Military Fights Cavities with Xylitol Gum in MREs
In February 2007 I wrote two articles about how to prevent and cure dental cavities. One of the things I uncovered was Xylitol, a natural sugar, kills the bacteria that causes cavities. When I was in Thailand I saw that all the chewing gum there was sweetened with Xylitol. But in the Americas gum was either sweetened with sugar or toxic artificial sweeteners. It looks like finally the USA has caught up with Asia. The US Military will be putting gum sweetened with Xylitol in the Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) that soldiers eat when in the field. http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/hc/healthtips/13/200403mre.cfm
“Don’t wait to start using xylitol gum,” said dela Cruz. “The gum can be purchased on the local economy and at commissaries, although the choice of flavors may be limited at smaller commissaries. Read the ingredients on the label and make sure that xylitol is the first ingredient. Chewing the gum at least five minutes is extremely important for maximum effectiveness.”
From the US Military Fact Oral Health Sheet – Fight Tooth Decay With Xylitol
You brush and floss your teeth daily, visit the dentist every year for an exam and a cleaning, avoid sugary foods and treats, and drink fluoridated water. Do you also have to give up chewing gum or mints?
No! In fact, some gum or mints can actually give you more protection if they contain a sugar called xylitol (zy-li-tol). It is a natural sweetener found in fruits and vegetables such as yellow plums, strawberries, and raspberries. It is usually made from certain hardwoods such as the birch tree.
How does xylitol work?
- Blocks bacteria from producing the acids that cause tooth decay.
- Decreases the level of cavity-causing bacteria.
- Decreases plaque formation.
- Enhances remineralization (hardening) of weakened teeth.
Because it fights bacteria so well, people who chew xylitol gum can reduce their risk of cavities. This is especially important for deployed Soldiers who may be at higher risk of tooth decay if they are not able to brush regularly and eat meals with high
amounts of carbohydrates (starch), such as Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs).
Other reasons to chew xylitol gum
- It is safe for the whole family.
- Has 40% less calories than sugar.
- Makes your mouth feel fresh and cool.
- Tastes as sweet as sugar with no aftertaste.
- You can buy it at the candy counter.
- It is a natural sweetener.
- It relieves “dry mouth” by increasing saliva.
- It can reduce ear infections.
How can I get the most benefit from xylitol?
- Chew 1.5 – 2 grams of xylitol gum for 5 minutes, 3 to 5 times a day.
- Chew xylitol gum after meals or as a snack.
- Xylitol-sweetened mints can be used by people who can’t or prefer not to chew gum.
How do I find gum or mints that contain xylitol?
Read the label. Xylitol should be the first ingredient listed on the label before other sweeteners. If you can’t find xylitol gum or mints at your PX or Commissary, ask the manager to order them.
Technology Trumps Nations
Google Censors Earth
The British military believes people in Iraq are using Google Earth to plan attacks on British bases. This article was brought up on a mailing list I participate in. The part they found interesting was,
Soldiers from the Royal Green Jackets based at the Basra Palace base said they had considered suing Google Earth if they were injured by mortar rounds that had been directed on the camp by the aerial footage.
The question was asked on the mailing list, “Should Google block out areas of it maps? Should they do this voluntarily? Should governments require them to do it?”
Before I go into this further I’ll point out another recent article also involving Google and a nation flexing its power.
The only reason I saw the video was because of the ban. And I didn’t see it on YouTube. And YouTube was not the original place it was posted. The only reason I saw that video was because Brazil tried to prevent people from seeing it.
Now consider the British military asked Google to remove information from Google Earth and they did. Again, the only reason I looked at it was because they tried to stop me, and I didn’t see it using Google Earth. There is a trend here. But the bigger issue is how technology has pointed out the irrelevance of nations.
In both cases a nation attempted to flex its muscle and found individuals just went around it. The attempt to force people to comply actually caused the opposite effect from that desired. And in both cases Google tried to comply.
Google is an international company; it has offices in many nations and serves users all over the world. If Google agreed to the request of the British military to remove some information shouldn’t Google also provide similar help to Iraqi’s? How does Google choose sides? And how does it even determine what the sides are?
The Sunnis are fighting the Shiites but they are both fighting the UN. What is an Iraqi? Is it the people that claim to be the elected government? Is it the people that live in the region now? That would include at least 5 different groups that don’t get along with each other. Is it the people that were born there and live elsewhere? The area we now know as Iraq had been called Babylon for most of history. Is there really even such a thing as an Iraqi?
The concept of geographic identity doesn’t make sense. I suggest that it never really made sense but was convenient because of limitations of technology of the time. Now that technology has advanced, it reveals the mistaken assumptions of identity being tied to location.
Nations were useful in the past because people were unable to easily travel very far. But people have always traveled around the world. And we now know it’s possible to travel to other planets and even stars. It might not be practical yet but that is only a matter of technology.
What is finally becoming obvious is people are individuals. The most meaningful identities are those the individual chooses. It’s not demographics, its not geographics, its psychographics!
If you want to see the next big area of innovation look at how people identify themselves. Choices such as religion, language, hobbies, attractions, and interests are the new sources of identity. The Internet has allowed people to find their “tribe” no matter where on the planet they happen to be. And it has allowed people to belong to many differ t tribes. The relationships between people are the key elements of identity. What can you do to help people create and affirm their relationships?
Some ideas to consider:
- Communication technology: anything that empowers the individual
- Fashion: things that help individuals declare their uniqueness and quickly see people with similar interests and values.
- Games: ways of sharing experiencing enjoyment with others.
- Easier, cheaper travel: the easier it is for individuals to freely travel the more success the service. This is the exact opposite of how governments are acting. That is probably because of the inherent geographic identity of nations.
- Language services and tools: translate, teach, search for content
- Shipping of regional specialties: this is part of the idea of mass customization. Make the rare as accessible as the common.
- Events and activities to bring people with common interests together.
- More flexible living arrangements. Comfortable places to stay. Places to keep your possessions.
- Ways for people to share living space. Ways for people to live apart from others.
There are millions of possibilities in just the items I listed. There are many other ways as well. The important thing for you to do is look past the assumptions from the past and focus on satisfying the primary need of gaining and deciding how to direct attention.
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Predictive Innovation: Core Skills Book
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