There are numerous diets out there for those who want to lose weight, get healthy, or bulk up and only a few survive the test of time. One such diet that has survived is Paleo, the caveman-inspired diet that encourages the consumption of fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, and meat. Discover more about this popular dietary lifestyle and how it can improve your oral health.
If you’ve never tried Paleo yourself, you’ve probably overheard people talking about it at your gym, CrossFit class, or Yoga studio. Essentially, Paleo is a diet that harkens back to our ancestors, and the way that they ate before agriculture. Long story short, that means no bread and dairy, since our highly-active predecessors would not have eaten those foods. Instead, Paleo encourages you to eat as many fruits, veggies, nuts, and meat as you want.
Aside from the dental benefits, the most common reason that people try the Paleo diet is that it helps them rapidly lose weight in a safe way. That’s because bread has excess carbohydrates, and those refined carbohydrates are a major culprit behind weight gain – not fat. Here are some of the common benefits reported from those who’ve tried the Paleo lifestyle:
Paleo is known to have a lot of benefits for your bodily health in general, but what about for your smile? Check out these three ways that the Paleo lifestyle is beneficial for oral health.
Everyone knows how damaging sugar can be for your smile. If you follow the Paleo diet, only fresh natural foods are allowed. Since no packaged products like Twinkies or Frosted Flakes are allowed on Paleo, you’ll eliminate almost all sugar from your diet simply by following the basic rules. That lack of sugar in your body will help your lose weight, but it will also keep your oral health in excellent condition.
The beauty of Paleo compared to other diets is that there is no limit to the amount of food you can have, so long as it’s from the right food groups. This means you can load your plate up with fresh, nutritious fruits and veggies for every meal. Putting vegetables at the forefront of your diet not only ensures that you’ll lose weight and be healthy, but is also great for your teeth depending on the specific vegetable – here are some examples of how plant-based foods are good for your teeth:
And those are just a few examples of the benefits fruits and veggies provide for your teeth. If you try the Paleo diet, then the absence of bread, sugar, and dairy opens the door for exploring fresh fruits and veggies that are great for your body and smile.
Diets that limit or prohibit grains are known to be beneficial for oral health. The primary reason for this is that breads and refined sugars are leading causes of cavities. By completely eliminating grains and sugars from your diet, you drastically cut back on these threats to your smile.
Just as certain foods are great or terrible for the body, the same is true for your oral health. Learning how your diet is affecting your smile is an important step in keeping your teeth and gums as healthy as possible. Dr. Troyan leads a friendly, professional dental team and can help you pick the treatment that’s ideal for you – contact our dental offices in Hoffman Estates and Norridge, IL today.
Dr. Peter Troyan
1224 N Roselle Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60195
Current Patients:
847-855-7645
New Patients:
847-453-3099
Dr. Peter Troyan
Royal Dental Care
7601 W Montrose Ave. Suite 2
Norridge, IL 60706
Current Patients:
773-589-1062
New Patients:
773-673-5574