Cherries, Lies, and Dental Peril: One Man’s Journey Through Fruit-Triggered Panic


You think breakfast is safe—until a dried cherry launches a full-scale dental emergency and your bathroom turns into a crime scene for one tooth’s survival. If you’ve ever doubted the fine print on a snack bag or questioned your entire life while holding a Waterpik like a pressure washer at a car wash… this post is for you.

I was eating some dried cherries this morning. The bag said the cherries’ pits were all gone. Four cherries later I asked myself why I believed everything I read on the package. I crunched down on a dried cherry with its’ pit still intact. My first thought was, is my tooth still intact? The heck with hygiene, I jammed a forefinger into my mouth and cautiously felt the tooth. I tried to move it to the left, then to the right. So far so good, but it hurt. The next test was the water pic. I reasoned if I give a high pressure spray that will be a good test. In my mind there were only two possible outcomes. The first being, any food particles around the tooth would flow out of my mouth into the sink. The second being, I let out a whoop that would make a dog howl. I decided to kick the test up a notch and use cold water, forget the sane approach of using warm water Why am I subjecting myself to this possible torture? I hate going to the dentist. I don’t think I’m alone. I’ve never heard a person tell me, “Ray, I am so excited. I’m going to the dentist.” My mind jumps into catastrophe mode. I’ll need a root canal. No, that would be too easy. He’ll pull it out and tell me I need a tooth transplant, there goes three grand. The best case scenario my fragile mind played with was that I’d need a dental crown. Enough of this. i took a deep breath, bent over the sink, turned the water pic on and opened my mouth. No pain. No insane scream coming from my lips. I’ve got to practice mindful eating. Maybe I’ll go back and read one of my blogs. I think wrote something about that.

I Had Not So Ordinary Oatmeal for Breakfast

I had oatmeal for breakfast. No, not ordinary oatmeal that looks at you and says, “Is that the best you can do?” Oh no. The box says a half-cup is one serving. I’m a growing boy, so I made it healthy, spilling over the edges, half-cup. I added a handful of goji berries, sprinkled in some dried tart cherries, and a handful of frozen cranberries. I added two cups of water, put the pot on with cover and turned the stove on to medium heat. I had time to floss, brush, and shave. I wasn’t wasting a minute. When I checked out my oatmeal it was starting to bubble to the beat of the music I had playing in the background (I’m in south Texas so it had a Tejano beat). I took the top off and began to stir my oatmeal. I didn’t want it to burn. I like my oatmeal thick, so I cooked it down. When the oatmeal reached the perfect consistency (thick enough to be used for cementing bricks), I took it off the burner and let it sit while I showered. When I finished showering and dressing I was ready for breakfast. My coffee was waiting for. I took a cup of strawberry yogurt and a cup of blueberries out of the fridge. wI added cinnamon to the top of my oatmeal. It was a great meal. I’m fired up and feel like dancing through the day. I think it was the goji berries that brought about this great mood.

Health Tip of the Day ~ Cherries Have Some Great Health Benefits

The Health Benefits of Cherries

      1. Antioxidant-rich: Cherries are a rich source of antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins and cyanidin, which can help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals.
      2. Anti-inflammatory properties: Cherries contain compounds that can help reduce inflammation in the body. This can be particularly beneficial for people with conditions such as arthritis, as well as athletes who experience muscle soreness after exercise.
      3. Improved sleep: Cherries contain natural melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Eating cherries or drinking cherry juice may help improve the quality and duration of sleep.
      4. Lowered risk of disease: Studies have shown that eating cherries may help lower the risk of certain diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
      5. Improved digestion: Cherries are a good source of dietary fiber, which can help promote regular bowel movements and improve overall digestive health.

While fresh cherries are a healthy food choice, they are also relatively high in natural sugars. Therefore, it’s important to consume them in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Source: ChatGPT

Health Tip of The Day ~ Did You Know Cherries are Health Powerhouse?

7 Reasons Cherries are a Great Choice

There’s a reason that cherries are always on top. This small yet powerful fruit is packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

      1. Cherries fight inflammation and diseases.
      2. Cherries promote restful sleep.
      3. Cherries sooth sore muscles.
      4. Cherries prevent and ease arthritis pain.
      5. Cherries protect your heart.
      6. Cherries improve blood sugar levels.
      7. Cherries cancer risk.

Today’s Health Tip ~ 4 Ways Tart Cherries are Great for You

Tart cherries have a bevy of health benefits. Whether you consume them raw, take it in extract form, or drink the juice—opt for 100% cherry juice with nothing added, since some fruit juices can have lots of added sugar—check out these notable health benefits they offer:

1. Bolster Your Brain – Tart cherries may be the key to a brighter brain, according to research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, which reports that high levels of antioxidants and anthocyanins (which give tart cherries their bright red color) in tart versus sweet cherries may slow degenerative brain diseases.

2. Reduce Stress from “Wear and Tear” Arthritis – If you feel like you’re living in the body of someone 10-20 years your senior because of the pain and stiffness you suffer after long training sessions, you might benefit from supplementing your diet with tart cherry juice.

3. Beat Insomnia  – Drinking tart cherry juice twice a day can help you get up to 90 more minutes of sleep each night, according to research from Louisiana State University. . . .  The tart cherry juice prompted participants to get, on average, 84 more minutes of sleep each night compared to the placebo. One working theory why? Tart cherries have more melatonin (the hormone responsible for sleepiness) than any other fruit. They also have tryptophan, a slow-metabolizing amino acid your body uses to create melatonin.

4. Ease Muscle Pain – You may not need the ibuprofren or ice packs after a grueling run: Tart cherries may be more effective for beating muscle pain, according to a study from Oregon Health and Science University. In the study, researchers found runners who drank cherry juice right after a long run had 23 percent less pain later on than guys who didn’t. Another study, published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, found that tart cherry juice also has a protective effect on muscles and helps reduce pain during strenuous exercise.

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