If you’re 40+ and feel like your body has suddenly changed and nothing that used to work is working anymore... This is for you. Over the last 24+ years, we’ve watched women who - Eat “clean” and see no movement on the scale Gain 3-5 lbs from one night out Push harder with diets and workouts... and feel worse Not getting anywhere with their Doctors or HealthTeam It’s not because you’re lazy. It’s not because you “have no willpower.” It’s because your body has changed. And your strategy hasn’t. Free Live Class Dec 18th 8PM EST/5PM PST- Why Diets Stop Working After 40 and What to Do Instead In this brand-new training, we’ll show you - - Why old-school “eat less, move more” stops working after 40. - The hormone shifts that sabotage weight, sleep, and mood. - How stress + blood sugar swings quietly keep fat on your body. - What to focus on instead without dieting, deprivation, or extreme fitness. - How to eat to burn fat and build lean muscle at the same time (Get my #1 secret that immediately flips on the fat burning switch to dropping 20 lbs in 90 day + 4 inches off waist and hips – Check out Debbie’s story HERE – ).

Most people don’t realize this, but a lot of modern chewing gum is basically soft plastic. What’s the “plastic” in gum? On the label it’s usually hidden under the vague term “gum base.” That gum base often includes plastic-type polymers like- - Polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) - the big one (also used in white glue) - Polyethylene - same family as plastic bags - Polyisobutylene & styrene-butadiene rubber - synthetic rubbers used in things like tires When you chew, tiny fragments can break off as microplastics, which you then swallow. How Much Plastic Are We Talking About? Exact recipes are secret, but roughly- - A piece of gum weighs 2–6 g - Gum base is usually 20-35% of that - A big chunk of that base in regular brands is plastic-type polymers So you’re often chewing a product where 5–20% of the whole piece is synthetic plastic/rubber, not food. FitnHealthy Forever Recommendation If you’re going to chew gum - 1. Read the label. “gum base” with no explanation usually is synthetic. 2. Favor brands that clearly state “no polyvinyl acetate or plastic-free or chicle-based.” 3. If in doubt, go with a clearly labeled plastic-free gum, or skip gum and use mints/herbal teas instead. See Part 2 for some Gum options

Most gum today is basically plastic you chew.If the label says “gum base”, that usually means polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, or synthetic rubber, the same materials used in tires, glue, and plastic bags. But good news: there are clean, plastic-free, chicle-based options. Here's your no-fluff guide to the best right now. These gums use natural chicle or plant resins and no synthetic plastics. 1. Refresh (Top Pick Overall) Base- Chicle (plastic-free) Sweetener- Xylitol & stevia - Cleanest formula, no microplastics - Smooth, long-lasting chew for natural gum - Natural colors & flavor that actually lasts - Slight earthy taste at the start - Not as intense as mainstream gum 2. Cerez Pazari Mastic (Most Natural) Base- Pure mastic resin - 100% natural resin from Greek trees - Piney, herbal flavor - Starts very firm - Unique flavor not for everyone 3. Chicza (Best Organic) Base- Organic chicle - Fully biodegradable & compostable - Earthy, herbal flavors - Traditional Mayan harvesting - Flavor fades fast - Starts sticky; texture takes getting used to 4. Simply Gum Base- Chicle Sweetener- Organic cane sugar (no xylitol) : - Very clean ingredients - Wide flavor variety - Great for those avoiding sugar alcohols - Very mild flavor that fades quickly - Soft chew, not like mainstream gum 5. Chewsy Base- Chicle - Organic, plastic-free, aspartame-free - Classic flavors & lemon - Flavor fades fast - Can get sticky and cling to teeth 6. Milliways Base- Natural plant-based ingredients - Stronger flavor than most natural gums - Smooth texture, doesn’t crumble - Plastic-free packaging - Flavor lasts only about 5 minutes - Pricier 7. Georganics Base- Chicle & Arabic gum - Zero-waste glass jar - Strong initial peppermint flavor - Flavor disappears quickly - Gets sticky with long chewing 8. Glee Gum Base- Chicle - Biodegradable, long-standing clean brand - Lots of great, nostalgic flavors - Softens and breaks down fast - Can be sticky & not good for dental work

