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The dopamine rush can be a comfort when we are down, and it can reduce stress. Cortisol is a stress-inducing hormone that is released in anxious situations.

Read more: Fact or fiction – is sugar addictive?

The problem is that the more sugar we ingest, the more we need to make us feel good. It’s a vicious cycle that’s hard to break.

Sugar consumption that is excessive and prolonged increases the risk for type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body cannot maintain healthy glucose levels (sugar).

In the last 40 years, the number of adults who have type 2 diabetes has quadrupled. In 2017-18, 1 million Australians were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Many more were at high risk of developing it.

Sugar reduction is not impossible. Some strategies are personal, while others require industry and government involvement.

Personal Strategies

On a personal level, we need to reduce our sugar addiction slowly. 75% of our foods and drinks contain added sugar.

I stopped buying products that were obviously sugar-laden – fruit juices and soft drinks. I also avoided chocolate, ice creams, sweet biscuits, candy, and a variety of candies. I no longer sprinkle sugar on my breakfast cereal or add it to my coffee and tea.

These simple strategies caused me to experience withdrawal syndrome, including irritability and headaches, as well as fatigue. The symptoms began on the first day. The signs and cravings were uncomfortable but only lasted for three days.

To reach the next level, you should eliminate commercially produced food that contains excessive amounts of sugar, such as jams and condiments.

You may also want to reduce or eliminate the consumption of refined carbs such as white rice and potatoes, especially those that are highly processed. These carbs are converted to glucose by the digestive system and are a form of sugar.

Is it time for you to reduce your consumption of jams and sugary spreads? Shutterstock

You should be aware when you’re eating sugar out of habit, for example, if you eat a chocolate bar in front of the television or a bag full of sweets at the cinema, or as a reward after a good job.

Read more: If sugar is so bad for us, why is the sugar in fruit OK?

It’s also important to be aware of those times when we’re using sugar to make us feel better or alleviate stress. The brain doesn’t care where it gets its feel-good chemicals from, so try going for a walk, run, or cycle, listen to your favorite music playlist, or try doing a good deed instead.

Government response

In terms of public health, the government should play a key role in encouraging Australians to reduce their sugar intake.

Government strategies should focus on accessibility, advertising, and addition.

It would be wise to make sweets less visible and more accessible in supermarkets and other places like post offices, service stations, and delicatessens. By removing them from the checkout counters, you can reduce the likelihood of impulse purchases.

It is best to keep chocolates and lollies away from the checkout. Shutterstock

Taxing sugary drinks will make us drink less of them, according to strong evidence. A tax on these drinks is likely to reduce their consumption and lead to a decrease in type 2 diabetes.

Read more: Don’t believe the myths – taxing sugary drinks makes us drink less of it.

Third, a more transparent system for the labeling the added sugar content of products should be implemented. The current health star rating system is only voluntary and is in need of reform.

Fourth, the advertising space and time for sugary products, like cigarettes, should be limited, beginning with TV ads and social media targeting children.

Ads for sugary food should not be shown to children. Shutterstock

Five, we should introduce powerful and aggressive awareness campaigns, just as we did for cigarettes. Who can forget those graphic television ads of tar squeezing out of arteries or tar pouring over the lungs?

We need to create a multidisciplinary think tank that will raise public awareness of the dangers sugar poses. This body would include endocrinologists, (medical doctors that treat diabetes), neuroscientists and nutritionists as well as marketers, PR experts and government representatives.

The Australian Medical Association has again requested a sugary drink tax in Australia. The proposed tax is a part of the blueprint by the AMA to make Australia the most health-conscious country in the entire world.

Dr James Muecke, 2020 Australian of the Year, has been a strong advocate for a tax on sugary drinks.

It follows years of advocacy by public-health groups and think tanks that have long argued the benefits of a tax on sugary drinks for Australia.

What does the evidence say?

A sugary drink tax has consistently been identified as an important part of efforts to improve diets and reduce obesity.

There is strong proof that sugary drinks can have a number of negative effects on health, including tooth decay, excessive weight gain, and an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Evidence from around the world shows that sugary drinks are taxed in an effective way to reduce consumption.

Evaluations show that taxes on sugary beverages lead to an increase in the purchase of non-taxed drinks. These effects persist for many years.

