Archive for the 'Chocolate' Category
On Valentine’s Day relax and enjoy yourself. Before your big date, soak your everyday worries away by soaking in vanilla scented bathwater. This aroma is scientifically proven to instantly increase relaxing alpha brain waves. If you don’t like the scent of vanilla, you can always put mint or lavender essential oils into your soothing bath water instead.
Then unwind with some chocolate
covered strawberries. Indulging in dark chocolate is proven to reduce your levels of stress hormones, reports a new study in the “Journal of Proteome Research.” Combine it with strawberries, which are rich in vitamin C, to give you a blast of antioxidants that fight the damaging free radicals released when your’re feeling anxious – and you’ve got the perfect stress-busting treat.
Expand Valentine’s Day to the day after as you lift tension away with a massage. If you can’t afford to get a professional massage, then engage your partner in a mutual massage. A good old-fashioned, “hands on” physical massage actually stimulates the body’s muscles to relax.
Then be sure to toast to your happiness with a classy champagne toast. A glass of “bubbly” is a proven mood-booster,thanks to its unique compounds that trigger an increase in serotonin production.You can purchase some really great tasting champagne for low prices. For example, try Cook’s Reserve
California Champagne for $7.00 per bottle .Bottoms up!
Valentine’s Day is exactly one week from today. Organic chocolate is very healthy for us; especially the dark kind. The following article presents a recipe that is lighter in calories than the usual dessert. It features fresh strawberries which are to be dipped in a chocolate mixture.
The light cream cheese (with one-third less fat), available in most grocery stores, helps to make this delectable dessert (or snack) yummy and free of guilt. It is only 139 calories per serving and 8 grams of fat compared to the classical recipe, which is usually a whopping 363 calories per serving with 22 grams of fat.
Here are the simple ingredients:
- 4 oz. one-third less fat cream cheese, at room temperature
- three-fourths cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted, warm
- one-fourth cup of 1% low-fat milk
- one quart fresh strawberries (organic, if possible)
In a microwave safe bowl, microwave cream cheese on high in 20-second intervals until just warmed and softened; stir until combined and smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with strawberries. Devour with your sweetheart so both of you can enjoy!
According to David Feder, R.D., it is no coincidence that hot cocoa is a migraine healer. Cocoa actually raises the body’s level of phosphatases, which are compounds that counteract the nerve inflammation believed to be behind migraine pain. Dr. Feder advises that the key is to choose a premium hot chocolate that is at least 60 per cent cocoa
. Of course, it has to be organic, says Dr. Feder.
This will ensure that you get ample amounts of cocoa’s healing flavonoids, plus you’ll avoid the artrificial flavors and sweeteners that can trigger head pain. Remember, it is usually the artificial sweeteners and ingredients that cause the headache pain. However, it is also important to note that for some women, chocolate causes migraines. For these people, a better remedy for the pain would be to sip some soothing hot green tea. Its polyphenols neutralize inflammation while its caffeine dilates the blood vessels that are constricted in a migraine attack, plus the steam of the freshly brewed tea helps to clear the sinuses.
There is nothing better than a warm cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter day. It is comforting and soothing for the mind as well as for the body. You can taste the difference between the cheap hot chocolate as compared to the taste of the premium, dark organic kind.
Dr. Feder is the author of The Skinny Carbs Diet (Rodale, 2010). He was an acclaimed chef before he became a dietician. He combines culinary expertise with scientific knowledge to deliver practical advice for healthy living. Thank you Dr. Feder for such enlightening material.
According to British researchers, a one ounce serving of dark chocolate or cocoa,
suppresses coughs 33 per cent better than codeine. This sweet treat is packed with theobromine, a caffeine-like plant compound that soothes the cough-triggering vagus nerve. This is great news because chocolate tastes much better than codeine any day.
Also, drinking at least six, 8 ounce glasses of fluid daily flushes out metabolic waste and inflammatory compounds through the kidneys. That helps 80 per cent of women feel better within 24 hours,report researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle. Drink any alcohol and sugar-free beverage, such as tea, juice or coffee. It doesn’t always have to be water.
Another helpful tip to raise your immune system is to snack on dried apricots. USDA researchers say they are packed with beta-carotene, a phytonutrient that spurs a 33 per cent rise in blood levels of virus-fighting T cells. The study recommends a daily dose of one-half cup of dried apricots. Other great sources of beta-carotene include, sweet potatoes, carrots and pumpkin pie. It is fun eating healthy foods!
I recently found out that cocoa powder is a concentrated source of magnesium; especially the great tasting dark kind of cocoa. The newest research shows that keeping your body filled with magnesium can lower your risk of diabetes by 50%, even if you don’t make other healthy changes to your diet or to your lifestyle.
The reason for this protection is because the magnesium helps our cells absorb and use glucose, preventing blood-sugar levels from soaring. Nuts are a good source of magnesium, but just one ounce of chocolate contains 140 mg. of magnesium. So, don’t feel guilty when you sip hot cocoa 
or when you dig into your favorite dark chocolate candy.
Cocoa nibs make a delicious addition to salads. I just had chocolate nibs in my trail mix the other day and it is a delicious and fun way to get nutrition. Some Mexican restaurants make mole sauce, which is a chocolate-based sauce. So, be adventurous and try putting a small piece of bittersweet chocolate at the bottom of your next bowl of chili or beef stew.
Remember, the rule of thumb for the healthiest chocolate: the darker the cocoa, the more magnesium it contains. Thank you new research for shedding new light on a formerly forbidden treat!