Eat Chocolate for Health, but Make Sure It's Dark Chocolate

Chocolate is not just a tasty treat. Chocolate is actually healthy for you in small quantities. Researchers have spent many years studying this delicious food (what a fun thing to research!) These researchers have found that dark chocolate, which is bitterer in taste than milk chocolate or other forms of chocolate, has a number of benefits to health. Dark chocolate, red wine and green tea have all been shown to share many of the same health benefits.

Antioxidants are to be found in dark chocolate, and one of the benefits of antioxidants is their cancer-fighting properties. Other health benefits that have been connected to dark chocolate include

a tremendous improvement in the work of the arteries and blood vessels; the lowering if high blood pressure,

a lower incidence of deaths related to heart disease;

improved efficiency of the endothelial cells;

better digestive process and increased stimulation of the kidneys.

Flavonoids found in chocolate have been found to help people who suffer from anemia, a poor appetite and kidney stones. Dark chocolate is instrumental in fighting bad cholesterol in the blood vessels and it lowers blood pressure and greatly improves the circulation of blood from the heart to the brain and then back again. Dark chocolate is believed to set off a biochemical effect in the brain that helps to clot the blood much in the same way as aspirin does if a person suspects that they are suffering a heart attack.

Dark chocolate contains the minerals copper and magnesium. These minerals are necessary for a normal functioning heartbeat and for stable blood pressure.

There are potential downsides: be aware that chocolate is fattening, and it contains caffeine so never overdo a good thing!

Not just any dark chocolate will do. In order to get the dark chocolate, experts say that the very best source is the dried extract of roasted cocoa beans. If you cannot consume chocolate this way or if it is not for you then the second best option is to eat a small chocolate bar that is approximately 1.6 ounces. This is just enough chocolate to keep the heart as healthy as possible and to keep the blood vessels opened wide, allowing blood to freely circulate.

There are many dark chocolate bars on the market but one of the best in terms of high cocoa content is the Dove Dark chocolate bar. Even eating a few tiny pieces, such as three or four squares broken off from a chocolate bar can be of tremendous benefit to the heart.

Keep in mind that eating any type of chocolate is not enough to keep the heart "heart healthy." What you need to eat specifically is dark chocolate as dark chocolate has the most cocoa in it and the most flavonoids.

Before it was discovered that cocoa contained healthy substances called flavonoids, chocolate manufacturers used to destroy this entire important ingredient in the processing. Now that the health benefits are known, they work hard to maintain an estimated 95 percent of it after processing.

Why just dark chocolate? Because milk chocolate, white chocolate, and other forms of chocolate do not have the same level of flavonoids. If you find dark chocolate too bitter then consider buying a dark chocolate bar that contains almonds or raisins or both to add a little more variety to the flavor.

Original Post By: Scott Meyers

avocado, papaya and pink grapefruit with maple dressing

Papayas contain the enzyme papain, which is good for digestion, and are an excellent source of vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, three powerful antioxidants. Avocados are a good source of monounsaturated fat, potassium and vitamin E, and pink grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin C.

2 pink grapefruit

1 medium papaya 2 firm,

ripe avocados, halved, pitted and peeled juice of 1 lemon 2 tbsp pure maple syrup juice of 3 limes freshly ground pink peppercorns (optional)

Using a very sharp knife, remove all the skin and pith from the grapefruit. Slide the knife down one side of each fruit segment, then cut down the other side and gently pull out the segment and place in a bowl. Peel the papaya, cut in half, and remove the seeds. Slice into pieces about 6.5cm (2½in) by 1cm (½in) wide. Add to the bowl and toss to combine. Slice the avocados lengthwise into 1cm (½in) strips and pour the lemon juice over the slices. Add to the fruit mixture. In a small saucepan, warm the maple syrup and lime juice, whisking to combine; set aside to cool. Toss the fruits together and drizzle with the dressing. Season with the peppercorns, if using, and serve.

original posted by By Evelyn Lauder

Is Tooth Whitening Safe For Us?

Most studies confirm that tooth whitening is safe and effective. Whitening gels that contain 10 percent carbamide peroxide (equivalent to 3.6 percent hydrogen peroxide) have not been shown to cause any damage to the enamel of the tooth. Higher concentrations of carbamide and hydrogen peroxide available from the dentist may weaken the enamel, but most of these formulas also contain fluoride offsetting this potential side-effect. People who use higher concentrations of whitening agents can also receive prescription fluoride gels from their dentist to help further protect their teeth.  If tooth sensitivity or gum irritation occur, it is best to start using the whitening product less frequently -- say, every other day instead of every day -- and reduce the amount of time spent whitening. Prescription fluoride is also used to treat sensitivity sometimes associated with tooth whitening. Irritation of the gums can occur from either the in-office, at-home or over-the-counter tooth whitening systems. Gum irritation is usually mild and reversible, but can be treated with over-the-counter products such as Orajel.

