable, marketing ‘gimmick’ based on folklore on the use of different forms of charcoal for oral and dental remedies, or present day uses of charcoal for medical purposes. Consumers are advised to check the ingredients in the charcoal toothpaste and there may be potential for increased abrasivity.”
As you can see, there is no warning of harm or danger. Unfortunately, it often happens when research is released that media and bloggers like to crank up the drama and turn neutral statements or calls for further study into serious warnings. And that is what happened in this case.
Here is why we consider activated charcoal safe for oral care. There are two ways to gauge abrasiveness safety in tooth enamel care: the Moh hardness value and RDA. To use the Moh scale to determine if a substance is too abrasive for the enamel, one compares the Moh hardness value of a compound (activated charcoal) with the hardness of teeth (enamel and dentin). Activated charcoal is a 1-2 on the Mohs scale compared to a 5 for tooth enamel and a 2-2.5 for dentin. (For comparison, baking soda is a 2.5 on the scale.) So activated charcoal shouldn't abrade or scratch teeth during brushing because it is significantly less hard than enamel and dentine.
The other test, relative dentin abrasivity (RDA), is frequently used to gauge the abrasiveness of oral care products. A higher RDA value indicates an increased chance of tooth abrasion and a value over 200 is considered unsafe for teeth. Activated charcoal has an RDA value of 70-90. The RDA of Crest is 106 and Colgate Total’s value is 70. According to RDA, activated charcoal is perfectly safe for teeth.
If you are still concerned, you can use activated charcoal as a tooth mask in lieu of a brushing paste. Simply coat your teeth with the paste and let it sit for a few minutes and then swish and spit before brushing.”
So there you have it. For more on Nadine Artemis's tooth care advice or to save 10% on any of Living Libations' oral/skincare products, elixirs, or anything else on their site, just click here and use code: RENEGADEBEN at checkout.
Podcasts I Recorded This Week:
This episode was brought to you by Kion Flex (code: BEN10), Beekeeper's Naturals (code: BEN), Vuori (code: BEN2020), and Four Sigmatic (code: BENGREENFIELD).
This episode was brought to you by Kion Clean Energy Bars (code: BEN10), ButcherBox, Gluten Guardian (code: GREENFIELD), and Magic Spoon (code: BENGREENFIELD).
Articles I Published This Week:
Three Little Known, Unconventional Antiviral Approaches For Boosting Your Immune System.
My full article feed and all past archives of my articles are here if you want to check out past articles.
Articles I Was Featured In This Week:
Red light therapy: The key to better sex or a total sham?
Special Announcements:
::: Save Up To $10 On A Vitamin You're Probably Deficient In :::
Recent reports from the USDA show B12 deficiency may be more widespread than thought, with at least 40% of the population being affected. Add to that the fact that your ability to absorb vitamin B12 gradually decreases with age, and you can see why some are calling this a silent epidemic that can have serious consequences to your health.
If you find you are experiencing any of the following symptoms…
- Dizziness
- Forgetfulness
- Unexplained fatigue
- Vision issues
- Pins and needles
…then you definitely want to consider B12 supplementation.
The B12 supplement I take and recommend is called PuraTHRIVE Liposomal B12 w/Fulvic Acid. It’s a highly specialized formula that delivers via liposomal technology the highest quality B12 directly to your cells to optimize your health, and it includes fulvic acid for increased bioavailability. When you use my link, you can save up to $10 per bottle. Just a few sprays in your mouth and your vitamin B12 levels are topped off with no additional effort.
Need Help Fully Optimizing Your Brain & Body?
I've studied the science, seen first-hand what works and what doesn't, and most importantly, know how to help you make lasting changes to become the best version of yourself – for good. I've also trained an entire army of Kion Coaches, and with our support, you'll no longer have to struggle to decipher conflicting health information, only to end up confused and unmotivated.
Are you looking to achieve peak physical performance? Trying to shed fat or gain lean muscle as fast as possible? Ready to tap into the most cutting-edge health, fitness and longevity protocols? Every day, I work with people just like you to help them achieve their goals with personalized health advice and one-of-a-kind nutrition and fitness plans. My schedule gets filled quickly, so be sure to book your one-on-one consultation with me today.
Work With One Of My Personally Trained Kion Coaches
Kion Coaches are certified in the same holistic approach I take to mind, body, and spiritual health. In addition to being trained by yours truly, these folks are qualified professionals, ranging from personal trainers to nutritionists, chiropractors, elite athletes, psychologists, medical doctors, and more. Just click here to view the full coach directory and to find the ideal coach for you and your unique goals!
Upcoming Events:
February 15 – March 15: Hydration Solution Summit – Online. Join me and my dad Gary Greenfield to learn more about structured hydration (Our talk is March 7) The Hydration Solution Summit is FREE and online because water is a basic human right and everyone should have access to it. Get started here
March 23rd – 29th: Get Off Your Sugar Summit – Online. More addictive than cocaine, sugar drives up inflammation in your brain and hijacks your health and energy causing cravings and withdrawal symptoms, binging and weight gain. Finally END your health-zapping addiction to sugar and reclaim your health and energy! Click here to sign up for free
April 4 -6: Wild Health Summit – Versailles, KY. Take a journey into the world of genomics-based personalized medicine. Learn what it takes to better manage patients using a personalized approach. Using genomics and individual markers, we are able to optimize health, battle chronic diseases, and increase life expectancy in a remarkable way. Come learn how to integrate these methods into your practice to move away from using medicine as a band-aid and instead using medicine to cure. Register here
April 24 – 26: Paleo f(x) – Austin, TX. Join me and dozens of health and fitness experts to discover the latest breakthroughs in epigenetics, biohacking, Keto, AIP, nootropics, blood testing, strength conditioning, sleep, stress and much more. Try out delicious new foods, discover new workouts, and even try new gadgets in the biohacking lab. Register here.
Featured Product: Kion Bar
One of my favorite things to grab when I'm traveling, running out the door for a long hike or adventure, or when I'm just hankerin' for a delicious chocolatey snack, is the Kion Bar.
This bar is something I formulated specifically for active individuals who need a clean, real-food source of energy on the go. It's hypoallergenic and guilt-free, and jam-packed with a unique blend of ingredients that support energy without excess carbohydrates or artificial ingredients. Chia seeds, almonds, coconut, and cacao nibs also give it an amazing crunch and texture that's much more satisfying to eat than the gooey mash that makes up your average energy bar.
And if you're looking for a more “indulgent” way to eat these things, try them with a piping hot cup of coffee—or my favorite—crumbled on top of some Oatmeal Cookie Halo Top ice cream. Bon appetit!
Check out the Kion Bar, and use code: BEN10 for 10% off.
This Week's Most Popular Instagram Post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9e6-xXg_if/
This Week's Most Popular Tweet:
Turns out high-weight, low-rep weights beats out high-rep, low-weight weights beats for blood glucose control: https://t.co/BnOui9wnMN
— Ben Greenfield (@bengreenfield) March 8, 2020
My Most Popular Facebook Post This Week:
https://www.facebook.com/BGFitness/posts/10159043146334179?__tn__=-R
Leave your comments and any news or discoveries that you think I missed below!
Cheers,
Ben
