TMJ Blogger Loses Job Trying to Help TMJD Sufferers

Well, no good deed goes unpunished, so they say, and here's a case in point.

For a year now I've been writing for suite101.com, a fun site to write for as one has a carte blanche when it comes to topics. One of the requests of suite101, however, is that writers not use any articles they post on suite101 for at least a year.

Guess what? That means EVEN BLOGS. Even though I've never been paid one cent for the TMJ Blogs that wellspere.com shares with its readers, I was kind of "invited" to leave the site, despite the fact that I had well over 100 articles that had never been reproduced elsewhere.

So, why did I use the TMJ blogs on their site? For starters, I should have read their contract more closely. I "assumed" (and you all know what "assuming" means) that it was okay since I wasn't being compensated for the articles in any way. I also felt, and still feel - despite my job loss- very strongly that the more ways I can get information out about TMJD the better for so many people. My goal in this entire enterprise has been to HELP people. For that reason, I donate a portion of the sales of my book to PETA and other organizations. This is NOT a money-making venture for me. Rather, it's my contribution to help people who have this excruciatingly painful disease, however I can. In fact, shortly I'll be donating an entire box of books to a dental school! That's 50 books. At 17.95 retail that's over a $897.50 donation. But I got fired anyway.

Since I'm in the confessing mood, I admit I got so frustrated at my book reviews there never being read, that I posted them on True West and amazon. Again, I received no compensation for them...That was bad. I'm guilty. But no one read the things anyway. But, the fact remains, I'm guilty there. I confess. It was only a few book reviews too. I bet the authors appreciate me at least!

Well, I'm really sad about all this to be quite honest. I could understand their anger if I'd been collecting money for my postings, but that would be unethical. What I did was not unethical...what I did was for the benefit of the 50,000,000+ people who suffer from TMJ Disorder.

As I said, no good deed goes unpunished.

Health Care Danger for TMJD Sufferers

I'm not saying this will happen here, but I feel the need to pass this information on. Think the health care debacle won't affect you with your TMJD condition? Think again.

Several months ago, an irate blog reader blasted me with (deserved) criticism about one of my TMJ blogs. Her anger was directed at what she thought was my opinion that clenching and grinding causes ALL cases of TMJD. Anybody who's read my blogs for long, knows that I have clearly stated that NOT ALL cases of TMJD are caused by clenching and grinding, but a good many cases are.

In the process of corresponding with this person, I learned a great deal about her situation. She is suffering horribly, absolutely horribly. Her condition is so debilitating it interferes with her ability to do her work and affects every moment of her life, sleeping and awake..

After consulting doctors and doing the whole run around rigamarole, she was told that she'd probably have to have jaw joint replacement surgery. The wait was TWO YEARS. This, for someone who lives in Canada and must use the Canadian health care no-service program.

I can't imagine being in such pain and so debilitated and having to wait for two years for surgery. Could that happen here? Yes, I think it could. Do I know that for a fact? No. It just seems logical that it will transpire since it seems to be the norm in countries that do have socialized medicine. While it's true that most people don't need to undergo such severe treatment, who would want to have to wait for two years if they did need it?

Many younger people, often the very ones who suffer the most from TMJD, tend not to be involved politically. This is a huge mistake. People must get involved, one way or the other, or suffer the consequences of other peoples' decisions.

Meanwhile, several more dentists have purchased You Can Conquer TMJ:Ideas and Recipes, to keep in their office for patients to read and get ideas from. You can get your own copy at amazon.com, or from www.moonlightmesaassociates.com where you can download an order blank. Dentists agree that easy-to-chew meals contribute greatly to helping with TMJD discomfort.

A Check List for TMJ Disorder Sufferers

For those in the throes of TMJ Disorder, here are some ideas to consider when looking for alternative treatments in lieu of surgery:

1. Consider removing amalgams. I know of at least one person who claims that her nocturnal clenching and grinding greatly diminished after having all amalgams removed. Even though the AMA says amalgams are not harmful. A growing number of dentists disagree with this pronouncement.I'd give this idea some research and thought.

2. Consider a mouth guard. These do not work for all people, and in some cases the mouth guards actually make the condition worse. Even a study from Wayne State University claimed that mouth guards only worked at preventing clenching and grinding for about three weeks, after which time the patient grew used to the device and simply began clenching and grinding on the mouth guard, sometimes worsening their condition.

3. Practice meditation or other stress release techniques.

4. Avoid sugary foods prior to bed.

5. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants, particularly in the hours before bed.

6. Adopt a soft diet and avoid hard, chewy, crunchy foods. There are several cookbooks out there to choose from.

7. Are you too warm at night? Room temperature and sleeping too warm might be a contributing factor to clenching and grinding.

8. Could your TMJD be caused by an allergy? There's mounting evidence that this may be possible. An allergy test might well be in order.

9. Have you recently had extensive dental work done where your mouth was hyper-extended for several hours? Your TMJD will probably resolve in a few months. Be patient and careful.

10. Is your condition a direct result of arthritis? There's growing evidence that arthritis may be the body's response to vitamin and mineral deficiencies and not an inevitable result of old age. Check it out.

11. Have you ever had whiplash? Again, this may likely be the cause of your TMJD problem. Sometimes just knowing the cause helps.

12. A new thought: are you being over exposed to electromagnetic waves? We all are in many respects, but this is an area that needs to be explored.

13. Have you tried a magnesium supplement? While there is no evidence of this treatment being helpful, magnesium supplements are incredibly helpful at stopping charley horses and other muscle cramps. Most Americans are very magnesium deficient, and tests for this condition are next to worthless. Magnesium is cheap too.

There are many reasons for this condition to develop; there are few cures. Be cautious before you commit to any procedure than is irreversible. Absolutely get second opinions, and also consult with a Homeopath and/or a naturopath. Irreversible procedures cannot be reversed, and sometimes patients are left worse off than they were before the procedure!

Treatment for TMJD Almost Always Requires a Softer Diet

TMJ Disorder is one of the most exasperating conditions that patients, doctors, and dentists are faced with. No one treatment works for everyone. Complicating the issue even more, TMJ Disorder has a host of symptoms. Ironically, there are people with TMJ Disorder who experience no pain whatsoever! Unfortunately, most cases of TMJ Disorder are quite painful.

Some cases are temporary and fleeting; others are permanent and devastating. There is no quick fix or single approach for the treatment of TMJD.

Most medical practitioners, however, advise their patients to eat a softer diet. For some, this seems impossible because they aren't familiar with many easy-to-chew recipes. Most people think of a softer diet as soup, oatmeal and the like. There are, however, a plethora of tasty, nourishing meals that one can eat if one is prescribed a "softer diet."

In addition, one may find that his/her diet becomes more healthful once most fast foods are eliminated.

Unfortunately, it seems there's an entire generation of younger folk who have an aversion to the kitchen. This generation is the "eat out" generation, but changing to an easy-to-chew diet will rapidly encourage one to prepare meals at home, thus saving untold amounts of money.

