Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen: Dark chocolate is good for your muscles

By Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Michael Roizen, Special to the Province

The world’s most expensive piece of chocolate, from ­Knipschildt Chocolatier, is a $250 dark-chocolate truffle with a French black truffle inside. Fortunately, you don’t need to spend big to get big muscles from dark chocolate.

Turns out that in addition to its blood-pressure-lowering, cavity-fighting, heart-loving, blues-chasing powers, a double dose (we advocate ½ ounce or less twice a day) every day of dark (not milk) chocolate revs up power ­stations called mitochondria in each and every cell in your body. That makes your muscles stronger and increases your endurance.

What is it about chocolate? It’s packed with flavonoids, a plant-based chemical that’s a pro at anti almost everything: ­antiviral, anti-allergic, anti-platelet, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour and anti-Alzheimer’s.

It’s also adept at affecting cell-signalling pathways that ­regulate the growth, proliferation and death of cells.

Megasurveys show that folks who eat the most ­chocolate cut their risk for heart disease by 37 per cent, diabetes by 31 per cent and stroke by 29 per cent.

How much is enough?

Our favourite is 70 per cent cacao semi- or bittersweet. And no more than an ounce a day, or you’ll wander into the dark side of dark chocolate — too many calories and too much fat. (Make sure it takes the place of other calories, so it doesn’t add to your total).

If you want to get some of the benefits and fewer calories, even as little as a quarter ounce a day will help make your heart and other muscles stronger and head smarter.

How sweet it is!

Original source article: Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen: Dark chocolate is good for your muscles

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/Roizen+Dark+chocolate+good+your+muscles/6488326/story.html#ixzz1svQm3Ass

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Do You Know Your Valentine's Chocolate?

By Casey Meserve

Chocolate is a staple of Valentine's Day, and for good reason. It's a sinfully sweet treat, of course, but it also contains flavonoids, a type of antioxidant that has been shown to have health benefits for the very target of Cupid's arrow—the heart. But not all chocolate products are created equal: they can vary wildly in flavonoid content, fat and calories, and quality of ingredients. So how can you be sure you're expressing your love with the most healthful chocolate option?
According to dietitian Gloria Tsang, many products you might find in the chocolates section of your grocery store or gift shop have much more sugar and fat than real chocolate. "It's always a good idea to stick to real chocolate rather than candies and bars with chocolate flavoring," Tsang says. "But even when you're buying real chocolate, there are major nutritional differences between types that you may not be aware of."
Here's how some common chocolates stack up against each other:

1. Cocoa powder: Cocoa powder ranks highest in flavonoids, and is also lower in calories than dark or milk chocolate. Try creating a custom cocoa drink for your sweetie, or look for chocolates dusted with real cocoa powder. 
2. Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate is a great source of flavonoids, though it contains about twice the fat and calories of cocoa powder. Its intense flavor makes it best for savoring, meaning one small square can often satisfy a sweet tooth craving. Look for the highest cocoa content you can find.
3. Milk chocolate: Milk chocolate has about the same calories as dark chocolate, but it often contains no flavonoids at all. Flavonoids are only present if you find cocoa solids or cocoa liquor on the ingredient list, so if you're looking for heart benefits, check to make sure you know what you're getting.
4. Chocolate candies: Chocolate candies (like M&Ms) have similar fat and calories as straight-up chocolate, but they tend to have candy shells that add artificial colors and flavors to the mix. Again, check for cocoa solids or cocoa liquor if your'e looking for flavonoids – it's likely you won't find them.  
5. White chocolate: White chocolate does contain cocoa butter, but it does not contain any cocoa solids or cocoa liquor, so it does not offer any heart health benefits. It's a bit of a stretch to call it chocolate at all! 

