BlueSkies Newsletter - June 2011
Welcome to the June edition of the BlueSkies Newsletter.
We hope that you find the articles informative and useful.
In this edition, we look at:
Also this month, find out about the nutritional benefits of gooseberries and how to desalt your diet.
If you have any comments or there is a particular topic you would like us to cover, please contact us.
Dental Health & Sports Drinks
Many sports people, regardless of their level of performance, regularly use sports drinks to aid their performance and/or recovery. However, what are these drinks doing to their teeth? The Dental Experts at www.cosmeticdentistry.co.uk have looked into this and have produced the following information for BlueSkies.
There are many beverages on the market that can cause tooth erosion and dentists now feel that sugary drinks are a major cause of tooth decay. Beverages are a major source of the sugar found in Western diets, with sports drinks, soft drinks and juices all contributing a large amount. In fact, recent studies have shown that sports drinks, such as Gatorade or Lucozade Sport, can erode teeth faster than standard fizzy drinks, such as Coca-Cola or Pepsi. The basic principle appears to be that the more sugar a drink contains, the higher the risk of cavities to the drinker.
One study, from the University of Iowa in America, where extracted teeth were covered in a range of drinks including Diet Coke, regular Coke, Gatorade, 100% apple juice and Red Bull. On examining the teeth, the Gatorade sports drink turned out to be the most corrosive followed by the Red Bull and Coke with the Diet Coke and apple juice being the least corrosive.
Due to the acidity and sugar content of sports drinks, researchers have carried out in-depth studies on sports drinks. It turns out that, although sports drinks are corrosive in nature, cavity formation is not increased for athletes who consume these drinks during their training. The reason for this is that the drinks tend to reduce dehydration and increase the flow of saliva, which neutralises acidity.
When athletes drinking sports drinks have been monitored, no link has been found between the drinks and dental erosion. In fact, studies showed no difference between those that had been consuming sports drinks for 10 years or more and non-users. It appears that the problem of dental corrosion isn't so much about which beverage is consumed, but rather when and how it is drunk.
According to the dental experts, the frequency of exposure to sugary drinks is the key to dental problems. For example, sipping on regular Pepsi all day long is likely to be very detrimental to teeth due to the constant acid exposure. However, if you drink Pepsi during meals, teeth are unlikely to be damaged because the saliva stimulated by chewing buffers the acid in the drink.
To reduce the likelihood of tooth decay, athletes should aim to consume their sports drinks as quickly as possible and preferably through a straw and they should avoid swishing and swilling the drink around their mouths. However, for anyone who is concerned about sports drinks harming their teeth, it is worth remembering that water is often sufficient to maintain hydration is most exercise that lasts less than 60 minutes.
However, sports drinks offer more benefits than just hydration so they do have their advantages. Why are they made so acidic though? Well, the answer is that the acidity simply makes them more palatable and also ensures the long shelf-life of the product. By adding calcium to the drinks, acidity and subsequent risk to dental erosion can be reduced although this may adversely affect the taste.
For anyone who has damaged their teeth over the years, perhaps from consuming too many sugary drinks, there are still ways to restore the aesthetic appearance of the smile. It is worth consulting a Cosmetic Dentistry Guide for information on cosmetic procedures that are surprisingly accessible to the general public.
Desalt Your Diet
High intakes of salt can lead to high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Recent UK research has shown that men eat more salt than women and one average have higher blood pressure. A high salt diet is also linked to osteoporosis, kidney disease, stomach cancer and other conditions.
Remember, adults should eat no more than 6g salt per day which is equivalent to just 1 teaspoon. Children and infants should be eating far less. So, if you think that you may be consuming too much salt and need a few tips to help you reduce your health risks, read on!
Approximately 75% of the salt that we consume is hidden in food so it makes sense to get in to the habit of checking labels when shopping. The traffic light labelling system is useful as it highlights those foods which are low, moderate or high in salt which will help you in making healthier choices. Low salt foods contain 0.3g salt per 100g or less. Sometimes, salt content is displayed as sodium chloride on food labels but 1g sodium is equivalent to 2.5g salt so you have to multiply sodium chloride content by 2.5 to give you the salt content equivalent.
Avoid buying processed foods which are usually high in salt. Instead, cook meals from fresh so that you know exactly what is in your meals. Food needn't be bland without salt, especially if you use a variety of herbs and spices to add flavour.
When eating out, steer clear of rich sauces and gravy. Instead, choose plain meat or fish with steamed vegetables to lower your salt intake. Avoid smoked or preserved foods such as ham, bacon, sausage and smoked fish as these are often high in salt. Also, don't be afraid to ask the chef to add little or no salt to your food - you are the customer after all!
By far the easiest way to reduce your salt intake is to simply stop adding it to your cooking and meals - in fact, don't have the salt shaker on the table at all when you are eating! In addition to this, remember to taste your food before seasoning it!
Diabetes Week 2011
Diabetes Week 2011 runs from 12th to 18th June with the theme this year encouraging people to talk about their condition. Initially set up as a week of intensive fundraising for Diabetes UK, the diabetes charity, this week-long event is now the annual focal point for the charity's fundraising, awareness and campaigning activities.
This year, the Diabetes UK wants to get people involved in activities throughout the week to help make people realise that diabetes is a serious condition and, ultimately, to help find a cure. To mark this week, nationwide community events will take place including challenges, races and walks amongst other things. Events taking place this year include the following but for a complete list, click here:
- Community awareness events
- Parachuting & skydiving events
- Golfing events including charity golf days
- Swimming events including that at Alton Water Park where the Great East Swim takes place on 11th June
- Bike rides including Millport Bike Ride at Largs Ferry Terminal on 11th June
- Triathlon events including the Rother Valley Triathlon in Rotherham on 11th June
- Sponsored walks including Walk the Extra Mile events which are walks for the whole community taking place all over the UK
Living with diabetes can be a genuine challenge and Diabetes UK is helping provide ways for people affected by this condition to reach healthcare information. The funds raised this year will go towards the expansion of the Diabetes UK Careline which is an excellent resource devoted to the diabetes community - they are aiming to raise £200,000 to help develop this service.
For more information on Diabetes Week or on Diabetes, visit www.diabetes.org.uk or to donate, click here.
Food Of The Month - Gooseberries
Gooseberries are a British favourite with their slightly sour, full flavour. There are many varieties of gooseberries with some being sweeter than others and they are perfect for making gooseberry fools, pies, tarts and crumbles but are they any good for us? Well, the simple answer is yes as they are a good source of fibre, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, iron and phosphorous. However, we often drown them in sugar when we cook them and then eat them with pastry and ice cream which detracts somewhat from their 'healthfulness'! It is worth remembering that gooseberries are a great addition to healthy fruit salads and offer a variation on the traditional apple or banana.
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