Sweet breakfast cereals ‘too sugary for kids’

Children’s breakfast cereals are “so full of sugar they should be in the chocolate biscuit aisle of supermarkets,” the Daily Express has warned.

Cereal offenders: sugar rush for breakfast?

Several newspapers have reported the findings of a survey into the nutritional content of popular UK breakfast cereals, with most papers focusing on the high sugar levels in children’s cereals.

The survey comparing the nutritional content of 50 UK breakfast cereals included top selling brands and supermarkets’ own-brand equivalents. It found that overall, 32 out of the 50 were high in sugar, and that 12 out of the 14 cereals (86%) aimed at children had excessive levels of added sugar. The survey also reported some good news: that most cereals have reduced their salt levels over the last few years.

The survey also found inconsistent nutrition labelling and ‘per serving’ information with different serving sizes between brands, as well as a lack of traffic light labelling.

The nutritional value of cereals, particularly those fortified with vitamins and minerals, means that they can still play a part in a health balanced diet. However, these findings should serve as a reminder to people who eat cereal to be careful with the amount of sugar, fat and salt they eat in all meals of the day.

 

Why are sugary cereals in the news?

The independent consumer watchdog Which? has published its latest analysis of the nutritional value of breakfast cereals. It last investigated cereals in 2009. For the latest survey, it compared the sugar, salt and fat content of 50 cereals, based on the manufacturers’ information.

In order to compare different cereals across the board, Which? used the cereals’ nutritional value per 100g to compare cereals across the board, rather than the nutritional content of different portion sizes recommended by manufacturers. They included top selling branded cereals and supermarkets’ own-brand equivalents for the most popular ones (which were Kellogg’s Special K, Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Cornflakes and Kellogg’s Cornflakes). They also compared the results against their previous investigation into cereals.

Criteria for whether cereals are high, medium or low in fat, sugar or salt, is based on the traffic light labelling criteria, developed by the Food Standards Agency.

 

What cereals had the most sugar according to the Which? report?

The survey found that 32 out of 50 cereals were high in sugar. The official traffic light labelling system defines this as more than 12.5% sugar (12.5g per 100g). In only two of these cereals this was due to the fruit they contained, for the rest it was due to added sugar.

Among cereals aimed at children, 12 out of 14 were high in sugar. Of the two that were not high in sugar, Rice Krispies had a medium level of sugar, while Weetabix was the only breakfast cereal that is specifically promoted to children to have a low level of sugar.

The cereal highest in added sugar was Kellogg’s Frosties, which is 37% sugar. Own-brand chocolate rice cereals from several supermarkets came a close second at 36% sugar. These included:

• Tesco Choco Snaps
• Sainsbury’s Choco Rice Pops
• Morrisons Choco Crackles
• Lidl Crownfield Choco Rice
• The Co-operative Choco Snaps
• Asda Choco Snaps

These were followed by:

• Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Cornflakes
• Kellogg’s Coco Pops
• Honey Monster Sugar Puffs

These all had 35% sugar.

Several supermarket brands of honey nut cornflakes had 33.6% sugar. Even cereals marked as ‘healthy’ such as Kellogg’s All-Bran Flakes (22%) and Special K (17%), were high in sugar. Alpen Original Muesli had 23.1% sugar, although this included sugar from fruit, while Dorset Cereals Simply Delicious Muesli had 16.8% sugar, though this was all from fruit.

 

What about salt?

Which? said that most cereals have seen big reductions in saltcontent since 2009, because manufacturers have reformulated their products to meet salt targets. Morrisons Honey Nut Cornflakes, Tesco Special Flakes and Kellogg’s Coco Pops have all seen significant cuts in salt levels.

Only eight of the 50 cereals analysed did not meet the 2012 target of a maximum of 1.1g salt per 100g breakfast cereal. These were:

• Asda Cornflakes
• Lidl Cornflakes
• Kellogg’s Cornflakes
• Marks and Spencer Cornflakes
• Tesco Cornflakes
• Nestlé Cheerios
• Kellogg’s Special K
• Rice Krispies

 

Which cereals contained the most fat?

The report did not summarise cereals’ fat content but most cereals were low in fat (3% or less fat, according to the traffic light system), though several contained medium levels of fat (between 3 and 20%). Those with the highest levels were:

• Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Clusters (15%)
• Quaker Oat So Simple (8.5%)
• Dorset Simply Delicious Muesli (7.4%)
• Alpen Original Muesli (5.8%)
• Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Cornflakes (5%)

Several other brands and own-brand equivalents contained between 3 and 5% fat.

