Can a paleo diet help with periodontal disease?
You know that old saying, "You are what you eat"? Well it's true. Our bodies use the food we put in them to fuel and maintain themselves. And while eating a healthy diet is important for many reasons, one of the most overlooked aspects of nutrition is how it can affect your oral health.
A recent study found that when participants followed a strict paleo diet (no grains or dairy) for six months, there was an improvement in their periodontal health by reducing inflammation and plaque buildup on teeth. This makes sense because both sugars and carbs can lead to tooth decay - two things that aren't allowed on a paleo diet! So if you're looking for ways to improve your dental health without taking antibiotics or damaging your enamel, consider switching to a paleo diet.
The Paleo Diet has been a hot topic in the health and fitness communities for quite some time. But, what's the big deal?
This diet revolves around our ancestors from before the agricultural revolution took place about 10,000 years ago. The scientific explanation of this diet starts with the fact that by eating certain foods, we are getting higher quality nutrients that our bodies use to repair, rebuild, and maintain themselves.
The basis of the Paleo Diet is the nutritional profile of foods which were available to our Paleolithic ancestors. Based on archaeological evidence, people who lived during this time period ate lean meats, wild caught fish, vegetables, fruit, seeds and nuts for subsistence. They had no idea what foods were poisonous and which ones were not, so if it looked like food they ate it.
The problem with following this diet is that we don't live 10,000 years ago and we probably don't know exactly what substances were available back then, or in what concentrations. Because of this, many people use the Paleo Diet as an elimination diet. They start by removing certain foods to see how their bodies react, and slowly reintroduce them to find out which ones are good for you and which ones aren't.
I've tried this myself before I knew anything about the Paleo Diet. I eliminated all carbs from my diet for two weeks, then added them back to see how I felt. At first I felt great, but as the next few weeks passed and my body started to miss those carbs, I was feeling sluggish and had constant sugar cravings - not a good sign!
As with anything that seems too good to be true… it is. So can you actually lose weight and feel great by following this diet? Maybe. Will it work for everyone? Not likely. A paleo diet might be good for some people, but the best thing to do if you want to follow this is to consult with your doctor or a nutritionist.