Keep those gums healthy!

If you have moderate to severe periodontal (gum) disease, you should be more aggressively screened or treated for cardiovascular disease, accordingly to a new consensus paper from the editors of the American Journal of Cardiology and the Journal of Periodontology. This is especially true if you have any cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking or high cholesterol. There is accumulating evidence that people with gum disease are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, possibly because chronic inflammation is involved in both diseases. (source: University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter, October 2009)

Susan Mills-Gray
Nutrition & Health Education Specialist Co-County Program Director University of Missouri Extension
Cass County Center
302 S. Main, Harrisonville MO 64701
816.380.8460
816.380.8465 (fax)
816.506.3338 (cell)
mills-grays@missouri.edu

Get Plenty of Sleep to Reduce Diabetes Risk

Ok, MU Extension cohorts, pay attention! Lack of sleep increases your risk of type-2 diabetes. SUNY-University of Buffalo researchers report that study subjects who averaged less than six hours of sleep nightly were 4.5 times more likely to develop type-2 diabetes than those sleeping longer. This study was conducted over a 6 year period with 91 participants. This study supports the growing evidence of the association of inadequate sleep with chronic disease development. So add an early bedtime to your already over-booked calendars!!!
(source: Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, August 2009)

Susan Mills-Gray
Nutrition & Health Education Specialist
Co-County Program Director
University of Missouri Extension
Cass County Center
302 S. Main, Harrisonville MO 64701
816.380.8460
816.380.8465 (fax)
816.506.3338 (cell)
mills-grays@missouri.edu

Preventing Prostate Cancer

For not, it looks like the best lifestyle strategy to guard against prostate cancer is to focus on a variety of plant foods (particularly those containing lycopene – see those listed foods), limit high-calorie foods, avoid excessive fat, dairy, and meat intake; stay physically active, and maintain a healthy weight with particular attention to abdominal fat accumulation.

Lycopene rich foods:

Red fruits and vegetables, such as:
Tomatoes
Watermelons
Pink grapefruits
Apricots
Pink guavas
Processed tomato products, such as
Tomato juice
Tomato ketchup
Tomato paste
Tomato sauce
Tomato soup
**Lycopene is better absorbed when consumed in processed or heated tomato-based products rather than in raw tomatoes**

Sources: Environmental Nutrition, Sept 09; American Cancer Society
Susan Mills-Gray
Nutrition & Health Education Specialist
Co-County Program Director
University of Missouri Extension
Cass County Center 302 S. Main, Harrisonville MO 64701
816.380.8460
816.380.8465 (fax)
816.506.3338 (cell)
mills-grays@missouri.edu