Try A Little Dairy and Berries! Lower Your Blood Pressure

I was getting my hair colored recently at my friend Marie's hairs salon (you caught me! I am not a natural blonde-oh well!) and perusing through the magazines and found a couple health tidbits I wanted to pass on to you. There was a study about dairy and to be honest I am not a big proponent of dairy but decided that it was an interesting study that some of you might be interested in so I am passing it on. The study on berries was right up my alley since I adore berries and I love hearing more and more health benefits of this delicious fruit.

Try Some Dairy Products-They May Keep You Smiling

According to a study in the Journal of Periodontology it was found that people who consumed 2 ounces or more of lactic acid rich foods, such as yogurt and kefir, had a 60% lower risk of severe periodontal disease than those who didn't eat any. If not treated the condition can cause bleeding, receding gums and tooth loss. Scientists once believed it was the calcium in dairy products that contributed to oral health but now they believe it may be the probiotics (beneficial bacteria found in foods with lactic acid). Since dairy products without probiotics, like milk and some cheeses, don't provide the same benefits it is best to get at least half of your dairy servings from yogurt. Now, I would like to say that if you are going to eat dairy then I highly recommend only organic to avoid the hormones found in non-organic dairy products and to not be a part of the cruelty that dairy cows endure. I get my probiotics and prebiotics from my Pops, the whole food supplements that I take daily so I don't have to really worry about it. I love my pops from Whole Food Nation.

All Hail The Mighty Berry

I have never met a berry that I did not like! Thank goodness that there is something that is healthy that I really and truly like and actually crave. According to a recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it was found that adults who ate two thirds of a cup of berries and sipped 2 ounces of berry juice lowered their blood pressure by 1% and upped their HDL (good cholesterol) by 5% in just two months. Apparently the purple, red and blue fruits are rich in polyphenols, plant chemicals that defend the heart against disease. Eat up!