What is the best tax structure?

The AMA has proposed Australia implement a sugar tax of A$0.40 for every 100 grams (per unit). The offered tax rate would result in a tax of A$0.16 on a can of Coke containing 40g of sugar (10.6g/100ml).

This tax rate is in line with the global recommendation that a price increase of at least 20 percent is needed to produce a significant health effect.

Price increases encourage consumers to opt for healthier alternatives, such as bottled water. Shutterstock

The proposed AMA design is also in accordance with evidence from international sources, which shows that sugary drinks are best taxed when the rate is based on sugar content.

This tax can encourage people to switch to healthier substitutes (lower in sugar) while also encouraging manufacturers to reformulate products (lower in sugar) in order to avoid a high tax rate.

The UK, for example, has demonstrated success using a tiered tax system, in which products with sugar contents above certain thresholds are subject to higher rates of tax. The UK tax led to a decrease in consumption as well as impressive reformulation.

Read more: Sugary drinks tax is working – now it’s time to target cakes, biscuits, and snacks.

The products to be taxed under the AMA proposal include all non-alcoholic drinks containing free sugars but exclude 100% fruit juice, milk-based beverages, and cordial glasses.

Practical decisions like this will likely reduce resistance to taxation by food industries (such as fruit growers and dairy producers).

Impact of a Sugary Drinks Tax in Australia

The AMA estimates that the proposed tax will lead to a 2% decrease in obesity, a reduction in sugar consumption, and improved diets.

Modeling showed that over 25 years, this would lead to 16,000 fewer types of people with diabetes, 4,400 fewer cases of heart disease and stroke, as well as 1,600 fewer deaths.

Read more: Australian sugary drinks tax could prevent thousands of heart attacks and strokes and save 1,600 lives.

These health benefits would translate to healthcare expenditure savings of between A$609 million and A$1.73 billion.

The AMA estimates that the tax could raise around A$800,000,000 in government revenue each year. These revenues could be used to fund preventive health programs.

Support for Sugary Drinks Taxes Gains International Ground

Sugary drink taxes are gaining momentum around the world.

In more than 45 countries, sugary drinks are taxed. These taxes were implemented in large numbers over the past five years.

Mexico is one of 45 countries that have implemented sugary drink taxes. Shutterstock

Australia has been a leader in the prevention of health issues for decades, thanks to its strong efforts in tobacco management. However, in recent years, it has fallen behind by a long way when it comes to addressing unhealthy diets.

Arguments against taxing sugary beverages

The food industry regularly parades a range of arguments in opposition to the sugary drinks tax. But has thoroughly debunked their arguments.

As lockdowns have restricted physical access to food and restaurant outlets, contact-free delivery is gaining in popularity. According to industry reports, Australians spend three times more than they did before the COVID-19 outbreak on online food deliveries.

Online food delivery will be a US$200 Billion industry globally by 2025.

These apps may provide access to many different foods, but they could be harmful to our health.

Fast food is more accessible with online food delivery.

In January and February 2020, we analyzed data gathered from Uber Eats. Uber Eats is the leading online food delivery service in Australia and New Zealand.

We looked at online food ordering for 233 Sydney suburbs and 186 Auckland suburbs with a population of 15-34-year-olds above the average. This age group is the largest consumer of online takeaway food.

Uber Eats in Sydney and Auckland offers 1,074 food outlets that we evaluated based on their nutritional quality and type.

During the pandemic, food delivery apps have seen a surge in popularity. Shutterstock

Fast-food chains topped the list of most popular food outlets. In Sydney, fast-food chains made up 38%, and in Auckland, 54% of the most popular food outlets.

Fast-food chains most popular in Sydney include McDonald’s (54 outlets, 8.4%), Subway (52%), Oporto (42%), and Domino’s (28%).

Subway was the most popular fast-food chain in Auckland (46 stores; 11.7%), followed by McDonald’s (40 outlets, 10.2%), Burger King 24 stores (6.1%), and Hell Pizza 20 stores (5.1%).

All of these fast-food chains are rated as the least healthy.

The Conversation asked Uber Eats to comment on their grocery section, and their spokesperson pointed out that it “[makes] fruit and vegetables more affordable for thousands of Australians.”

