Originally published October 27 2005
Health officials recommend raisins for trick-or-treaters
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Dentists and nutritionists are praising raisins, after recent research at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry found the fruit high in phytochemicals and antioxidants.
"Regardless of their sweet properties, raisins contain oleanolic acid and other phytochemical compounds that inhibit growth of bacteria in the mouth and are responsible for tooth decay," said Julie Jones, Ph.D., Professor of Nutrition at the College of St. Catherine and consultant to the California Raisin Marketing Board which funded the research.
"These specific raisin phytochemicals also help stop the growth of oral bacteria that cause periodontal disease," Jones added.
The study also noted that raisins contain mainly fructose and glucose, sugars that may be less cavity producing than table sugar (sucrose).
Dental research shows that foods with added sugar often contribute to oral health problems and that prevention of bacterial plaque build-up on the tooth surface is critical both for preventing tooth decay and promoting healthy gums.
The new raisin and oral health research was presented earlier this year at a meeting of the American Society for Microbiology by study leader Christine Wu, Ph.D.
"This is wonderful news," said Karla Stockli, Vice President of Marketing for the California Raisin Marketing Board.
The American Dietetic Association and other leading health authorities agree that regular consumption of antioxidant- containing fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains provide protection against heart disease and cancer and may retard effects of aging, including loss of memory.
The USDA's MyPyramid for Kids highlights fruits, vegetables and whole grains combined with daily physical activity as paramount to kids' health.
A 1/4-cup (40 grams) serving of raisins counts as one serving of fruit.
Packing raisins in a school lunch or grabbing them as an after- soccer snack or sprinkling them on cereal can be easy and may actually result in improved dental health for kids and parents.
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