You Need More Than Calcium for Strong Teeth, plus a recipe for Sweet & Spicy Roasted Carrots

August 24, 2018

Well here it is…….I knew it would finally catch up with me.  Going to the dentist and my beloved nutrition would cross paths!  (If you guys only knew how much I dread going to the dentist….long story).  But here it is and I can’t run to far from it. 

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gum and tissues that surround and support the teeth.  Seems that so many health related concerns revolve around inflammation which leads back to the color in our diet. Diets that are high in refined sugar and fat increase inflammation throughout the body.  Antioxidants like vitamin C, beta-carotene, and vitamin E can really have an influence on how the body responds to inflammation. Deficiencies of vitamin c, folic acid, and zinc appear to increase the risk of periodontal disease. (You see diet is the answer to most everything….at least in my world.) 

This is a short list of where you might find some of these nutrients that play a role in gum disease.

Sources of Vitamin C                      Sources of Beta-carotene                            Sources of Vitamin E

Broccoli                                               Apricots                                                         Green leafy vegetables

Cabbage                                             Carrots                                                           Nuts

Citrus fruits                                         Pumpkin                                                         Wheat Germ

Strawberries                                      Sweet potatoes                                               Olives

Tomatoes                                          Winter squash                                               Corn/corn oil

What and how we eat impacts all areas of our health.  There are so many areas of health related issues that can be influenced by eating a diet rich in color.  Try these carrots!  (You could even add your own twist by leaving out the pecans and decreasing the brown sugar and olive oil…just a thought!)

Sweet & Spicy Roasted Carrots

Ingredients

• 8 medium carrots, peeled, halved if large
• 2 tbsp packed brown sugar
• 5 tsp Olive oil
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• Dash of cayenne pepper
• 2 tbsp chopped toasted pecans

Preparation

1. Bring me oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Arrange carrots in an even layer and cover with foil.
3. Roast for 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile stir brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, salt, cloves and cayenne in a small bowl until well combined.
5. Spoon the glaze mixture over the carrots and stir to coat well.
6. Roast uncovered, until the carrots are tender and glazed, about 10 minutes.
7. Top with pecans.

Nutrition information: 143 calories, 8 gr fat, 13 mg chol, 19 gr carbohydrate, 2 gr protein, 197 mg sodium.

Recipe from: Diabetic Living Fall 2018

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This is another in a weekly series of healthy recipes from Kay MacInnis, registered dietitian at Providence Health in Columbia, S.C.

Kay promotes health and wellness, helping cardiac and diabetes patients eat their way to healthier lives. She works in consultation with the trained chefs at Providence, combining her nutrition knowledge with their food prep know-how to create delicious, healthy dishes for patients and the public. She also conducts a number of health and wellness events for the public, including the monthly Providence Cooks! classes.

"She doesn't just give you the fish, she teaches you how to cook it."

 – a Kay MacInnis fan and Providence Cooks! regular.