There are excellent recipes available on line, or one can choose from several cookbooks to find recipes tailored specifically for the TMJD patient. You Can Conquer TMJ:Ideas and Recipes is one such book that offers a plethora of easy-to-prepare, easy-to-chew, nutritious, tasty meals that the whole family will enjoy eating. These same recipes, plus a few others, are also available in One Pot Galley Gourmet, which retails for less. Both books are available on amazon.com and www.moonlightmesaassociates.com. One Pot Galley Gourmet, however, does not have the suggestions/recommendations for dealing with TMJD issues that the other book contains.

Statistically, most cases of TMJD will self-resolve given time and a softer diet. Unfortunately, there are other cases that will not resolve without irreversible procedures being done, for which there is no guarantee of success.

This is a condition that should not be taken lightly if one is in the early, nonpainful stages. Be forewarned and be pro-active with eating and chewing habits.

The Link Between Allergies and TMJ Disorder

Just how strong is the link between allergies and TMJ Disorder? There’s been surprisingly little study done on this subject, although there are those medical practitioners who feel that at least some cases of TMJ Disorder are caused by allergies.


Interestingly, Weston A Price inadvertently suggested a dietary connection to TMJD when he wrote his major opus, Physical and Nutritional Degeneration. In this work, he showed how quickly dental arches became deformed once native people’s diets changed from natural, wholesome foods indigenous to their group, to a diet laden with processed white flour and sugar. Within one generation, dental caries became rampant, as did deformed dental arches, something most Americans seem to have. Deformed dental arches could contribute significantly to the development of TMJD.

Taken a step further, it is easy to see that food allergies can also be a culprit that brings about dental disorders and, subsequently, trouble with the temporomandibular jaw joint (TMJ).

According to the Atlanta Dental Group, PC., when allergies cause the nose to swell so that one begins to breathe through one’s mouth, many things go wrong. “With children that are growing, mouth breathing from allergies can be disastrous. The jaws will not grow together and a bad bite develops.” Eventually the allergy sufferer’s tongue becomes misplaced and is lowered to help facilitate breathing. Over time, this abnormal tongue placement can cause swallowing difficulties and even speech problems.

Ultimately, according to the Atlanta Dental Group literature, “Untreated allergies can also be the original source of TMJ problems because these allergies disturb the normal functioning and growth of the teeth and jaw bones.”

Besides the most common source of allergies, such as dairy, gluten, etc. many do not stop to consider possible allergies to metals – specifically metals that may be found in amalgam fillings.

The connection between allergies and TMJD is not studied or considered much at all, yet the possibility of a connection is there. Perhaps, instead of treating TMJ Disorder, one should check for, and treat, allergies first.

A Reminder that Not All TMJD Sufferers Recover

I received an email today that, once again, brought me back to planet Earth. I do not mean to sound insensitive or perhaps smug in my attitude about TMJ Disorder. It's unacceptable that from time to time I seem to need reminders that just because I recovered, doesn't mean that everyone can recover...or recover very easily... or recover without undergoing irreversible procedures.

Indeed, how can the medical profession possibly profess that this condition can be cured, when no one is exactly sure why the condition arises? Even in my own situation, I may be painfree, but I am cautious about what I eat! That's not really being cured.

As I was reminded tonight...NOT ALL TMJD sufferers clench and/or grind their teeth. I know that in earlier blogs I made this clear, but still, I need to repeat it more often. Many clenchers/grinders DO NOT DEVELOP TMJD. Many who NEVER clench or grind DO develop TMJD.

I was also caught short by the person's description of her intense pain and how it has permeated every single moment of her life. The sufferer is a nurse - she knows healthy habits and practices them. Again, I must stand truly chastised if I sound demeaning or if anyone believes that I am diminishing their pain. That is completely wrong on my part and something I never intended, but I will certainly be careful that I never sound this way again. So, I do want to apologize to those who feel that I have in any way diminished the seriousness of their condition or their pain. This was NEVER my intention.


TMJD is an extremely debilitating, depressing condition. The fact that it mostly affects women only is undoubtedly one reason why it's not researched and studied more carefully. If men suffered from this condition as much as women, perhaps there'd be a cure,or at the very least a good explanation for why it occurs. It seems that the causes of TMJD are as multifareous as the people who suffer from it.

I have talked with people who will never, ever chew again because of this condition and the irreversible procedures that well meaning dentists/doctors did to them. Others are thankful for a surgery that allowed them to live a "normal" life when it comes to eating.

For the lucky ones, this condition is temporary and/or transient. For many, however, it is a debilitating, excruciatingly painful fact of life. Anybody who has had TMJD has suffered in ways that ONLY a TMJD patient can begin to understand.

My deepest, sincerest apologies to all whom I may have offended. Because this is the second time that someone has taken serious offense at my presentations, I will no longer blog unless I have something "documentable" or "newsworthy" to discuss. My opinion should not be part of this blog.

If you've had success in treating or overcoming this condition, please contact me with this information so I may share it with others who may greatly benefit from your experience.

For TMJD Sufferers, a Softer Diet Could Mean a Healthier Diet

For those suffering from TMJ Disorder, changing to a softer, easier-to-chew diet, could mean a switch to a healthier way of eating.

This won't be true, of course, if one indulges in a steady stream of milkshakes and margaritas!

Softer diets generally don't have as much meat in them as standard fare. Meat is not at all bad for a person, but the amount of meat that Americans eat tends to be excessive. Meat is not needed on a daily basis, for one thing. Despite the plea to "show me the meat," many types of meat, especially processed meats, are laden with chemicals, preservatives, and hormones.

When one cuts back on meat, there is a tendency to fill the plate with some form of pasta. Pasta also is not bad for one...in moderation. Instead of pasta, one should try to fill one's plate with vegetables. Cooked vegetables are almost always easy-to-chew. While many people prefer their vegetables raw, this is usually not possible for the TMJD sufferer. Buy vegetables in season, preferably organic, and you may see the pounds drop in addition to the jaw improve.

Because of the economic downturn, many people tend to cut back on fresh produce because, in all honesty, it's expensive. However, buying vegetables in season will help with this cost; in addition, try growing some in patio containers or in a backyard garden. It's amazing how much better something seems to taste when one has raised it oneself!

Don't like vegetables? There's surely one you like...just eat it.

If, however, fresh vegetables are just not affordable, a good substitute is beans. Beans are cheap, versatile and...EASY-TO-CHEW. Besides being filled with protein, they're also a great source of fiber.

The key in all of this is to try to approach a softer diet with a positive mindset. Think of the benefits you'll derive from this way of eating, and don't focus on what you think you're missing out on.

You Can Conquer TMJ: Ideas and Recipes (Moonlight Mesa Associates) is a good resource for anyone looking for healthful, easy-to-cook, easy-to-chew, mostly one pot/pan meals. It's available at amazon.com.

Softer Diets Are Key to Easing TMJD Pain

It sounds too simple, but it's indisputable: Eating a softer diet is a key element in easing jaw pain.