A spokesperson said that “quinoa and kale bowls, Brussels sprouts, brown rice, edamame acai kombucha hummus, acai acai acai edamame acai edamame acai acai acai acai acai acai acai acai kombucha hummus, hummus These items, according to our analysis, were not as popular as unhealthy menu items.

Independent outlets are rushing to join, but how healthy are their menus?

In Sydney, we found that independent takeaway shops like your local kebab or fish and chips shop are the second-most popular type of food outlet (30% of food outlets).

In a separate analysis, we analyzed menu items (13,841 total) from the 196 most popular independent takeaway shops in Sydney on Uber Eats. Based on the Australian Nutrition Guidelines, we classified 38 food and beverage categories.

More than 80% were “junk foods” or discretionary items. 42 % of the menu items were classified as “discretionary mixed cereal meals,” which include foods like pizzas, hamburgers, kebabs, and pride. Some other types of junk food include chicken schnitzel or battered fish, as well as sugary drinks.

Marketing tactics are not effective.

These two studies show the wide variety of unhealthy food items that are available on these platforms. In-app marketing can make it difficult for consumers to make healthier choices.

Unhealthier menu options were twice as likely as healthier items to be categorized as “most popular.” Harmful menu items are also nearly 1.5 times more likely than healthier ones to have a picture and to be sold in a value package.

Uber Eats’ menus featured more than 80% junk food. Shutterstock

In another study, we saw how online food delivery companies have used the pandemic as a way to promote junk foods on social media.

A recent digital analysis of Instagram accounts for nine online food delivery services in three different regions (Australia/New Zealand, North America, the United Kingdom, and the United States) revealed that nearly 70% of the food advertised on Instagram was junk food.

In 2020, 32% of posts will mention the pandemic. These posts encourage consumers to order food and stay at home to support local businesses.

It’s good to support local businesses and stay home during lockdowns, but it is alarming that more than 97% (of the food items) featured in COVID-related Instagram posts from Australia or the UK are junk foods.

Read more: Combo meal deals and price discounts on fast food encourage us to eat more junk. It’s time for policy action.

Can we promote healthier choices in the digital age?

Online food delivery makes it easy to get junk food and beverages. This is a major factor in the rising obesity rates. Australian data suggests that 16% are obese. Around 1 in 3 people aged over 15 years are obese.

World Health Organization acknowledged the increasing impact of online food environments on people’s dietary choices. It urges the food industry, government, policymakers, and researchers to take collective action for the public’s health.

The bill targets advertising of unhealthy food, as defined by Australia’s health ministers in the past, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, confectionery, and unhealthy fast food. The bill would ban advertising for unhealthy foods on TV, radio, streaming services, and social media from 6 am-9:30 pm. This proposal highlights our greatest health challenge and takes action to address it.

Since 1980, the proportion of Australian adults who are obese or overweight has tripled. About one-quarter are overweight or obese in Australia today. These consequences can be serious. Obesity can increase the risk of chronic diseases in children, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Obesity costs the healthcare system billions each year. Not to mention the lost years due to illness, disability, or premature death.

It’s not the first time that a ban on junk food advertising has been proposed. There are more reasons than ever for it to happen.

Why now?

Advertising of unhealthy foods is the primary cause of Australia’s obesity crisis. Restricting this advertising could improve our diet.

Since 2009, the Australian National Preventive Health Agency recommended them. The World Health Organization has also long advocated for restrictions on advertising. Has been recommended for years by the World Health Organization. Evidence shows that advertising affects children’s eating habits, preferences, and feelings of hunger.

It is safe to assume that advertising junk food works, even without these proofs. If it didn’t work, then companies wouldn’t be spending money on it.

A study revealed that advertising in Australia on sugary beverages alone costs nearly five times as much as government campaigns to promote healthy eating, exercise, and obesity prevention. Companies carefully craft their advertising to attract children. They use promotional characters, games, and gifts. They also shift advertising online in order to adapt to changing viewing habits.

Parents are well aware that advertising is effective, as they have seen their children use “pester power” and spend their own money on unhealthy foods. Two-thirds of Australians are likely in favor of banning junk food advertisements during kids’ viewing hours.

Read more: Are you living in a food desert? These maps suggest it can make a big difference to your health.

