Red Wine Good for Teeth

Drinking red wine in moderate amount helps to rinse teeth clean of bacteria during and after meals, says a new study.

Earlier studies have linked moderate red wine intake with everything from improved longevity to diminished risk of cardiovascular and neurological diseases.And because the new study was conducted with non-alcoholic red wine, even teetotallers can enjoy dental benefits, reports ABC Science.Co-author Professor Gabriella Gazzani, of Pavia University in Italy, said that alcohol's cavity-preventing benefits are already well known and that's why they investigated "de-alcoholised red wine to verify if substances different from ethanol with anti-strep properties occur in this beverage."The researchers purchased red wine from the Veneto region and removed the alcohol using a technique called vacuum concentration.

They then cultured Streptococcus mutans, a common bacteria that feed on sugars in food and contribute to tooth enamel demineralisation, which often results in cavities.In the lab, the bacteria easily mixed with saliva and saliva-coated pulled teeth, along with saliva-coated calcium ceramic beads.

However, when the non-alcoholic red wine was added to each one, the wine prevented S. mutans from clinging to teeth and saliva.Next, the researchers determined that the active components in red wine that protect teeth are proanthocyanidins, naturally occurring flavonoid compounds previously found to have antioxidant properties.

The compounds are in many plant edibles, such as apples, cinnamon, cocoa and teas.The researchers do think that proanthocyanidins could be separated from wine and studied for their potential oral health benefits.Acids and sugars in some wines may actually contribute to tooth decay, so isolating wine's tooth-supporting components could lead to an even more beneficial product, at least from a dentistry standpoint.In separate research, scientists from Laval University in Quebec, Canada found that polyphenols in red wine also help to control immune cell response in gums to bacterial infection.The study will be published in the journal Food Chemistry.

Source : http://news.oneindia.in/2009/11/28/redwine-prevents-toothdecay.html

Cut Down on Coffee

We all know that there's really nothing to beat that curiously intoxicating smell of freshly ground coffee beans as well as that addictive first cup to jump-start your day. But it's not just the morning a steaming cup always comes in handy while driving negotiations, initiating great conversations or even kicking back next to a log fire.

It even gets a nod from researchers like Thomas H. Lee, a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Boston. Attributing the benefits to large, long-term studies, Lee says that "long-running research shows that drinking coffee cuts the risk of dying early from a heart attack or stroke, and the bean improves productivity, too."

Now, before you make a manic sprint to the nearest store for a cappuccino machine, you may want to listen to what Upasna Kamineni, Vice Chairman, Apollo Charities, and an active campaigner for health issues, has to say. "Coffee is both a health and a social hazard, and the cons far outweigh the pros," she says. Kamineni, also the Director of Lifetime Wellness RX, an Apollo Group body that conducts health talks, assessments and camps and also undertakes research-based projects on lifestyle disorders, thinks that it's best one stays away from the brew altogether.

"The excessive caffeine in coffee can boost your blood pressure and can leave you dehydrated. Add milk and sugar, and it becomes a recipe for disaster, that is bound to add extra pounds, she adds. Aerated drinks and canned fruit juices also get a thumbs down from her." Aerated drinks and canned fruit juices have a high concentration of sugar and should be avoided in the mornings. Try jasmine and green tea or even lemon water as the three are rich in antioxidants. Kamineni recommends switching over to juices and lemon soda by afternoon.

"Buttermilk is easy on your digestive system, too, and goes well with most Indian foods," she says. And for those of you who just can't kick the coffee habit, she suggests skipping milk. Taken black, both coffee and tea are calorie-free and full of antioxidants. Not a bad option for the coffee-crazy but health-conscious folks out there.

source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/250/20091129/1633/top-cut-down-the-coffee_1.html