Todays Health Article

January 29th, 2012

Today we are always looking at healthier eating habits, and for some of us, a craving for chocolate, has just been hard to except that it is bad for us. Well that is not all true, and some people have come to realize, that chocolate has many health benefits that are actually good for us. I jumped for joy, all the the bad raps about chocolate might finally come to an end. I got overly excited because not all chocolate is alike, and come to find out it was a little chocolate coated. But the real truth here is, it’s the dark chocolate that has the most cocoa and least sugar, is what all the excitement is about. So this is a good thing for Chocolate Lovers!

 Dark Chocolate

“Dark chocolate”, also may be  called  the “plain chocolate” or “black chocolate”. It is produced by adding fat and sugar to cocoa. It is chocolate with zero or much less milk than milk chocolate.

The U.S. has no official definition for dark chocolate but European rules specify a minimum of 35% cocoa solids. This Dark chocolate can be eaten as is, or used in cooking. For those seeking Chocolate which is thicker… more expensive baking bars have higher cocoa percentages, ranging from 70% to 99% are sold.

Dark is synonymous with semisweet, and extra dark with bittersweet, although the ratio of cocoa butter to solids may vary.

 The Good News…

For chocolate lovers: A new Harvard study finds that eating a small square of dark chocolate daily can help lower blood pressure for people with hypertension. This  study joins the growing research into the heart-healthy benefits of flavonoids, compounds in unsweetened chocolate that cause dilation of the blood vessels. The Harvard study had announced  in Atlanta, at the American Heart Association’s science session,  that eating a small square of dark chocolate daily can help lower blood pressure for people with hypertension.
The study analyzed 24 chocolate studies involving 1,106 people. It found that dark chocolate, the kind that contains at least 50 to 70 percent cocoa, lowered blood pressure in all participants, but most notably in those with hypertension. Eric Ding of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a coauthor of the study, says researchers also found that chocolate increased insulin sensitivity, good for lowering diabetes risk.

Dark chocolate also appears to affect cholesterol. The Harvard researchers found some evidence for a small decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol and a significant increase in HDL (good) cholesterol. Triglycerides, however, were unchanged.

As the researchers write, there is “rather strong evidence” that cocoa consumption improves several important cardiovascular risk factors “and likely reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.”
Research touting chocolate’s health benefits has become increasingly popular in the past decade. While tea, fruits and vegetables also contain these heart-healthy compounds, “flavonoids are notably abundant in the cocoa solids of the cocoa bean,” the study’s authors write.

Chocolate with a higher proportion of cocoa solids — like unsweetened or dark chocolate — will contain more flavonoids. Dark chocolate, for example, contains from 46 to 61 mg of catechin, a type of flavonoid, in 100 grams (about one ounce), while milk chocolate contains only 15 to 16 mg, the study notes.

 Elderly seeking Continued Health Benefits

Others are encouraging people to eat dark chocolate for its health benefits is appealing advice, and older Americans have taken it to heart. Men and women age 55 and over now make up the bulk of dark chocolate consumers, according to the latest figures from market research firm Mintel.

In a May 2008 survey of consumers who bought chocolate for themselves in the past year, two-thirds of those 55-plus said they chose dark chocolate. Among those 65 and older, the preference for dark was even higher — nearly 75 percent.

Other Chocolate Factors to Consider

Even though chocolate is regularly eaten for pleasure, there are potentially many health effects, both negative and positive. Cocoa or dark chocolate may positively affect the circulatory system.  The other possible effects under basic research include:

• Anticancer, brain stimulator, cough preventer and antidiarrhoeal activities.
• As an aphrodisiac effect, is yet to be seriously proven, yet it is being proclaimed by many articles.
  