What’s taking so long?

Why have governments not acted yet? The industry responded quickly to the call for advertising restrictions by health bodies nearly 15 years ago. The sector developed optional codes of conduct for “responsible marketing and advertising to children.” These codes are voluntary and vague and have significant loopholes and holes.

Self-regulation does not reduce junk food advertisements for children. In countries that have mandatory policies, junk food consumption has decreased. However, it rose when the industry took charge.

Australia and its kids have been left behind. Since Quebec, Canada implemented the first ban in 1980, over a dozen other countries have followed suit, and many more plan to. The policies that are being discussed in our Parliament were adopted by the United Kingdom in 2021.

Australia is not the only country that has failed to set sensible food regulations. We’re not one of the 43 countries that have rules on reducing trans-fats, which can cause heart disease or the 85 countries that tax sugar-sweetened drinks, which are linked with diabetes.

Our efforts to improve food labeling and reduce salt consumption are less effective than in other countries.

Read more: How to save $50 off your food bill and still eat tasty, nutritious meals.

It’s time to make healthy choices easier.

Blaming individuals for unhealthy diets is not the right answer. Time pressures, cost pressures, availability of fresh foods, and marketing are all factors that influence unhealthy food choices.

To compete with unhealthy choices, governments must make healthy options more affordable, convenient, and appealing. A good place to start would be to remove all advertising directed at children.

What is “detoxification”? This is a detoxification process that involves the use of certain products, diets, and other methods in order to rid your body of “toxins.”

Social media is awash with detoxes, and celebrities and influencers promote them.

The documentary Mirror Mirror, Are You Well? by Todd Sampson will air on Channel 10 in the coming week. It explores our fascination for detoxing and the science behind it.

Here’s everything you need to consider if you are considering a detox.

Detoxification is not a new concept.

Since Hippocrates believed that four bodily liquids, or “humors” – blood phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile, had to be in balance for good health, detoxing has been a popular practice. Unwellness is a sign that the body’s fluids and organs are out of balance and need to be corrected.

Over the centuries, these “imbalances” have been treated by everything from enemas to Leech Therapy to Bloodletting. A tube is inserted into the anus in order to deliver fluids or medication to the colon or rectum. Emetic are compounds that make you vomit. Bloodletting involves using techniques that are not for the faint-hearted to remove blood and purportedly cure diseases.

Read more: Gwyneth Paltrow’s new Goop Lab is an infomercial for her pseudoscience business.

Meanwhile, throughout history, the ritual of fasting as a display of self-discipline, purity, and holiness was common, particularly among women.

What are the various types of detoxification?

Today, detoxes are a little different. Over-the-counter and online detox products are usually teas or beverages that can be consumed in place of food.

Some of these approaches start with a phase of fasting or use intermittent fasting throughout the entire program.

This tag appears on an increasing number of products, including teas, coffees, infused water, and drinks that contain fruit, vegetables, or herbal mixtures. These products claim to remove toxins or boost immunity.

According to global predictions, the market for detox drinks, which is estimated to be worth over US$5 billion by 2022, will increase in value by another 50% by 2030.

Teas are often used as detox products. Svetlana Repnitskaya/Getty

In a survey conducted by naturopaths in the United States, a study on detoxification treatments recommended that over three-quarters of them recommended dietary measures. These included “cleansing food” (such as beetroot), vitamins, minerals or antioxidant supplements, organic products, elimination diets, and probiotics.

There are many ways to detox. While dietary and drinking measures are common, there is also a variety of more unusual methods.

One-third of patients in that same US study had undergone colonic irrigation, which involves

Over a quarter of respondents had used laxatives or homeopathic remedies.

We don’t yet have comparable data for Australia. However, in a survey of over 2,000 Australian adults, we found that 63% either used complementary therapies or sought advice from someone else about them the year before. One of these therapies was detoxification.

Read more: What are ‘fasting’ diets, and do they help you lose weight?

Do detoxes work?

The short answer to this question is no. The short answer is no.

The review also pointed out that detoxes contradict the principles of human physiology in that our liver and kidneys remove toxins quite efficiently.

The 2015 review found that studies on detox diets did not support their use.

