CICICAN MEDICAL NEWS CENTER

Just about everyone loves the taste of chocolate. Well the news is out that chocolate can actually benefit the body. Although the dark chocolate is bitterer than the semi-sweet the health benefits of dark chocolate are greater. Along with dark chocolate consuming red wine and green tea also have great health benefits. The main key is moderation, as with any indulgence of passion.

Dark chocolate contains antioxidants. There is a strong belief that antioxidants can reduce your chances of cardiac disease, cancer, and even high blood pressure. In addition these antioxidants improve endothelial cells, your digestive process, and kidney function. Dark chocolate helps fight bad cholesterol (LDL) and improves the circulation of blood from the heart to the brain. Furthermore there is belief that it has similar effects as aspirin does on the body in preventing stroke and heart attack (inhibiting platelet aggregation).

In the chocolate are flavonoids. These flavonoids interact with the natural antioxidation system in the body (the vitamins and enzymes). The flavonoids itself is not the actual benefit it is the reaction inside of the body that is tipped off by the ingestion of these powerful plant derived elements. When there is an imbalance of between the antioxidants and free radicals a level of oxidative stress is place on the body that will cause cellular damage. People suffering from anemia and kidney stones have been treated with flavonoids. Flavonoids that are found in chocolate have been used to help people who suffer from anemia, a poor appetite and kidney stones.

Where Do You Find Flavonoids? Fruits Vegetables (onions, parsley, legumes) Teas Wines (grape skins)

The body uses minerals such as copper and magnesium to maintain a functioning heart and blood pressure. Experts point to the dried extract of roasted cocoa beans as one of the best sources for dark chocolate. If you cannot consume the extract, then eating a 1.6-ounce chocolate bar is the second best option. This should introduce just an ample amount of ingredients to achieve some effect. Be aware however that chocolate is fattening and it contains caffeine so never overdo a good thing. There are several brand s of chocolate available on the market today and each person has to find a suitable taste for him or her. By eating only 2-3 squares of chocolate can be of great benefit to the body.

Eating chocolate is not the only way to keep a heart healthy. There are some specific contents in the chocolate that help. The most beneficial is the dark chocolate because of the flavonoids that it contains. Oddly enough the manufactures of the chocolate destroyed many of the flavonoids in the early days. Since the discovery of the health effects, manufacturers work very hard to maintain 95% of it in the product. Since the taste of dark chocolate is bitterer than semi-sweet, consider buying one with almonds and raisins of one of each. This can add a little flair and variety to the bar.

What good are they? You may not realize the benefits of eating a food that is not very interesting or exciting. There are ways to make boring food exciting. Aside from being boring they should be a part of your healthy diet. They contain an abundance of protein and fiber and are low in fat content. In addition they contain antioxidants and something called phytochemicals. Diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and inflammatory diseases can be prevented or minimized through eating phytochemicals. In particular black beans contain soluble fiber, which is effective in lowering the bad cholesterol (LDL) by up to 24%, in turn can lower your blood pressure. These beans can also keep sugar levels at a healthier level thus blocking the effects of hunger for diabetics. This concept may lead to a reduction or elimination for the need of insulin in the diabetics. Black beans are not the only beans that are chocked full of fiber- so are many other types of beans and peas as well. The most popular kinds of beans and peas include chickpeas (or garbanzo beans), lima beans, fava beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, navy beans, pinto beans and great northern beans.
Lentils are rich in many nutrients but are particularly rich when it comes to the B vitamins. Consuming sufficient amounts of B vitamins from food sources such as lentils and other foods can help to prevent heart attacks. Besides B vitamins, lentils are also very rich in protein, fiber and a variety of minerals such as ones that help support the strength of the immune system. Examples of these are copper, zinc and manganese. Iron is another mineral that lentils are rich in.

Miso is not a household food by any means but it is a very healthy one. Miso is a type of soybean paste that is often used as a seasoning for sauces and soups. Miso is rich in substances called isoflavones which are believed to help protect against the development and growth of breast cancer because they inhibit the growth of the blood vessels that are responsible fro the rapid growth of tumors.

Also rich in both iron and calcium (when it is sufficiently processed with the salts of calcium) is soybean curd or tofu. Other soy products that boast high levels of vitaimin A, B6, magnesium and zinc is tempeh. Tempeh has slightly lower levels of fat in it than does tofu. Other soy products that are worth considering because of their nutritional value include soymilk and other soy beverages such as chocolate soymilk, soy nuts, soy yogurt, tofu (as previously mentioned) and a variety of products made from tofu.

All soy products derive from soybeans and this means that they are high in protein content. Protein is made up of all of the essential amino acids that the body needs to function at its healthiest. Soybeans are also extremely rich in all of the B vitamins, as well as fiber, the omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and phosphorus.