Expert confirms dark chocolate is good for your health

OUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH CHOCOLATE THROUGH THE YEARS

Chocolate gives you a healthy heart. Dark chocolate - especially that with more than 70 per cent cocoa - is full of antioxidants that can fight conditions which can lead to heart problems.

It can reduce your cholesterol. Dark chocolate cuts this by up to 10 per cent and reduces the risk of blood clots by up to 75 per cent.

Chocolate boosts brain power. Dark chocolate has been proven to improve your mental abilities.

You needn't pile on the pounds. Scientists say eating dark chocolate makes you feel fuller than milk chocolate.

Chocolate has a real feel-good factor. It's been proven that the serotonin in dark chocolate can lessen depression.

Eat chocolate and live longer. Scientists at Harvard University in the US found that eating dark chocolate three times a month could prolong a person's life by a year.

For the complete article on this, goto: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/2009/10/15/expert-confirms-dark-chocolate-is-good-for-your-health-86908-21748580/

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Eat up: Chocolate may reduce risks of heart disease

Eat up: Chocolate may reduce risks of heart disease

Chocolate anyone? A recently published study concluded that cocoa's increase of flavonoids can reduce the risk of heart disease. Dark chocolate has a higher concentration of flavonoids and could be better for you than milk chocolate.

Don’t pass on that candy bar just yet. A recent study by the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Barcelona says a diet high in dark chocolate can actually help ward off heart disease.

To ward off a potentially life-threatening condition that can require open-heart surgery, participants in a recent study were given 40 grams of concentrated cocoa powder, eight times more than the normal serving size found in a chocolate bar.

The study, recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, observed 42 volunteers who were considered high-risk for atherosclerosis. The heart disease, also known as Arteriosclerotic Vascular Disease or ASVD, is the result of fatty-acid or cholesterol build-up in the arteries.

The dark chocolate helps boost the body’s level of flavonoids, a beneficial compound typically found in tea, vegetables and fruits that promote anti-inflammatory responses, according to the findings of the study. The boost in flavonoid numbers from the chocolate targets the hardened arterial walls and naturally promotes their elasticity.

For the complete article on this, goto: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=141505

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Cacao the Healthy Bean with a Long History

Cacao the Healthy Bean with a Long History

The cacao bean has a much longer history than most people even realize, it can be traced back to ancient texts where it was used in ceremonies, for medicinal uses and in cooking. There have been archaeological digs that have recovered whole cacao beans and vessels, which were believed to be used for drinking cacao and can be dated as far back as Belize between 600- 400 B.C. This was such an important bean to some civilizations that it was used as currency.

This bean is found on trees that can reach between 15 and 26 feet in height and are botanically a part of the evergreen tree family Sterculiaceae and are native to tropical regions. The pod filled beans that grow on these trees are, what is used to make both cocoa and chocolate.

What has been learned today about the cacao bean that was not known by past civilizations that used the bean for medicinal purposes and as an editable is the health benefits. Today it is known that they contain nutrients that are important for good health, like Magnesium, Iron, Antioxidant Flavonoids, Vitamin C, Omega Fatty Acids and others.

One of the health benefits that chocolate lovers do not realize is its ability to act as an anti depressant, reduce heart attacks, and stroke. What the person eating chocolate realizes is the satisfying taste of this mixture that is made from cacao.

Research has proven that this is one of the most nutrient rich foods that is available, and while discussion goes on about other foods, and whether they are healthy or not the vitamin’s, antioxidants and omega fatty acids give chocolate a seal for good health.

Cacao has been linked with helping many different health problems, such as skin problems, weight loss, respiratory problems, and many other health troubles. The health benefits of consuming chocolate help to protect the cells from the damage that can be caused by free radicals. There is also evidence that this is brain food, since it contains properties like Serotonin, Dopamine, Anandamide, Typtophan, PEA and MAO inhibitors. These are properties that help increase mental awareness. It is reasons like these that many researchers believe that it is a super food, because the antioxidants found in these beans are approximately 500 times higher than those found in blueberries. There are also other chemical compounds, including Sulfur that is a mineral used by the body to promote healthy nails, and hair, but another use by the body is to detoxify the liver.

For the complete article on this, goto: http://www.bestsyndication.com/?q=20090929_chocolate_cocoa_beans.htm

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Dark chocolate seen healthy for arteries

Dark chocolate seen healthy for arteries

Eating dark chocolate may have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system in healthy people, the results of a new study suggest.

"Epidemiological studies suggest that high flavonoid intake confers a benefit on cardiovascular outcome," Dr. Charalambos Vlachopoulos, of Athens Medical School in Greece, and colleagues write in the American Journal of Hypertension.