There is no evidence to support detox diets. andresr/Getty

Detox products do not have to prove their effectiveness to be sold. The Therapeutic Goods Administration regulates complementary medicines in Australia. They assess the quality and safety of the ingredients but do not test their effectiveness.

Before purchasing any products, you should verify the manufacturer’s claims. Be skeptical about promises such as rapid weight loss or elimination of toxins. Other claims include improved self-esteem or energy, inner peace, or better skin.

In an effort to gain market share, Australia’s two biggest supermarket chains often portray themselves as places where you can shop healthily. Woolworths’” Jamie’s Garden sticker campaign” might not be just about promoting fruits and vegetables.

Collectibles such as cards and stickers have been a great success for Australian supermarkets. The previous Aussie Wildlife cards and DreamWorks Heroes cards from Woolworths were hugely popular with children across the country.

The supermarket chain’s latest fruit and vegetable campaign has been a failure. It’s not the promotion, but rather its stickers, books, and recipe cards that are clearly health-promoting.

This has caused a stir in the company because it charges fruit and vegetable farmers 40 cents per box in advertising fees for the campaign. The assumption is that the company would sell so much more fruit and vegetables that it would only be fair for farmers to contribute as well.

Farmers are asking why the campaign will benefit supermarket chains more than they do. Is the campaign really about selling more fruits and vegetables, or more about profits and market shares?

What are the health benefits of supermarkets?

Fruit and vegetables are the first things we see when entering a supermarket. In reality, however, a large amount of shelf space in supermarkets is dedicated to foods that are not part of the five major food groups. These foods are called discretionary foods.

Fruit and vegetables are the first things we see when entering a supermarket. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

The top promotional locations at checkouts and end-of-aisle displays, as well as island bins, are far more likely than fruit and vegetables to include soft drinks, chocolate, candy, and chips. They’re also highly effective.

A recent study on end-of-aisle displays in UK supermarkets shows how the position of products can have a profound effect on what people buy. The study showed that placing soft drinks at the end aisles increased sales by 52%.

Comparing Australian supermarkets to those in other developed countries has confirmed that Australian stores have more displays at the end of aisles and checkouts dedicated to chocolate, chips, sweets, and soft drinks.

This emphasis on junk foods also extends to the catalogs where most of the food and beverages advertised are “discretionary food.” While supermarkets are keen to tout their “health-food” credentials, in reality, the foods and drinks they promote contribute to Australia’s obesity crisis.

Consumables and collectibles

The relationship between food consumption and sales promotions was examined in a 2009 review.

Surprisingly, little attention has been given to the impact of sales promotions on eating habits or how they can be used to promote healthier eating.

The majority of research is based on price discounts, which have a clear and predictable effect on purchases in the short term. It is unlikely that marketing promotions without values will have an impact on food consumption in a long time, especially for perishables like fruits and vegetables.

It is difficult to believe that Woolworth’s latest collectibles campaign, which focuses on fruits and vegetables, will have a significant impact on children’s eating patterns in the long term.

Parents of school-aged kids can attest to a strategy that targets children’s passion for collectibles. AAP Image/Tony Phillips

It is still encouraging from the public health point of view to see such a campaign aimed at children promoting healthy foods – something that is very rare in food marketing for children.

The real agenda is likely to be a lot different.

This latest campaign clearly isn’t just about selling fruit and vegetables. As with most businesses, the primary goal of the supermarket chain is to maximize profits.

Such campaigns are most likely to increase market share and customer loyalty. There is no research specifically on this, but most parents with school-aged kids can attest to its effectiveness.

The sticker book that is devoted to fruit and vegetables will be largely irrelevant once the customer has entered the supermarket. The supermarkets in Australia are known for their heavy promotion of food that is not essential. The ultimate goal is to increase sales of all food, not just fruit and vegetables.

The BRAT diet is a popular recommendation for recovering from gastroenteritis. The BRAT diet is bananas, applesauce, toast, and rice. These bland foods are gentle on the stomach, which is very important for someone recovering from gastroenteritis.

Applesauce, a uniquely American food product, was first mentioned in an American report from 1926 about the treatment of intestinal intoxication in children.

The BRAT diet has been recommended for many years, but it has become less popular in recent decades. The BRAT diet has not been tested in clinical trials, but studies have shown that each food on the BRAT menu can help with gastro recovery.

