| There are now even more reasons for chocolate | | | | West Virginia did a study that shows that milk |
| lovers to rejoice! As more amazing research news | | | | chocolate seems to boost brainpower. The groups in |
| comes in about chocolate, the substance is moving | | | | the test consumed, on different occasions, milk |
| from a bad-for-you candy to an important health | | | | chocolate, dark chocolate, carob and nothing. Then |
| food. Those of us who had always continued to | | | | they were tested for cognitive performance including |
| indulge in occasional chocolate treats can stop feeling | | | | memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem |
| guilty and now easily justify our cravings.You may | | | | solving.According to Dr. Bryan Raudenbush, |
| have already heard that chocolate contains beneficial | | | | "Composite scores for verbal and visual memory |
| flavonoids and antioxidents. Flavonoids are | | | | were significantly higher for milk chocolate than the |
| naturally-occurring compounds found in plant foods | | | | other conditions." The study also found that |
| that are full of recognized health benefits. There are | | | | consumption of milk and dark chocolate was |
| more than 4,000 flavonoid compounds, which are a | | | | associated with improved impulse control and reaction |
| subgroup of a large class called polyphenols. Phenols | | | | time. It seems that by consuming chocolate you get |
| are believed to help reduce the risk of heart disease | | | | stimulating effects from substances found in |
| by helping prevent atherosclerosis. The flavanols in | | | | chocolate, such as theobromine and phenylethylamine, |
| chocolate appear to help the body use nitric oxide, | | | | which then lead to increased mental |
| which is crucial for healthy blood flow and blood | | | | performance.Chocolate really does make you feel |
| pressure, which means that chocolate might help | | | | good, too. It is known to stimulate the secretion of |
| reduce hypertension as well.Red wine is know for its | | | | endorphins, producing a pleasurable sensation similar |
| high phenol content, but an average bar of dark | | | | to the "runner's high" a jogger feels after running |
| chocolate contains more phenols than 8 ounces of | | | | several miles. Chocolate also contains a |
| red wine. Scientists at Cornell University and Seoul | | | | neurotransmitter, serotonin that acts as an |
| National University examined the cancer-fighting | | | | anti-depressant. Studies in England show that even |
| antioxidant content of hot cocoa, red wine, and tea, | | | | the aroma of chocolate gives a bout of euphoria and |
| and found that cocoa had nearly double the | | | | will help lift the spirits.And now people are looking at |
| antioxidants of red wine and four to five times more | | | | chocolate for skin care. According to Marlies Spinale, |
| than tea.Holland's National Institute of Public Health | | | | director of Tru Spa, "Like many other antioxidants, |
| and Environment found that dark chocolate contains | | | | cocoa polyphenols are thought to offer the skin |
| 53.5 mg of catechins per 100 grams. (Catechins are | | | | protection from free-radical damage caused by sun, |
| the powerful antioxidants that fight against cancer | | | | pollution, stress, alcohol consumption and other |
| and help prevent heart disease). By contrast, a cup | | | | factors. I believe that we will hear more about the |
| of black tea contains only about 14 mg of catechins | | | | benefits of chocolate in skin care."Some people have |
| and green tea has about 30 mg of catechins.A study | | | | been avoiding chocolate because one of the main |
| at University of California Davis found that | | | | ingredients of chocolate is cocoa butter. It was |
| participants who ate chocolate showed a reduction in | | | | thought that it was an unhealthy fat, but actually |
| platelet activity. This means that chocolate has an | | | | cocoa butter is not unhealthy. It is made up of the |
| anti-clotting, blood-thinning effect that can be | | | | beneficial fatty acids-- oleic acid (a heart-healthy |
| compared to aspirin.A Harvard University study of | | | | monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil), stearic |
| 8,000, with an average age of 65, revealed that | | | | and palmitic acids. Stearic and palmitic acids are |
| those who consumed chocolate lived almost a year | | | | healthy forms of saturated fat. Plus chocolate |
| longer than those who did not. Those who ate one | | | | contains vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E, as well as |
| to three candy bars per month had a 36 percent | | | | potassium, sodium, and iron.So go ahead and indulge |
| lower risk of death (compared to the people who | | | | in a little chocolate, in moderation of course. I would |
| ate no candy), while those who ate three or more | | | | recommend that you try to find organic chocolate, |
| candy bars per week had a 16 percent lower risk.A | | | | and stick with darker chocolate because it has more |
| study of older men in The Netherlands, known for its | | | | chocolate flavonoids and less sugar. (Sugar weakens |
| chocolate, showed that those who ate the most | | | | the immune system; so don't consume sugar if you |
| chocolate, an equivalent of one-third of a chocolate | | | | are ill.) And a little bit of milk chocolate is alright when |
| bar every day, had lower blood pressure and a 50 | | | | you need an occasional milk chocolate brainpower |
| percent lower risk of death. The researchers also | | | | boost, such as before a test. All you students take |
| noted the men eating the most cocoa products were | | | | note!Chocolate as a health food-- can life get any |
| not heavier or bigger eaters than the men who ate | | | | better?By Dianne Ronnow, 2006 Mohave Publishing.If |
| less cocoa.And it's not just dark chocolate that is the | | | | you need a little extra help losing weight, I have |
| only healthy type of chocolate. Most studies talk | | | | good news for you. I found an excellent safe diet aid |
| about the benefits of dark chocolate, but some of | | | | that really helped me lose weight, burn fat, and get |
| the most recent news about chocolate includes good | | | | my metabolism going!Go to now for more information |
| news for milk chocolate lovers, who have been left | | | | on this remarkable product. And go to today for |
| out in the past.The Wheeling Jesuit University in | | | | more healthy weight loss diet secrets. |