The Mediterranean Diet is always at the top of any “best diet” list. It just has so much going for it…
It’s the diet that improves aging (even in nursing home residents)… doubles fat loss… improves heart rate, blood pressure and cholesterol… and protects against dementia.
It’s also considered a prostate cancer prevention diet.
So you really shouldn’t be surprised to hear the latest…
The Mediterranean diet can lower your risk for periodontal disease.
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Mediterranean-style diet keeps gum disease away
There was a time when gum disease was considered solely an oral health issue. But times have changed…
Gum disease causes systemic inflammation when bacteria from the mouth get into the bloodstream. It harms the lining of blood vessels, including those in the brain. In fact, gum disease can more than double your risk for stroke.
Do I have your attention?
Thankfully, you have another tool to help you avoid painful bleeding gums and the risks associated with them.
According to Dr Giuseppe Mainas, first author of a study out of Kings College London, “Our findings suggest that a balanced, Mediterranean-type diet could potentially reduce gum disease and systemic inflammation.”
The study looked at the everyday eating habits of 200 subjects in three ways:
- They performed dental exams.
- They had subjects complete diet questionnaires to see how closely they followed a Mediterranean diet.
- They took blood tests.
Their findings showed that people who did not follow a Mediterranean diet tended to have more severe gum disease, especially if they ate a lot of red meat.
Blood tests revealed that not eating a Mediterranean diet was linked with higher levels of inflammatory markers.
Inflammatory markers are blood tests used by doctors to detect inflammation in the body. The three most commonly used inflammatory markers are called C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and plasma viscosity (PV).
Subjects who did not follow a Mediterranean diet had higher levels of IL-6 and CRP in their blood.
On the other hand, those who ate diets rich in legumes, vegetables, fruit and olive oil showed lower levels of these inflammatory markers.
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Promote a healthy mouth with the Mediterranean diet
According to research, periodontitis not only leads to bleeding gums and bad breath, but it can also leave your heart scarred and struggling to maintain a healthy rhythm. This is a condition known as atrial fibrillation — another risk for stroke.
So to protect your mouth from gum disease and lower your stroke risk, you can’t do better than a Mediterranean style of eating.
As long as your diet features plenty of fruits and veggies, whole grains, nuts, fish, olive oil — and you eat little to no red meat — you’re doing just fine.
Not only are you protecting your heart and lowering your risk of gum disease, but you’re also taking a step towards preventing cancer, diabetes, and kidney disease.
There are a few other principles to Mediterranean eating, besides the foods themselves:
Make good food a priority. Think ahead and plan what you will be eating for the week. Create a shopping list based on these meal plans.
Eat seasonally. Sticking to seasonal produce automatically gives you a more satisfying eating experience. Fruits and vegetables in season are at their peak of flavor and nutritional value, as opposed to stored and frozen produce.
Savor mealtime. Even if you are eating alone, think about carving out time to focus just on your meal, without distractions like cell phones or work.
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Holistic dentists recommend oil pulling for oral healthcare; it’s super easy to incorporate into your daily life. Using extra-virgin olive oil, the centerpiece of the Mediterranean diet, instead of traditional coconut oil, brings added benefits…
Research has shown that extra-virgin olive oil, being rich in oleic acid:
- Reduces swelling and irritation of the gums, thanks to anti-inflammatory properties…
- Hinders the growth of harmful oral bacteria…
- Prevents biofilm formation, making it difficult for plaque to accumulate on teeth. Lower levels of plaque are imperative for preventing gum disease…
After brushing, simply put one tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and gently work it around, swishing or pulling it between your teeth. Do this for at least 10 minutes and up to 20, with practice.
When done, simply spit it out and rinse your mouth with warm water containing a little sea salt. You may want to run a little hot water down the sink to prevent oil from building up in your plumbing, or pour it into a cup to dispose of it elsewhere.
Editor’s Note: You’re invited to join a select group of Americans who enjoy rare, fresh-pressed olive oil all year long — delivered directly to your table from the new harvest at the peak of flavor and nutritional goodness! But don’t just take my word for it, try it for $1, completely risk-free! Click here to learn more…
Sources:
Eating Mediterranean could be the secret to healthy gums — Science Daily
Relationship between Mediterranean diet and periodontal inflammation in a UK population: A cross-sectional study — Journal of Periodontology
Inflammatory markers explained — National Institute for Health and Care Research
Studies Find Olive Oil Improves Oral Health and Prevents Periodontitis — Olive Oil Times
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