Yet Another Study Links Soda to Yet Another Health Problem

If there's anything good to say regarding soft drinks and your health, researchers are having a hard time finding it.

Apparently you don’t want protein in your urine, or at least not too much of it. It can make your kidneys very unhappy. (Who knew? Well, kidney doctors, I guess.) Why soda of all things might cause elevated levels of protein in your pee seems to be even more of a mystery, but it’s another incident in the steady drumbeat of science that seems to be saying ever louder: “You’re crazy if you’re still nursing a soda habit.”

More than 12,000 people with normal kidney function participated in a recent study out of Osaka University. Those who drank two or more sodas per day were more likely to have protein in their urine (11 percent), versus those who drank one soda a day (9 percent) or those who didn't drink any (8.4 percent), as HealthDay reports.

This is the amount of sugar in one 20 oz pop.
It is not good for your body or your teeth. 

This isn't earth-shattering—soda has been linked to kidney disease before. And of course, that’s not the only serious health problem researchers have tied soda to. There’s the elevated risk for heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, and type2 diabetes—health problems that are almost all tied to soda’s pretty-well-documented-but-of-course-the-soda-industry-still-denies-it propensity to make us overweight or obese.

Soda’s also been linked to gout, which always sounds like one of those Dickensian maladies afflicting portly, grouchy barristers who thump coal-smudged orphans with their canes.

“The new study suggests that even individuals with normal kidney function are at risk for damage if they drink too much soda,” one kidney specialist who apparently was not involved in the study tells HealthDay. “There is no safe amount of soda,” he adds. “If you look at the recommended amounts of sugar we can safely consume every day, one can of soda exceeds the maximum level.”

Indeed, while the American Heart Association recommends men not exceed the equivalent of 36 grams of sugar a day and women limit their intake to 24 grams, a 12-ounce can of regular soda can easily contain upwards of 40 grams. 

Kidney issues are the latest health problem to be
 associated with soda consumption. 

But even as the evidence mounts that soda is exacting an outsize tax on public health, the public itself seems to have mixed feelings about taxing soda. Even as New York City’s infamous ban on super size sugary drinks remains in legal limbo, San Francisco seems poised to impose a tax on all soda (24 cents per can). Yet voters in Telluride, Colo., soundly rejected a soda tax this month by nearly a two-thirds margin.  

This bit of detail from Politico on the Telluride vote was telling:  In early July—a little over a week after [Elisa Marie Overall, who works at the town medical center] pitched Proposition 2A to the town council—Charlie Sheffield, a lobbyist hired by the Colorado Beverage Association, showed up in Telluride to set up camp and convince the town to vote against the initiative.

"The beverage industry swooped in pretty quickly," recalled Overall, who said she believes Sheffield has been living in Telluride since. "He walked in wearing a suit. No one wears a suit here! Now he wears flannel and Carhartts—and carries a backpack instead of a briefcase."

Meanwhile, south of the border, Mexico has passed a nationwide junk-food tax, which places a levy on soda and other foods—and industry has responded by moving from sugarcane-sweetened Coca-Cola to high-fructose corn syrup.  

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How soda affects your body

Weight 

This is the amount of sugar in a 20 ounce soda.

Drinking one soda a day equates to consuming 39 pounds of sugar per year. Regularly consuming sugary drinks interacts with the genes that affect weight. Sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to more than 150,000 obesity-related deaths a year.

Brain 

Having too much sugar in your diet reduces production of a brain chemical that helps us learn, store memories and process insulin. Consuming too much sugar also dulls the brain's mechanism for telling you to stop eating. 

Kidneys

The high levels of phosphoric acid in colas have been lined to kidney stones and other renal problems. Diet cola is increased with a two-fold risk especially when more than two servings a day are consumed. 

Digestive System

The carbonation in soft drinks can cause gas, cramping, and exacerbate the affects or irritable bowel syndrome. Caffeine can also worsen episodes of diarrhea or contribute to constipation. 

Bones

Soda consumption has been linked to osteoporosis and bone density loss, likely due to the phosphoric acid and caffeine in soda. 

Heart

Chronic diet and regular soda consumption leads to an increase risk of heart disease, including heart attack and stroke. 

Teeth 

The sugar causes tooth decay and the phosphoric acid from soda erodes the enamel of your teeth weakening the structure leading to deeper decay and tooth sensitivity. 

Make your dental appointment before you have a problem!

reference: DIY Natural 

What is the average cost of keeping a tooth healthy?

Sometimes wonder what the worth is regarding your hygiene appointment?  We have been talking about how we improve your health by keeping the mouth bacteria free so let's see what the dental benefits might be...

