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From NaturalNews.com
Friday, February 15, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
Eat Dark Chocolate And Live An Extra Year ... And Healthier
Eat chocolate and live an extra year | Mail Online
Did you know that a couple of squares of good-quality dark chocolate contain nearly four times the antioxidants of a plum or a handful of Brussels sprouts, writes Anthea Gerrie. Here is the latest research on the health benefits of chocolate with 70 per cent cocoa solids or higher.
For your heart
Research undertaken at the University of Aberdeen shows that flavanols, a form of antioxidant present in chocolate with a high cocoa mass, help prevent the activation of platelets in the blood, which contribute to heart disease.
Another study conducted in Dusseldorf and at the University of California at Davis suggests consumption of flavanols can even reverse some of the artery damage caused by smoking.
And last year Professor Carl Keen, of the University of California, reported that eating small amounts of chocolate could have as powerful an anti-clotting effect on the blood as taking aspirin.
For your brain
Chocolate is one of the richest sources of magnesium, a mineral essential for brain health, according to the Journal Of Medicinal Food.
Research at Cornell University in New York also found it contains an antioxidant called epicatechin that may protect against the amyloid plaques which cause Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases.
Research at the Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia suggests chocolate can also boost memory, attention span, reaction time and problem solving skills by increasing blood flow to the brain.
For stress control
Eating 40 grams of dark chocolate every day for two weeks reduces stress hormones in those with moderate to high anxiety, according to a study published in the American Chemical Society’s Journal Of Proteome Research. . . .
A summary of the health benefits of good chocolate and a list of published scientific studies can be found in The Chocolate Therapist, by Julie Pech, Wiley, £9.99.
For your heart
Research undertaken at the University of Aberdeen shows that flavanols, a form of antioxidant present in chocolate with a high cocoa mass, help prevent the activation of platelets in the blood, which contribute to heart disease.
Another study conducted in Dusseldorf and at the University of California at Davis suggests consumption of flavanols can even reverse some of the artery damage caused by smoking.
And last year Professor Carl Keen, of the University of California, reported that eating small amounts of chocolate could have as powerful an anti-clotting effect on the blood as taking aspirin.
For your brain
Chocolate is one of the richest sources of magnesium, a mineral essential for brain health, according to the Journal Of Medicinal Food.
Research at Cornell University in New York also found it contains an antioxidant called epicatechin that may protect against the amyloid plaques which cause Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases.
Research at the Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia suggests chocolate can also boost memory, attention span, reaction time and problem solving skills by increasing blood flow to the brain.
For your immune system
A Japanese study published in the British Journal Of Cancer last year states that phenolics, naturally occurring antioxidants found in chocolate, boost the immune system, and another 2009 report by the Cancer Research Society of Hawaii notes that a further distinctive ingredient, procyanidins, was credited with the same effect in animal studies.For stress control
Eating 40 grams of dark chocolate every day for two weeks reduces stress hormones in those with moderate to high anxiety, according to a study published in the American Chemical Society’s Journal Of Proteome Research. . . .
And for longevity...
A study of nearly 8,000 Harvard graduates conducted over 18 years revealed that those who ate chocolate lived almost a year longer than those who did not. The bad news is they were all men – certain benefits of chocolate are believed to be more effective on males than females, for reasons no scientist has yet figured out.A summary of the health benefits of good chocolate and a list of published scientific studies can be found in The Chocolate Therapist, by Julie Pech, Wiley, £9.99.
How to kick the soda habit for good
Original article at NaturalNews.com and reprinted with thanks. Author: Jonathan Benson
Millions of Americans are hopelessly addicted to soda pop
beverages, whether they be the sugary varieties loaded with
high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), or the chemical varieties loaded with
aspartame and sucralose. Both are harmful, of course, and can lead to a
future filled with chronic pain and disease. But if you are one of the
many who feels unable to make it through the day without at least one
can of your favorite soda, there is hope for kicking the habit
completely. Here are some helpful ways to wean yourself off soda for
good:
1) Squeeze citrus fruit into fizzy water. One of the
most obvious, but often not considered, ways to end the soda habit is
to gradually start substituting healthy carbonated beverages in its
place. An excellent soda alternative is carbonated water mixed with
freshly-squeezed lime, lemon, or orange, for example. Not only will the
fresh citrus help stimulate your salivary glands and digestive system in
preparation for food, but it will also add an extra kick of
health-promoting vitamin C into your diet -- and it also tastes great!
If your taste buds have become so accustomed to the intense sweetness of
soda that this type of citrus-infused concoction tastes bland, try
adding some liquid stevia extract to help sweeten things up a bit. Over
time, you can gradually decrease the amount of added stevia until you no
longer have to add any at all, if you so choose. Or if you prefer, you
can safely continue to add as much stevia as you would like, as the
natural extract contains no sugar and will not negatively affect your
blood sugar levels.
2) Make homemade lemonade, iced tea sweetened with stevia or agave.
If carbonation is not a requirement for your beverage cravings, you can
also try making pitchers of homemade lemonade or iced tea, and carrying
it around in a glass or stainless steel bottle with you throughout the
day. Many people who try to kick the soda habit
cold turkey have trouble switching immediately to water, so iced tea
and lemonade can work well as transition beverages. Just be sure to
sweeten your tea or lemonade with stevia extract, agave nectar, honey,
or evaporated cane juice rather than refined sugar.
