A Mediterranean Diet has many health benefits, including potentially lengthening the life span of cells.  Because a Mediterranean diet is also an adequate source of vitamin E¹, it may also be a benefit for your dental health. Find out more below.

Mediterranean Diet of Youth?

Each time a cell replicates, the protective caps at each end of its DNA strand—called telomeres—shorten. Over time, when telomeres become too short, the cell replicates imperfectly, increasing chances for age-related disease. Oxidation and inflammation affect telomere length.

Doctors in this study found that, of 4,676 middle-aged women, those who more closely followed a Mediterranean-style diet—with its emphasis on combining antioxidant and anti-inflammatory fruits, vegetables, and nuts—had longer telomeres.

On a scale of 0 to 9, with higher scores being closest to a true Mediterranean-style diet, each one-point increase corresponded to 1.5 fewer years of telomere aging, suggesting greater health and longevity.

Reference: The BMJ; December, 2014, Published Online

Healthy Teeth : Vitamin E may protect dental health

Men and women with higher vitamin E levels had healthier teeth and gums compared to those with lower vitamin E levels

Periodontitis is an infection of the soft gum tissue in the mouth that can erode the bone that supports the teeth and raise chances for other health conditions. In this study, doctors measured serum tocopherol vitamin E levels in 4,708 men and women and compared with gum, oral ligament, and bone health.

Those with the lowest vitamin E levels had the poorest dental health while those with the highest vitamin E levels had the healthiest teeth and gums. Those with the highest vitamin E levels had 10.3 percent better gum attachment, 6.3 percent smaller gum pockets, and a 60.6 percent better overall periodontitis score.

Discussing the findings, doctors said vitamin E may have the ability to stop bone loss by suppressing the action of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase, helping to preserve teeth and gums.

Reference: Journal of Nutrition; February, 2015, Published Online

Betsy’s Note: This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. Make sure a supplement is not contraindicated with your medications or medical condition. For example, vitamin E thins blood. Consult your healthcare provider.

Articles copyright 2017 by Natural Insights for Well Being. All rights reserved.

¹ Castro-Quezada, Itandehui, Blanca Román-Viñas, and Lluís Serra-Majem. “The Mediterranean Diet and Nutritional Adequacy: A Review.” Nutrients 6.1 (2014): 231–248. PMC. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.