In August of 2012, the Ad Council joined with The Partnership for Health Mouths, Healthy Lives, a coalition of more than 35 leading dental health organizations, to debut Kids’ Healthy Mouths. Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease with more than 16 million kids suffering from untreated tooth decay in the U.S., oral disease is estimated to cause kids to miss 51 million school hours and their parents to lose 25 million work hours annually, and disproportionately affects children from low-income families.

At Diamond Dental, we recommend children have their first dental visit by age 1 as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (www.aapd.org), and maintain regular 6 month cleaning appointments for exams. Parents and their children can visit www.2min2x.org to watch entertaining videos and listen to music, while children are brushing their teeth. Make oral health part of your New Year’s Resolution!

Eat More Citrus

Women who consumed the most citrus were less likely to have an ischemic (clot-related) stroke than women who consumed the least, according to data from the well-known Nurses’ Health Study, reported in the journal Stroke. The researchers attributed the benefit to compounds in citrus called flavanones, which may reduce inflammation and improve blood vessel function. Other substances in citrus, including potassium, may also play a role.

Eat More Apples and Pears, Too

This advice comes from a Dutch study, also published in the journal Stroke. People who ate the most white-fleshed produce (at least 6 ounces a day, excluding potatoes) had half the risk of stroke over 10 years, compared to those who ate the least. Apples and pears are rich in substances known as flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Other white fruits and vegetables, such as onions, mushrooms and cauliflower, may also be protective.

Get Enough Magnesium

A Swedish analysis published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that for every 100-milligram daily increase in dietary magnesium, there was a 9 percent drop in stroke risk. (The recommended daily intake is 320 milligrams for women, 420 for men, and most people fall short.) Many studies have linked dietary magnesium to lower blood pressure and reduced cardiovascular risk, but those using supplements have had inconsistent results. The best sources are leafy greens, whole grains, nuts, beans, seeds and fish.

Drink a Little Alcohol (Not a Lot)

In another study in the journal Stroke that looked at women from the Nurses’ Health Study, light to moderate alcohol consumption (up to one drink a day) was associated with a lower risk of all strokes. No benefit—and possibly increased stroke risk—was seen at higher amounts. Alcohol, in moderation, may help prevent blood clots and has a beneficial effect on cholesterol. But, as other studies have shown, high amounts can increase blood pressure and have other negative cardiovascular effects.

Limit Trans Fat

A study of the participants in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study, published in the Annals of Neurology, found that those who consumed the most trans fats (averaging 6 grams a day) were nearly 40 percent more likely to have an ischemic stroke than those who consumed the least (averaging 2 grams a day). Other fats and dietary cholesterol had no effect on stroke risk. This was true even after the researchers controlled for other dietary, lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors. Trans fats have been removed from many (but hardly all) foods in recent years.

The article above was from UC Berkeley Wellness newsletter

The above abstract is from The Journal of Pediatrics

If you have any questions about our children’s dental health, please contact Diamond Dental . We would love to help you learn more.
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A recent study found that a parent who fears the dentist may pass that fear on to family members. The higher the level of dentist dear or anxiety in 1 family member, the higher the level in the rest of the family. The study shows the need to involve both mothers and fathers to prevent children’s dentist fear and the need for fathers to regularly visit the dentist and display no signs of fear.

The above abstract is from the CDA Journal, February 2013

Please contact Diamond Dental to schedule your 1st appointment, Dads!!

This tropical tonic is showing up everywhere. People drink it at the gym, the beach, on hiking trails, even while just taking a stroll or sitting at their desks. Endorsements by athletes and celebrities such as Alex Rodriguez, Matthew McConaughey, and Madonna have also helped fuel sales.

The basics: Coconut water is the thin liquid inside young green coconuts–not to be confused with creamier coconut milk, which is made by grating and squeezing the white flesh of older coconuts (the water is absorbed into the flesh as the coconut ripens). It provides lots of potassium (about 550 milligrams per 8 ounces, more than a banana), along with other electrolytes–sodium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. Some brands are fortified with extra nutrients, like vitamin C. Pure coconut water, with a mildly sweet flavor from natural sugars, is virtually fat-free and low in calories, though some products have more due to added sugars and/or fruit purée.

Better than Gatorade? Coconut water is widely promoted as a natural sports drink because of its electrolytes. A Malaysian study in 2002 found that it was as good as a carbohydrate-based sports drink for rehydration and restoring blood sugar levels after exercise, plus it caused no stomach upset and was easier to drink in large quantities.

