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| Turkey, fish, sweet red peppers, Brussels sprouts, and other cruciferous vegetables for vitamin B 6. |
| Chicken, extra-lean meats, and sea vegetables for vitamin B 12. |
| Tea, which contains flavonoids that have been shown to greatly reduce stroke risk. |
| WHAT MATTERS, WHAT DOESN'T |
| What Matters |
| Eating regular meals that are rich in high-fiber foods. Avoiding iron supplements; iron is a gastric irritant. Avoiding caffeine and alcohol while you have an ulcer. |
| What Doesn't |
| Avoiding spicy foods; it's a myth that bland diets prevent or treat ulcers. Drinking milk to "coat" the stomach; too much milk can encourage harmful acid production. Avoiding stress so that you won't develop ulcers; most experts believe stress does not cause ulcers, but it can exacerbate existing ones. |
| Tooth Decay |
| Of the three essentials for preventing tooth decay, two are well known: brushing and flossing regularly, and avoiding sugary snacks. The third is equally important, although often overlooked: eating foods that will keep your teeth strong and resistant to attack from harmful acids. |
| Calcium-rich foods are essential for healthy teeth, building strong teeth when you are young, and maintaining bones that hold your adult teeth in place. Vitamin A is essential to form dentin, the bonelike layer beneath teeth's surface; vitamin C is important in preventing oral infections. |
| Smart Foods |
| Lowfat yogurt and milk, tofu, sardines and other canned fish with their bones, almonds, and leafy green vegetables for calcium. |
| Mangoes, cantaloupe, carrots, and red peppers for vitamin A. |
| Tomatoes, leafy green vegetables, citrus fruit, and potatoes for vitamin C. |
| Tea, which contains polyphenols and tannins that act as antibiotics and kill bacteria, as well as tooth-protective fluoride. |
| Cheesea small cube at the end of a meal appears to reduce risk of tooth decay, possibly by neutralizing acids before they can cause damage. |
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