There's a reason that chocolate inspires gotta-have-it cravings for so many of us, perhaps more than any other food: It's good for you.
"It's actually good for your heart and also good for your blood pressure," says Valentine Yanchou Njike, MD, MPH, of the Yale Griffin Prevention Research Center, who has researched cocoa's effect on blood vessel function. Researchers have also found that phytochemicals in cocoa, which is used to make chocolate, may improve blood vessel function, slow blood clotting, improve insulin resistance and have protective effects against cancer. And even though the labels say chocolate contains saturated fat, it's actually the kind of fat (called stearic acid) that has little effect on your cholesterol levels.
But experts warn against celebrating this good news with morning, noon, and night chocolate bar binges. The dark delicacy still packs a hefty number of calories per ounce from its fat and sugar content. And as Karen Collins, MS, RD, nutrition advisor to the American Institute for Cancer Research, points out, "We have a wide range of food—vegetable, fruits, whole grains, beans—that provides thousands of phytochemicals, and so our heart and our cancer health does not depend on eating chocolate. If you load up on chocolate for the phytochemicals, then that's going to send your weight up."
The bottom line is that you don't have to beat yourself up for craving chocolate if you enjoy it in moderation.
Here are six tips for getting a guilt-free chocolate fix.
American Heart Month: February Means Heart Disease Awareness!
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The month of February is dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and increasing knowledge about prevention.
Educate yourself on the dangers of heart disease and get on track to better heart health here.
Feb 11 & 12 Carol presents New Rules, New Roles: Duties of Ad Litems in Guardianships at Docket Call in Probate Court, an Estate Planning, Probate and Guardianship Law Seminar.
Book of the Month: American Heart Association's Complete Guide to Heart Health
Take care of your heart and it will take care of you! Let the American Heart Association show you how -- in this complete, up-to-the-minute owner's manual from the country's most respected authority on the heart. No matter what your year, make, or model -- male, female, young, or old -- here is everything you need to know. Learn how to:
▪ Evaluate your personal risk factors; ▪ Recognize signs and symptoms of heart disease and stroke -- what they are, what they mean, what to do; and ▪ Fuel up on heart-healthy nutrition and keep your motor humming with physical activity.
World's Oldest Barber Still on Cutting Edge in Orange County at Age 104
Anthony Mancinelli started cutting hair when Calvin Coolidge was in the White House.
Now he is the oldest working barber in the world, with no plans to retire.
And his colleagues in Vails Gate are celebrating his sheer dedication.
Every barber shop or salon is a community, but not every community has an elder statesman like Anthony Mancinelli. "Hours don't matter with me, I don't get tired, I just keep going," he said.
His snips and clips are those of a barber who has been at this since the age of 12. And in just a few weeks, he'll turn 105. Asked what he's going to do his birthday, Anthony said, "Come to work."
His mind and eyes are still sharp, his smile still wide, his hands still steady.
