Regular professional cleaning of teeth not only gives us a more radiant smile but also helps reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke, according to a new study.

The study presented at an American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, Florida, was conducted at the Veterans General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan.

Researchers have found that those who had their teeth scraped and cleaned by a dentist or dental hygienist had a 24 percent lower risk of heart attack and 13 percent lower risk of stroke compared to those who had never had a dental cleaning.

More than 100,000 people were followed in this study for an average of seven years.

Scientists considered tooth scaling frequent if it occurred at least twice or more in two years and occasional if it occurred once or less in two years.

Protection from heart disease and stroke was more pronounced in participants who got tooth scaling at least once a year,

Professional tooth scaling appears to reduce inflammation-causing bacterial growth that can lead to heart disease or stroke.

Imagine a plant food that is naturally rich in protein, an excellent source of dietary fiber and has more omega-3 fatty acids than flax seeds. Just a small amount of this food provides energy for long periods of physical exertion  What is this magical food? Chia seeds, of course.

While it may be strange to think of these little seeds (which are about the size of sesame seeds) as a serious source of nutrition and even the foundation of a meal, they were an agriculturally important crop to the ancient Aztecs, even as important as corn, beans, and amaranth.

Chia is now making a huge comeback. Chia seeds are an excellent source of fiber and antioxidants, a good source of calcium, a good source of plant based protein and an excellent source of the plant derived omega 3 fatty acid.”

Chia seeds can be eaten whole or ground into a flour. They are often soaked in water or juice and drunk as a refreshing beverage. When the seeds are soaked, they absorb seven to ten times their weight in liquid and acquire a jelly-like covering around each seed. Ground, the chia flour can be added to other foods as a nutritional supplement. They have no flavor of their own and so lend themselves to most dishes. If you really want to have fun in your kitchen, chia seeds can also be sprouted and eaten as micro-greens.

The November 14, 2011 issue of the archives of internal Medicine reports the outcome of a study which concluded that the greater number of healthy lifestyle factors one has, the more protection one gains against stroke. Stroke is a major cause of death worldwide, and its impact on survivors can be devastating.

Gang Hu, MD, PhD of Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and colleagues analyzed data from 17,287 men and 19,399 women without a history of heart disease or stroke who participated in surveys conducted in Finland in 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2002. Questionnaire responses provided information on medical history, physical activity levels, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, diet and other factors. Participants were followed through 2007, during which 1,167 ischemic strokes and 311 hemorrhagic strokes occurred.

This study demonstrates  important role of promoting a healthy lifestyle in the primary prevention of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke

The five healthy lifestyle factors evaluated in the study included being a lifelong nonsmoker, having a body mass index of less than 25, engaging in moderate to high levels of physical activity, consuming vegetables at least three times per week and having light to moderate weekly intake of alcohol. Compared to the risk of stroke experienced by those having one or no healthy factors, having two, three, four and five factors was associated with a 34, 43, 49 and 67 percent adjusted reduction. When stroke was analyzed according to type, having two, three, four and five factors was associated with a 33, 40, 50 and 70 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke and a 37, 51, 51 and 60 percent decreased risk of hemorrhagic stroke. These inverse associations were present in both younger and older participants and among those with and without high blood pressure or a history of diabetes.

Numerous new studies are being published regarding the health benefits of vitamin D3 and the negative consequences of deficiency. These studies are of particular interest as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) showed that prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency jumped from 55 percent in 1988-1994 to 77 percent in 2001-2004.

Vitamin D, also known as calciferol, is a fat-soluble vitamin that can be produced by the body as well as obtained in the diet.

New studies are confirming that vitamin D3 insufficiency plays a role in numerous conditions including cardiovascular disease, cancer, decreased bone density, immune functions, fat deposition, diabetes and many others.

Bone Health

It is well-established that vitamin D3 and its relationship to calcium uptake and deposition plays a significant role in bone metabolism. Extreme vitamin D deficiency results in rickets and osteomalacia. However, long-term vitamin D insufficiency may also result in osteoporosis.

Cardiometabolic Disorders

Cardiometabolic disorders including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome have been associated with vitamin D3 deficiency. The metabolic syndrome is characterized by a group of risk factors that increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and stroke. These conditions are increasingly common.

Depression

Researchers have linked vitamin D deficiency to depression. In a recent randomized, double blind controlled trial, subjects with low vitamin D had significantly more depressive traits.

Cancer Risk

Vitamin D3 deficiency has also been associated with increased cancer risk. A meta-analysis of 11 studies found that individuals with the highest serum levels of D3 had a decreased risk of developing breast cancer by 45 percent compared to the subjects with the lowest serum D3 levels.

Recent research has also shown that subjects with the highest serum levels of D3 have a 40 percent lower risk of developing colorectal cancer compared to individuals with the lowest D3 serum levels.

Weight Management, Pregnancy and Others

Two studies have recently been published regarding vitamin D3 deficiency and fat deposition. The studies showed that low serum levels of D3 was associated with increased fat infiltration in muscle tissue.

Another interesting area of vitamin D research is related to deficiency during pregnancy.  Adverse health outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, low birth-weight, low calcium in neonatal blood, poor postnatal growth, bone fragility, and increased incidence of autoimmune diseases have been linked to low vitamin D3 serum levels during pregnancy and infancy.

Other interesting recently published studies have associated low levels of vitamin D3 with increased risks of upper respiratory infections, chronic fatigue syndrome, childhood asthma and allergies and decreased cognitive function.

Conclusion

Vitamin D3 deficiency is surprisingly common. The vast amount of new research regarding the diverse health benefits of vitamin D3 supplementation makes this essential vitamin an integral part of both health optimization and maintenance programs.