According to a new study appearing in the American Journal of Periodontology, researchers have found a significant correlation between healthy eating and healthy gums. Specifically, those people who were not overweight, consumed a nutritious diet, and regularly exercised with moderate intensity were 40% less likely to suffer from gum disease.
Of the over-12,000 people surveyed, only 3% of the people possessed all three traits (not being overweight, eating a nutritious diet, and exercising regularly), but its interesting to note that as people added more of these traits to their arsenal, their periodontal health improved as well. Those people who possessed two of the traits were 29% less likely to suffer gum disease, and those who possessed only one of the three key traits were 16% less likely to suffer gum disease.
In statistics, there is a saying that goes like this: "Correlation is not necessarily causation." This means that, while the correlation is statistically significant, one must decide whether it is the healthy behavior that is the cause of the healthy mouth, or the healthy mouth the cause of the healthy behavior.
Researchers pointed out that there were a few possible factors contributing to this statistical relationship. Eating healthy foods (such as lots of fresh fruits and vegetables) tends to help scrub the plaque off of teeth before it can turn into tartar, which causes pockets in the gums where bacteria can take root. Also, it has been suggested that the increased circulation that comes from exercise may help to reduce inflammation.
The bottom line is that, whether the mouth is the window into the body or the body is the window into the mouth, it's just one other weapon to help you win the battle of the bulge. One measure of one's self is weight. We can step onto a scale once a day and see if we have gained, lost, or maintained weight in comparison to the previous day.
A scale can be "out of sight, out of mind," but your mouth never leaves you. The health of your teeth and gums, the lack of plaque and debris, and the freshness of your breath can be a constant reminder of the status of your overall health.
There are other dental health-related weight loss tips that you can use in conjunction with this periodontal health study.
1. Brush and floss your teeth immediately following each meal. Doing so will give you a clean mouth and fresh breath and you will be less likely to mess up your clean mouth by snacking on food prior to your next meal.
2. Use a strong, mint-flavored toothpaste, mouthwash, or both. The mint flavor does not mix well with many foods and flavors. Remember the last time you brushed your teeth and then finished off the glass of orange juice before rushing off to work? The very thought of that after-taste is enough to keep you from eating before your next meal.
An executive at the California Dental Association told me several years ago that, in his opinion, the biggest health crisis in this country was related to people not realizing that their oral health was so strongly related to their overall health. This new study seems to confirm his understanding of that relationship. The well-armed warrior will use this knowledge to his or her benefit in order to gain an advantage in fighting the "Battle of the Bulge."
References:
http://www.perio.org/
http://www.perio.org/
Michael Callen is the author of the Weekly Weightloss Tips Newsletter (http://www.perio.org/) and the Chief Technology Officer for WellnessPartners.com (http://www.perio.org/), an online retailer of dozens of health and wellness products such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), r+ alpha lipoic acid (R+ ALA), and green tea extract.
tidy up service Glenview ..Why We Start Diets on MondayThe biggest problem with any... Read More
Infrared Radiant Heat (IRRH) is a form of radiation that... Read More
If you find this article helpful, please forward it to... Read More
Diet PillsTaking diet pills is definitely not an effective weight... Read More
Whenever I hear someone say they just can't lose weight,... Read More
As our country gains weight at an alarming rate, we... Read More
It is not recommended to lose more than 1 pound... Read More
Yep, it is that time of year again! Time to... Read More
Magnetic weight loss is the newest fad diet supplement to... Read More
Some of my dieting tips are not conventional. You can... Read More
At the beginning of December, WeightWatchers.com announced the release of... Read More
Self-acceptance and body love can be tough concepts to grasp... Read More
Do you know that while you work out the muscles... Read More
I bet you already know all the health benefits for... Read More
Recently, a Japanese study showed dramatic results of organ fat... Read More
Are you gaining weight sitting in front of the computer?... Read More
Negative calorie foods are said to use more calories to... Read More
As hoards of low-carb proponents invade the nutritional landscape, the... Read More
Dieting and Exercising ? Results all the time!To be successful... Read More
Water is useful when we are trying for losing weight.... Read More
Fast Weight Loss - Is it better to lose 2lbs... Read More
The people of earlier times depended on the rich resource... Read More
When it comes to the matter of weight loss, peoples... Read More
Among the most popular forms of dieting is the South... Read More
Are you considering a low carb diet? If so you... Read More
full-service cleaning Mundelein ..How would you like to eat all you want and... Read More
Body temperature is the result of your body generating and... Read More
Millions of people spend billions of dollars, hoping to achieve... Read More
It's easy to lose sight of our goals, "Do I... Read More
This is the second article in the series, Weight Loss... Read More
If I were asked, "what is the most difficult thing... Read More
Weight loss programs often have big claims. Understand the "science"... Read More
Food cravings can be triggered by various things including low... Read More
Some of my dieting tips are not conventional. You can... Read More
Dieting doesn't have to be a chore. Actually, you can... Read More
New Medical Research shows high-intensity exercise can increase the body's... Read More
Stop Being Influenced by Food Ads on TVThere is much... Read More
If you have been dieting, there is a good chance... Read More
A really easy, fast way to weight loss is walking... Read More
If you've been scouring the news, devouring as much information... Read More
*Do you truly believe that not eating or cutting back... Read More
A reader recently wrote to ask why I don't include... Read More
In recent years, carbohydrates have been labeled as the nutrition... Read More
Your success in sticking with an exercise and weight loss... Read More
The vast majority of postpartum women will not return to... Read More
Not everyone can handle hot food. But who said cayenne... Read More
Have you ever wondered why some fat people can be... Read More
Weight loss plans come in all shapes and sizes. Some... Read More
In this issue, I am going to focus more on... Read More
In theory, if you're starving, exercising less helps conserve energy.... Read More
Weight Loss |