 

Which was the healthiest cereal?

The report said that Nestlé Shredded Wheat was the healthiest cereal with low levels of sugar, fat and salt. Quaker Oat So Simple Original and Weetabix were the only other cereals that were low in sugar. However, Quaker Oat So Simple contained medium fat levels (8.5g per 100g) and Weetabix contained medium salt levels (0.65g per 100g).

 

What else did the report find?

The report also found that nutritional labelling in supermarkets is so often inconsistent. Eight of the 50 cereals investigated had no front-of-pack nutrition labelling and only 14 included traffic light labelling. Which? says that different serving sizes add to the confusion, as do claims about healthier aspects of some cereals (such as being low in fat) when they were high in sugar.

 

What does ‘Which?’ conclude?

Which? suggests that cereal manufacturers should produce a wider range of healthier products and label nutritional content simply and clearly.

Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd, said: “More action is needed by retailers and manufacturers to provide a wider choice of healthier cereals,” and he urged the Government to encourage cereal makers to take action over sugar levels and improve labelling.

 

Should I be worried?

Consumption of high levels of added sugar is associated with tooth decay and, similar to consumption of high levels of fat, increases the risk of being overweight or obese. There are also various associated health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Excess salt is also associated with increased risk of high blood pressure and associated cardiovascular problems.

Furthermore, there is the likelihood that children will become used to the taste of high-sugar cereals and find healthier ones less palatable. It is important to look at the food labels when shopping and try to choose cereals and other food options that are lower in salt, sugar and saturated fats where possible. Adding fresh fruit to cereal can make it more appealing and also increase its nutritional value.

Compared with a full English breakfast, the average cereal is still probably a better option, and indeed, most breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamins and minerals. However, there are many other healthy breakfast options, such as scrambled eggs on wholemeal toast with a glass of orange juice. For more ideas about better breakfasts, use the Change4Life: healthy breakfasts ideas generator

 

 

King’s Crown

A dental model of Elvis Presley’s mouth complete with an extra crown is set to fetch £10,000 when it goes to auction this month.

The model was made for the star by former Memphis dentist Henry J Weiss, Presley’s dentist until 1971, who affectionately called it the ‘King’s Crown’. Dr Weiss always kept an extra crown on the model of Elvis Presley’s teeth in the event that he might chip or crack his crown.

The model and crown is accompanied by five letters of authenticity from the wife/sons of the dentist and Joe Esposito, Presley’s road manager. The model is encased in a custom glass display. 

Paul Fairweather from Omega Auctions said: ‘Following on from the Lennon tooth back in November which sold for £19,500, we were extremely excited on the consignment of this truly unique item from the king of rock and roll.  Whilst it is not a real tooth, as was the case with the Lennon tooth, it is the only one in existence and we expect there to be considerable interest in this.’

It is being sold by Omega Auctions, Stockport, Greater Manchester, on 25 February. 

King’s Crown

A dental model of Elvis Presley’s mouth complete with an extra crown is set to fetch £10,000 when it goes to auction this month.

The model was made for the star by former Memphis dentist Henry J Weiss, Presley’s dentist until 1971, who affectionately called it the ‘King’s Crown’. Dr Weiss always kept an extra crown on the model of Elvis Presley’s teeth in the event that he might chip or crack his crown.

The model and crown is accompanied by five letters of authenticity from the wife/sons of the dentist and Joe Esposito, Presley’s road manager. The model is encased in a custom glass display. 

Paul Fairweather from Omega Auctions said: ‘Following on from the Lennon tooth back in November which sold for £19,500, we were extremely excited on the consignment of this truly unique item from the king of rock and roll.  Whilst it is not a real tooth, as was the case with the Lennon tooth, it is the only one in existence and we expect there to be considerable interest in this.’

It is being sold by Omega Auctions, Stockport, Greater Manchester, on 25 February

Possible link between gum disease and bowel cancer

The bacteria associated with the most common cause of tooth loss in adults could be a pre-curser for the development of bowel cancer, according to a team of scientists.

The link comes as scientists at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute in America found an abnormally large number of Fusobacterium – a bacterium associated with the development of periodontal disease – in nine colorectal tumour samples, pointing to the possibility the two could be associated.

Bowel cancer, also known as colon cancer, is one of the top three deadly cancers in the UK. Around 35,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year and around half of them die.

