You might not be doing your teeth a favor, but eating chocolates may be good help you remain healthy as you age. There have been numerous studies relating chocolate consumption to cardiovascular health and other maladies, and a new study published in the Journal of Hypertension has demonstrated that drinking cocoa improved several measures of blood vessel function, especially among the elderly. The sudy attributes the improved age-related vessel function in older adults to compounds found in chocolates called flavonols.
An editorial commentary in the same journal, Cocoa beans, endothelial function and aging: an unexpected friendship?, reviews the current scientific …read more

Although cranberries and cranberry juice is best known as a prophylaxis against bladder and urinary tract infections, there’s a wide array of other health benefits it can offer, too.
As in the bladder, it has also been shown to prevent bacterial adhesion in the gut and teeth as well, thus preventing infections that may lead to stomach ulcers or even stomach cancer, and periodontal gum disease.
[Photo: David S. Seigler, University of Illinois]

I first got to know the medicinal properties of this fruit (juice) just recently because a friend of mine drinks this to prevent bladder and urinary tract infections. And yes, there is a sound scientific basis to this.
A specific type of tannin found only in cranberries and blueberries interacts with the little projections on the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria (the most common cause of UTI), preventing them from sticking to the walls of the bladder and causing infection.
If you’re up for more scientific reading, read the report from the American Academy of Family Physicians.
How much are you supposed …read more

A few days after laboring over my very first post, and I encounter this article about superfoods. It’s oldish, written a year ago, but still captures the concept of what functional foods are: foods that are valued not as much for their calorie or nutrient content, but for the amount of health-beneficial compounds they bear.
It also raises the issue of labelling. See, the US Food and Drug Administration is very strict on what claims food companies are allowed to write on their labels. Here’s an example:
[snip]… juice makers can claim that cranberry products help maintain urinary tract health, but they …read more