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.
whole house cleaning Deerfield ..Some people think that skipping breakfast will help them lose... Read More
Yesterday, out of the blue, without any foreboding gossip or... Read More
In the early weeks after having weight loss surgery almost... Read More
Low Carb, Low Fat, More protein, Eat all the fat... Read More
Magnetic weight loss is the newest fad diet supplement to... Read More
Used a diet pill recently and got depressed because you... Read More
Tip 1) DRINK A GLASS OF WATER AFTER EACH SNACKThis... Read More
It's always great to find a protein supplement with very... Read More
Healthy living begins with healthy eating and healthy eating begins... Read More
Search Yahoo for "papaya" and "kirstie" and you'll find at... Read More
Many gastric bypass patients report frequent spells of dizziness. In... Read More
Quick, what's the first thought that pops into your head... Read More
Generally, weight loss surgery such as the gastric bypass will... Read More
Have you ever stopped to calculate how much time you... Read More
You will be surprised to find out how many people... Read More
Body temperature is the result of your body generating and... Read More
Both men and women around the world are becoming fatter... Read More
I am so grateful that you're taking steps to take... Read More
When people hear the term Unified Theory, some times called... Read More
I am embarrassed to admit how many different commercial weight... Read More
Everyone who has ever tried to lose weight has hit... Read More
The average American eats about twice as much protein than... Read More
There are several ways to manage cravings. You can: ... Read More
Am I missing something here? If I am, someone please... Read More
Have you ever just felt like you were doing everything... Read More
home cleaning services Des Plaines ..First of all we need to find out a reason... Read More
Include in your diet things that contain more water like... Read More
If only we could solve this question, the world (for... Read More
There are lots of dieters, trying every sort of plan... Read More
Sharing our bariatric stories is as personal decision as electing... Read More
Why have I allowed myself to get into this shape?... Read More
There are a few different ways to determine if you... Read More
If you're a low carb diet enthusiast, you've probably tried... Read More
1. The lower the calories eaten per day, the harder... Read More
A client wrote, "Help me! I thought I was finally... Read More
Motivation is a factor often overlooked when it comes to... Read More
What is "too young" to begin a weight loss program... Read More
Gastric bypass surgery involves stapling the stomach to make it... Read More
Yes, you must be aware of the following 7 points... Read More
These days, Jennifer Secrist has little interest in idle activities.... Read More
Today I stopped by my favorite coffee shop in Berkeley,... Read More
I never intended to get fat! I am not exactly... Read More
Obesity acceptance, also known as fat acceptance, has a simple,... Read More
Contrary to common belief, your weight is not really the... Read More
This Article was originally Published in The July 2004 Issue... Read More
The South Beach Diet works, for most people. Its low... Read More
Maybe you've heard about body dysmorphia ? it's a mental... Read More
The incidences of deseases like obesity, diabetes, colon deseases etc.are... Read More
Do you want to lose weight? Of course you do,... Read More
These days more and more people are getting intellectual instead... Read More
Weight Loss |