• Research has shown the polyphenols in chocolate inhibit oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
• Consumption of large quantities of any energy-rich food, such as chocolate, without a corresponding increase in activity, is thought to increase the risk of obesity.
• Raw chocolate is high in cocoa butter, a fat which is removed during chocolate refining, then added back in in varying proportions during the manufacturing process. Manufacturers may add other fats, sugars, and milk as well, all of which increase the caloric content of chocolate.
• Chocolate absorbs lead from the environment during production, and there is a slight concern of mild lead poisoning for some types of chocolate.
• The average lead concentration of cocoa beans was a very low ≤ 0.5 ng/g, one of the lowest reported values for a natural food. Lead concentration of chocolate was as high as 70 ng/g for chocolate products and 230 ng/g for manufactured cocoa.200,000 ng is the WHO tolerable daily limit for lead consumption.
• Chocolate is toxic to many animals because of insufficient capacity to metabolize theobromine.
• A BBC report indicated that melting chocolate in one’s mouth produced an increase in brain activity and heart rate that was more intense than that associated with passionate kissing, and also lasted four times as long after the activity had ended.
• Chocolate has been linked with multiple health benefits and liabilities. Research on elderly people showed chocolate might cause osteoporosis.
• Research has shown that it will boost cognitive abilities.
• Scientific evidence has suggested dark chocolate can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems  and also reduce blood pressure in both overweight and normal adults.
• Studies have shown dark chocolate as part of a low-fat diet can lower cholesterol levels in adults.
• In August 2011, Cambridge research published in the British Medical Journal: Eating high levels of chocolate could be associated with a significant reduction in the risk of certain cardiovascular disorders.

Todays Health Comments

Today may be good news for those who enjoy chocolate if they choose dark chocolate. Some may have higher fat and sugar that would take away the healthy benefits. Yet if you have a craving for chocolate, the higher cocoa content and less sugar, would and could be beneficial to your health. The research indication of the polyphenols that exist in chocolate is important to consider. Yet if  you consume too much of the sweeter chocolate, with out the exercise to burn the calories, tou could contribute to one becoming obese, and unhealthy. So  here’s to eating  healthy.

Further Reading

http://todayshealthsite.com/chocolate-just…s-costing-more.html

Todays Health Article  

April 4th,  2011

Today, this may become just another article, added to the masses of writings, about Chocolate… Why would another article be even considered. Chocolate is loved by almost every body, and has been given much delight, for its taste. Yet, Chocolate has also had it’s share of bad raps handed out over the years, for being bad for about everything concerning your health. Many studies have attributed to this fact, and recently another has been added to the long list, regarding your health. With all the bad raps of chocolate, a simple search on the Web will tell you all those, chocolate lovers may have seen some encouraging news, based on a recent study.

 However, with Easter around the corner, your favorite CadburyEgg may cost you a lot more. In fact chocolate is and has become News, regarding the outcome of what may become a civil war on the Ivory Coast, and chocolate is caught up in the middle. This along with sugar prices on the rise has led to, perhaps your favorite chocolate soaring.

The Good News for Chocolate Lovers:

A new Harvard study has found that eating a small square of dark chocolate daily can help lower blood pressure for people withhypertension.This study has joined the growing research, into the heart-healthy benefits of flavonoids. The flavonoids are compounds found in unsweetened chocolate, which may cause dilation of the blood vessels.

 This  Harvard study was  announced in Atlanta, at the American Heart Association’s science session on cardiovascular disease.

The Study…

Resulted in analyzing 24 chocolate studies involving 1,106 people. It’s findings presented…  that dark chocolate, the kind that contains at least 50 to 70 percent cocoa, lowered blood pressure in all participants. But what was most notable about the study, was the results within those with hypertension.

Eric Ding of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a coauthor of the study, says researchers also found that… chocolate increased insulin sensitivity,  which is good for lowering diabetes risk.

Dark chocolate also appears to affect cholesterol. The Harvard researchers found some evidence for a small decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol and a significant increase in HDL (good) cholesterol. Triglycerides, however, were unchanged.

As the researchers write, there is “rather strong evidence” that cocoa consumption improves several important cardiovascular risk factors “and likely reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.”

Defining Dark Chocolate

 How much cocoa… to be healthy?

Todays Health Article

January 27 th, 2011

We are talking about Chocolate milk, or the brown stuff,  sometimes referred to, back in the day. Chocolate milk was my choice for our school lunch. It was the drink to stir up, when you were a kid, and I almost always threw in an extra teaspoon from the Nesquik can. Most of us who lived in that generation, were not calorie counters then, but not to defend our actions, sugar was not a main ingredient in everything we ate or drank. As time past chocolate milk either by mix or by container became very popular during the younger years, of these baby boomers.

