Healthy Eating Habits

Dairy dos
Yogurt has been touted for boosting the immune system, but there's another reason it may keep you smiling. A study in the Journal of Periodontology found that people who consumed 2 ounces or more of lactic acid-rich foods, such as yogurt and kefir, had a 60 percent lower risk for severe periodontal disease than those who didn't eat any. Left untreated, the dental condition can cause bleeding, receding gums, and tooth loss. Scientists once believed it was the calcium in dairy products that fostered oral health, but now they say the effect may be attributed to probiotics, beneficial bacteria found in foods with lactic acid. Since dairy products made without probiotics, like milk and some cheeses, don't provide the same protective effect, get at least half of your dairy servings each day from yogurt.

Go with soft goat cheese for better protection against anemia and osteoporosis. Researchers at the University of Granada in Spain explain that goat's milk products can help our bodies absorb nutrients like iron, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium more effectively than their cow-derived counterparts.