By softer diet, I don't mean pureed foods, oatmeal and a steady flow of soup, milkshakes, and margaritas! There are many items one can eat when one is experiencing TMJD, and many of these foods are meals that everyone in the family will enjoy also.

One of the best items to consider eating, not surprisingly, is beans, which are full of protein and fiber. The benefit here is that most people suffering from severe bouts of TMJD are unlikely to be able to chew meat, particularly if it's the least bit tough, stringy, or "chewy." Beans, however, provide an array of important nutrients (including protein); they're easy on the budget, and they can be made into a myriad of tasty dishes. (For added nutrition, add a quarter cup of lentils the last hour of cooking.)

Hopefully, one will not resort to canned beans which are often high in sodium and who knows what else to "preserve freshness." Beans do take time to cook, however, so if time is a problem, try using a crockpot to prepare them. The beans can cook all day on low and will be ready to serve when you're ready to eat. You Can Conquer TMJ:Ideas and Recipes includes numerous, easy-to-cook, easy-to-chew recipes, including many tasty bean and lentil dishes.

Besides beans, another easy-on-the-jaw-and-pocketbook item is pasta in all its glorious shapes, sizes and colors. While pasta is admittedly high on the glycemic index, the dish is still worth serving because of its versatility. It can be served chilled, hot, plain, with sauces, as a side dish, main dish, etc.

If pasta is strictly off limits, You Can Conquer TMJ:Ideas and Recipes has a plethora of fish menus. Fish is usually chewable by all but the most critically ailing TMJD sufferers.

One may need to eat a softer diet to achieve relief for jaw pain for many months - sometimes up to a year. However, one will most likely experience substantial easing of pain after eight weeks on a softer diet. The key, however, is to maintain watchfulness about what one eats long after the pain is gone. TMJD is a disorder that is likely to flare again.

You Can Conquer TMJ: Ideas and Recipes, considered by many to be the gold standard in TMJD cookbooks, is available at amazon.com, www.rlcoffield.com and www.moonlightmesaassociates.com

TMJ Disorder and Nutritional Deficiencies

TMJ Disorder often results from prolonged cases of Bruxism. Bruxism is the medical term for tooth grinding. When grinding continues over a long period of time, besides wear and tear on the teeth, often TMJ Disorder develops because of the resultant stress on the jaw joint.

Bruxism can develop if a person's teeth are overly sensitive to heat and cold. Other causes include stress and allergies. More and more health experts nowadays believe that nutritional deficiencies can also cause bruxism.

One of the major things to take into consideration in all of this, is the amount of sugar that is consumed. It's recommended that people who grind their teeth and/or have TMJ Disorder, adopt a hypoglycemic diet. This is a diet that is "...high in fiber and protein and includes plenty of fresh vegetables and high-fiber fruits, plus legumes, raw nuts and seeds, skinless white turkey or chicken, broiled fish, and whole grains." In addition, eat starchy vegetables, like potatoes, and sweet fruits in moderation. Even though people believe fruit to be healthful, which it is, it is also extremely high in sugar.

It's also recommended that one eat six to eight small meals a day instead of three large ones.

Other suggestions are to avoid alcoholic beverages, which I've already discussed in another blog. Avoid fast foods, fried foods, processed foods and red meat, refined sugar, saturated fats, and severely limit dairy products. Avoid all foods with food coloring and preservatives.

Another recommendation is to avoid eating six hours before bedtime. Again, the idea is to not have sugar in the system. People who suffer from bruxism tend to have high blood sugar levels, so there may be a very strong correlation here between sugar intake and the tooth grinding.

Just because you may not eat table sugar, however, doesn't mean you're not getting a big dose of sugar anyway. High fructose corn syrup is an insidious product that has worked its way into almost every prepared food there is, from bread to packaged goods.

A final thought is to try taking Vitamin B complex. For some reason, many people are low in the B vitamins and these are positively critical. Major doses are not necessary or recommended. 100 mg. of each major B vitamin twice daily will do the trick.

There are other vitamins and minerals one can take as well, but try changing your diet first. The hardest part for most people is the withdrawal from sugar. It will take about two weeks. After that you'll begin to find that sweet, sugary taste quite repugnant.

It may be probable that people with TMJ Disorder/Bruxism are people who have deformed dental arches. Deformed dental arches occur due to parents' diet high in refined white flour and sugar which then affects the child's dental development.

Almost all the recipes in You Can Conquer TMJ:Ideas and Recipes are aligned with these eating recommendations. You'll find plenty of wholesome, easy-to-prepare, mostly one pot meals that will be easy on your jaw, filling and tasty too. You Can Conquer TMJ:Ideas and Recipes is available at amazon.com and http://www.rlcoffield.com/, as well as http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com/.

Is Your Impatience Making Your TMJ Disorder Worse?

Is your impatience making your case of TMJ Disorder worse? All too often this is indeed the case. Statistically, 95% of all cases of TMJ Disorder will resolve given TIME and a SOFTER DIET. But how many people are willing to make these two sacrifices?

TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS

Some one once made this silly statement, but it actually is true when it comes to most bodily ailments. As a rule, however, most people do not want to take the time to let their bodies heal naturally, and there is no question that nature's way can seem painstakingly SLOW compared to the promise of pharmaceutical painkillers, oral surgery, plastic mouth devices, etc.

Most people will run to a doctor, dentist, chiropractor, surgeon...whatever it takes to end pain of any kind as quickly as possible. And this is completely understandable. Pain is one thing that gets every person's attention! However, all too often medical intervention in dealing with TMJ Disorder can be more devastating, or prolong the healing time, than letting nature and a softer diet do their job - however slowly.

TMJ Disorder is a mysterious ailment, most frequently affecting females. How long this disorder has been around is not really certain. Some believe this disorder is a modern ailment that occurs because of many people having deformed dental arches due to poor dietary nourishment, specifically refined white flour and sugar.

There are many speculations, however, about its cause. There are equally as many guesses at its cures. For most people, however, the cure is simple - yet long.

SOFT DIET AND TIME

Over time, a softer diet will greatly alleviate the stress on the jaw joint and allow the jaw joint to return to normal. When we speak of time, we are talking six months to a year, sometimes more. To try to circumvent this diet/time necessity with painkillers, devices, irreversible dental procedures, etc, is mostly unproductive at best, and often more debilitating or even disastrous.

A softer diet does not mean oatmeal and soup. There are many nutritional meals one can eat that are easy to prepare and also meals that family/friends will enjoy. You Can Conquer TMJ: Ideas and Recipes has an excellent selection of tasty, nutritious, easy-to-prepare, easy-to-chew meals that will please just about everyone's palate.

This book is available at http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com/, http://www.rlcoffield.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/ .

Stop Dieting and Just Eat Sensibly for Best Results

If you’re a typical American, you’re overweight or obese. You’ve tried every diet in the book; you’ve bought herbal supplements; you’ve taken Hydroxy Cut and compromised your liver’s health; you’ve taken ephedra and compromised your heart’s health; maybe you’ve even tried out for the reality show, World’s Biggest Loser.

