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Cosmetic dentistry is a huge industry. As humans, all we really need is enough orthodontic work to keep our teeth relatively straight so they don't cause damage to surrounding tissues, and enough dental care to avoid cavities that lead to dangerous infections. And yet we have a culture obsessed with perfect teeth, not just carefully lined up like soldiers in a parade, but a perfect, brilliant shade of white. Trying to get whiter teeth isn't unusual. There are dozens of toothpastes with promises of whitening power, chemical-laced strips you place over your teeth to whiten them, mouthwashes to bleach them,...

If you remember your grade school science, you'll recognize chlorophyll as the compound present in most plants that is responsible for their green color. Indeed, chlorophyll is an important part of photosynthesis; it's what allows a plant to convert sunlight into energy and the nutrients it needs to survive. Chlorophyll has long been thought to have some measure of benefit when consumed. It's hard to tell, though, what benefits come from the chlorophyll and what benefits come from the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals already present in the various green vegetables we eat to get it. The green substance certainly has...

There are three main reasons why you might not be eating vegetables in your daily life. First, maybe you do eat some vegetables, but you're just not eating enough of them. The CDC has done studies and, according to their data, has found that 87% of Americans don't eat enough vegetables regularly. It's simply part of American culture to focus on meat as a centerpiece to a meal. Second, maybe you just don't like them. Maybe you grew up eating canned spinach and steamed-to-death broccoli, and you never developed a taste for them. Eating them is an unpleasant enough experience...

Caffeine is a weird drug. On the one hand, it's a stimulant that frequently leaves people feeling jittery. On the other hand, some people find it gives them an uncanny amount of focus and energy. Studies have shown that it can help with attention, weight loss, and productivity.  As such, caffeine has both been glorified and stigmatized over the years. Some people hate it and some people recommend it for everything. The reality, as you might expect, falls somewhere in the middle. And then we have coffee. Coffee, the blackened lifeblood of the working class around the world. The dark...