Chocolate Milk

You might say… “Chocolate milk has had it’s Glory Years”

 Then  came the age of sugar craze drinks, diet drinks,  sports drinks, leaving Chocolate milk on the shelf as a courtesy to those, who still longed, for chocolate milk.

Wake up to the New Age Drinks

Now according to Keith Ayoob EdD., registered dietition and Associate of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstien College of Medicine, “Milk is a Sports drink, Plus”.  He goes on to further say to WebMd. ” It will supply you with things you need wether or not you’re working out”.

Studies have shown, that your intense exercise, reduces the muscle’s supply of glucose, glycogen, a important source of fuel for any exercise. This needing to be replenished by taking in a serving of carbohydrates approximately 30 minutes after the long workout.

The additional benefits, drinking more  chocolate milk,  provides the much needed Calcium, Potassium, and Vitamin D.

So Now… Chocolate milk  is being rediscovered as the next Sports Drink!

NaturalNews reported… After an intense workout, instead of downing a commercial sports drink loaded with artificial colors and sugar, you’d be better off just having a glass of chocolate milk. That’s the conclusion of two studies presented at the recent American College of Sports Medicine’s 57th Annual Meeting held in Baltimore. It turns out that chocolate milk offers a distinct recovery advantage to help repair and rebuild muscles when compared to widely hyped commercial carbohydrate sports drinks.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/029013_chocolate_milk_muscle_recovery.html#ixzz1CHB5Ao6f

According to the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, chocolate milk already contains all the benefits that water and other famous sports drinks like Gatorade have – and so much more. Compared to famous sports products, chocolate milk contains double the carbohydrates and proteins. It’s perfect for replenishing tired muscles after an intense workout. The high water content also replaces the fluids lost in sweat to prevent dehydration. Moreover, chocolate milk contains added nutritional benefits like calcium and just the right amount of sodium and sugar that helps your body retain the water and replenish energy.

Chocolate Milk and Obesity

Many are at opposite ends regarding this controversial view. With obesity on the rise within our children, chocolate milk having almost the same amount of sugar as a soda, some schools have banned this drink from the school menus. However, those who have abandoned the  Chocoalte milk have replaced the drink with the sodas.  For further reading http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1948865,00.html

Todays Health Comments

Chocolate Milk is not without controversy. I find this drink to be enjoyable but its most healthy with your own recipe. Using chocolate melted and mixed with milk, it allows you to choose the fat content of the milk and the light or dark chocolate to be used. There are health benefits of chocolate, and certainly milk is healthy as well. Remember it generally the additives that create the ill health. Obesity is certainly a consideration here, and what studies did not indicate is the amount of exercise our youth is not getting to what they are eating.

Today’s Health article …

Chocolate milk is being rediscovered, after perhaps being sat back on the shelf,  with just fond memories, of that rich, thick chocolate drink, once stirred up from the can sitting up in the cupboard or from the local supermarket.

It has had its Glory Years, one might say. Then  came the NEW age of sugar craze drinks, diet drinks,  sports drinks, but now we have come full circle again, HEALTHY DRINKS!

Now CHOCOLATE MILK  has been taunted by the rumors, that tainted milk has been used, and other such nonsense, that non resable milk was being used. The Food and Drug administration would love to hear about that one. Since they set stringent rules to provide the safety of the foods we eat and drink. So if the milk does not meet their criteria, it not sold.

Now according to Keith Ayoob EdD.,registered dietition and Associate of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstien College of Medicine, “Milk is a Sports drink,Plus”.  He goes on to further say to WebMd. ” It will supply you with things you need wether or not you’re working out”.

Studies have shown, that your intense exercise, reduces the muscle’s supply of glucose, glycogen, a important source of fuel for any exercise. This needing to be replenished by taking in a serving of carbohydrates approximately 30 minutes after the long workout.

SO Now… Chocolate milk  is being rediscovered as the next Sports Drink!

The additional benefits, drinking more  chocolate milk,  provides the much needed Calcium, Potassium, and Vitamin D.

This drink should be a no brainer for teenagers and adults who are looking for a healthier choice.