You’re frustrated and unhappy. Sometimes you just throw in the towel and give up altogether and then pack on another ten pounds. Does this sound familiar?

Here are some recommendations that may be of help. There is no magic bullet for everyone, but MOST people will benefit from these straight forward practices.

First, see an endocrinologist and make sure your metabolism is actually working correctly. You could get a leg up on this by reading Dr. Diana Schwarzbein’s excellent book, The Schwarzbein Principle. It’s interesting, easy to read and makes perfect sense. The woman is a leading specialist in her field, so she knows what she's talking about!

If you’re up for a truly intensive analysis of food and its effects on a person, read Weston A. Price’s Nutrition and Physical Degeneration and/or Gary Taubes’ Good Calories, Bad Calories. These three books alone should be required reading for everyone concerned about their weight.

What you will discover in all of this is pretty simple: what makes a person fat is EXCESS CALORIES. Carbohydrates seem to be the biggest culprit in this battle of the bulge, however. Study after study has shown that FAT DOES NOT MAKE A PERSON FAT. Cutting carbohydrate intake is the first and most important step a person needs to take to lose excess weight. So, cut carbohydrate intake down.

Exercise is key to burning calories. This is simple: find an activity that you can do that you enjoy, and then JUST DO IT. Make a commitment to yourself.

Finally, a good cookbook may be helpful. Schwarzbein offers some excellent recipes in her book. You’ll also find healthful, balanced meals in One Pot Galley Gourmet, a cookbook filled with easy-to-prepare, mostly one pot, healthy recipes. You won’t get fat eating any of these meals, unless of course you continue to overeat!

Remember, Rome was not built in a day, and neither was your waistline. Be kind to yourself and don’t starve yourself to death. Stop dieting and just eat sensibly. Exercise. For most people it’s that simple.

EASY Tips to Maintaining or Achieving Health

It sounds simple, and it is. The keys to a healthy life are available for everyone, and at no cost. Many people who are slaves to medical care can cast off that mantle of expense and despair by just adopting these four simple principles.

Eat Healthfully

Eating healthfully sounds easy enough, yet statistically 2/3 of all Americans are overweight or obese. Where does one start? The four most deadly foods:

• Soda pop


• Processed foods containing numerous chemicals including high fructose corn syrup


• Sugar


• Highly refined white flour products

There are a plethora of nutritionists and scientists who agree that eliminating these items alone will drastically improve one’s health. From the original 1930’s harbinger of nutritional warning, Weston A. Price in Nutrition and Degenerative Disease, to science writer Gary Taubes and Good Calories, Bad Calories in 2006, increasing numbers of health professionals are strongly advising people to avoid sugar (including high fructose corn syrup) and refined white flour.

Exercise Regularly

Exercising regularly does not require gym membership. The simple act of walking can suffice for most individuals. A very worthy goal is to walk 10,000 steps a day, which equates to about 5 miles. Most people, shockingly, only average 400 steps per day.

Obviously some people are not able to walk because of disabilities, but most people are able to do some form of exercise that does not require expensive gym membership. There are channels on the television that are dedicated to exercise, and don’t discount housework, yard work and gardening as beneficial forms of exercise. Dumb bells are effective and cheap and will easily suffice for weight bearing exercise, as will the rubber tubing devices.

Get Enough Sleep

Surprisingly, lack of adequate sleep is a prime culprit contributing to weight gain and illness. Despite hectic schedules, all people should get between 7 and 8 hours of sleep, at a minimum. Sleep provides the body time to repair and to restore itself to maximum function.

Turn off lights while sleeping. Studies indicate that any source of artificial light in a room, no matter how tiny, keeps a person from producing melatonin.

Reduce Stress

This last recommendation is, for some, easier said than done. All too often, however, people carry stress that is unnecessary and unproductive. Recognize things that are beyond your control and learn to let these items go. This may mean limiting one’s exposure to continuous bad press. Sitting and watching the news and negative talk shows or crime dramas all evening may ultimately be contributing greatly to one’s stressful state of mind.

Being continuously stressed can contribute greatly to poor health:

• Stressed people often over eat or crave fats and sweets.


• Stress and depression can cause sleep difficulties.


• Depressed/stressed people tend to exercise far less than their more positive counterparts.


• Ironically, lack of exercise can in turn contribute to depression and stress.
  

The Power of Positive Thinking

Never underestimate the power of thinking positive thoughts! As Joseph Murphy, the author of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind said, " You are what you think, all day long." And, "Change your thoughts and you change your destiny."

Yes, it really is this easy to improve your health. Take it one step at a time, and remember, be kind to yourself. Times are tough enough.

An excellent cookbook for those wanting to eat healthy, nutritious, easy-to-prepare, DELICIOUS food is One Pot Galley Gourmet, a cookbook that specializes in tasty, healthful, easy, one pot meals. It's available at amazon.com and http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com/ and www.rlcoffield.com

Fat Does Not Make You Fat! Dietary Fat is NOT the Culprit!

A growing body of evidence is suggesting that the low-fat/ high-carb mania of the last several decades may be responsible for the rise in obesity, Type II Diabetes and a host of degenerative diseases.

A small cadre of health professionals is on the verge of wiping out decades of dietary advice that has sent Americans scrounging for low-fat labels on grocery items. Beginning with Dr. Diana Schwarzbein, endocrinologist and author of The Schwarzbein Principle, increasing numbers of informed health professionals are re-thinking the reigning conventional wisdom regarding diet and fat.

Don’t Blame Fat

Dietary fat is critical for human survival, according to Schwarzbein. In fact, low-fat, low calorie diets turn off one’s metabolism!

Gary Taubes, winner of three Science in Society Journalism awards, also demonstrates that dietary fat is not responsible for clogging arteries or making people fat in Good Calories, Bad Calories, where he debunks study after erroneous study making the false link between fat consumption and heart disease and obesity.

Blame Carbohydrates

According to Schwarzbein, Taubes and a growing number of health and dietary experts, excessive consumption of carbohydrates is to blame for a host of human ailments, ranging from acne to cancer, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, Type II Diabetes and many other degenerative diseases. Man-made carbohydrates are the most damaging, according to some nutritionists, and are actually the only “bad” carbohydrates.

Schwarzbein suggests that most, if not all, degenerative diseases are not genetically driven, but are the result of hormonal imbalance brought about by increasing insulin resistance due to excessive carbohydrate ingestion.

Balanced Diets

No one is suggesting that one abandon carbs entirely and resort to eating a steady diet of fats. According to Taubes, however, “Dietary fat, whether saturated or not, is not a cause of obesity, heart disease, or any other chronic disease of civilization.” He goes on to say that, “The problem is the carbohydrates in the diet, their effect on insulin secretion…The more digestible and refined the carbohydrates, the greater the effect on our health, weight, and well-being.”
Taubes’ seven years of intensive research indicates that refined carbohydrates are most likely the cause of cancer, Alzheimer’s and many other modern ailments.

