| Chew On This: Diets Rich in Whole Grains Reduce Risk of Gum Disease |
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| Whole Grains - Whole Grains - Articles |
| Written by Frank Mangano |
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Lots of health information has come out recently regarding foods that protect your heart, your eyes and your brain. But are there any foods that protect your pearly whites? Well, according to a study published this past June in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the answer is worth smiling about. The 14-year study revealed that following a diet rich in whole grains can greatly reduce the risk of gum disease. Past studies have shown that whole grain foods help prevent the risk of acquiring diabetes and high blood sugar, which often serve as precursors to gum disease. With this in mind, you’d naturally suspect that whole grain foods would reduce that risk, but it had never been studied. Researchers from McMaster’s University in Ontario, Canada set out to investigate by analyzing the diets of 34,000 men every four years over a 14-year period via food–frequency questionnaires the men filled out. After 14 years, 1,897 of the 34,000 men had been diagnosed with the gum disease periodontitis, which is inflammation of the structures of teeth. Bear in mind that the men participating—all of whom were between 40 and 75 years old—had no sign or history of gum disease, high blood sugar or diabetes at the outset of the study. This led researchers like Anwar T. Merchant to conclude that those who consumed approximately three servings of whole grain foods were 23 percent less likely to develop periodontitis than those who consumed one serving of whole grain foods per day. “A diet that is good for general health is also good for oral health,” said Merchant in an interview with Reuters Health. He proceeded to explain how whole grains protect the teeth thusly: “Whole grain intake improves glucose metabolism, resulting in lower levels of blood glucose. Lower blood glucose levels are reported to reduce the risk of periodontitis in diabetics. Lower blood glucose levels—resulting from consuming whole grains—may reduce the risk of periodontitis in non-diabetics as well.” But more still needs to be hashed out regarding the scientific background behind whole grains’ ability to protect. In an interview with Science News Online, Merchant reports that whole grains’ protective qualities may have something to do with how whole grains can reduce the number of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that form in the mouth. AGE compounds form around the teeth when excessive sugar is consumed from high processed foods and the like. These compounds slowly eat away at the bone that holds teeth in place, leading to gum disease and other complications. Meanwhile, Merchant and his colleagues found other interesting aspects of their study, including how diets rich in whole grains served as an indicator for other healthy habits. For example, the men with diets rich in whole grain were also more physically active, lower in weight and were less likely to smoke than their parsimonious counterparts. Some may subscribe these accompanying healthy habits as part of the reason for their reduced risk of gum disease. The researchers affirm, however, that high whole grain consumption was, in this case, the sole indicator. Folks, studies like this are yet more reason to consume nature’s best. I strongly recommend a diet high in organic vegetables, grains, and quinoa. Avoid commercially manufactured processed foods. Consuming four servings of whole grains per day is, as the study says, “optimal” for gum disease prevention. Here’s a special F-R-E-E 38 page report titled, “The Best Natural Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure, Reduce Your Waistline and Take Back Your Health:”
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