No matter which chocolate you choose to give this Valentine's Day, focus on quality, not quantity. A rich square of quality chocolate is a much more luxurious eating experience than gorging on cheaper chocolate candies, and it's much more healthful, too.
Where can you get the best chocolate in Plymouth? Here are some suggestions:
Fedele's "Let's do...Chocolate": This sweet shop in the Village Landing Marketplace on the Waterfront offers the most amazing chocolates. They're so good, you don't even need the heart-shaped box. The shop also offers hand-dipped chocolate covered strawberries. Mmmmmmm.
The Plymouth Winter-into-Spring Market at Plimoth Plantation offers all the romantic, and local, ingredients for Valentine's Day. Along with locally made wine,  Sirenetta Seaside Chocolatier from Scituate will have samples from its new collection of artisanal valentine chocolates including Champagne Bon Bons, Berry Smitten and Vanilla Tryst, Solid Chocolate Kiss Me Frog, and Cabernet Truffle Bites.
"Our passion for true flavor begins with only the best ingredients. Ganaches are created using fresh herbs, local when available, fresh cream, nuts, liqueurs, fruits and spices. Our confections are never chemically altered." Come talk to the chocolatier and try an intense taste experience that will melt slowly and linger on your tongue.
Edible Arrangements always has chocolate dipped treats. For Valentine's Day the chain store offers bouquets of heart-shape pineapple and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
Whatever you decide, make sure to order early.

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Truth About Chocolate - Health Food, Junk or Drug? Nutrition

Watch this video to know more about chocolate especially dark chocolate. What benefits you get from it as well as it's negative aspects.



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Chocolate Facts - Why Dark Chocolate is Good For You

Chocolate is one of the most consumed products on the planet. In fact, every day over one billion people consume the stuff... and the average American eats over 12 pounds of chocolate per year. Which begs the question: Can this stuff possibly be good for you?

What are the nutritional facts when it comes to the benefits of chocolate and why is dark chocolate good for you?

The truth is that chocolate is believed to have a host of health properties. It is a complex food that -- depending on how it is manufactured -- can be extremely high in antioxidants.

Antioxidants are considered important because the aging process and the development of many chronic and degenerative diseases, including cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are believed to be caused at least in part by something called "oxidative stress".

Oxidative stress is brought on by the onset of free radicals in the body, which damages your cells over time. It is a natural process there's no escape from. Your body has a number of systems that help eliminate free radicals, but it is not 100% efficient and ultimately fights a losing battle over time.
And many of our eating and nutritional habits simply serve to speed up the onslaught of free radicals in our bodies.

That's where chocolate -- especially dark chocolate -- comes in.

Dark chocolate is generally high in antioxidants

It has been known for a long time that diets rich in fruits, nuts, and vegetables are excellent sources of dietary antioxidants. Essential minerals and vitamins contained in those foods... such as vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, flavonoids, and selenium... play a key antioxidant role in the body.

Well now we know that chocolate contains very high antioxidant properties too.

One of the most reliable measures of the antioxidant value of a particular food is something called the ORAC score. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.

Not surprisingly, fruits, nuts, vegetables and certain spices tend to score high on the ORAC scale. Generally, a food scores highest in its raw or natural state and less well once it is cooked. The cooking process destroys much of the nutritional and antioxidant value of the food.

What may surprise you is that unprocessed cacao is the highest source of antioxidant value. Of course, cocoa powder comes from the cacao and is the principal ingredient of chocolate. Unprocessed cocoa powder has a higher ORAC value per 100 grams than the Acai berry, which is on of the so-called "super fruits".

Dark chocolate also scores highly on the list ahead of such super foods as prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries and raw spinach.

Not all chocolate carries the same nutritional value

However, not all chocolate holds the same potential health value. The more processed and cooked the product, the less of its health properties is retained. And be mindful that the chocolate candy you find on grocery store shelves has typically undergone significant over processing... such as dutching and roasting... and has added unhealthy processed sugar, milk, fats, fillers, waxes and preservatives.

In other words, while certain types of chocolate can and does carry nutritional value, know your chocolate nutrition facts. And don't go rushing out to the store and start a chocolate binge.

Generally, the darker the chocolate with the higher cocoa concentration will be healthier... although even then that isn't always going to be true. So read the label and in particular beware of any chocolate bar where the number one ingredient is sugar.


For more chocolate nutrition facts and to learn about the healthiest dark chocolate products available today, click this link now: Dark Healthy Chocolate


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Warren_Wojnowski 

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We Love Chocolate! Healthy Chocolate That Is!

