Most of us assume that dental plaque is terrible; it causes cavities and gum disease, and encouraging its eradication is widely accepted. Scientists have determined that plaque bacteria can ferment processed carbohydrates and sugars into acids that cause decay. But, observations of populations who eat diets high in unprocessed carbohydrates, even when they don’t brush, have little to no decay. 1 Indeed, our dental plaque has been residing in human mouths since the beginning, and archaeology has proven that it only causes problems when processed carbs enter the diet. Plaque is necessary and healthy when we eat correctly. It produces many beneficial substances. Today, I will cover some nitrogen-containing chemicals plaque produces to help us survive and thrive.
Read MoreWe can produce glucose from the protein we ingest in the absence of fat and carbs in the diet. Making glucose from protein is a process known as gluconeogenesis. The problem is that our ability to synthesize glucose from protein is very limited and will not sustain us longterm. Luckily, we have such an abundance of food today, most people will never have to rely on gluconeogenesis, except for me. Today, I would like to share my story and put the knowledge I gained from my experience into the larger framework of human evolution and biology.
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