Sugar-Free Soda Drinks Are Also Harmful To The Teeth

Contrary to popular belief that it is only soda drinks (popularly called mineral in Nigeria and other African countries) that cause tooth problems, a new study suggests that even soda drinks that are sugar free are also harmful to teeth. Proper nutrition means eating a well-balanced diet so that your body can get the nutrients needed for good health and wellness. If your diet is low in the nutrients your body needs, your mouth may have a more difficult time resisting infection.

A poor diet can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Foods high in carbohydrates, sugars and starches greatly contribute to the production of plaque acids that attack the tooth enamel. Eventually these acids can cause tooth enamel to break down, forming a cavity.

Foods that contain sugars of any kind can contribute to tooth decay. Almost all foods, including milk and vegetables, contain some type of sugar; however; these foods are a necessary part of a healthy diet, because many of them also contain important nutrients. To help control the amount of sugar you consume, read food labels and choose foods and beverages that are low in added sugars.

Diet sodas, 100-percent citrus fruit juices and other sugar free drinks can be surprisingly bad for your teeth. Most people know that drinking sugary drinks can cause tooth decay, but another cause of cavities is the dental erosion that occurs when teeth are exposed to acid. Phosphoric acid, citric acid and tartaric acid are some of the ingredients in diet sodas and fruit juices that damage teeth, but you can reduce the effects of acidic drinks by taking these precautions.

Although they often contain no sugar, diet sodas usually cause about the same amount of dental erosion as regular sodas. Matthew M. Rodgers, DDS; and J. Anthony von Fraunhofer, PhD, FADM, FRSC, researchers at the University of Michigan, compared the eroding effects of regular sodas and diet sodas on teeth and found very little difference. For example, after 14 days of exposure to regular Coca Cola, 2.8 mg/cm² of tooth enamel had dissolved, and diet Coca Cola dissolved a little over 3 mg/cm² of tooth enamel in the same amount of time.

Exposure to citric juices has a similar effect on teeth. YanFang Ren, DDS, PhD, and other researchers at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health found that drinking orange juice decreased tooth enamel's hardness by 84 percent, and markedly increased its roughness. And, according to Tufts Now, the acid in lemon and lime juice is almost as corrosive as battery acid.

Sticking to beverages that are low in acid keep your teeth from wearing, ultimately protecting them from becoming sensitive. Matthew M. Rodgers and J. Anthony von Fraunhofer found that tap water and root beer had the least effect on teeth, followed by black tea and coffee. All of these beverages dissolved less that 0.4 mg/cm² of tooth enamel 14 days after exposure. Milk is another tooth-friendly drink; Tufts Now suggests drinking milk is safe because it helps saliva return to a neutral pH.

Sugar free drinks such as sodas, colas, sports drinks, pure orange juice and wine may cause dental erosion, but you can help protect your teeth. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a thorough toothpaste such as Colgate^® Cavity Protection helps limit the effect these beverages have on your teeth, but wait a while before brushing. According to Caries Research, cited in Tufts Now, it takes 30 minutes to an hour for saliva to return the mouth to a neutral pH, and brushing before this time can actually spread these acids.

The best time for drinking sugar free drinks is with meals, Rodgers and Fraunhofer explain, and continuously sipping outside of mealtimes is the worst way to indulge. Drink through a straw to minimize contact with your teeth, and chase the drink with plain milk or water. And although you shouldn't snack between meals so saliva can have time to neutralize the acid, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) advises that eating cheese is helpful because it helps do this itself.

Cutting down on your sugar intake might reduce your waistline and reduce bacteria, but isn't always good for your enamel. Acids are listed on drink ingredients, so check the label before you buy. Wising up about the effects of sugar free drinks can end up saving your teeth and your smile.

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What Sorts Of Foods Should People Living With HIV/AIDS Eat

If you have HIV, what sort of diet should you eat? If you're getting treatment and not having complications, the answer's simple: Eat the same healthy diet that everyone should be eating.

"We don’t have evidence that people do better with a specific HIV diet, or have special nutritional requirements just because they have HIV," says Christine A. Wanke, MD, director of the nutrition and infection unit at Tufts University School of Medicine.

But she says that while there's no specific HIV diet, sticking to a healthy eating plan is key, even if you're not having symptoms now. If you have HIV, a good diet will help you feel better, avoid complications, and stay healthy.

10 Guidelines to Follow

The general principles of healthy eating are simple:

1. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables (5 to 6 servings a day).
2. Favor whole grains, which provide fiber and healthy nutrients.
3. Choose lean proteins, such as fish, chicken, beans, legumes, and low-fat dairy.
4. Select healthier fats, in moderate servings, like olive oil and nuts.
5. Limit sugar, sweets, and saturated fats.
6. Skip trans fats totally.
7. Avoid fad diets. "We do see people who use fad diets," Wanke says. However, none has been tested or shown to have a benefit for people with HIV. Extreme diets that cut out whole food groups or advise taking huge doses of vitamins or supplements may be dangerous.
8. Eat for your general health, not just HIV. Don't focus only on a special immunity-boosting diet if it could hurt your all-around health. People with HIV may be at higher risk for heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and other conditions, but a good overall diet can help prevent them.
9. Keep it simple. The more complex a diet becomes, the more difficult it is to follow. Some people try to measure their intake of protein and fat down to the ounce. But unless there's a specific medical reason, most people don't need to worry about that level of detail, says Kimberly Dong, RD, a dietitian at Tufts University School of Medicine.
10. Get help if you have problems. A normal healthy diet is good for most people with HIV. But if you're having problems -- like a loss of appetite, nausea, or unwanted weight loss -- see your doctor. Don't try to deal with it on your own. Your doctor can help treat both the underlying problem and the symptoms.