3) Blend green tea, yerba mate with fruit juice. Since caffeine is a major factor in soda addiction,
it is important to find an effective caffeine replacement, as cutting
out caffeine completely and abruptly may cause withdrawal symptoms. Try
mixing two parts club soda with one part green tea or yerba mate, and
add a splash of fresh fruit juice
for flavor. The caffeine content in both green tea and yerba mate is
far more balanced than it is in soda, and is accompanied by nutrient
cofactors that help modulate its effects on the body, so mixing it with
other blended soda alternatives can help quell the craving.
4) Start making fresh juice in the morning.
If you want a real energy kick without the jitters, you can eventually
phase out the caffeine altogether and stick primarily with fresh juice
out of the juicer. The fresh, enzyme-rich juice of beets, apples, and
celery, for instance, delivers an instant infusion of nutrients directly
into your system, which will help supercharge your day and make soda
seem like "chopped liver," so to speak.
Be sure to check out the
Health Ranger's living juice recipe to learn more about the energizing
and healing potential of raw juicing:
http://www.naturalnews.com/028100_self_healing_fresh_juice.html
5) Stick with 'natural' sodas made from wholesome ingredients.
If you find yourself still craving soda from time to time even after
experimenting with these recommended options, you can make the conscious
decision to buy only natural sodas made with healthier ingredients such
as natural fruit extracts and evaporated cane juice, a healthier and
more complete form of cane sugar. The Austin, Texas-based Maine Root soda
brand, for instance, is certified fair trade, and is made with organic
evaporated cane juice and contains no caramel color or other toxic
additives. And every flavor the company offers is made with real
ingredients and spices rather than artificial flavor chemicals (http://maineroot.com/).
Millions of Americans are hopelessly addicted to soda pop beverages, whether they be the sugary varieties loaded with
high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), or the chemical varieties loaded with
aspartame and sucralose. Both are harmful, of course, and can lead to a
future filled with chronic pain and disease. But if you are one of the
many who feels unable to make it through the day without at least one
can of your favorite soda, there is hope for kicking the habit
completely. Here are some helpful ways to wean yourself off soda for
good:
1) Squeeze citrus fruit into fizzy water. One of the
most obvious, but often not considered, ways to end the soda habit is
to gradually start substituting healthy carbonated beverages in its
place. An excellent soda alternative is carbonated water mixed with
freshly-squeezed lime, lemon, or orange, for example. Not only will the
fresh citrus help stimulate your salivary glands and digestive system in
preparation for food, but it will also add an extra kick of
health-promoting vitamin C into your diet -- and it also tastes great!
If your taste buds have become so accustomed to the intense sweetness of
soda that this type of citrus-infused concoction tastes bland, try
adding some liquid stevia extract to help sweeten things up a bit. Over
time, you can gradually decrease the amount of added stevia until you no
longer have to add any at all, if you so choose. Or if you prefer, you
can safely continue to add as much stevia as you would like, as the
natural extract contains no sugar and will not negatively affect your
blood sugar levels.
2) Make homemade lemonade, iced tea sweetened with stevia or agave.
If carbonation is not a requirement for your beverage cravings, you can
also try making pitchers of homemade lemonade or iced tea, and carrying
it around in a glass or stainless steel bottle with you throughout the
day. Many people who try to kick the soda habit
cold turkey have trouble switching immediately to water, so iced tea
and lemonade can work well as transition beverages. Just be sure to
sweeten your tea or lemonade with stevia extract, agave nectar, honey,
or evaporated cane juice rather than refined sugar.
3) Blend green tea, yerba mate with fruit juice. Since caffeine is a major factor in soda addiction,
it is important to find an effective caffeine replacement, as cutting
out caffeine completely and abruptly may cause withdrawal symptoms. Try
mixing two parts club soda with one part green tea or yerba mate, and
add a splash of fresh fruit juice
for flavor. The caffeine content in both green tea and yerba mate is
far more balanced than it is in soda, and is accompanied by nutrient
cofactors that help modulate its effects on the body, so mixing it with
other blended soda alternatives can help quell the craving.
4) Start making fresh juice in the morning.
If you want a real energy kick without the jitters, you can eventually
phase out the caffeine altogether and stick primarily with fresh juice
out of the juicer. The fresh, enzyme-rich juice of beets, apples, and
celery, for instance, delivers an instant infusion of nutrients directly
into your system, which will help supercharge your day and make soda
seem like "chopped liver," so to speak.
Be sure to check out the
Health Ranger's living juice recipe to learn more about the energizing
and healing potential of raw juicing:
http://www.naturalnews.com/028100_self_healing_fresh_juice.html
5) Stick with 'natural' sodas made from wholesome ingredients.
If you find yourself still craving soda from time to time even after
experimenting with these recommended options, you can make the conscious
decision to buy only natural sodas made with healthier ingredients such
as natural fruit extracts and evaporated cane juice, a healthier and
more complete form of cane sugar. The Austin, Texas-based Maine Root soda
brand, for instance, is certified fair trade, and is made with organic
evaporated cane juice and contains no caramel color or other toxic
additives. And every flavor the company offers is made with real
ingredients and spices rather than artificial flavor chemicals (http://maineroot.com/).
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