Although lead author Matthew Meyerson, co-director of the Center for Cancer Genome Discovery at Dana-Farber and a professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School, believes further research is needed to discover the extent of the link, the research suggests the bacterium could be a factor in the development of cancer.

Dr Meyerson stated: ‘At this point, we don’t know what the connection between Fusobacterium and colon cancer might be. It may be that the bacterium is essential for cancer growth, or that cancer simply provides a hospitable environment for the bacterium. Further research is needed to see what the link is.’

Chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, believes the research further highlights the importance of good oral health. He said: ‘This research, although at an early stage, is more evidence of the systemic links between oral and overall health. Everyone suffers from gum disease at some point in their lives, which could potentially endanger thousands of people if they persist in neglecting their oral health.’

Woman gets artificial jawbone transplant

An 83-year-old woman has been implanted with the world’s first “3D printer-created jaw”. Using cutting-edge laser manufacturing techniques, doctors and metal experts were able to build up layers of titanium to form a custom metal jawbone to exactly fit her face. The metal jawbone was then inserted into her lower jaw, replacing a large section of bone that was destroyed by a chronic infection.

The technique of 3D printing has been used to build prototype products for some time, but in recent years scientists have begun experimenting with the medical possibilities offered by the process. In this case, a specialist metalwork company called Layerwise was able to translate 3D bone scans into a custom jaw. The company had previously used the process to make bone-shaped prostheses and dental implants. To make a full jawbone, the implant team had to overcome a number of challenges, such as how to encourage muscles to attach to the implant and how to incorporate the nerves necessary for normal movement of the jaw.

While 3D printing is still an experimental medical technique, scientists are currently devising ways in which they might use it to produce whole organs, which are either “printed” by sandwiching layer after layer of living cells on top of each other or created by building scaffolds for cells to grow on.

Sugar, Tobacco and Alcohol

Sugar is so harmful that it should be controlled and taxed in the same way as tobacco and alcohol,” according to health experts quoted in today’s Daily Express. The researchers say that sugar indirectly contributes to 35 million deaths a year worldwide. The news is based on a comment article by US health scientists, who argue that there has been a massive rise in diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes since we began eating more sugar contained in processed food. The researchers argue that many of the health effects of excess sugar consumption are similar to those of alcohol, and that sugar should, therefore, be controlled and taxed in a similar way. They advocate introducing a tax on processed foods with added sugar, limiting sales during school hours and placing age limits on purchase. Interestingly, the authors rate sugar as more dangerous to health than saturated fat and salt, which they call dietary “bogeymen”. It is important to highlight that the researchers’ article is a comment piece and, therefore, primarily reflects their views and opinions, rather than presenting direct research on the issue. While it is certainly an interesting concept, there is still a lack of evidence supporting the effectiveness of such measures and, crucially, whether the public would actually accept them.

MARC’S 7 TOP TIPS FOR AMAZING ORAL HEALTH

1. Visit your Dentist every six to twelve months for a full and thorough screening for Gum Disease, Tooth Decay, Mouth Cancer, Cracks in teeth and restorations and Jaw/Bite analysis.

2. Visit a Hygienist to help with your prevention of tooth loss, decay and bad breath. Fund 1 and 2 on a monthly Oral Health membership scheme like the Pratice Plan at Mortiboys Dental Spa.

3. Keep your mouth ph neutral/alkaline.Keep your interdental stagnation spaces clean with floss, interdental brushes, waterjets and rinse with alkaline products like salt water.

4. Get a chiropractor/osteopath to assess if your bite is affecting your musculo-skeletal system giving you aches and pains.

5. Use a regeneration tooth paste/conditioner like Tooth Mousse, to reduce risks of dental erosion, cavities and sensitivity.

6. Ask your Dentist to make you a 5-year Oral Health Plan to help prevent future major treatment and financial expense.

7. Regularly check inside your mouth, tongue, lips and cheeks for visual changes. Get a Dentist to look as soon as possible if you are concerned about anything. Mouth cancer is on the increase and if caught early, it is often life-saving.

5 Top Tips for Tip Top Dental Health!

1) Get in the habit of seeing your dentist as often as they recommend, so complex treatments could be avoided. Most problems can be detected early, helping you steer clear of traumatic treatment.

2) There is increasing evidence that poor dental and gum health puts you at greater risk of heart disease, strokes and lung disease so there are many reasons in addition to your dental health to take care of your teeth. We offer a hygienist service to help keep on top of your oral hygiene.

