Issue #159: Why Our Mouths Are Too Small
Good morning. It’s Thursday, March 30th.
Today’s Quick Win
From the Lab: Mewing. Umm…What?
Speed Read: Ah The 90’s (Nostalgia)
Thursday Night In: Turkey Stuffed Peppers
Moment of Fun: Making Friends As An Adult
“This of someone about to receive CPR. The first thing a medic does is tilt the head back to open the throat. We’ve adopted this CPR posture all the time - our bodies hate this position.”
Number of years our mouths have been shrinking. (BioScience Study)
From the Lab
Quick Quiz - how many of you:
Had braces or other ways to straighten crooked teeth?
Had wisdom teeth removed?
Often snore at night?
We talked all about snoring and breathing back in Issue #139.
Much of that has to do with the size of our mouth.
In the last few centuries our palate narrowed (2.37 in to 2.16 in) - leading to small mouths that can’t fit all of our teeth. So we take them out or try to straighten them - which only further shrinks our mouth.
All that money straightening our teeth might have helped our smile - but left us with sinus issues and breathing problems.
But - crazy as it sounds, just like our brain synapses and lung capacity, we can expand our facial bones and structure at any age.
The problem started when we started eating mostly soft food. This all started when we started farming - but now, little of what we eat requires any real chewing. So like any other muscle, the less something gets used, the more it dwindles away - like how I feel when I don’t make it to the gym for a couple of weeks.
So what can we do?
Chew Gum - our masseter (jaw muscle) can exert 200 lbs of pressure. By chewing hard gum we can workout these muscles and slightly expand our mouths. Some gum options - Stronger Gum or Falim (James Nestor recommendation)
Fix Posture - we live with our shoulders rolled forward and neck sticking out forward. Catch yourself and stand up straight with the right alignment for periods of time during the day until this becomes nature (Issue #83)
Mewing - if you really want to focus on your mouth, then mewing has become quite a trend (multiple videos with 1M+ views) and there’s an app to expand your mouth, get a better jawline, improve your posture, and help your breathing
BONUS: Get your kids chewing early on and make sure you check out all alternatives before jumping right into braces and pulling out wisdom teeth.
To read more check out Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic, by Sandra Kahn and Paul Ehrlich.
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Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
Blood Test for Anxiety: A research team at the University of Indiana created a blood test to detect signs of anxiety. The test has been in the making for 20 years and could be a game-changer to help target specific treatments for our mental health. (ScienceAlert.com)
Pain is Good For Us: It’s hard to remember this, but the right kind of stressors help to destroy weak cells, muscle fibers, etc. and help build up stronger ones. That’s why we work out, why we suggest cold therapy, and why you should shoot for pain in yoga! (YogaJournal)
Nostalgia: In Issue #122, we mentioned repeated viewings of familiar materials (movies, TV shows) helps fulfill our emotional needs, provides comfort, gives us a sense of control over our lives, and connects us with our past. This doesn’t just go for TV, but people, places and things that create the sense of nostalgia can shield against unhappiness. (The Atlantic)
Thursday Night In
Big fan of stuffed peppers and this is a simple recipe with some great spices that will leave you feeling full and feeling good.
Thanks to Josh Korn for this recommendation! Got a recipe to share? Tell us at team@thrive25.com and we’ll add it to our list for a future issue!
PRO TIP: Make sure you are aware of any gluten or dairy allergies and adjust accordingly
Moment of Fun | Big Gulps, Huh?
Classic never gets old…
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.