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 …read more

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 …read more

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 …read more

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 …read more

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 …read more

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 …read more

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 …read more

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 …read more

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 …read more

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. …read more