Tag Archive: chocolate studies
Dark Chocolate for Reducing Cardiac Diseases
June 8, 2012
As a self-proclaimed and a self-confessed chocoholic, I have always been particularly keen about the things I come across on the Internet that talk about my favorite sweet treat. In recent years, there have been many stories about the health benefits that dark chocolates are able to provide.
Recent research brings up a certain metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of many risk factors that include an elevated blood pressure as well as high cholesterol and abdominal obesity. This condition places a person in a position that can lead to diseases like coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and many different types of carcinoma or cancer. The participants in the study showed no symptoms of coronary heart disease, and were not takers of any medications that can lower blood pressure.
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Beneficial In Moderation
June 1, 2012
It's enough to make my head spin. Yes, I'm talking about food research as it relates to health. Here's a sample...
Coffee is widely known to make people's lives longer. Certain studies have shown that more than normal levels of "good" cholesterol does not give people immunity from heart diseases. Some liquors that contain alcohol, if taken in moderation, pack many benefits to our bodies, but alcohol is also an agent that causes brain shrinking.
The whole idea of food research can sometimes be misleading, even in recent years wherein medical research and innovations have helped Americans to live longer and healthier lives. This gives people who are health-conscious a little bit of a dilemma. For example, a recent study about coffee is contrary to the statement I made above. The study showed that for people who smoke and drink more alcohol, consume red meat, and don't exert efforts in doing some exercise, coffee was not able to help them.
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Dark Chocolate Reduces Chronic Fatigue
April 19, 2012
Chronic fatigue syndrome refers to a disorder which tends to cause extreme fatigue. It's not the exhausted feeling you get which just goes away after you get some rest. Rather, it typically stays around for at least 6 months and holds you back from going about your daily routine efficiently.
Symptoms of chronic fatigue include physiological problems like tender lymph nodes, sore throat, sleep problems, pain in multiple joints, headaches, memory problems, and muscle pain, among others.
Other medical disorders come with these symptoms, as well, making it difficult to diagnose. The precise causative factors for chronic fatigue syndrome are still unknown. Practically anyone can suffer from it, but it is commonly seen in women in their 40's and 50's. It can't be cured, but it is highly treatable.
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Chocolate Better Than Fruit Juices
April 17, 2012
Chocolate is deemed healthier compared to a lot of fruit juices. It's even considered as a superfood in its own right, according to a recent research conducted by an American-based chocolate company.
Superfoods are foods that contain high levels of compounds and antioxidants that help in preventing damage to healthy cells. Scientists from the Hershey Centre for Health & Nutrition in America discovered that powdered dark chocolate contains higher amounts of polyphenols and antioxidants, which are known to protect cardiac conditions and cancer.
Take fruit juice out of the picture as chocolate proves to be much better in boosting one's health, a recent study has indicated. Cocoa and dark chocolate have higher antioxidant capacity compared to fruit juices, such as pomegranate, cranberry, and blueberry powder, based on a study seen in Chemistry Central Journal.
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Chocolate Allergy and Cockroaches
April 5, 2012
A lot of individuals who have allergies to chocolate are not actually reacting to cocoa or any other official ingredients of chocolate, for that matter. A series of research has indicated that such allergic reactions are may be caused by ground cockroach parts that have contaminated the chocolates. Gross!
In accordance with ABC News, a typical chocolate bar may contain eight insect pieces. The Food and Drug Administration considers it safe for every 100 grams of chocolate to have fewer than 60 insect parts.
Allergy experts claim that the majority of foods normally contain contaminants. Chocolate is not the only one in this. Aside from chocolate, cockroach pieces are also present in the manufacturing of wheat, popcorn, cheese, fruit, macaroni, and peanut butter. These bits and pieces could bring harmful effects on individuals suffering from asthma. Also, they could cause itching, cramps, as well as migraines to certain people.
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Chocolate Makes You Slimmer?
March 27, 2012
It may sound too good to be true, but according to a new research, chocolate can help people slim down. The study has shown that those who have frequent consumption of chocolate possess a lower body mass index (BMI) as compared to people who don't. Body mass index is the ratio of weight to height, and this indicates the body's fatness.
The results were discovered in spite of the fact that people who eat chocolate more frequently tend to have more calorie consumption, and these people didn't make up for it by exercising.
Research has it that chocolate may contain something that makes the calories from other food you eat less likely to be stored as fat. This was according to Dr. Beatrice Golomb, associate professor in the department of medicine at the University of California, San Diego.
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Chocolate for Stress Reduction
March 20, 2012
According to dietician Silke Restemeyer, who works for a nutrition association in Germany, chocolate does lift the spirits. "Chocolate contains a lot of tryptophan and fat. These constituents ensure that increased amounts of the neurotransmitter serotonin are produced in the brain, and this is what causes the happy feelings," she said.
A lot of individuals associate chocolate consumption with positive memories during childhood. The sensation of chocolate melting in your mouth elicits a warm feeling. That can actually provide you with temporary distraction from the worries and stress of daily life.
However, this pleasure lasts only for a while. "After all, you can't eat that much chocolate for it to have a sustained beneficial effect - and nor should you," Restemeyer said, citing the high fat and calorie content of chocolate.
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Chocolate Is Fatal To Your Dog
March 6, 2012
Surprisingly, the most common cause for pet poisoning can be found in your kitchen. If you enjoy mushrooms, coffee, and yes, chocolates, just to name a few, then keep the enjoyment to yourself or any other human being in the household for that matter.
Embrace Pet Insurance, a specialist insurance agency, revealed the leading culprits behind food poisoning in most pets that the company insures. Chocolate tops their list which is followed by raisins and mushrooms. Here is the list:
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Dark Chocolate Can Alleviate PMS Symptoms
February 21, 2012
Premenstrual syndrome or PMS is a collective term for all the physical and emotional symptoms that come with a woman's menstrual cycle. Such symptoms are due to the changes in estrogen and progesterone levels in the female body during women's monthly periods. Often times, these symptoms cause immense discomfort and distress.
Such changes can bring about a domino effect in the body which often leads to a temporary drop in the levels of hormones serotonin and endorphins, both considered to be feel-good hormones.
Being irritable and feeling exhausted all the time are among the most common symptoms experienced when PMS-ing. It goes without saying that it can be such a pain in the neck, but there are measures one can take to somehow alleviate the symptoms.
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