Daily Health News Blog

Typically marketed as dietary supplements, “energy drinks”—such as Red Bull, 5-Hour Energy, and Wired—are a fast-growing billion-dollar industry. Before you get buzzed, read on. Energy drinks contain or claim to contain a variety of “energy boosters,” such as tyrosine, phenylalanine, taurine, and other chemicals. Many boast of antioxidants, “green-tea based energy,” and megadoses of B vitamins, as well as ginseng and other herbs. Some energy drinks are sugary, some peppery, some sugar-free. Some are sold as “shots” or “vials” to add some phony swagger. But the only ingredient in energy drinks guaranteed to make you feel energetic or “wired” is the hefty dose of caffeine (or caffeine-containing ingredients such as yerba maté). Some supply two or three times as much caffeine as a cup of brewed coffee. A few are simply herbal cocktails, with the same claims but no caffeine. These products are pitched at the young, who are consuming them in increasing amounts worldwide. They promis

Research has linked gum disease and  cardiovascular disease. Will treating one help prevent or reverse the other? Ads for Colgate Total say that maintaining healthy teeth and gums may be important for overall health. They strongly imply that antibacterial toothpaste can help prevent “heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.” Some studies do suggest there’s a link between periodontal (gum) disease and cardiovascular disease. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that gum disease  causes  heart disease and strokes. Periodontal disease may merely indicate that you are at increased risk. The theory is that periodontal disease, a bacterial infection of the gums, can trigger inflammation elsewhere in the body, and chronic inflammation is now thought to contribute to atherosclerosis—that is, plaque formation in the arteries that leads to coronary artery disease and stroke. A simpler explanation may be that people who take good care of their teeth and gums tend to have a better diet and bett