THE TEABAG: A LIFESAVER?

The next time you come home from the dentist’s, remember that the beloved British teabag is good for more than just a hot cup of tea. For example, if a tooth socket starts to bleed after an extraction, just pack a wet teabag into the affected area. In addition, says the British Dental Journal, teabags can make excellent emergency pressure packs and should be included in first aid kits.

(From Speak up, May 1992)

GLOSSARY:

beloved = amado

socket = cavidade

But there is one word of advice: lycopene is not well absorbed into the body unless the tomatoes are cooked. Thus, the best sources of this substance are concentrated processed tomato products, like tomato paste, ketchup and tomato sauce. Other sources of lycopene include watermelon, red grapefruit, and, to a lesser extent, shellfish , like lobster and crab.

The relative pronoun, underlined in the text, refers to

don’t keep on giving me a ring

I hate speaking with you

but do call me sometimes

‘coz I need someone to talk to.

stop telling such silly jokes

you know I easily get annoyed

but do make me laugh in some way

‘coz I always am pretty bored

... don’t ever call me sweetheart

I won’t commit myself to you

but treat me like a little sister

‘coz I feel the same way, too

(Adapted from the poem by Imel Pangilinan)