The Hemp Connection:
chewing

Do you have a need to chew? Fingernails? Ends of pencils? Gum? There may be a reason for that.

The trigeminal nerve innervates the jaw joint. When it is stimulated, it releases serotonin. So moving the jaw, whether it's while eating, grinding your teeth in your sleep, clenching your jaw during the day, eating CRUNCHY foods like popcorn, or chewing ice cubes or gum, may have mild antidepressant effects.

On another website, I mentioned chewing ice cubes and it quickly became one of the most popular search terms bringing web surfers in. It's clear, a lot of people do this to the point where they wonder why.

In balance, there is probably a good purpose for this. However, in excess, as in temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome, it can cause other problems.

You may want to do an experiment with yourself and see how you feel after a day of eliminating non-nourishing chewing. Do you feel irritable? Anxious? Out of sorts? Maybe you're dependent on your jaw in a way that may be best served by other outlets.

Remember…talking about how you feel, yawning, even singing…also move the same joint.

Are you someone who has a need for"crunch" in your diet, and who goes looking for it after you've eaten all the healthy foods? There may be some reasons for that.

We all have a nerve, the trigeminal nerve, that connects to the jaw joint. When that nerve is stimulated by jaw movement, it releases serotonin. So…whenever you bite your nails, clench your jaw, chew gum, crunch, even grind your teeth at night, you give yourself a mild antidepressant effect. (One of the most common keyword combinations, interestingly, bringing people to my main website, is"why do I want to chew ice cubes?")

So if your need to move your jaw moves out and beyond wanting a little crunch, consider that you may have an imbalance worthy of addressing. I know one of my clients long ago had developed horrible migraines that were related to his tooth grinding, and it wasn't until that was addressed that he was able to focus on changing his food behaviors. It all ends up connecting itself whether or not we want to admit it.

Anyway, back to jicama. That's pronounced HICK-uh-ma.

Jicama is a great little crunchy food that is often overlooked, likely because its appearance in the grocery store is not as attractive as, let's say, blueberries or golden beets. But what a delight for those who value inner beauty! Jicama is light, crunchy, even a little bit sweet. The texture has been compared to that of a pear. In its native Mexico, it is often eaten sprinkled with lime juice or chili powder. (C'mon, be adventurous, try it that way…you might be surprised!)

If you're ever in a pinch, you can substitute jicama for water chestnuts in Chinese cooking. And if it's your turn to bring the fruit/veggie tray to a party…jicama does not turn brown when exposed to air, making it a great alternative to apples.

Nutrition-wise, an entire cup of jicama only has 45 calories. And it's a good source of vitamin C.

If you want to really get creative, here's a link to a recipe for jicama slaw: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/jicama-slaw-recipe/index.html