Many health experts, however, still lay the blame on saturated fat for clogged arteries and expanded waistbands. The American Medical Association and The American Heart Association have as yet shown little or no indication of recognizing the obesity problem in America for what more and more people are saying it is: Excessive Carbohydrates.

Eating properly takes planning, something for which Americans appear to have little time. A balanced diet is increasingly difficult to achieve when many products in the grocery stores contain high fructose corn syrup, a particularly insidious man-made carbohydrate.
Human survival depends on fat. Long term low-fat/high carbohydrate diets lead to insulin resistance. Type II Diabetes, obesity and a host of other ailments.

An excellent cookbook, designed with these eating principles in mind, is One Pot Galley Gourmet, by Becky Coffield. The recipes in this book are all easy-to-prepare, mostly one pot meals, that are nutritious and delicious! The book is available at amazon.com and at http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com/

Clenching and Grinding Can Lead to Throat Ailments

Need another good reason to make every effort to stop clenching and grinding your teeth? More than just your teeth and jaws are affected! Clenching and grinding can also lead to serious throat and swallowing problems.

The damage done to teeth because of clenching and grinding often causes irreversible damage which can cost a lot of money and time a dental chair to repair. Equally as bad, however, (maybe worse) is the injury and trauma to one's throat that one can ultimately experience because of clenching and grinding. If tender throat muscles aren't scary enough for you, think about the horrible swallowing difficulties, risk of choking and other myofascial problems which can often ensue because of this insidious habit.

If you are already experiencing difficulty with swallowing, even if it's only occasional, or if you are prone to choking, you need to pay particular attention here. Stressing the jaw joints creates stress on the throat muscles as well. These things do not work in isolation. If you are already having difficulties with your throat, it is imperative that you take every action possible to stop the clenching/grinding that you are most likely doing at night while you're sleeping.

Often eliminating this habit goes hand in hand with eliminating stress. It's time to do some serious reflection here. Stress is going to do much more harm over the long haul to your body than cause TMJ Disorder, myofascial problems and swallowing/throat difficulties. These may just be the beginning of a long slide downhill.

Clenching and grinding is a very complex problem, however, and being under stress may not be the cause of this problem. There are many factors that can contribute to clenching, grinding and TMJD, from whip lash, head/neck injury, spinal misalignment, hyper-extension of the jaw, exposure to toxic substances and on and on. It can also be something as simple as a childhood habit that was never outgrown.

Take the time to analyze what could be causing this problem. Don't brush this off with a simple, "Oh well." Worse problems will come if clenching and grinding are not brought under control.

For ideas in dealing with this problem, You Can Conquer TMJ: Recipes and Ideas is available at http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com/.

Perfect Dessert Recipe for TMJD Sufferers

Time for another free recipe! This one's a dessert recipe that you're going to LOVE for its healthful ingredients, ease in preparation and definitely its ease in eating.

Have you ever looked, really looked on a box of pudding? Go ahead. Look right now. You'll probably notice a whole list of ingredients that are not food at all...ingredients that are often three letter scientific mixtures, preservatives and many harmful chemicals. Well, here's a recipe for chocolate pudding that will seem irresistible for its wholesome goodness.

Grandma's Pudding

Here's just one of the pudding and dessert recipes that is available in One Pot Galley Gourmet, another cookbook very similar to You Can Conquer TMJ: Ideas and Recipes. The main differences between the two books are the inclusion of desserts in One Pot Galley Gourmet along with more recipes and also bread baking recipes. It's an ideal cookbook for TMJD sufferers too although it does not offer the ideas for dealing with TMJD like You Can Conquer TMJ does.

Ready? Here's Grandma's Chocolate Pudding:

Ingredients:

2 cups milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 Tablespoons cornstarch

1 1/2 Tablespoons cocoa

• Combine cornstarch and cocoa


• Add milk and stir until everything is well blended


• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick


• Remove from heat and add sugar and vanilla. Stir until sugar is dissolved


• Chill

That's it!! No chemicals. No preservatives. Look how little sugar is used! Only 1/2 cup sugar for four servings of pudding!

Honestly, the pudding has an irresistible creamy texture if you use whole milk. Remember, fat does not make you fat!!

One Pot Galley Gourmet

This book is available at amazon.com, http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com/, and many online bookstores. It has received rave reviews for the tasty, easy-to-prepare meals that use wholesome ingredients. The recipes include beef, chicken, vegetarian, fish and pork. Most meals are one pot/pan and will delight the entire family.

TMJ Disorder Requires Life Adjustment

Many illnesses and disorders require the people suffering from them to make life changes. Everyone knows someone who's had to lose weight and change eating habits because of diabetes. You probably also know someone who's had to avoid certain foods because of severe allergic reactions. Maybe you know people who must avoid the sun because of repeated skin cancers.

TMJ Disorder Requires Life Changes

Having TMJ Disorder is no different. For some reason, people don't think of TMJD as a life-altering disorder. They think there's a quick fix at the dental or doctor office. A pill. A mouth applicance. Surgery. Orthodontia work. Bridge work. Grinding teeth down. Bite alteration. Just fix it quick so I can go back to the nachos and margaritas, is the attitude of so many.

Once a person has had a severe bout of TMJ Disorder, however, things need to change. For some, drastic irreversible procedures may work. Unfortunately, this is a gamble, because for many the condition is worse after the irreversible procedure is performed. For others, mouth guards to help protect the teeth from nocturnal grinding and clenching are helpful. A study out of Wayne State University, however, declared that these devices are only effective for about three weeks. After this amount of time, the person adjusts to the device in his/her mouth and simply begins grinding and clenching on it. This may not be true for all people. It was true for me, however.

Changes Can be Simple

A life change does not have to be dramatic. The most important place to start looking at possible changes to make is in one's diet. One simply must eliminate crunchy, chewy foods that aggravate the jaw. It's well worth cutting back on, or eliminating, alcohol consumption, as drinking alcohol is a known cause of nocturnal grinding. Maybe caffeine will have to be eliminated- another known contributor to nocturnal clenching. Even over the counter drugs can exacerbate this condition.

Do No Harm

If you suffer from TMJ Disorder, it may be time that you adopt the "Do No Harm" policy and begin being kind to your body. This may involve a change in diet, practicing stress reduction, adopting an exercise regimen, eliminating toxic habits (like smoking, chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol and caffeine products). Absolutely one should stop using illegal drugs of any kind, even if used "only recreationally." No matter how benign you think your drug usage is, it is highly toxic, stress inducing and harmful to your body.

Time and and a softer diet work wonders for the majority of TMJ Disorder sufferers. Others, unfortunately, do require further intervention. You can find a number of easy-to-cook, easy-to-chew recipes in You Can Conquer TMJ:Recipes and Ideas, available at amazon.com, www.youcanconquertmj.com, and www.moonlightmesaassociates.com

Avoid These Habits if You Have TMJ Disorder

Surprisingly, many people who have TMJ Disorder, or who are flirting with it, often have habits, usually unconscious ones, that exacerbate this condition. Most, of course, have no idea that these habits or activities can cause undue stress on an already stressed jaw.

