Cherries have powerful antioxidants, known as anthocyanins that are thought to help fight inflammation and risk of heart disease.

A study conducted by Dr. Steven F. Bolling at the University of Michigan, shows that eating cherries may lower body fat, weight, cholesterol and inflammation.

Our bodies use inflammation to fight off infection and injury. A chronic state of inflammation can raise your risk of heart disease.  With 2 out of 3 people overweight or obese in the United States, especially around their middle, this problem is more prevalent.

In the study rats were feed a (Western Diet) which was high in fat and moderate carbohydrates.  The study added tart cherry powder to some of the rat’s diet, which caused them to maintain lean muscle mass as well as a decrease in fat and body weight.

Listed below you will find some important facts you need to know about cherries.

  Antioxidant Levels of Cherries

• Cherry Juice Concentrate: 12,800 ORAC units
• Dried Cherries:                    6,800 ORAC units
• Frozen Cherries:                  2,033 ORAC units
• Canned Cherries:                 1,700 ORAC units

Below you will find three interesting articles on cherry nutrition, cherry reports and cherry recipes.

Nutrition Facts, Cherry Report, Cherry Recipes

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Cherries The Super Fruit

Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum cardiologist of Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, gave some sweet news for dark chocolate and red wine lovers.

In the interview the doctor explains that by eating dark chocolate and drinking red wine you are actually fighting against heart disease.

Eating one small square of dark chocolate that contains about 30 calories, will aid in fighting high blood pressure and heart disease. Dark chocolate contains flavonids that act as an antioxidant in your system. When eating dark chocolate be sure to read the label to see that it contains at least 70% of cocoa bean content.

Red wine contains the same antioxidant properties as does dark chocolate.

Video thanks to http://www.howdini.com/howdini-video-6657679.html

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Valentine For The Heart

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner you may want to consider giving your love, a heart healthy treat.

For those of us with partner’s that have high blood pressure or heart problems that love their sweets, this article is a great find. Dark chocolate may be just what the answer you are looking for.

Do you know that cocoa is actually a fruit? We all know that fruits are good for us.

Researchers have found a link that shows cocoa and dark chocolate aid in the fight against cardiovascular disease.  The studies show reduced risk for blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks.

Food scientists at Cornell University found that there are twice the antioxidants in cocoa as were in red wine. The study also stated that there were three times more antioxidants in cocoa than found in green tea.  

Cocoa also appears to have anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. And cocoa is a good source of the minerals magnesium, sulphur, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, and manganese; plus some of the B Vitamins.

We have all heard at one time, the chocolate was not healthy. Now the findings are the the right kind of chocolate such as dark chocolate is actually heart healthy.

Studies have also proven that dark chocolate contains an amino acid Tryptophan, that aids in the fight against depression.

To find more on this interesting article click here. Dark Chocolate

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Chocolates For Your Love

I am not trying to push dark chocolate, but the fact is that we are all trying to improve our health. Our heart is the jewel of our body, when the heart is not functioning properly the whole body suffers.

While looking for ways to improve our heart health we all look for everything available on heart. Finding that a small amount of dark chocolate daily is good for the heart, is a great treat. Dark chocolates are fully loaded with many flavaniods. So by simply eating 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate daily we may improve our heart health.

A spot on CBS News, told of a research study that included 20 male smokers’ that were divided into two groups. The men were given 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate or white chocolate and then waited for two hours for the results.

The men that ate the dark chocolate found that the function of the endothelial cells were significantly improved these cells, line the artery walls. There was also a reduction of the platelets, which help to form blood clots. It has been proven that the disruption of these two cells leads to hardening of the arteries and heart disease.

The researchers also pointed out that two much of the dark chocolate could lead to other problems such as blood sugar levels, heart disease, body fat and body weight. They also pointed out that a small amount of dark chocolate daily may reduce the risk of coronary artery disease.

How could such a small amount have such a powerful effect? The authors say it’s probably because dark chocolate is so rich in antioxidants. “Dark chocolate has a much higher [antioxidant] content per gram than do other antioxidant-rich foods such as wine, tea, or berries,” they write. “Therefore, only a small daily treat of dark chocolate may substantially increase the amount of antioxidant intake” and improve cardiovascular health.

Below you will find three sites that have more research on the effects of dark chocolate on the heart.

CBS News, DarkChocolate,  Web MD

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Chocolate And Smokers Hearts