Coconut water generally has much more potassium and less sodium than traditional sports drinks. Commercial brands typically have 60 milligrams of sodium or less per 8 ounces, compared to about 100 milligrams in sports drinks. An analysis from Consumerlab.com, however, found that two out of three popular coconut water brands contained even less sodium and magnesium than their labels claimed. One had just 11 milligrams of sodium (not 60 as listed).

Keep in mind, though, that unless you work out intensely for more than an hour, you don’t need any sports drink or extra sodium; plain water is just fine. On the other hand, if you sweat a lot during strenuous exercise, you may need a bit more sodium than coconut water provides.

Calling all claims: Because coconut water has an electrolyte balance similar to that of blood (it’s “isotonic”), it has been called “the fluid of life.” During World War II, it was reportedly used as a substitute for intravenous plasma. Some preliminary research suggests it may have positive effects on blood pressure (due, in part, to its potassium) and cholesterol. And it may be helpful in cases of mild diarrhea. But don’t believe claims that it can control diabetes, fight viruses, speed metabolism, treat kidney stones, smooth your skin, stop dandruff, or prevent cancer.
Bottom line: Drink coconut water if you find it refreshing or want to replenish electrolytes after a long workout. It’s a good source of potassium, which most of us could use more of. And it’s better for you than soda or other sugary beverages. But don’t buy into the hype that it has special healing properties.

The article above was from a Berkeley Wellness Alert newsletter

Don’t schools and countless experts advise it? What about those people chugging from water bottles all day long? It’s still a myth, and no one really knows where it came from originally. Today this claim is often made by (no surprise) the bottled water industry.

The notion that we don’t drink enough water — that is, at least eight glasses a day — is not only nonsense, but is “thoroughly debunked nonsense,” according to an editorial in the British journal BMJ.

Here are some other water myths. Drinking lots of water does not improve kidney function or help kidneys eliminate toxins — let alone improve overall health. It won’t bathe your organs in extra fluid and thus improve their function. Don’t expect it to lower blood pressure, boost concentration in kids, improve skin tone, or prevent headaches, despite the claims.

Yes, water is a great drink. If it comes from the tap, it’s cheap and environmentally friendly. And yes, it may help you control your weight if it replaces caloric beverages. But that doesn’t mean water promotes weight loss.

How much to drink? If you’re healthy and not exercising or working hard in the heat, thirst is your best guide. Most fruits and vegetables are about 90 percent water. Other beverages also provide fluid, as do soups and stews. Coffee and tea supply water, too; it’s a fallacy that they cause a net water loss.

Older people do need to try to drink more water — older bodies cope less well with heat, and thirst may be a less reliable indicator. People with recurring kidney stones may also benefit from drinking more water.

The article above is from Berkeley Wellness Alerts

Memo to all the guys out there (and the women who love you): Quit walking to the kitchen every time those bone-health commercials come on. (Sally Fields, we love you. Really, we do.) All the talk about osteoporosis is not for women only.

Twelve million men have bones that are getting thinner and more brittle each day. (Is there a fracture in your future?) We’ve got some irresistible ways to keep yours safe, strong, and young.

How about a beer? Ah, now you’re paying attention! The bone-saving secret in brewskis is silicon, a chemical that stimulates collagen production. What’s collagen? A protein that makes your bones denser and your joints more flexible. Brews with the most hops and malted barley are the richest in silicon. (Here’s another surprising drink for better bones.) Not big on beer? Bananas and brown rice also are silicon-packed.

Anyone for Chinese food? Great! Many dishes (nonfried, please!) are full of broccoli, bok choy, and edamame (soybeans), which means they’re bursting with bone-strengthening calcium. But go easy on the soy sauce; salt flushes out calcium. (Beyond calcium: Learn what else your bones need.)

Buff up those biceps. Weight-bearing exercises like push-ups, hiking, and carrying your sweetie’s groceries toughen bones as well as muscles.

Munch zinc-rich dark chocolate, peanuts, or walnuts, and take your vitamins. Men with osteoporosis are often low in zinc, which is used in the bone-building process. If you don’t eat these zinc-rich foods, consider a 15 milligram zinc supplement. Add a bone-strengthening combo supplement with 600 milligrams of calcium, 1,000 international units of vitamin D3, and 200 to 300 milligrams of magnesium. We take one daily.

This is an article from “RealAge”. Hope this helps!!

Excerpt from Berkeley Wellness Alerts