Gum Chewing

Chewing gum can put tremendous stress on jaw joints. People who have full blown cases of TMJD are aware of this and seldom chew gum, but many people who have lesser symptoms may not always equate gum chewing with TMJD, particularly if one's symptoms don't include pain but only include things like "popping" or crackling of the jaw. Popping and crackling jaw joints are only a prelude of what is to follow!

Chewing Ice

How many times have you sat around crunching on ice? Even chewing on shaved ice can put amazing stress on the jaw joints, not to mention that chomping on ice can crack and break teeth. This is a difficult habit to break. Ice chomping must be in one's DNA, for ice chompers revert to chomping and chewing ice no matter how hard they try not to. This is a BAD habit, and it's particularly bad for people with TMJD!

Chewing Pencils, Pens, Fingernails

This is another habit that is very detrimental to teeth and to jaw joints. It's also probably the most unsanitary habit there is if one considers who else may have handled the pencil or pen, and what else your fingers may have touched that is covered with germs and gross bacteria. Keep things out of your mouth. If you are a chewer and a chomper, this is very difficult. But if you have TMJD, it is essential that you not stress your jaw joints by chomping and grinding away on foreign objects.

Hard Candy

Please, don't even put a hard candy in your mouth if you are a chewer/chomper. The odds are, no matter how careful you are, that you are going to eventually chomp on the candy. Granted, you may wait until it's a tiny sliver or morsel, but you're going to do it. Avoid hard candy, and even avoid licorice and all those hard, chewy treats.

Toothpicks Count Too

If you're a natural born chomper/chewer, even using a toothpick can lead to some heavy duty chewing, especially if you leave the toothpick in your mouth for any length of time.

TMJD and Swallowing Disorders

If you have a bad case of TMJD the odds are that you may also develop a swallowing disorder. This disorder may range from slight to serious. TMJD is not a condition to be blown off or taken lightly, even if you aren't in pain. The throat muscles also can become involved along with the jaw muscles. Treat this condition seriously. Find out what is causing your TMJD and address this issue. TMJD is not a 'normal' condition. Something causes this and it seems that the cause of every case of TMJD is different. Don't continue habits that will lead to further complications of swallowing disorders.

There is speculation that vitamin deficiencies may be the root cause of this disorder; obviously, jaw or facial injury can lead to TMJD also. Some are suggesting that the condition may be hereditary. Sometimes dental procedures can cause a temporary bout of TMJD. No matter the cause, take this condition seriously and protect your jaws from further injury. NO MORE CHEWING and CHOMPING!

Lead Exposure and TMJ Disorder

Calling all would-be scientists...got an idea here. We could all become rich and famous from this!

Toxic Lead/Metal Exposure

I'm not sure why this idea popped into my head, but I can't get rid of it and I need your help! Here's my thesis: Since TMJD is a relatively new disorder, perhaps it is caused by a childhood toxic exposure to lead. Even some other toxic exposure might account for it. Lead just seems to be one that's been around for quite some time.

So, here's where readers come in. If anybody out there has (had) TMJD and then has gone through a de-tox program where metals were removed from your body, please let me know if your TMJ Disorder got better after these metals/toxins were removed.

This toxic exposure idea has as much merit as just about any other idea that has been thrown out there as a possible cause of TMJD. It would even explain why TMJD may be heriditary...if a parent was exposed to this toxin it seems obvious that the fetus would also come into the world with this toxin.

Most adults remember the time when crews used to drive through parks, even neighborhoods, spraying out a mist or fog that used to kill mosquitoes. It could be something as simple as this.

My bet is that it's metals...or exposure during childhood to electromagnetic fields that may be causing TMJ Disorder in so many people.

Has anybody's TMJ Disorder improved after they had amalgam fillings removed?

Time for a Free TMJD Recipe!

I think you're all needing another FREE TMJD recipe for those ailing jaws. Last time I gave out "Yvonne's Mexican Chicken and Rice." How about we do a beef one today?

Here's "Becky's Beef and Barley Mix"

Ingredients:

1 lb. lean ground hamburger (or ground bison's even better!)

1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 or 2 (or 3) carrots, peeled and chopped

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon marjoram leaves

salt and pepper to taste

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 can (7 ounces) green chilies

1 can Italian stewed tomatoes (14 1/2 ounces)

1 1/2 cups water

3/4 cup barley

Ready?

• Fry hamburger, onion, garlic, bell pepper and celery in a large high-sided fry pan. Fry until meat is well browned and vegetables are tender.


• Stir in all the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.


• Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook on low for an hour and fifteen minutes or so. You may remove the cover the last ten minutes if mixture still has too much liquid. I doubt this will happen, but you just never know!

This is GREAT with a dollop of sour cream on top.

BARLEY BITS:

Barley has 5 times more fiber than whole grains. It can be used as an alternative to pasta and rice. It has high amounts of soluble fiber and studies indicate it can significantly lower total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations. Other studies report significantly lower glucose and insulin after barley or barley extracts are eaten.

This recipe is just one of over 70 nutritious, delicious easy-to-prepare, easy-to-chew dinner recipes from You Can Conquer TMJ: Ideas and Recipes, available from amazon.com or http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com/.

Stress Induced TMJD

There are many causes of TMJ Disorder. This is one of the difficulties in diagnosing this disorder. Sometimes TMJD develops because of injury, such as a blow to the head or face, or whiplash. Sometimes arthritis irritates the tmj joint. Certainly clenching and grinding of teeth can cause or exacerbate the condition, and sometimes TMJD comes on for no discernible, apparent reason.

Often, however, sufferers will remark that they had their first bout with TMJD when they were undergoing a stressful time in their lives: divorce, death, job loss, financial difficulties...problems that sound very familiar to many people today.

So, when stress is causing a person to clench and grind his/her teeth, what exactly can he/she do about it considering all this clenching and grinding usually goes on at night while one is sleeping? There's a very simple solution here, although it is admittedly difficult to initiate.

Let Go of Things You Cannot Control

The fact is, most of the time the things that drive us to clench and grind our teeth are beyond our control. This is a difficult concept for some people to accept. As Americans, we tend to believe that we are in control of our destiny, that if we work hard we'll succeed, that we can do whatever we set our minds to. And to a large extent, I'd agree that this is true, but there are simply some things a person cannot control. For example, how much control do you really have over President Obama and his fiscal policies? How much control do you have over the weather? How much control do you have over North Korea's desire to deploy nuclear weapons? In other words, when you take a good look at things, there are just some things that are simply beyond your control no matter how much fretting and cursing and stewing you may be doing over them.

The key here is to recognize things that are beyond your control and to LET THEM GO. There are other things in your life that you CAN control. The truth is, when all is said and done, 20 years from now the concerns you have today will seem a mere blip on life's radar. Remember the quote: To Everything There is a Season. Learn to distinguish those things in your life that you can control and those that you can't. There is no point in making yourself sick, or destroying your teeth and jaws, over things that are beyond your ability to control.

