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We have to be honest – we love sugar treats. But we love our health and our teeth more so we at Good Elements promote and live the mantra of “moderation.” The easiest way to avoid sugar? Skip the soda. The Good Elements family is soda free (though Lyle occasionally cheats with a Diet Sprite. We are working on him!) Today, the average size soft drink is 20 ounces and contains 17 teaspoons of sugar. Thinking about a fruit drink instead? Think again. Some citric acids found in fruit drinks are more erosive than hydrochloric or sulfuric acid — which is also known as battery acid. These refined sugars and acids found in soda and citrus juice promote tooth erosion, which wears away the hard part of the teeth, or the enamel.

Once tooth enamel is lost, it’s gone forever. And there’s nothing good about that. So we recommend brewed tea. Nothing bad about that according to a study in the July/August issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Apart from tasting good, brewed tea has many health benefits. Tea is loaded with natural antioxidants, which are thought to decrease incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Mohamed A. Bassiouny, DMD, BDS, MSc, PhD, the lead author of the study, compared green and black tea to soda and orange juice in terms of their short- and long-term erosive effect on human teeth. The study found that the erosive effect of tea was similar to that of water, which has no erosive effect. And, when comparing green versus black, he discovered that there is a better option among those as well.

Dr. Bassiouny says that “when we look at tea and read about the benefits, it’s amazing — not because green tea is ‘the in thing’ — but because there are advantages.” He adds that much research done overseas, in countries such as Japan and Europe, found that green tea was identified to being superior over black due to its natural flavonoids (plant nutrients) and antioxidants.

But, if you do drink tea, experts suggest avoiding additives such as milk, lemon, or sugar because they combine with tea’s natural flavonoids and decrease the benefits. In addition, stay away from prepackaged iced teas because they contain citric acid and high amounts of sugars. It does not matter whether the tea is warm or cold — as long as it is home brewed without additives.

Kenton Ross, DMD, FAGD, AGD spokesperson, sees patients’ erosion problems on a daily basis in his practice. “Severe cases of erosion occur monthly and are frequently associated with high rates of soft drink consumption,” he says. “This study clearly shows that brewed teas resulted in dramatically less enamel loss than soft drinks and acidic juices,” says Dr. Ross. “I would highly recommend patients choose tea as an alternative to more erosive drinks like soda and fruit juice.”

Tips to decrease erosion:

* Reduce or eliminate carbonated beverages. Instead, drink water, milk, or tea
* Skip the additives such as sugar, lemon, and milk
* Drink acidic drinks quickly and through a straw
* Chew sugar-free gum to increase saliva flow in your mouth
* Rinse with water to neutralize the acids, and wait an hour before brushing

Tips to decrease sugar cravings
* Good Elements Craving Control

Source: Academy of General Dentistry

At Good Elements.com, we like to say that our superior supplements are the perfect complement to a healthy and active lifestyle. But what is a healthy and active lifestyle exactly? One place to turn to for a definition is the new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans written by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).The advisory committee’s recommendations are reflected in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans issued in November. The guidelines say:

* Healthy adults, aged 18-64, should do 2 hours and 30 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity like brisk walking and water aerobics or 1 hour and 15 minutes per week of vigorous intensity physical activity such as jogging and swimming laps or a combination of the two. Adults should include muscle strengthening activities in their work-outs 2 days per week. Those workouts leading to sore joints and inflammation? Good Elements’ Motion joint pain relief supplement can help.

* Older adults, aged 65 and older, should follow an activity plan based on their abilities and if they are at risk for falling should include a balance training program.

* Children, aged 6-17, should aim for one hour or more of physical activity per day, incorporating vigorous exercise at least three days per week. The guidelines call for muscle strengthening and bone strengthening exercises at least three days per week. The advisory committee cited “strong evidence” showing physically active children have less body fat and are at lower risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Activities for children should be developmentally appropriate.

* Adults and children with disabilities should be as physically active as possible.

* Healthy pregnant and postpartum women should do moderate-intensity physical at least 2 hours and 30 minutes per week. Women who engaged in vigorous-intensity physical activity prior to pregnancy can continue with the permission of their health care providers.

While it may seem obvious that exercise improves health, there is an increasing amount of scientific data supporting the concept. “After reviewing a body of scientific research, we saw evidence that physical activity contributed to overall health and reduced the risk for most chronic conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers,” said Tufts University’s Miriam E. Nelson, PhD, who served as vice-chair of the advisory committee. “In addition, the evidence showed that the health benefits of physical activity are seen at any given body weight. In our final report to HHS, the advisory committee also identified a need for specificity and suggested individualized guidelines for population subgroups including adults, older adults and children.”

Nelson stresses that, while aerobic exercise is the most important part of the equation, “it’s also important for adults and children to supplement their workouts with strength exercises. Activities like push-ups and sit-ups build muscle and bone strength. In older adults, strength training can help improve functionality and reduce the risk of falls,” Nelson said.

It remains unclear whether there is a minimum dose of exercise that will yield health benefits. “There is mounting scientific evidence that one hour per week of moderate intensity physical activity is associated with improved health and reduced risk for heart disease,” Nelson said. “While not ideal, even limited physical activity appears to be better than none at all.

Source: Tufts University, Health Sciences

While the holiday cake baking (and eating!) season may be over, and our thoughts are turning to how to eat healthier in the new year, we wanted to address the seemingly age old margarine vs. butter question.  Which is healthier?

It seems like margarine has been the choice of health professionals as a substitute for butter.  But we’re here to say….not so fast.  Margarine is usually made from hydrogenated oils - which we all know better as the dreaded trans fats.  Butter is a source of saturated fats, and though not recommended for excessive consumption, saturated fats still beat hydrogenated oils in the healthy department.

Butter is comprised of about 80 percent butterfat and 20 percent liquid and is held together with natural emulsifiers. This makes the cooking properties of butter unique compared with other types of fat.  It also  allows sauces to blend and adds flavor and moisture to baked goods.

Margarine is made using either hydrogenated oils or a combination of saturated tropical fats mixed with oils to provide the consistency of butter.  Research suggests that consumption of trans fats is even more closely linked to heart disease risk than saturated fat.

But we’d rather that neither butter or margarine be used! If you must use butter or margarine when cooking or baking, we suggest that you use “cholesterol-lowering margarines” made without hydrogenated oils.  These “margarines” are pricier and don’t taste quite the same as butter or “regular margarine.”  But it’s worth it to avoid the trans fats.  If you must use margarine, and can’t stomach those without hydrogenated oils, then the rule of thumb is to use tub margarine.  Stick margarines are more likely to contain trans fats than tub-style margarines.  As always, read the labels before you buy.