Article by Christian

Chocolate has a new reputation – that of a healthy indulgence. But before all the chocoholics out there raise their hopes, not all chocolates are healthy. It is only the intensely flavored dark chocolate that studies have shown have healthy benefits. There is evidence that it is as rich in protective antioxidants as grapes or green tea.

All chocolates are made from the seeds of the cacao tree. These seeds are called cocoa beans and they are exceptionally abundant in the natural antioxidant elements called flavonoids. Flavonoids are known to have properties that protect against coronary heart disease.

Since processing destroys many of the flavonoids, other kinds of chocolate have been depleted of the potential benefits of cocoa beans. Still having high cocoa content, it is only in dark chocolate health benefits are present. Forget the highly processed milk chocolate and white chocolate varieties.

Dark Chocolate for Healthy Living

Studies suggest eating small quantities is good nutrition.

It is also healthy for the heart. It keeps the arteries flexible allowing for blood to flow freely and enhance the performance of the cardiovascular system. This is achieved by improving the functioning of the endothelial lining of the blood vessels. Limited studies have also shown that dark chocolate may potentially reduce damage caused by strokes.

Eating small doses have also been revealed to reduce hypertension. In a study of hypertensive people aged between 55 and 64 who had their diets supplemented with small amounts of dark chocolate daily for two weeks experienced a drop in both their systolic and diastolic blood pressures. After taking out the chocolate from the diets, their blood pressure readings immediately went back to their previous level.

Another of the dark chocolate health benefits is a better cholesterol profile. The same flavonoids in cocoa beans that are also found in red wine, increase HDL (good) cholesterol while lowering the LDL (bad) cholesterol. Dark chocolate also has oleic acid, one of the primary fatty acids also found in olive oil, which improves total cholesterol levels.

Cocoa is also known as a powerful source of the chemicals serotonin, dopamine and phenylethylamine. These chemicals have been proven to alleviate depression and are responsible for feelings of happiness and well-being.

Dark chocolate heath benefits are not an excuse to indiscriminately indulging a sweet tooth especially when aiming for weight loss. Chocolate is still a high calorie food.

Always choose dark chocolates with at least 70% cocoa content. Chocolate should not be eaten with milk as the latter prevents the antioxidants from being absorbed by the body.

For a truly healthy life, eat a well balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, get regular exercise, get enough sleep, keep stress levels to a minimum and drink lots of water. And once in a while, for dessert or just because you like it. There is no need to feel guilty.

Article by Apple Tinao

Article by Chicagohealers.com practitioner Dr. Martha Howard

What boosts your immune system, lowers blood pressure, is high in free-radical-fighting antioxidants, combats depression, and even works as a cavity fighter? Dark chocolate!!

How does it do all that? Part of it is antioxidant activity. According to MD chocolate researcher, Dr. Sue Williams of Baylor University Medical Center, (who makes and sells her own fabulous chocolate) dark chocolate has 510 milligrams of flavanols, (protective plant nutrients) per 100 grams than the following well-known antioxidant foods which “weigh in” at the following flavanol numbers: apples 110 mg, cherries 96 mg. brewed black tea 65 mg. or red wine, 65 mg.

Antioxidant activity is measured in ORAC units. The ORAC score per 100 grams of unprocessed raw cacao is 28,000. Acai is 18,000, Strawberries are 1,540, and spinach is 1,260. The score for the usual manufactured dark chocolate is still 13,120, which is still very high. For milk chocolate, the score goes down to 6,740.The high antioxidant levels give chocolate its anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. And cocoa is a rich source of minerals- magnesium, sulphur, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, and manganese, and some of the B Vitamins.

But who would think chocolate would lower blood pressure? By far my favorite dark chocolate study was done in 2001 at Harvard. The head researcher Dr. Norman K. Hollenberg, MD, professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School was inspired by learning about residents of a Panama island who almost never developed high blood pressure, and drank 5 cups of cocoa a day. When they left the island and their cocoa, they were vulnerable to high blood pressure. He wanted to find out why, so he gave Boston volunteers cups of cocoa, either with high levels of flavanols or low levels. (It was tough work to be in that study but somebody had to do it!) The people with the “high level” cocoa showed more nitric oxide activity, which lowers blood pressure and promotes cardiovascular health. Problem solved!

Other studies have shown that phenylethylamine in chocolate has antidepressant value, and that chocolate even has a cavity-fighting compound, theobromine-which may be just as good as fluoride at hardening tooth enamel. Unfortunately, most chocolate has lots of sugar, so that promotes tooth decay.