Simplify

Another easy concept to understand, but difficult to employ, is the concept of simplification. Often our lives become "out of control" and subsequently stressful because we make things complicated. Some of us revel in confusion and chaos. We lose track of who we are and what we really need. Instead, we dash about fretting about things that ultimately are quite irrelevant. I NEED I NEED I NEED, is a continuous whine by so many. "I need a new car; I need a bigger house; I need to fly first class; I need a mink coat; I need to send my kids to private school; I need a private airplane; I need a facelift; I need I need I need."

Again, this obsession with our needs (superficial needs at that) can create a tremendous amount of stress as we gnash our teeth trying to figure out how we can afford a bigger car payment or house payment.

In the long run, this obsession with "needs" creates a very unhealthy lifestyle as we work longer and longer hours to make more and more money, which usually ends up simply creating more and more problems causing (you got it) stress...and there we have the gnashing and grinding of teeth again.

Exercise, Sleep and Good Nutrition...Meditation Too

Instead of having two or three drinks to dilute the stress stirring in your guts and causing you to clench and grind at night (alcohol contributes to clenching and grinding, by the way) try a new approach. Exercise to help ease stress. Sleep at least 8 hours a night. Eat healthfully...cut the booze, soda, donuts and fast food. Meditate. Learn to calm your thoughts. For many, your teeth and jaws will thank you.

Clenching, Grinding and TMJ Disorder

It would be lovely indeed if one could solve TMJ Disorder by determining why people clench and grind. Ironically, while many people who clench and grind do develop TMJD, some people who clench and grind never develop this disorder. And, wouldn't you know, some people get TMJD who don't clench and grind at all...ever.

Still, the clenching and grinding of teeth is almost always a contributing factor to the development of TMJD. Since this activity is usually done at night while one is sleeping and unaware of what one is doing, it becomes somewhat of a challenge to break this habit. Additionally, the habit is likely a life-long one.

Childhood Clenching and Grinding

This particularly bad habit almost always begins in childhood, as it is quite common for very young children to clench and grind their teeth while sleeping. There are a lot of speculations as to why children develop this habit, and these range from the proverbial stress explanation, to genetics, to diet. For whatever reason children experience nocturnal clenching and grinding of their teeth, however, the habit seems to stop on its own...for most.

Unfortunately, a good many people continue this habit into adulthood. After a decade or two of nocturnal clenching and grinding, it doesn't take much imagination for one to understand why the jaw joints begin to ache, pop, crackle, lock up and in general stage a mutiny.

Diet and Genetics

Increasingly people are looking at diet and genetics as possible causes of this habit. It appears that most clencher/grinders have at least one parent who also does so. But then, one must ask why the parent(s) clench/grind.

Surprisingly, the answer to this question may relate back to the basic diet. Since TMJD is a relatively "modern" disorder, is there something in the diet that makes a person prone to this problem? Weston A. Price, author of Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, would say yes, quite resoundingly. The addition of sugar to our diet has introduced a plethora of modern ailments and debilitating diseases - so why not TMJD? In fact, I once heard a dietician state that had there been an FDA around in the days that sugar was "developed," it would never have been approved, so damaging and addictive is it to the human body. In today's market there is not only the disastrous effects of sugar per se to deal with, but almost all processed foods have high fructose corn syrup added to them.

Will eliminating sugar from one's diet help stop TMJD and nocturnal clenching and grinding? There's only one way to find out, isn't there?

Got TMJD? Don't Eat These Foods

If you have a really bad case of TMJ Disorder, you may be having difficulty eating much at all. Don't feel relegated to just milkshakes and margaritas though. There are lots of healthful things you can eat, and I'll address some of these things in more detail in another blog.

For now, let's assume you have a painful case of TMJ Disorder, but you are still able to chew food...if you're careful. Or maybe you're not too bad, but after 150 chips with salsa you're in pain. Either way, the following is a list of food you should avoid altogether if you have TMJD.

• Raw, crispy vegetables


• Chips


• Crunchy cereal


• sub sandwiches


• crunch peanut butter


• sports bars


• corn on the cob


• steak, prime rib, pork chops (basically, all chewy meats)


• tacos


• whole apples (cut apple into very thin slices)


• most nuts


• popcorn


• gum


• licorice


• candy bars


• bacon


• hamburgers (as in hamburger sandwiches)


• crackers


• cookies


• pizza


• french bread


• granola bars


• most fast food

This may seem like a formidable list, but if you look at it very closely, you'll see that many of these foods aren't very good for you anyway. Many are loaded with preservatives, chemicals and high fructose corn syrup...or just plain sugar. Eliminating a lot of these foods (except for the vegetables) will actually be good for you.

The following is a list of foods you probably CAN eat:

• fish (all kinds, just not fried)


• cheeses


• beans


• lentils


• rice


• cottage cheese


• oatmeal type cereals


• most vegetables (cooked)


• many fruits


• eggs


• pastas


• soups galore


• olives


• raisins (cooked)


• pancakes, crepes


• muffins


• yogurt


• ground meats


• creamy peanut butter/nut butters


• ice cream!!


• desserts :)


• almost all meats slow-cooked in a crockpot

Now, not all of these items are healthful if eaten in large quantities, I'll admit. But most of them are healthful. Even the high carb items, like pancakes, aren't too bad if you don't drown them in syrup and eat a gigantic stack. Even pasta, a high carb food, is okay. Just don't eat a plateful.

Remember that most, not all, but most cases of TMJD will resolve given time and a softer diet. For good ideas on easy-to-cook, easy-to-chew recipes, check out You Can Conquer TMJ:Ideas and Recipes or One Pot Galley Gourmet, both available at amazon.com or http://www.rlcoffield.com/.

Death in the Desert Deals with Illegal Immigration and Terrorism Issues

Death in the Desert (Moonlight Mesa Associates, 2008) may be more nonfiction than fiction as it portrays Arab-sponsored Mexican drug cartels bent on bringing economic and moral ruin to the United States. Ultimately the goal is to see a Mexican flag waving at the White House, while Americans are on their knees begging for mercy...in Spanish.

Although the book is a distant sequel to Northern Escape, the award-winning suspense novel published by Helm Publishing in 2006, Death in the Desert easily stands alone. Interestingly, the book introduces Jake Starr, an engagingly flawed U.S. Marshal with his own personal agenda for revenge. For those who may wonder, there is no comparison intended between Starr and real life Maricopa County Sheriff, Joe Arpaio. Many have already asked if there will be a Jake Starr follow-up. For now, the answer is no.

The fact remains, and the book succinctly makes this point, this country is grossly vulnerable to illegal immigration with its thousands of miles of shoreline, its hundreds of ports of entry, and its 2000 miles of southern border. Increasing evidence points to the fact that criminals and terrorists of the worst sort are now illegally crossing this border daily.

