The cardiovascular health benefits of chocolate has already been much documented. Its positive effect on skin health, a bit less so. That is actually good for the teeth? Unheard of… til now.

Think chocolate is bad for your teeth? Think again—it may actually be beneficial. A study out of the University of Osaka Graduate School of Dentistry in Osaka, Japan found that after four days of rinsing with a cocoa flavanol extract without other oral hygiene methods (such as brushing or flossing) participants had decreased bacteria and plaque on their teeth.

Can you believe that? In the book Chocolate - A Healthy Passion, dietician authors Shara Aaron and Monica Bearden explores the many health benefits of cocoa, but also recipes for using chocolate in foods but also in bath gels, lip balms, facial masks and soaps.

Definitely something for the true chocoholic!

I discovered the joy of eating artichokes just a few years ago. I like it best simply boiled whole, and each shell peeled off and dipped in garlicky creme fraiche. Yeah, I know, not exactly the healthiest dip, but as I ony seldom have it, I allow myself such rare indulgences.

Did you know that artichokes are nutrient dense?

Artichokes are an excellent source of dietary magnesium, fiber, and the trace mineral chromium. They are also a very good source of vitamins A and C, folic acid, biotin, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, potassium, the trace mineral manganese, and a carbohydrate that is in the form of insulin.

In addition, artichokes have also been demonstrated to impart a wide range of health benefits:

It is known to positively help poor liver function (thus helping to lower the blood cholesterol), arteriosclerosis, gout, supports the treatment of hepatitis and improves the gall secretions. It can slightly lower the blood sugar, improve the appetite and digestion, is diuretic and may help some migraine conditions (most especially those caused by toxins in the blood). As it helps the body rid itself of excess water and moves toxins it also has the added side effect of an improved skin luminosity.

Wow, what a superfood indeed. Hm, got artichoke recipes to share?

Aside from being the American Heart Month, apparently, it’s also the American National Grapefruit Month. Fresh grapefruit and grapefruit juice are high in Vitamin C, which acts as antioxidants and boosts the health of your skin, immune system, heart, and has also been linked to reduced cancer risks.

Check out “Skinny Chef” Jenny Iserloh’s heart-healthy grapefruit recipes such as Teriyaki Salmon Skewers with Grapefruit, Almond Crusted Chicken with Grapefruit Basil Salad and Grapefruit and Yogurt Pops.

Got great grapefruit recipes of your own? Join the How Sweet Is Your Love for Florida grapefruit recipe contest and stand to win $1,000 cash and a trip to Florida to cook side-by-side with the Skinny Chef!

Previously, sulforaphane, a compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, has been shown to have anti-skin cancer properties. A new study indicates that sulforaphane also has potentials in treating a genetic skin blistering disorder called epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS).

As originally reported in the August 2007 issue of PNAS, the researchers found that exposing keratinocytes to sulforaphane caused the selective induction of keratins 16 and 17. Moving to an EBS mouse model with a K14 deficiency, they found that treatment with sulforaphane significantly reduced epidermal blistering while it was ineffective for a K5 deficient mouse.

Of course, there’s still a long way to go before sulforaphane can be declared as a potential drug component.

Source

A new report indicates that broccoli sprout extract can prevent the damage from ultraviolet light that often leads to skin cancer.

“Ultraviolet radiation is probably the most universal and abundant carcinogen in the world,” said Paul Talalay of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, who led the research, published yesterday in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. And although the new study stops short of proving that broccoli extracts can prevent human skin cancer, he said, it demonstrates “direct protection” against that carcinogen, which contributes to the 1 million U.S. skin cancer cases seen annually.

Talalay is focusing on the potential use of sulforaphane, a compound found in high amounts in broccoli sporuts, as a topical protective against skin cancer. Read the full article from the Washington Post.

I was browsing Healther’s 50 Things You Can Do With Chocolate and followed the links to those which seemed to be eating-related (yes, there’s more to chocolate than just popping it in your mouth, apparently).

Aside from being good for the heart and brain, the theobromine in chocolate “may have therapeutic effects when given at the proper dosage and are used in the treatment of respiratory diseases and heart disease”… in rats.

Check out these “value-added” chocolates, too:

Chocolate Ants: “…hese six-legged sweets are made from genuine Queen Leafcutter ants (like the ones you see on nature programs carrying flipping great bits of foliage). None of which makes much difference when you’re chomping on a big deceased one that’s been slopped in chocolate, but we thought you might be interested. Ah yes, and what about that chocolate? Well, the good people at Edible have chosen the finest Belgian chocolate in which to dip their creepy crawlies, making the overall taste sensation a gloriously bittersweet affair in every sense.”

Chocolate Clarifying Bar: “The zit-zapping confection contains Borba’s “Skin Balance Clarifying Aqua-Less Crystalline Powder” to remove toxins and improve skin clarity. The powder contains a cultivated bio-vitamin complex which helps the skin regenerate its natural support system.”