Which brings us to some suggestions for enjoying the health benefits of chocolate:# Use organic, dark chocolate. Amazon has a number of brands listed under “natural cocoa powder”

Commercial cocoa, candy bars and chocolate syrups aren’t going to do it for you. The way they are processed removes most flavenols.# Try making your cup of cocoa with almond milk, rice milk, soy milk or a mix of 2/3 cup coconut milk and 1/3 cup water rather than dairy milk. Dairy milk lowers the antioxidant value of the chocolate. Heat the milk and add a small amount of it to a heaping tablespoon of cocoa powder, stir until smooth and then add it to the rest of the heated milk. Add agave nectar to taste-usually 1 to 3 teaspoons. Stir well, pour into your favorite mug and drink.# Try a dark chocolate bar (Endangered Species is a good brand) that is sweetened with unprocessed beet sugar or agave nectar rather than cane sugar.# Gourmet brands of dark chocolate with organic sugar are most likely to still have their flavanols, their ORAC rating, and their health value.

Enjoy your chocolate. I’m about to pretend like I’m on an island in Panama, and try a few days of 5 cups of cocoa a day!

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Avocados: Hearty healthy aphrodisiac or simply great guacamole?

by Sharon M. Weinstein, MS, RN, CRNI, FACW, FAAN

I, for one, love a good bowl of guacamole; I also love the avocado, and it sure is great to know that something that tastes so good is also good for you!

Why are avocados good for you?Avocados provide a wealth of health benefits; let’s examine them:- Heart-health- Potassium and cholesterol-lowering properties promote heart health- Folate lowers the risk of heart disease and heart attacks

- Cancer Prevention- Phytochemicals help to prevent oral cancer- May prevent prostate and breast cancers

- Digestive Health- Contains 30% of the recommended daily intake of dietary fiber

- Skin Health- Essential oils for glowing skin

- Promote Optimal Health- Potassium to support muscle recovery in athletes

- Avocados are High in Fat- The fat in avocado is unsaturated oleic acid; it is good for the body and helps to absorb more nutrients from food

How much to eatLike all good things, use them in moderation. A whole avocado has about 240 calories. Avocados offer variety to the well balanced, low-fat diet, but you have to eat them in moderation. So, what is moderation? A recommended serving size is 2 tablespoons, or roughly one-sixth of a medium-sized avocado. Each serving provides 5 grams of fat and 55 calories. High…yes, but still so much better than butter or mayonnaise. http://www.WebMD.com/Diet/Avocado/Go

Why are they an aphrodisiac?The Aztecs taught us that Vitamin E in the avocado promotes sexual health through production of sex hormones, which support attraction, mood and desire. Avocados are also rich in vitamin B6 and potassium, essential for the production of sex hormones. News.Yahoo.com/Avocados/Go

How do you serve avocado?I like avocado in a multitude of ways, including:As a garnish for black bean soupOn bread as a healthy replacement for mayo when making a sandwichAs a salad ingredientTo compliment your favorite Mexican dish with a wedge of lime

And, one of my favorite recipes is Harvest Salad. Assemble the following:1. 1/2 cup chopped walnuts2. 1 bunch spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces3. 1/2 cup dried cranberries4. 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese5. 2 tomatoes, chopped6. 1 avocado – peeled, pitted and diced7. 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced8. 2 tablespoons red raspberry jam (with seeds)9. 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar10. 1/3 cup walnut oil11. freshly ground black pepper to taste12. salt to taste

Directions1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).2. Arrange walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet.3. Toast in oven for 5 minutes, or until nuts begin to brown.4. In a large bowl, toss together the spinach, walnuts, cranberries, blue cheese, tomatoes, avocado, and red onion.5. In a small bowl, whisk together jam, vinegar, walnut oil, pepper, and salt.6. Pour over the salad just before serving, and toss to coat.

ChicagoHealers.com mission is the education and advocacy of natural medicine and a holistic lifestyle. Please give credit to the original author when republishing all or part of any article. Also, kindly link back to http://www.ChicagoHealers.com

Article by Caitlina Fuller

We have known for a long time that you have to cut back on sweets if you want to lose weight, maintain a healthy heart and live as long as possible. Right? However, new evidence shows otherwise, at least where dark chocolates are concerned. It seems that high blood pressure and even heart disease may be helped by dark chocolate rather than exacerbated by it.

When reading this information don’t let it go to your head too much. Yes, dark chocolates have been shown to be beneficial. But that doesn’t mean you should eat too much of it or that you have free reign over white chocolate or even milk chocolate. It’s dark chocolates we are talking about here.

