So far most Americans know that dark chocolate has more health benefits than milk chocolate, but imagine chocolate with other health-boosting compounds to help prevent against heart disease, cancer and stroke. The markets for these kinds of chocolates are increasing 10% each year. It is now making annual sales of $600 million a year which is only a small percentage of the functional food industry—products marketed as having health benefits—which totals an estimated $20-30 billion a year.
Chocolatiers over the past several years have been creating different kind of chocolates that can help increase stamina, sharpen cognitive skills, and boost the immune system. They have been doing this by adding a range of super-foods, supplements and spices to their recipes. For example, Antidote Chocolates based in New York have ingredients such as fennel to help with digestion and juniper berries to reduce water retention.
However, nutritionists say that overall dark chocolate must be dark in order to be healthy and that any chocolate containing less than 70% cacao will “offer few benefits and little functionality.” Also remember that chocolates can be full of fat, calories, and sugar so any health benefits can be offset by this. Be sure to read the ingredients and ask questions before purchasing.
Would you be ordering any of these “super” chocolates soon?
Read original article here—courtesy of Times Healthland.
Well, some scientists think so. Researchers from the University of California-San Francisco believe that sugar is so destructive to the public health that it should be regulated like alcohol and cigarettes.
A new study conducted by the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the John Hopkins University School of Medicine found out that a doctor’s body size had an influence on how he or she cared for their patients with weight problems. The researchers found that out of the 500 primary care physicians that was part of this study, 30% of normal weight physicians discussed losing weight with their patients while only 18% of the overweight doctors did.
AARP.com wrote a good article that summarized the difference between Greek and regular yogurt. Below are just some of the highlights:
AARP.com announced some of many brand-name prescription medications that are going generic for 2012. Last year, brands such as Lipitor and Zyprexa went generic, giving people cheaper alternatives. Look below for this year’s list.
A new study that was published in Pediatrics followed 977 children born in 1991 and enrolled in the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. The results found that toddlers who had a poor emotional bond with their mothers were twice as likely to become obese by age 15 compared to those who had “healthy” relationships. This concluded that the less secure the children’s early bond is with their mother, the greater chance of obesity.
A new study shows that there are pro-social behaviors in rats. The experiment had two same-sex rats housed in the same cage for two weeks. This will give them a chance to have a “relationship.” During the test sessions, one rat was able to run free while the other was trapped in a plastic restraining tube. The tube was created so that the free rat is able to free the trapped one if it could figure out how to tip over the door. The result showed that most of the time the free rat tries to help the trapped companion out of the tube. The trap can only be freed if the rat figures out that they can pitch their nose up to the point where they could open the door. There were no lessons prior to teach the rats how to nudge the door open or give them any incentive to. They had to learn it on their own. The research also suggests that females are more empathetic than males since all the female rats learned to open the door while only 17/24 of the males did.
The holidays are coming up, and there are a few people who dread this. Health.com revealed some tips to avoid the depression that surrounds the holidays. Good thing it only comes once a year!
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