3) Make sure you look after your teeth properly. You should spend at least two minutes every morning and night on your brushing and you should also be flossing daily.

4) Watching what you eat can help reduce your risk of tooth decay, too. Some of the bacteria in our mouths love the sugars and starches found in foods. They turn these into acid, which causes decay. Limiting your intake of sugary and starchy foods helps to prevent tooth decay and the need for dental treatment. Avoiding sweet or starchy snacks between meals (including fruits high in natural sugars) and brushing your teeth after eating will also limit the time you have sugary solutions in your mouth and on your teeth.

5) Join our membership plan to take the stress out of routine dental care. We will keep tabs on your activity and keep you in a stable routine which is one less thing for you to worry about!

5 Top Tips for Tip Top Dental Health!

Are you afraid of the Dentist?

A significant number of people are nervous at the prospect of a visit to the dentist and for some; their crippling fear prevents them from visiting for years at a time.

Some people are embarrassed by their fear and try to hide it, but this can often be mistaken for surliness which may prevent the team from feeling confident that they are helping you to relax.

Our team truly understands how your fear affects you. A quiet chat with one of the staff could be the difference between a miserable ordeal and complete fear rehabilitation.

Why are you scared?

Quite often, it is an unpleasant experience in the past that has planted a seed of anxiety which grows into an overwhelming fear. Other common worries may include:

• Fear of injections
• Fear of pain or of the anaesthetic not working
• Concerns about unnecessary treatment and anxiety about cross-infection, bleeding and gagging

What can you do about it?

We urge you not to feel embarrassed about expressing your feelings. If you haven’t been for a while, you may prefer to explain your concerns over the phone before coming in, or maybe even drop in and speak to one of the team……. you just might find that pain relief and dental techniques have evolved or changed since your last visit!

If you do need treatment, we encourage you to ask lots of questions and make sure you understand exactly what your plan entails. This helps you to appreciate that you are in the driver’s seat when it comes to your dental health and treatment. When the time comes for your visit, you may wish to bring a friend or relative with you for support.

If the notion of a long treatment session is upsetting you, you can discuss it with your dentist and work on a coping strategy, such as a hand signal if you need to take a ‘time out’.

If your anxiety is very severe you may wish to consider some of the following options:

• Relaxation techniques
• Sedation
• Hypnosis
• Psychotherapy
• Acupuncture

For further advice or information about how we can help you to overcome or manage your fear, call our friendly team on 01483 281428.

Colds and Flu = Fillings?

Its that lovely time of year again when the leaves turn colour and begin to fall from their branches, picturesque it may well be especially in here in leafy Surrey but with colder climes comes sniffley noses and sore throats! Colds and flu affect us in the dental industry in a couple of ways….

Firstly, there is the sudden rise in appointment cancellations! People develop hacking coughs and raw sore throats literally overnight and consequently are unable to attend their dental appointments – no good sitting having treatment for half hour with the dental hygienist when you can’t breathe through your nose! It is a frustration for dental practices who rely on appointment books being full to keep prices stationary but its a fact of life and we work around it!

Secondly, people get cavities! That tickly cough or sore throat is relentless and the only way to make it more bareable is to suck on a cough sweet, and then another, and another…. sugar attack! Added to which the achey fatigue that plagues you at your desk at work, so many give in to the temptations of sugary energy drinks which promise to give you the edge, or stimulate your body or mind…. sugar attack!!

A couple of tips to help avoid cavities during these sniffly times:

1) Don’t let sugar get the better of you! If you are going to suck cough sweets, use only when you really have to… perhaps chewing a sugar free gum would help to alleviate tickly coughs through lubrication of the throat from saliva, if you really need a hit from that soothing centre then carry a travel sized bottle of fluoride mouthwash (ask at our reception for a free sample bottle) with you and rinse between sweets to neutralise the sugar and stop it attacking once you have finished your sweet.

2) Drink WATER! Gallons of water is way better for your teeth (and breath) than sugary energy drinks!  Drinking lots of water will help you to flush the toxins and bugs out of your system helping you to recover in less time – added to which your skin, wasteline and digestive system will also thank you for the positive choice!!

For more information about ways to avoid cavities visit our website www.mortiboysdentalspa.com or contact our friendly team for no obligation advice on 01483 281428.

Happy Autumn!

Mortiboys