In several studies dark chocolate has lowered high blood pressure in many participants. That is great news and while chocolate is enjoyable to eat it is also a lot healthier than prescription drugs. Remember, though, that you can’t just eat all the chocolate you want. You can eat some and if you have mild high blood pressure and are of a certain age then the dark chocolate will more than likely help you. But, you must balance your caloric intake and know that if you are eating dark chocolate that you will need to cut calories elsewhere.

Believe it or not, but dark chocolate also has antioxidants. However, you must eat it alone. Don’t accompany the dark chocolate with a big glass of milk or else you will eliminate the antioxidant effect. Antioxidants are great because they attack and eliminate free radicals, the culprits of many diseases including heart disease.A study with 13 individuals ages 55-64 who had mild high blood pressure took part in a study. Half were given a 100 gram dark chocolate candy bar and the other half a 100 gram white chocolate candy bar. They had to eliminate 480 other calories from their diet to make up for eating the chocolate. Over the course of the two week study the individuals who ate the dark chocolate saw a significant drop in their blood pressure. In fact, the average was five systolic points and two diastolic points. The individuals who ate white chocolate did not see the same results. Another study used the same amount of people but in the 25-35 age range. They ate 100 grams of dark chocolate one day, 100 grams of dark chocolate with a small glass of milk another day, and finally 200 grams of milk chocolate. The study found that eating dark chocolate by itself results in the most total antioxidants in the blood. Many of us prefer milk chocolate to dark chocolate because it is smoother, sweeter and not as bitter. But, it is dark chocolate that makes the health difference and it is still sweet and good. So, why is dark chocolate the answer? It’s because it contains cocoa phenols, which lower blood pressure. If you want to try this remedy then cut out bad things in your diet like colas, carnival foods, and the like to make up for the 500 plus calories in a bar of chocolate. Then you can have your chocolate and enjoy the cardiovascular benefits! Remember to take good care of your teeth as well when eating all that chocolate because tooth health has a direct connection to cardiovascular health. Now, go buy you some dark chocolate.

Article by Linda Allen

I do not understand why so many “so called” chocolate lovers complain about the calories in chocolate, when all true chocoholics know that it is a vegetable. It comes from the cocoa bean, beans are veggies, ’nuff said. True- The fruits from the cacao tree which may be brownish-yellow to purple, and contain 20-40 seeds or cacao beans in a pink, sweet-sour pulp. Each pod generally produces 20 to 40 almond-shaped cacao beans. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa. The cocoa bean brings us pleasure in so many delicious ways and just a piece or two gives a nice energy boost.Chocolate has flavonoids, a group of chemical compounds that are antioxidants and heart-protective. Other studies have shown that dark chocolate can lower blood pressure and improve peoples cholesterol profile. What is new is that it identifies a new mechanism: chocolate appears to make blood less “sticky,” much the way aspirin does. Dark chocolate in moderate amounts can be good for you. But before you rush out and buy chocolates, realize that most commercially chocolate has been depleted of beneficial flavonoids.The Amazon Herb Company has combined organic dark chocolate with Rainforest botanicals in its Chocamaca herbal balls. Chocamaca has powerful botanicals that provide energy, boost your immune system, support a healthy heart and so much more. Fortifying organically grown dark chocolate with wild-crafted Rainforest Herbs, this tasty treat goes the next step in offering the best dark chocolate and a healthy chocolate indulgence.Infused with 11 Healthy Rainforest Botanicals:* Maca: Increases energy, stamina and mental clarity. * Kiwichi: Grain from the Andes rich in nutrients. Promotes good cardiovascular health.* Blue Green Algae: Stimulates immune system, mental clarity, energy and elevates moods. * Marine Fucus: Stimulates lymphatic circulation and balances blood glucose levels. * Camu Camu: Provides high concentration of natural vitamin C * Suma: An adaptogen for energy, longevity, relief for nervous tension and fatigue.* Catuaba: Provides physical energy and improves memory.* Muira Puama: Overall health and a mild stimulant for the nervous system. * Bitter Orange: An aid to soothing stomach disturbances.* Jatoba: Supports endurance and overall strength.* Canela: Provides invigoration.Every ,500 of Amazon Herb Co. Revenues Protects Another Acre of The Rainforest. Amazon Herb Products are 100% Fair-Trade, Pure, Wild, Raw, and Organic. Each delicious ball is low in calories, low in fat, high in flavor and high in nutrition. So indulge in your chocolate craving… guilt free! If you are a Chocolate lover, go ahead have a ball – a Chocamaca Ball

Check out this incrediable healthy dark chocolate – All products are 100% Vegetarian, No Animal Products, No Animal Testing.

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