Chocolate's Startling Health Benefits - John Robbins

[housewolf]

In case you ever needed an excuse to have some...


The food police may find this hard to take, but chocolate has gotten a bad rap. People say it causes acne, that you should eat carob instead, that it's junk food. But these accusations are not only undeserved and inaccurate, they falsely incriminate a delicious food that turns out to have profoundly important healing powers.

There is in fact a growing body of credible scientific evidence that chocolate contains a host of heart-healthy and mood-enhancing phytochemicals, with benefits to both body and mind.

For one, chocolate is a plentiful source of antioxidants. These are substances that reduce the ongoing cellular and arterial damage caused by oxidative reactions. You may have heard of a type of antioxidants called polyphenols. These are protective chemicals found in plant foods such as red wine and green tea. Chocolate, it turns out, is particularly rich in polyphenols. According to researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, the same antioxidant properties found in red wine that protect against heart disease are also found in comparable quantities in chocolate.

How does chocolate help to prevent heart disease? The oxidation of LDL cholesterol is considered a major factor in the promotion of coronary disease. When this waxy substance oxidizes, it tends to stick to artery walls, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. But chocolate to the rescue! The polyphenols in chocolate inhibit oxidation of LDL cholesterol.

And there's more... (hints: reducing blood pressure, improved cardiovascular health, mood elevation, and more)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/chocolates-startling-heal_b_825978.html







:woohoo: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :woohoo: :woohoo: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[elleng]

1. ;-)

:thumbsup:

[Dover]

2. Thank ya Lord! And pass the chocolate...

There, ya see? Not all devilishly delightful things are evil.
And speaking of going to hell...I've turned up the heat.
My new favorite indulgence - Lindt Dark Chocolate Chili

OMG OMG OMG!!! .... let us give thanks.

[tigereye]

3. you will get no argument from me!

although my doctor said dark chocolate had more of those properties than milk chocolate... and not to eat a ton of it. :D

[housewolf]

4. That's true about dark chocolate

and of course, milk chocolate has more dairy and sugar in it, too

[NMDemDist2]

5. that's the one thing that i never attempted to give up on this new 'lifestyle' eating

i knew any diet that didn't include at least a little chocolate was doomed for me. so i have 7-8 hershey dark chocolate kisses 3-4 times a week.

nothing like the amount i used to eat, but still in my calorie count :hide:

[housewolf]

6. I know what you mean

In my "former" life I spent most of at least 20 years trying to diet and get my weight under control - at one point, I weighed right around 200 lbs. I tried all sorts of diets and eating plans, some with more staying power and better results than others but all none provided a permanent solution. But a bit of chocolate was always required, no matter how small it's still a treat - er, rather, a necessity!

These days, I have a number of cocoa and hot chocolate mixes that I'm working my way through.


Kudos to you, NMDem, for your efforts and your success. You'll be healthier and have more enegy for the rest of your life. It's so worth it! And it sounds as though you've made your peace with foods that you've restricted or let go of, and are courageously exploring new ways of eating and nurturing yourself. I applaud you!


:applause: :applause: :applause:

[pscot]

7. Trader Joes sells 1 pound bars

of belgian chocolate for about 4 bucks.