Apples and bananas are both rich in pectin, a starch that forms a gel. This gel helps treat diarrhea. Reduced diarrhea in children when green banana flour and pulp were consumed. Bananas contain potassium, which is a good source of replacing potassium lost through diarrhea.

Rice-based oral rehydration solution is a drink that contains water, rice sod,ium, and potassium salts. It can be used to reduce diarrhea and the number of stools. Bangladesh researchers found that a rice-based dietary regimen containing pectin or green banana improved the consistency of stools and decreased diarrhea duration.

Kids recovering from gastro do not need to be restricted in their diet. Shutterstock, CC BY

Read more: Explainer: what is gastroenteritis, and why can’t I get rid of it?

Magic apples

It is believed that the use of apples for diarrhea began in Germany. A nurse named Sister Frieda Klimsch treated dysentery in a hospital.

Another origin describes how a German doctor noticed that dysentery patients who ate apples in an orchard nearby had a shorter and milder disease. The doctor encouraged them to eat apples to treat diarrhea.

In the 1930s, it was noted that eating apple peel could cause vomiting in infants. The peel was, therefore, removed. Grated Apple was used in the 1930s to treat diarrhea.

Applesauce was later recommended as a form of apple to recover from gastroenteritis in the United States and is included in the BRAT Diet. It is interesting to note that giving diluted Apple juice as a treatment for mild dehydration due to gastroenteritis can be both effective and safe.

Applesauce, a product that is uniquely American, can be made with grated apples. Unsplash CC By

Why the advice on gastro diet has changed

In the last 20 years, most doctors have concluded that the BRAT diet, which is restricted, is not healthy for recovery from gastroenteritis because it contains low amounts of fat, protein, and energy. All of these nutrients are essential for healing.

Studies show that normal eating, in general, does not worsen gastroenteritis. You don’t need to restrict your child’s diet. It is not advisable to fast when recovering from gastroenteritis, but you should consider your child’s needs and gradually introduce foods.

In the case of moderate to severe diarrhea, it is sensible to limit intake of simple sugars and fatty foods. This includes juices and soft drinks.

Read more: Diarrhoea, stomach ache, and nausea: the many ways COVID-19 can affect your gut.

Flat soft drinks?

These drinks, such as lemonade and colas, deserve special attention. Some view these drinks as a way to replace fluids and glucose that have been lost through vomiting or diarrhea. Research has shown this is not a good idea.

A British study surveyed the medical literature dating back to the 1950s to find evidence that soft drinks can be used to treat gastroenteritis. They found no evidence.

Researchers compared the electrolytes in colas, sodas, and commercial oral rehydration solutions with the sugar and electrolytes found in the commercially available solutions. The researchers found that soft drinks contained not only very low levels of potassium, sodium, and other electrolytes but also up to seven times more glucose than the World Health Organization recommends for rehydration.

Flat or otherwise, carbonated drinks are not considered adequate for fluids or electrolytes, and they are not recommended.

Rehydration drinks are less sweet and more effective than soft drinks. Shutterstock

What should you drink and eat during recovery from gastroenteritis?

Foods that are appropriate for include fruits and vegetables and lean meats such as yogurt, bread, rice, potatoes, and cereals.

If your child has mild gastroenteritis, you should encourage them to drink water and milk and avoid fruit juices or carbonated drinks.

Commercially available oral rehydration solutions (such as Gastrolyte and Hydralyte) are the best choice for moderate to severe cases.

A systematic meta-analysis of 174 studies concluded that zinc and a probiotic can be helpful during recovery from gastroenteritis. They reduce the length of diarrhea and the volume of stool.

Scientists in China have developed a gel containing mineral clusters found naturally in teeth. The gel encourages the growth of crystals in partially acid-damaged tooth enamel to restore it to its original shape.

The method has yet to be tested in humans, but one day, it could mean an end to painful needles and the dreaded drill.

Read more: How often should I get my teeth cleaned?

What is tooth enamel?

The enamel is the topmost layer on our teeth. It protects them from damage. The enamel also protects us against pain and sensitivity.

If this protective coating erodes, our teeth become more vulnerable to cavities (holes) and may need dental treatments, such as fillings.

