Healthy Teeth Healthy You
Blog by Yvonne Bishop
To keep in line with my goals of removing toxins, I am in the middle of a series of dental appointments to extract and replace all mercury fillings. Over the past two months I have spent several hours in the dentist chair and realize just how important oral health is. I could live off of greens and alkaline foods all day long but still have inflammation in my mouth! And guess where it goes? Down that hatch and into our bodies causing other health issues.
With the recent news that poor dental health can lead to an assortment of other problems including heart disease it's even more important to visit the dentist regularly. Besides seeing the dentist regularly, cutting down on sweets, brushing and flossing every day, is there anything else that you can do to keep you teeth, gums, and mouth healthy?
According to the Healthy Planet Magazine: "Studies show that regular exercise and stress reduction can have anti-inflammatory effects. Besides exercising and, of course, getting regular dental checkups, choosing certain foods may help you protect both your gums and heart."
So what kinds of food are good for your dental health and your heart?
Raisins are one. Yes raisins. You'd never guess it, but raisins have a certain chemical in them that can kill bacteria and fight gum disease.
Green tea is another. Drinking just one cup of green tea will not only give you excellent amounts of anti-oxidants, and one of those anti-oxidants impede your body's response to bacteria that can cause inflammation. Did I say that the body's response to bacteria in your mouth can cause inflammation in your arteries and that is the enemy here.
Whole grains. It is known that diabetics have more inflammation and henceforth more heart disease than the normal population. This is caused by increases in blood sugar. Complex carbohydrates like whole wheat and oatmeal cause a slower rise in blood sugar than refined carbohydrates like white bread and sugar. So get rid of the white bread and the candy bars. Sugar also increases the amount of acid in your mouth which causes cavities and these are ideal places for the bacteria to grow.
When is the last time you visited your dentist? Do you still have mercury fillings in your mouth? These are very important questions to ask yourself.
Click here to visit Yvonne's website for more information, ideas, and products to help balance your pH.
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Yvonne is the owner of Essence of Health located in Laguna Beach. She graduated from the University of Alberta with her degree in Nutrition and Food Science. Originally from Calgary, this Canadian brings with her over 23 years in the fitness industry working in both corporate and private arenas. She is very passionate about health and loves sharing that passion with everyone around her. Yvonne's complimentary background in fitness AND nutrition enables her to bring the latest phenomenon's in the industry to her clients, making Essence of Health the most unique studio in Laguna. Exercise and nutrition is a partnership and by addressing both you get the best results; KNOWLEDGE + ACTION = RESULTS. Yvonne helps you transform your mindset, body, and life!