Look at the normal sequence of treatment on a typical tooth and you can make an informed choice as to what the importance is of a regular appointment with our hygiene team.

 Healthy Molar

Molar with a small Cavity

Molar with silver fillings (approximately ~ $200)

Molar with larger replacement silver fillings (Approximately ~ $400)

Molar Root Canal Treatment (Approximately ~ $900)

Molar Crown (Approximately ~ $1000)

Molar tooth replaced by a dental implant (Approximately ~ $4000)

Total Average Lifetime Cost Approximately ~ $6000

Total Average Lifetime Cost of a Healthy Tooth Approximately ~ $10 per year

See your dentist regularly to keep all your teeth as healthy as possible. A healthier mouth also leads to a healthier body!




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7 Things You May Not Know About Cold Sores

You're Contagious Before a Cold Sore Even Appears

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) that causes cold sores is actually activated a day or two before you have any visible symptoms, just as it is with chicken pox and other herpes viruses. So you're contagious a few days before a cold sore appears and until after the sore heals. Some people—about one-third to one-half of those who get cold sores—experience prodromal symptoms a day or two before a cold sore appears, including a slight fever and/or tingling, stinging or itching on the lips. But many do not. Your best protection? Don’t share lipstick, lip balm, a toothbrush, a drinking glass or anything else that comes in contact with your mouth.

Cold Sores on the Lips Can Cause Genital Herpes 

In most cases, genital herpes and cold sores on the lips are caused by two different strains of the herpes virus: HSV-2 and HSV-1, respectively, although genital herpes can also be caused by HSV-1. However, if you have a cold sore on your lip and you engage in oral sex with your partner, you can transfer the HSV-1 virus, giving your partner genital herpes. Genital herpes caused by HSV-1 tends to be less severe and flare-ups tend to occur less frequently than genital herpes caused by HSV-2, but both are lifelong infections. Best advice: Avoid kissing and oral sex whenever you have a cold sore.

You Probably Have the Virus that Causes Cold Sores

As many as 90 percent of people have antibodies to HSV-1 by the time they become adults, meaning they were exposed to the virus at some point in their lives, usually during childhood. They may have been exposed to the virus through close contact with a child who had it or by handling an object that contained the virus, like a toy that had been in the mouth of another child. In many people, the virus remains dormant, never producing any symptoms. About half of those who’ve been exposed to HSV-1 go on to experience actual outbreaks.  ** Our office offers Oral DNA testing and oral HPV virus testing. 

Eating Chicken and Fish May Help Prevent Cold Sores

Chicken and fish are rich in the amino acid lysine, which has been shown to help reduce outbreaks in some people. Other foods that contain lysine include eggs, potatoes and yogurt. Taking supplements of lysine may also help. In one study, doctors at Indiana University found that 88 percent of study participants said lysine supplements were an effective treatment for their herpes infections, with many noting less frequent recurrences and decreased severity of symptoms. Consult your doctor about whether lysine supplementation is right for you.

Dr Nylaan's Waterlase dental laser

You May Be Able to Shorten a Cold Sore Outbreak

You can clear up a cold sore more quickly and help it hurt less by beginning an antiviral medication like valacyclovir (Valtrex) or famciclovir (Famvir) at the first sign of symptoms. Studies show this strategy can make symptoms less severe, shorten the healing time of a cold sore by about two days and, in some cases, even prevent a cold sore from forming. If you know that your cold sores are triggered by a certain factor, such as stress or menstruation, you may be able to take medication a day or two beforehand. Consult your doctor for the best treatment strategy for you. ** Our dental office can reduce your cold sore with our Waterlase soft tissue laser. 

Try Yoga for Cold Sores

Since stress can be a trigger, try yoga or regular aerobic exercise, deep breathing, guided imagery, meditation and other stress-reducing techniques. This may help minimize the frequency and duration of outbreaks.

An Ice Cube May Relieve Cold Sore Pain

Lidocaine, camphor, menthol and other ingredients found in many nonprescription products do not make cold sores less likely to flare up, but they can soothe the symptoms. So can a simple ice cube. Since different people respond to different ingredients, try a few products to see what works best for you. During flare-ups, avoid foods that are hot, spicy or high in acid, such as orange juice. These may aggravate cold sore symptoms.

Reference: ivillage.com

MOST IMPORTANTLY 

Did you know? 

Our dental office can use our Waterlase dental laser to Relieve the Pain of Cold Sores and Fever Blisters ? 

Waterlase Dentistry often provides immediate relief from painful cold sores and fever blisters. 

We

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