Takes Aim at Sugar and Salt

The war on obesity and other lifestyle ills has opened a new battlefront: the fight against sugar and salt.  

It may be a fight for our lives.

In the last few years, evidence has mounted that too much of these appealing ingredients—often invisibly insinuated into beverages, processed foods, and restaurant fare—harms health.

Research at the Harvard School of Public Health and elsewhere, for example, has tied sugary drinks to an epidemic of obesity in the United States. The average 12-ounce can of soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar, and the average teenage boy consumes nearly three cans of sugary drinks a day. Is it any wonder that about two-thirds of Americans are now overweight or obese?

Obesity, in turn, raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and certain cancers. Meanwhile, studies have linked salty diets to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, the first and third leading causes of death in the United States.

At HSPH, the Department of Nutrition is helping to lead the charge for healthier consumer fare. In April, at a widely covered video press conference, the department's faculty publicly challenged beverage makers to create a class of drinks with 70 percent less sugar—a partial reduction that could lower obesity and diabetes rates within a year, they believe. On the salt side, experts estimate that cutting average sodium consumption by one-half could prevent at least 150,000 deaths annually in the United States.

Summer Acne Skin Care

It’s that time again. Summer skin care routines should be implemented. The sticky, hot days of summer, with their increased humidity and sun exposure can cause some serious damage to our skin, especially those of us that have acne and sensitive skin. So, what should we do to minimize our chances of sun damage, and also minimize our chances of new breakouts?

I’d like to discuss this in depth over the next posts, but unfortunately I’m running low on time right now. I’d like to especially focus on the three big no no’s of summer acne skin care :

1. Using the wrong sunscreen
2. Wearing the wrong types of moisturizers for acne prone skin
3. Overdrying our skin in an attempt to have less surface oil and shine throughout the day.

Protect Your Skin from Cancer

 

sunscreen

Today’s discussion isn’t really so much about acne, per se, but more so it’s about protecting your skin from getting skin cancer, as I’ve just been to the dermatologist a week ago to get my bi-yearly checkup since I have melanoma skin cancer in my family (my grandfather on my dad’s side actually died from a melanoma skin cancer), and also since I’ve had a few basal cell carcinomas taken off already myself, no doubt due to my sunbathing habits years ago and poor sunscreen choices for my face, even when I wasn’t being directly exposed to the sunlight.

Now I know better, and I wear sunscreen every single day on my face, and not just the sunscreen that already comes included in my foundation and my glow lotion I use, but I also apply a 15 spf sunscreen on my face prior to even putting the foundation on, so I’m actually double protected. Since I’ve started doing that, I haven’t gotten any additional basal cell carcinonmas on my face, which is where all but one appeared.

genetic risks

The other appeared in between my breasts, probably because that skin was exposed to the sun when I was younger and would lay out with a triangle top bikini on and it would burn that particular area quite often. While skin cancer is definitely caused by a variety of reasons, including your genetic makeup and tendencies, it is definitely aggravated by exposure to damaging UV rays, which alter the cell’s genetic makeup and can make them spawn cancerous cell division, so sun exposure is a known factor, although it’s important to note that melanomas and basal cell carcinomas are also discovered in other areas where there is no sun exposure at all.

For example by dermatologist informed me that she has removed skin cancers from a woman’s and a man’s genitals before, and you know those areas typically do not get any sunlight. It’s important to know your genetic risks as well so that you can gauge what your likelihood is and modify your behavior accordingly. However, using sunscreen should never be overlooked, no matter what your skin tone is.

Not only will sun exposure accelerate aging signs, but it can mean the difference between life and death for you.

Skin Care With Vitamin C

Vitamin C  as necessary part of the body's

The integumentary system is the body's largest organ. It can also be a woman's biggest nightmare. The epidermis and its care is one of the most ubiquitous concerns of women as they age. Vitamin C is used in skin care to help prevent premature aging and damage from the suns rays. The antioxidant properties of Vitamin C allows it to bond with and remove damaging radicals in the skin from pollution, cigarette smoke and other sources. Vitamin C is also a necessary part of the body's production of collagen which is the fiber that makes tissues strong and elastic. Thus the use of Vitamin C in a daily skin care program is thought to help make your skin look full and firm. Taking care of your skin should also be one of the biggest concerns of men since their incidence of melanoma is far greater than that of women and they are starting to spend more and more time in the tanning salons. Although men have the greatest statistical incidence of melanoma some dermatologists fear that the popularity of sun tanning beds in the female population may be bringing with it an increased development of melanoma in women. With the passage of time there may be an alarming tendency of young women to develop the sometimes fatal disease. One thing is certain though, UV rays whether from tanning beds or sun exposure is damaging in excessive amounts. Furthermore, when the sun is involved sun screen really is mandatory for prevention of its damaging effects both medical and cosmetic. But even with the best preventative measures time does take its toll. Solar radiation, pollution and exposure to various toxins damage the cells prematurely aging the skin and the natural aging process leads to a reduced production of collagen. For some corrective measures may be required.