An unpopular fact is that the flow of narcotics into this country is a consumer-driven problem. No demand...no business. This may seem a hard line approach to a complex problem, but the fact remains, if people did not buy and use illegal chemicals, the entrpreneurial Mexican drug smuggler would earn his wages doing something altogether different. Thousands of lives would not be lost in the drug wars, and despair would not descend on quite so many.

Death in the Desert is available at amazon.com, http://www.rlcoffield.com/ and http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com/. This book is not for the queasy - but the truth rarely is.

TMJD Cookbook Helps Many

You Can Conquer TMJ: Ideas and Recipes (Moonlight Mesa Associates, 2007) is in its final printing. Recommended by many dentists, this cookbook was designed and written for those suffering from TMJ Disorder and other myofascial pain conditions.


I wrote this book after having an excruciating bout with TMJ Disorder that lasted well over a year. I was several months into the pain and becoming increasingly depressed, when I decided to take matters into my own hands and take control of my condition. I asked myself what was continuously causing my jaw pain, and I quickly knew it was the foods I was eating and my nocturnal habit of clenching.

Easy-to-Chew Foods


I set off looking for easy-to-chew foods that would be tasty, nutritious and something my family would also enjoy eating. I collected recipes from friends, family, fellow TMJD sufferers and my own concoctions. It was important to me that the recipes be not only easy-to-chew, but also easy-to-cook. I enjoy eating well, but honestly I don't like spending all day cooking.

Within a short time of changing my eating habits, I became pain free. If I deviated from my recipes, however, my jaw would start to twinge again. I quickly became a believer in my own collection of recipes! As I continued to improve and enjoy food again (instead of a steady diet of soups, oatmeal and chocolate milkshakes) I decided I wanted to share these recipes with others who were also having chewing difficulties.

TMJD Sufferers

I interviewed scores of TMJD sufferers and added "Ideas" to help with TMJD situations. I also decided to donate a portion of my profits to animal rescue/shelter organizations. I was excited to help people in any way I could because I personally knew how painful and depressing TMJ Disorder can be.

Several things happened with the publication of this book. One thing, I learned that most people do not have the patience to give this disorder "time" and a "softer diet." Statistically most cases of TMJD will self-resolve given time and a softer diet, but most people I talked with preferred to undergo expensive, often irreversible procedures which often left them worse off than they were before. Obviously, some people must undergo this type of treatment, but for others it is a seriously flawed decision urged by usually well-meaning doctors and dentists.

Other individuals took comfort in mouth guards which are another controversial area of treatment. For some, mouth guards work wonders; for others it's just more aggravation to the jaw. Some still gnaw away on the guards and cause horrendous tooth destruction. Why aren't those people's dentists addressing the root cause of the gnawing and gnashing instead of just making mouth guards?

My great contribution, my sense of helping others, began to fade as people lashed out with caustic comments: why should I buy your book when I can get recipes for FREE on the internet; who made you such an expert; all people need is a good chiropractor, and the like.

Well, I was also blessed that so many others contacted me via emails and letters thanking me for the collection of nutritious, easy-to-cook, easy-to-chew recipes. Many people sent their own recipes to be included if I did another edition. I've even had people call asking for help because their dentist/doctor has not responded to their problem. Always people wanted to share their stories with me, mostly because I understood the problem, the pain and the aggravation, not because I was a "self-styled" expert.

I am down to 300 copies (out of 8,000) of You Can Conquer TMJ: Ideas and Recipes. The book will not be re-issued. If anyone wants a copy of the book, contact me and let me know you've read this blog and the book is yours for only $12.95 plus s/h. (This is $5.00 off the cover price.)

One Pot Galley Gourmet

Also, these same recipes, plus desserts and breads, are in One Pot Galley Gourmet, a spin-off of You Can Conquer TMJ. So many people bought the TMJD book who didn't have TMJD but wanted the easy-to-prepare recipes, that I brought out the second cookbook in 2008. It is already in its 3rd edition! Both books are available also on amazon.com.

Incidentally, today I am painfree, but I will admit, I watch what I eat. I use only my cookbooks!

Unusual Causes of TMJ Disorder

One of the reasons TMJ Disorder is such a difficult condition to pinpoint, is that its causes are far ranging and sometimes very odd.

Talking, a lot of it, may cause jaw discomfort if you're suffering from TMJ Disorder. If you're a teacher or in a profession where talking is a large part of your job, you may qualify for disability if the TMJ condition interferes with your ability to earn your livelihood. Talking will not cause TMJ Disorder, but it can certainly exacerbate the condition. TMJ Disorder that is irritated by talking is discussed in You Can Conquer TMJ:Ideas and Recipes.

Phone Use and TMJD

How do you hold the phone? Are you a person who cradles the phone on one side of your head more than the other? Cradling the phone between your ear and your shoulder can cause stress on the neck and jaw and lead to TMJ Disorder.

Computer Posture and TMJD

How's your posture at the computer? There's growing evidence that one's posture while at the computer can have long ranging effects. Most people don't connect this to the jaw and to TMJ Disorder, but the connection is there. Often times the jaw ends up being bothered because of stress on the shoulders, neck or upper back. This particular cause is one that may be corrected by massage or chiropractic care. There are chiropractors who insist that spinal/neck manipulation alone will cure TMJ Disorder. This may work for some people, but there is no one cure-all for this condition.

Are you straining your neck during exercise routines? Neck muscles can impact the TMJ joint.

Stress and TMJD

There is little doubt that stress often affects people in negative ways, and TMJ Disorder can result from excessive stress. Interestingly, people often insist that they aren't stressed, so stress cannot possibly be the cause of their TMD. Stress, however, manifests itself differently in different people. For example, some people are pacers, fingernail chewers, worriers, so their stress is obvious. Usually this type of stress is emotional, but it has physical manifestations. Sufferers may get upset stomachs, headaches, migraines, depression.

Sometimes, however, the body may be experiencing stress that a person is unaware of. Physical conditions create stress that can manifest in problems like TMJ Disorder. Basically, anything that stresses the body - diet, fatigue, illness, drugs, prescription medication, injury, toxins of any kind, excess caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, even amalgam fillings - can potentially contribute to a person developing TMJ Disorder.

Age and Overuse of the Jaw

Arthritis is another cause of TMJ Disorder.

Hyper-extension of the jaw, usually occuring during prolonged dental procedures, can also cause TMJ Disorder.

Excessive gum chewing, fingernail biting, chewing on objects like plastic straws, pens, pencils, and other hard objects can also bring this disorder on.

Whiplash and TMJD

Of growing interest is the speculation that some cases of TMJ Disorder may be caused by whiplash injuries, often not manifesting until years after the whiplash occurred. Could having been shaken as a child not also result in a whiplash type injury which might not be apparent until TMJ Disorder develops years later?

Fortunately, most cases (certainly not all) of TMJ Disorder will self-resolve given time and a softer diet. You Can Conquer TMJ:Ideas and Recipes includes over 75 easy-to-cook, easy-to-chew recipes designed for the TMJD sufferer.