One way to remember the eating guidelines is the U.S. government's "MyPlate" recommendation: Make half your plate vegetables and fruits, and split the other half between grains and protein.

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Take Care Of Your Heart, Have A Diet Of Cashew Nuts

Cashew is found almost everywhere in Nigeria, Africa and the world in general. Apart from the delicious fruit of the cashew, the nut is also a rich source of nutrients that the body needs to fight off diseases. The delicately flavored cashew nut is a favorite between meal snack that can be readily found in your local market year round. It also makes wonderful nut butter and a special addition to salads and stir-fry dishes.

Cashew nuts are actually the kidney-shaped seeds that adhere to the bottom of the cashew apple, the fruit of the cashew tree, which is native to the coastal areas of northeastern Brazil. Cashews are always sold shelled because the interior of the shells contains a caustic resin, known as cashew balm, which must be carefully removed before the nuts are fit for consumption. This caustic resin is actually used in industry to make varnishes and insecticides.

Not only do cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts, approximately 82% of their fat is unsaturated fatty acids, plus about 66% of this unsaturated fatty acid content are heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, similar to those found in olive oil. Studies of diabetic patients show that monounsaturated fat, when added to a low-fat diet, can help to reduce high triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are a form in which fats are carried in the blood, and high triglyceride levels are associated with an increased risk for heart disease, so ensuring you have some monounsaturated fats in your diet by enjoying cashews is a good idea, especially for persons with diabetes.

Research published in the British Journal of Nutrition (Blomhoff R, Carlsen MH), which identified several nuts among plant foods with the highest total antioxidant content, suggests nut's high antioxidant content may be key to their cardio-protective benefits.

Nuts' high antioxidant content helps explain results seen in the Iowa Women's Health Study in which risk of death from cardiovascular and coronary heart diseases showed strong and consistent reductions with increasing nut/peanut butter consumption. Total death rates decreased 11% and 19% for nut/peanut butter intake once per week and 1-4 times per week, respectively.

Even more impressive were the results of a review study of the evidence linking nuts and lower risk of coronary heart disease, also published in the British Journal of Nutrition. (Kelly JH, Sabate J.) In this study, researchers looked at four large prospective epidemiological studies—the Adventist Health Study, Iowa Women's Study, Nurses' Health Study and the Physician's Health Study. When evidence from all four studies was combined, subjects consuming nuts at least 4 times a week showed a 37% reduced risk of coronary heart disease compared to those who never or seldom ate nuts. Each additional serving of nuts per week was associated with an average 8.3% reduced risk of coronary heart disease.

Practical Tip: To lower your risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease, enjoy a handful of cashews or other nuts, or a tablespoon of nut butter, at least 4 times a week.

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Heart Burn Drugs Could Cause Death - Experts

Almost everyone has had heartburn. Sometimes, it happens when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Heartburn is a painful burning feeling in the chest or throat. If anyone experiences heartburn more than two times weekly, the person may have developed a more serious form of heartburn called GERD (Gastro esophegeal reflux) which is when the muscles at the end of the esophagus do not close tightly enough.

This allows contents of the stomach to back up or reflux which can damage the esophagus. GERD is a common chronic relapsing condition that is associated with a significant morbidity and can cause death from complications if not treated.

Many patients self-diagnose and self-treat and do not seek medical attention. Some of the risk factors may include certain medications, tobacco use, pregnancy, very hot spicy food. Other risk factors include drinking alcohol and consumption of fatty or acidic food.

Some of the classic symptoms may be chronic cough, hoarse voice, belching, bloating, wheezing mouth odour, and some signs might be yellow discoloration of the teeth from too much acid and recurrent sore throat.

Others are acid regurgitation provoked by lying flat on the back or leaning forward, and regurgitation of digested food or clear burning fluid. Undigested food regurgitation is not acid reflux.

There is no clear cut way to diagnose GERD but checking the acid content in your mouth over a 24 hour with a probe will help. Red flags that complications are developing include difficulty swallowing, weight loss, early fullness when eating and vomiting.

Complications could include persistent chest pain especially after eating, cough that will not go away even with cough medication, developing asthma and laryngeal cancer.

Drink eight ounce of water (1250ml), non-caffeinated fluid every day, decrease or eliminate caffeine, spicy food and milk products towards the end of the day. Also, avoid chocolate as well as fatty foods. Stop smoking; stop eating two to three hours before bedtime. Sit upright 45 minutes to one hour after meals.

Some people have resorted to self medication in the treatment of heart burns with dire consequences. Experts believe that over the counter medication could cause serious havoc for those suffering from heart burns and could lead to death. 

 

For effective natural cure for heart burns, call Dr E.E Humphrey, CEO, Save Soul Natural Clinic on +2348069223334, +2349092770089.

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How Loneliness Affects Longevity

Being lonely can trigger cellular changes in your body that increase your chances of getting ill and not living as long as you could have, according to a new study. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identified loneliness as a major health problem that could reduce quality of life among affected persons.

This is not the first time research would link loneliness with poor health.

The risk applies to older people, past research has suggested. A leading charity for people over 60 in the United Kingdom (UK) said the findings in the new study underline the importance of treating loneliness as a major health problem.

In the new study, researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of California found that loneliness can trigger the body’s fightor- flight response, which can affect the production of white blood cells and eventually undermine the immune system.

They based their research on 141 older people enrolled in a United States (U.S) study on ageing and social relations, and on an examination of lonely rhesus macaque monkeys, a highly social species of primates. Loneliness is a feeling of being cut off, disconnected, and/or alienated from other people, so that it feels difficult or even impossible to have any form of meaningful human contact. Lonely people often feel empty or hollow inside.

Loneliness typically includes anxious feelings about a lack of connectedness or communality with other beings, both in the present and extending into the future.

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