Chocolate health benefits
Chocolate has gotten mixed reviews in the world of health and it is time to set the record straight.
What's the deal with this sinfully delicious food? Here are some nutritional highlights of dark chocolate:
[bullet]Contains flavonoids (plant pigments) that are responsible for antioxidant activity and are important for protecting against damage to the good cholesterol and the lining of the arteries.
[bullet]The saturated fat in chocolate does not elevate cholesterol levels.
[bullet]Acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, regulating blood pressure and blood flow.
[bullet]Stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure.
[bullet]Contains serotonin, which acts as an antidepressant.
[bullet]Contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances that help increase concentration and focus.
Too busy for fitness?
Good health and a great workout plan are excellent running partners. Clocking the time for fitness, however, is a real scheduling challenge. Fortunately, there's evidence even a minimal amount of exercise improves cardiovascular fitness.
A study reported in the Journal of American Medicine found as little as 10 or 15 minutes of exercise each day produced beneficial results.
Find a routine that fits into your busy schedule and if your schedule includes travel, look for fitness help that is mobile, compact and lightweight.
Fitness products that are ideal for travel:
[bullet]Exercise tubing or resistance bands
[bullet]DVDs for cardio, yoga, pilates or other exercise programs
[bullet]An inflatable exercise ball
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Sweeteners 101
Both natural and artificial sweeteners are used in processed food. Fructose (derived from fruit), lactose (from milk) and maltose are natural sweeteners, which are derived from real food. These sweeteners contain four calories per gram.
Commonly used natural sweeteners are honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, fructose, beet sugar, molasses, barley malt and rice syrup. Stevia, derived from a plant (leaf), is a sweetener that has zero calories.
There are also non-nutritional artificial and chemically derived sweeteners added to our processed foods, such as aspartame, Splenda and saccharin. These are used as sugar substitutes in food and beverages. Aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sucrose and has no nutritional value.
Sweeteners are marketed as weight loss products, but they do not really help to reduce weight unless a person is already on a low calorie diet.
You can certainly eat sugar by eating naturally sweetened foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, or use natural sugars, such as agave or Sucanat. Not only do they offer a sweet taste, but these foods also have vitamins, minerals and a high fiber content that will help to absorb and metabolize food properly.