WHAT is Bruxism? Bruxism is the medical term for- - Teeth grinding - Jaw clenching - Tension in the jaw muscles It can happen during the day (awake bruxism) or while asleep (sleep bruxism) Sleep bruxism is considered a movement disorder, often linked to stress, nervous system imbalance, or airway issues. WHO Gets Bruxism? Almost anyone but some groups are more at risk. - People with high stress or anxiety - People with poor sleep quality - Those with misaligned bite or dental issues - People with sleep apnea or airway problems - Individuals with acid reflux - Those who drink caffeine late in the day - People who use nicotine, alcohol, or certain medications - Kids going through growth spurts - Adults with chronic tension patterns (neck, shoulders, jaw) It is very common in women 40+, especially with hormonal changes that affect stress response and sleep quality. WHEN Does Bruxism Happen? At night - Most common - People often don’t know they’re doing it - Often linked to sleep disturbances, airway obstruction, and stress hormones During the day - Usually due to stress, concentration, or habit - Happens while driving, working, or scrolling on a phone WHERE Does Bruxism Show Up in the Body? It’s not just the teeth as bruxism has full-body effects. - Jaw pain - Headaches (especially temple tension) - Neck and shoulder tightness - Cracked or worn teeth - Receding gums - Ear pain or ringing - Facial asymmetry - Clicking or popping in the jaw - Poor sleep quality - TMJ disorders Night grinding can even lead to morning exhaustion from micro-awakenings during sleep. WHY Does Bruxism Happen? Bruxism is almost never about the teeth alone. It's a nervous system and airway issue disguised as a dental one. The MOST Common Root Causes Stress & Overactive Fight or Flight response When the brain feels threatened (that Tiger chasing You), the jaw muscles tense automatically. Key - This becomes chronic if the nervous system stays stuck in stress mode.

Bruxism is basically a whole-body SWERPSS problem showing up through the teeth. What is bruxism really? - It’s nervous system overload (fight-or-flight stuck “on”) - Often mixed with sleep/airway issues, inflammation, and nutrient gaps - The jaw is just where the body vents that tension SWERPSS is literally the framework to dial all of that down. S - Sunshine FitnHealthy Bruxism link - circadian rhythm, stress hormones, vitamin D - Morning sun helps set a healthy cortisol curve leads to less wired & tired at night leads to less night grinding. - Sunlight & vitamin D leads to better calcium & magnesium balance, nerve/muscle function, and mood. - Lower inflammation & better sleep leads to less jaw clenching. W - Water FitnHealthy Bruxism link - tension, headaches, electrolyte balance - Dehydration leads to more muscle tension and headaches, which often live in the jaw & temples. - Proper hydration and electrolytes help muscles relax instead of spasm. - A dry, tense body gives you a dry, tense jaw. E - Exercise FitnHealthy Bruxism link - nervous system discharge vs overload - The right movement (walking, strength training, mobility) helps burn off stress hormones and calms the nervous system. - Overtraining, chronic HIIT, or late-night intense workouts can jack up cortisol and make grinding worse. - Move to release tension, not to punish yourself. Your jaw will feel the difference. R - Rest FitnHealthy Bruxism link - : sleep quality & airway This is huge. - Poor sleep, mouth breathing, snoring, apnea leads to where the brain keeps “waking”which can lead to bruxism and often shows up as a compensatory response. - Deep, consistent sleep with good sleep hygiene (dark room, no screens late, wind-down routine) reduces the triggers for night grinding - Every hour of deeper sleep is less emergency work for your jaw at night. P - Protein FitnHealthy Bruxism link - blood sugar, neurotransmitters, hormonal repair - Balanced protein through the day keeps blood sugar steady, preventing cortisol spikes that ramp up tension. - Protein supplies amino acids for GABA and serotonin, the calming brain chemicals that help muscles relax and promote better sleep. - Supports tissue repair in TMJ, muscles, and teeth themselves. - Stable protein leads to stable blood sugar leads to a calmer brain and quieter jaw.