healthbriefs
In October, Natural Awakenings Recognizes • Breast Cancer Awareness Month • Celiac Aware-
ness Month • Dental Hygiene Month • Spinal Health Month
Natural solutions why the heart
to living with loves grapes
celiac disease
N
ew research from the
University of Michigan
A
July 2009 Mayo Clinic
Cardiovascular Center suggests
study reports that celiac
that eating grapes, a favorite
disease, an immune system
fall fruit, can significantly
reaction to gluten in the diet,
enhance the simple blood-pres-
is four times more common
sure lowering impact that comes
today than it was 50 years
from dining on a variety of fruits
ago. Gluten is a protein that is
and vegetables. The benefit may
found in grains such as wheat,
come from grapes’ naturally occurring
barley and rye and causes an
antioxidants. Our heart cells, like other cells in our body,
inflammation of the intestinal
already make a protective antioxidant called glutathione,
lining. Getting enough recom-
a first line of defense against oxidative stress and heart dis-
mended grains in the diet can
ease; but high blood pressure lowers the levels of glutathi-
be challenging for those with
one. Grapes, on the other hand, the scientists discovered,
the illness, but awareness is growing of food alternatives
actually turn on the glutathione-regulating genes in the
that don’t trigger the problem.
heart, giving natural antioxidant power a significant boost.
Reading food labels is essential; sources note that
many products are made from gluten-free grains such as
Source: University of Michigan Health System, 2009.
rice, beans, tapioca, soy, corn, buckwheat, millet and
quinoa. Oats, too, can sometimes be well tolerated. Herbs
like slippery elm and marshmallow may soothe irritation,
while echinacea and goldenseal may help heal the intesti-
nal lining.
Because people with celiac disease often have a
vitamin or mineral deficiency, they usually benefit from
a daily multivitamin, with the addition of extra B-vitamin
complex, calcium, magnesium, zinc and vitamins A and
E. When taking supplements, it is important to keep one’s
doctor informed.
For more information, see Celiac.com; CeliacCentral.org;
csaceliacs.org.
More reason to
Floss and Brush
A recent university of buffalo study explored how gum,
or periodontal, disease can play a significant role in de-
veloping heart disease. the researchers found that two
of the six types of common oral bacteria found in dental
plaque indicated an increased risk for heart attack. but
more importantly, they discovered that it is the total
amount of germs present, regardless of type, which
relates to heart health.
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