Grains for gum health

Eating lots of whole grains may protect against periodontitis (gum disease).

Canadian researchers have found, in a study of 34,000 people, that those with the highest intake of whole grain foods (3.4 servings per day) were 23% less likely to develop periodontitis than those who ate the least.

They’re not sure quite why this is; they speculate that because whole grains control blood sugar, they may limit the formation of compounds which cause inflammation in the gums.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 83, No. 6, 1395-1400