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As the beginning of the gastrointestinal tract, the mouth starts the digestive system’s functions, so it is not surprising that nutrition and oral health are closely linked. When it comes to oral health and the teeth, nutrition is both protective and preventive. Good nutrition promotes maintenance of the mouth and teeth by mitigating the negative influences of food on teeth, where plaque can accumulate.

Dental decay can be caused by many things:

Apples are one of my favorite fruits. Who can resist sinking their teeth into a cool, crisp juicy apple. Apples are good for you too! They contain phyto-chemicals that play a role in decreasing heart disease, controlling diabetes, and reducing the risk of cancer. The majority of the apples’ disease fighting factors are in the skin. The apple is also low in sodium and high in potassium, and it tastes great! Apples are also low in fat and are cholesterol free.

Sometimes people are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease and stroke due to risk factors they cannot control.  Such risk factors may include advanced age, family history or ethnicity.  There are risk factors you can control, however, to help improve both heart and brain health.

Because we spend a lot of time indoors during the winter, we can channel these increased hours spent nesting to allow for a thoughtful examination of our life and goals. Often, resolutions to change financial burdens or eating habits are made in the beginning of the year, but it’s also a great time to assess life goals and priorities, and how they relate to happiness. This year, following several trying economic years, offers an opportunity to reevaluate what you want out of life and how you can find happiness with what you have.