Raisins - good food for your children
I used to always think that anything sticky would be bad for my children’s teeth and it has been so for as long as I can remember - my dentist even frowned with disapproval when he noted that I gave my children raisins as ‘wholesome snacks’. Well, that myth seems to have been debunked by the latest study presented Wednesday (June 8, 2005) at the American Society for Microbiology’s annual meeting in Atlanta where they found that (surprise, surprise) raisins actually contained compounds that actually fight bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. What the study found was that raisins contained a compound called oleanolic acid which inhibited the growth of bacteria that caused gum disease. What is not clear is how much raisins you need to consume in order to achieve this effect. Experts however (aren’t they always?) are skeptical and are sticking to their guns adamant that raisins with their sticky attributes are ‘bad’ for your kid’s teeth. So the jury is still out I guess. I for one am more inclined to continue to give my children ‘healthy’ raisins if only because the other snack alternatives are worse - and I’m referring to things like chips and lollies.