They point out that the elasticity or stiffness of arteries "are important determinants of cardiovascular performance and are predictors of cardiovascular risk."

The researchers examined the effects of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate on blood-vessel function in 17 young, healthy volunteers over a 3-hour period after they consumed 100 grams of a commercially available dark chocolate.

The investigators saw that an artery in the arm dilated significantly more in response to an increase in bloodflow. Chocolate consumption also led to a significant 7-percent decrease in aortic stiffness.

For the complete article on this, goto: http://paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?182166

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Chocolate: A healthy super food.

Chocolate has been said to cause acne and tooth decay, and has a reputation for being a fattening, nutritionless food. On the other hand, chocolate is also known for being everything from an anti-depressant to an aphrodisiac. While there's still much we don't know about chocolate, recent research is helping us better understand how chocolate consumption affects our health. The good news is that most of the bad effects of eating chocolate are either overstated or entirely false.

Chocolate has not been proven to cause cavities or tooth decay. In fact, there are indications that the cocoa butter in the chocolate coats the teeth and may help protect them by preventing plaque from forming. The sugar in chocolate does contribute to cavities, but no more than the sugar in any other food.

For the complete article on this, goto: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/28331

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Chocolate Toothpaste? Extract Of Tasty Treat Could Fight Tooth Decay

ScienceDaily — For a healthy smile brush between meals, floss regularly and eat plenty of chocolate?

According to Tulane University doctoral candidate Arman Sadeghpour, an extract of cocoa powder that occurs naturally in chocolates, teas, and other products might be an effective natural alternative to fluoride in toothpaste. In fact, his research revealed that the cocoa extract was even more effective than fluoride in fighting cavities.

The extract, a white crystalline powder whose chemical makeup is similar to caffeine, helps harden teeth enamel, making users less susceptible to tooth decay. The cocoa extract could offer the first major innovation to commercial toothpaste since manufacturers began adding fluoride to toothpaste in 1914.

The extract has been proven effective in the animal model, but it will probably be another two to four years before the product is approved for human use and available for sale, Sadeghpour says. But he has already created a prototype of peppermint flavored toothpaste with the cavity-fighting cocoa extract added, and his doctoral thesis research compared the extract side by side to fluoride on the enamel surface of human teeth.

Sadeghpour’s research group included scientists from Tulane, the University of New Orleans, and Louisiana State University’s School of Dentistry.

For the complete article on this, goto: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070518161238.htm

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Dr. Norman Hollenberg's find, could be a chocolate lover's dream

His find could be a chocolate lover's dream

Dr. Norman Hollenberg is exploring preliminary evidence that suggests a key ingredient in cocoa beans called flavanols may ease high blood pressure and improve circulation. (Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe)

By Pamela Ferdinand, Globe Correspondent

Remember Woody Allen's character in the 1973 film "Sleeper," who wakes up 200 years in the future to find that steak, cream pies, and hot fudge are considered healthy? Nutritionists are not quite there yet, but Dr. Norman Hollenberg is raising hopes that the secret elixir of life may have less to do with wheat germ and more with cocoa.

Just to be clear, Hollenberg, a Harvard Medical School professor and director of Brigham and Women's Hospital physiologic research division, is not advocating a diet of candy bars and cookies. He instead is exploring preliminary evidence that suggests a key ingredient in natural cocoa beans -- antioxidants called "flavanols" -- eases high blood pressure and improves circulation.

Flavanols, also present in other foods such as onions, tea, and red wine, might protect us from major illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, and neurodegenerative disease, says Hollenberg. Recent studies, for instance, have shown that flavanols enhance brain blood flow and improve insulin sensitivity by boosting the body's nitric oxide levels and relaxing blood vessels.

"If this proves out, then this is the most important [finding] in the history of medicine," he said. And he isn't joking.

For the complete article on this, goto: http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/fitness/articles/2007/04/30/his_find_could_be_a_chocolate_lovers_dream/

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In the beginning

Here's A Little Humour

Scott Wickstein (Adelaide, Australia) Health - Humour

In the beginning God covered the earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, with green, yellow and red vegetables of all kinds so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

Then Satan created Dairy Ice Cream and Magnums. And Satan said, "You want hot fudge with that?
And Man said, "Yes!" And Woman said, "I'll have one too with chocolate chips".
And lo, they gained 10 pounds.

And God created the healthy yoghurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair.
Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat and sugar from the cane and combined them.
And Woman went from size 12 to size 14.