Check out Heather’s other chocolatey leads!

It seems like for every study that hails coffee, another one comes up extolling the benefits of tea, particularly green tea. Previously demonstrated to help prevent autoimmune diease, scientists have further shown in animal trials that green tea may have be a potential treatment for psoriasis, lupus, dandruff and other autoimmune inflammatory skin diseases.

Researchers studied an animal model for inflammatory skin diseases, which are often characterized by patches of dry, red, flaky skin caused by the inflammation and overproduction of skin cells. Those treated with green tea showed slower growth of skin cells and the presence of a gene that regulates the cells’ life cycles.

It does indeed sound to be a good alternative to the traditional treatment of ultraviolet light and medication, which may cause skin cancer. Researchers still need to fine tune the formulation and perform further trials, though.

I just came across MSNBC this article by nutritionist Joy Bauer, author of Food Cures: Easy 4-step Nutrition Programs for Improving Your Body, which discusses how eating the right foods can make you look and feel fabulous. In a nutshell:

• For Fabulous SKIN, eat foods rich in Beta Carotene, Vitamin C, E and Omega 3 fats.
• For Healthy HAIR eat foods high in Iron rich protein and B- vitamins.
• For a Dynamite SMILE — healthy gums, sweet breath and strong teeth, get adequate calcium and vitamin D, drink plenty of water, chew sugarless gum, and drink green or black tea.
• For a Lean, bloat-free STOMACH, drink lots of flat water, make PROTEIN the star of each meal

Read the full article and see how you can use nutrition for a better-looking you.

Functional food, nutraceuticals, healing food– those are just some of the terms used to describe food and dietary supplements that may help boost health and prevent or treat specific diseases. But there is another segment that’s focused on enhancing beauty through nutrition, and these products are called cosmeceuticals. Most are topical, but some are in the form of dietary supplements. It’s like improving your outer beauty from within (I suck at poetry, I know!).

One caveat, though: Cosmeceuticals are not subject to review by the Food and Drug Administration, and though they are tested for safety, no scientific data backs up the manufacturer’s claims regarding its beneficial ingredients (just like other dietary supplements out there in the market).

The most important botanicals pertaining to dermatologic uses, such as cosmeceuticals, include teas, soy, pomegranate, date, grape seed, pycnogenol, horse chestnut, German chamomile, curcumin, comfrey, allantoin, and aloe; only green and black tea, soy, pomegranate, and date have been studied to the extent that clinical trials for the treatment of parameters of extrinsic aging have been published (Thornfeldt, 2005). Few botanical-based cosmeceuticals have uses that are supported by evidence-based science.

Read more about cosmeceuticals from this article written by Dr. Robert Schwartz.

During the last few days, one of the top resolutions I’ve read and heard people make is that they are going to try and eat healthier this year. The way they said it, they sounded like it was some sort of death sentence!

Well, no need to mope, guys! If you’ve been reading this blog, you’ll know by now that healthy food does not necessarily equate to bland, boring, and tasteless stuff you eat just to stave off hunger. Forbes gives us a slideshow, featuring 9 surprisingly healthy foods:

1. Chocolates: Dark ones for your heart, milky ones for your brain.
2. Oils: Saturated fats are just one part of the equation. Some oils are also rich in Vitamin E. “A fat soluble vitamin, it works as an antioxidant and may lower LDL, or bad cholesterol, protect against heart disease and promote healthy skin.”
3. Potatoes: “Red, purple-skinned and sweet potatoes also are high in carotenoids, which protect against lung cancer and help fight heart disease and diabetes.” And scientists are continuously on the hunt for other varieties of phytochemical rich potatoes. Remember my entry on blue potato chips?
4. Nuts and Nut Butters: Walnuts, for example, are even better than olive oil in preventing heart disease, according to a recent study.
5. Coffee: I’ve covered coffee extensively here at EatingFabulous, discussing its benefits on decreasing risks of diabetes, reducing cognitive decline and many more.
6. Bruschetta: “Tomatoes are a great source of lycopene, an antioxidant that can protect against cancer, heart disease and even macular degeneration.” And then there’s the garlic and olive oil, too!
7. Spices: Large doses of cinnamon may help lower blood glucose, and turmeric has been reported to ease pain in arthritis patients, as well as lower risk of colon cancer.
8. Tea: “Studies suggest that many types of tea, including black, green, white or oolong, may help prevent cancer and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease.” There are a number of entries discussing the various health benefits of tea here at EatingFabulous, too!
9. Soups: “Just a cup can sneak more antioxidant-packed vegetables into your diet.” Oh, and yes, chicken soup does wonders, indeed!

C’mon, these are items that are already part of your regime, aren’t they? So it’s not like you’re going to have a need a major diet revision to fulfill that New Year’s resolution. The key, I guess, is simply to eat in moderation. And these are just 9. Trust me, there’s more!