The enamel is the outermost layer of our teeth. Shutterstock.com

Tooth enamel is composed of the same minerals as bone, calcium, and phosphate. Enamel contains more minerals than bone, but the crystals of enamel are arranged into a complex geometrical arrangement.

The enamel crystals look like spaghetti strands or long ribbons under a microscope. The crystal strands can be arranged into clusters oriented at 60 degrees, similar to packets of dried spaghetti. Rods and inter-rods are the ribbon clusters that weave together like a honeycomb.

This weave is hard to recreate when destroyed because it is impossible to replace the enamel cells as they die at the time our teeth emerge out of our gums.

Why does tooth enamel erode over time?

Enamel is extremely hard, but it can also be brittle. It’s susceptible to erosion. It happens when the mineral in our teeth dissolves into saliva.

When we get acid in our mouth (a bad guy), the mineral in our saliva (a good guy) tries to bind with it and neutralize the acid. The mineral in our saliva (as a good guy) tries to bind with the acid (a bad guy). This balances the acid and prevents it from harming us. This is called buffering.

We run out of minerals to buffer an “acid attack” if there is too much acid or the quantity and quality of our saliva are inadequate. In a last effort to neutralize acidity, the minerals in our teeth dissolve into foam. The teeth will erode at this point and become more vulnerable.

Read more: Child tooth decay is on the rise, but few are brushing their teeth enough or seeing the dentist.

Like the erosion we see in our beaches and river beds, under a microscope, eroded enamel surfaces appear moth-eaten and uneven. This is because erosion destroys the crystal organization I described above.

Dentists recommend products that repair enamel, but they cannot recreate the complex crystal structure needed to create a pearly-white shimmer. The dental community is very excited by this research.

Can we control erosion?

When we consume and drink acidic foods, such as wine, cola drinks, fruit juices, sodas, lollies, and energy or sports drinks, our teeth will erode. Acid is found in anything that tastes sour. Avoid or limit the consumption of acidic foods and beverages whenever possible.

Patients with medical conditions like bulimia and acid resin are at a higher risk of having their teeth worn down. It’s important to get regular dental checks if you have these conditions.

 

Curious Kids is an educational series. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au. You might also like the podcast Imagine This, a co-production between ABC KIDS Listen and The Conversation, based on Curious Kids.

Why are burps so loud? – Byron, age 6, Sydney.

That’s a great question, Byron. Some burps can be really loud, but they can be quiet, too. How loud a burp is depends on a few factors, like how much gas is in your stomach to burp up and the structure of the food pipe that the burp travels along before it leaves your mouth. Let’s look at burps in a bit more detail.

What is a burp, exactly?

The word “burp” describes the release of gas in your stomach or food pipe that occurs after you eat and drink. The scientific name for the food pipe (also called the gullet) is the esophagus. The esophagus, which is about the size of a ruler and connects your stomach to the back part of your throat, is a muscular tube.

What is the source of the burping noise?

You can see this tissue if you open your mouth wide and look in a mirror. The epiglottis is what you see. The epiglottis tilts back when you swallow to block the windpipe leading down to your lungs. This means that the opening of your food pipe has become clear. The epiglottis acts like a traffic control.

The epiglottis is the most important part of the esophagus. Shutterstock

When you burp, gas is trapped in the stomach and upper esophagus. Gas is usually under pressure when it is present in large quantities. As the gas is pushed up through the food pipe and over the top of the esophagus, the surface of your upper esophagus vibrates and rattles. This is similar to windows that rattle in a storm. Another factor is the long, round shape of the esophagus. This causes the sound to echo up the food pipe.

You can make your burp louder or quieter.

Take a cardboard tube out of a roll of lunch wrap or toilet paper. Put your lips on the end of the line and hum softly. The echo makes the noise louder than when you buzz without using the tube. Please do it again, but this time with a lot more power. The sound is now much more audible. The echo is more audible when you force more air through the tube. It is because of this that larger burps sound louder.

The size of your food pipe and the amount of gas in it will determine whether you burp louder or softer. When there is a strong wind blowing, windows will rattle more than when it’s calm.

You can burp loudly if you consume a large can of soda water. Take lots of gulps to swallow more air.

Babies have smaller stomachs and smaller food tubes, so their burps are quieter than those of children or adults.