Image via Wikipedia

There are over 300,000 studies on the health benefits of dark chocolate, with a new study coming out every week. The problem is that most dark chocolate available for purchase by consumers has the health benefits negated because of the added sugars, milks, fats, waxes, fillers and caffeine.

MXI Corporation has patented a process called the "cold press technique" which allows them to manufacture rich Belgium dark chocolate, which they call XOCAI™ (sho-sigh), without heating or the harmful additions. The result is a chocolate food source that has amazingly high antioxidant levels and still tastes as good as the BEST chocolate you have ever had. It is even diabetic and vegan friendly, gluten free and no caffeine.

XOCAI™ qualifies for an ORAC score. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity and is a method of measuring antioxidant capacities of various foods. Antioxidants are important because they fight the effects of free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are atoms that are missing an electron and are constantly bombarding our bodies. One XOCAI™ chocolate nugget contains the antioxidant level of half pound of spinach. What would you rather eat?

Ninety percent of Americans crave chocolate-fifty percent say they cannot live without it and actually eat an average of 12 lbs per year. This is not candy, but a functional food that tastes like fine Belgium chocolate! XOCAI™ is Healthy Chocolate!

• These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
• This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease
• MXI/Xocai™ products are not intended to replace or substitute the daily intake of fruits or vegetables in the diet of any individual.

We ensure our patient's dental health through the use of the latest technology in all facets of dentistry. We love what we do, and we're devoted to making your experience with us as pleasant as possible! Each member of our staff plays an important part in your total dental care. From appointment scheduling and explanations of treatment to budgeting to teeth cleaning and helping soothe the nerves of a new patient, we promise to be here for you.

Please contact Lifetime Smiles for more information!
http://www.LTSmiles.com
760-747-1811
Rabee McDonald D.M D.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rabee_McDonald 

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5 Benefits of Dark Chocolate - Facts You Need to Know Before Enjoying

Benefits of dark chocolate... Yes, the legends are true: They do exist!

But, before you go rummaging through year-old Halloween candy and stuffing your face with Snicker's and Tootsie Roll's, there's a few things you need to know.

First, and most importantly, true dark chocolate is usually considered anything at or above 65% cacao.

You're not going to find this percentage mixed in with the Skittles and Gummy Bears, and it does taste a bit different than the sugar-laden milk chocolate you're probably used to, but most convenience and grocery stores do have a few high percentage options to at least take them for a test taste.

Don't worry: Just like with wine, it's an acquired taste for some, and your palette will adjust. I remember the first time I tried 65 percent, and I had to spit it out. I've since worked my way up the cocoa tree to being able to thoroughly enjoy 80-85% (I'm working on the 99, but that's the extreme!).

The higher the percentage of cacao, the more benefits and better nutritional value the chocolate contains.

For example, an average 65% dark chocolate serving would look something like this (these are estimates, as actual numbers will vary, depending on brand, size, etc.): Total Fat 15 g, Sat. Fat 9 g, Sugars 16g, Protein 3g.

Comparatively, an average 99% dark chocolate serving would look something like this (these are estimates, as actual numbers will vary, depending on brand, size, etc.): Total Fat 22 g, Sat. Fat 14 g, Sugars 2g, Protein 5g.

As you can see, the higher up the percentage scale you go, the less sugar and more protein you're going to get.

You may also notice the high fat content, but the majority of this comes from healthy fats (yes, there is such a thing!).

5 Benefits of Dark Chocolate

1. Studies have shown dark chocolate to lower blood pressure
2. Studies have also shown dark chocolate to lower bad cholesterol (LDL)
3. It turns women on more than a passionate kissing session (no wonder they want it for Valentine's Day!)
4. Contains serotonin, a natural mood-boosting anti-depressant
5. Stimulates pleasure-inducing endorphin production

Now, even though there are several benefits of dark chocolate, as with anything else, moderation is key. Make sure your chocolate delights fit into your daily caloric needs, and try to work your way up to the highest percentage dark chocolate you can enjoy. Want to learn more fun and exciting tips like the benefits of dark chocolate? Come on over to http://www.fitbuff.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Johnsonn

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