So God said, "Try my fresh green salad".
And Satan presented Blue Cheese dressing and garlic croutons on the side.
And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, "I have sent you healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them".
And Satan brought forth deep fried coconut king prawns, butter-dipped lobster chunks and chicken fried steak, so big it needed its own platter.
And Man's cholesterol went through the roof.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with potassium and good nutrition.
Then Satan peeled off the healthy skin and sliced the starchy centre into chips and deep fried them in animal fats adding copious quantities of salt.
And Man put on more pounds.

God then brought forth running shoes so that his Children might lose those extra pounds.
And Satan came forth with cable T.V. with remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels.
And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering light and started wearing stretch jogging suits.

Then God gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite.
And Satan created McDonalds and the 99p double cheeseburger.
Then Satan said, "You want fries with that?" and Man replied, "Yes, and super size 'em".
And Satan said, "It is good."

And Man and Woman went into cardiac arrest.
God sighed. And created quadruple by-pass surgery.
And then Satan chuckled, and created the National Health Service.

For the complete article on this, goto: http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2007/05/in_the_beginnin.html

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My favorite treat can be healthy, too

My favorite treat can be healthy, too

Chocolate has become even more popular in recent months as evidence of its health benefits have surfaced. For anyone who doesn’t fully understand how chocolate can be healthful, here are some recent findings taken from the Web site of Chicago’s Field Museum.

Osaka University in Japan recently found that cacao (the seeds from which chocolate is made) contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. “However, most mass-produced chocolate contains sugar, which is known to cause tooth decay and probably counteracts the benefits of these agents,” the Web site says.

A study by the Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the U.S. Naval Academy indicates that eating chocolate does not affect the occurrence of acne.

Chocolate contains a mild mood-elevating chemical — the same chemical the brain produces when we feel happy or “in love.”

As for heart health benefits, chocolate contains flavanoids, which are naturally-occurring compounds found in plant-based foods. Flavanoids contain antioxidants, which “are believed to help the body’s cells resist damage caused by free radicals,” according to the Cleveland Clinic. “When the body lacks adequate levels of antioxidants, free radical damage ensues, leading to increases in LDL-cholesterol oxidation and plaque formation on arterial walls.”

To get the most benefit out of your chocolate consumption, experts say it’s best to consume small amounts of dark chocolate, without any added ingredients, like nuts, fruit or fillings. Milk chocolate isn’t as good for you because it is often highly processed, and processing removes much of the flavanoid benefits.

For the complete article on this, goto: http://www.sandmountainreporter.com/story.lasso?ewcd=61ef54ea06df7d97

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Cocoa loco

You feel guilty when you sneak treats from the cupboard, but the right kind can be healthy. Really

Having scoffed all your Easter chocolate, you may be feeling bad, but not all chocolate is equal. If you're a fan of dark chocolate and cocoa, then you could actually be health-savvy.

Dark chocolate is naturally rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals. Cocoa contains both antioxidants and anti-coagulants, which is a natural property of aspirin, and they help prevent blood clots. Cocoa butter in chocolate acts like olive oil, as it contains a number of essential oils good for strengthening the bones, hair, nails, and skin. To obtain any health benefit from chocolate, you must find some that is at least 70% cocoa.

Lower blood pressure and control of blood sugar levels A study by the University of L'Aguila in Italy found that eating 100g of dark chocolate every day lowered blood pressure and evened blood sugar levels. Scientists think this is the flavanol in dark chocolate, which mediates nitric oxide production, a compound necessary for healthy blood flow. Flavanols are antioxidants that repair damage and protect against toxins, counteracting free radicals that lead to cardiovascular problems, such as heart disease.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow have found that dark chocolate can boost blood antioxidant levels by a huge 20%. Milk chocolate doesn't have the same benefits, as its cocoa content has been diluted with bad fats and sugars, and the milk is thought to block absorption of any existing protective antioxidants. A study from the Journal of Hypertension found that hypertensive people who ate 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate per day for two weeks saw their blood pressure drop significantly

Lower cholesterol Dark chocolate has been shown to reduce bad cholesterol by up to 10%, according to a Tufts University study. It also has oleic acid, a healthy fat that has cardiovascular, cancer-fighting, and skin boosting properties.

Pain relief and reduced anxiety Dark chocolate's theobromine, caffeine, tyramine and phenylethylamine (PEA) stimulate the production of serotonin and endorphins, the body's natural opiates.

Improved brain function Researchers at the University of Nottingham have found improved brain performance and blood flow in female subjects who were given a cocoa drink high in flavanols.

For the complete article on this, goto: http://www.heraldscotland.com/cocoa-loco-1.836380

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