Where does gas come from?

Gas can come from several different sources. You can get gas from the air you swallow while eating and drinking. When people drink through a straw or eat fast, they can consume more air. When you drink soft drinks, the “fizz” is carbon dioxide. Other gasses are also produced in your intestines during digestion.

The cost of meat rose by 3.8%, but in absolute terms, a kilo fillet steak could reach A$60 per kilogram.

Australians spend about 15% on meat, and the other half (7.4%) is spent on dairy products.

According to, 43% of households believe that grocery prices cause financial stress. Half of these people are trying to cut back on their spending.

How can you cut costs on meat and milk products without sacrificing nutrition?

Read more: How to save $50 off your food bill and still eat tasty, nutritious meals.

Meat

Meat contains iron, zinc, and vitamin B12.

The recommendation is to consume no more than three servings of lean-cooked red meat per week. It can be beef, lamb, or veal. Kangaroo is also acceptable. A serve is 65g cooked. It means buying 270-300g of meat per person per week.

Prices and specials are available online. The less expensive cuts are oyster blades, chuck steak, or rump (between $22 and $25 per kilogram). These cuts are tougher and better suited for slow-cooking or casseroles, such as this beef Stroganoff.

The exception to this rule is mince. Products with higher stars, lower fat, and more expensive prices shrink less when cooked compared to regular, which shrinks between 25-30%.

The star-shaped mince will shrink less when cooked. Emanuel Ekstrom/Unsplash

Add vegetarian protein sources, such as beans or legumes, to casseroles and mince dishes in dried or canned form.

A 400g can contain 240g of cooked beans and costs around $1.50. This is equivalent to about 1.6 standard servings. Add any canned legume (black beans, adzuki beans, cannelloni beans, butter chickpeas or four-bean mixture, brown lentils). You can also use dried lentils that do not require pre-soaking, like red lentils.

This contains a variety of nutrients, including iron, zinc, and calcium.

Read more: Love meat too much to be vegetarian? Go ‘flexitarian’

Dairy

Dairy products contain important nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc. They also provide vitamins B2, B12, and A. Australian recommendations recommend two to three servings a day per adult and four for women aged over 50. One serving is equal to one cup of milk or 40g of cheese.

UHT milk, which costs about $1.60 a liter, is less expensive than fresh milk, depending on the brand and type. Powdered milk is even cheaper ($10 for a kilogram, making ten liters), costing $1 per liter.

Substitute yogurt for sour cream. Michelle Henderson/Unsplash

Using a powder mixture and a yogurt machine ($25) to make yogurt costs $5-6 per kilo. Divide the yogurt into smaller tubs once it has set. Use to replace cream or sour cream.

Fresh yogurt is priced between $11 and 18 dollars per kilogram. Individual servings and flavored varieties are more expensive, but not always. Check for specials and compare prices per kilogram or 100g.

Prices for cheese can vary greatly, so it’s important to compare them per kilogram. Block cheese is generally cheaper than pre-sliced cheese or grated cheese. Branded products are more expensive than home brands. The mature cheeses cost more, and the processed cheeses cost less. If you slice block cheese very thick, you will end up using more. Block cheese can cost anywhere from $15 to $30 per kilogram, while pre-sliced cheese packets range from $18 to more than $30.

Pre-grated and processed cheeses are available in a range of $14 to $30 per kilogram, with the majority being around $20. Mix grated carrots with grated cheese (about $2 per kilogram) to extend the shelf life of grated cheese. Use it as a topping for pizza, tacos, and wraps. For toasted sandwiches, use processed cheese slices. Most recipes are successful when you use less cheese than the specified amount.

Cans of salmon are a good alternative to cheese for sandwiches. However, at $6-$7 per can (or $15-$30 per kg), you may not be able to save much money.

Read more: Eggs are so expensive right now. What else can I use?

Three tips to save on your food bills

1. Budget your household’s food

Make sure everyone understands how to save money on food and drink.

Around 50% of household food dollars are spent on take-out, dining out, coffee, alcoholic beverages, food delivery services, and extras. So, set aside a budget to cover discretionary items. You can save a lot of money by avoiding these items.

You might want to give your family an incentive to stick with the budget by voting on what “discretionary items” you spend food dollars on.