How many times have we mentioned it here– chocolates are good for your health. Need more convincing? then grab the book, Chocolate- A Healthy Passion.
The book explores the origins of chocolate and its place in culture and traditions all over the world, and its health benefits.
Research shows that eating chocolate and natural cocoa may improve vascular health, blood pressure, cognitive health, blood flow, and skin health. According to studies by the USDA, just two tablespoons of natural cocoa have more antioxidant power than 4 cups of green tea, one cup of blueberries or one and a half glasses of …read more

Drats, the month is already halfway through and it is just now that I came across this day-by-day heart healthy tips to lower heart disease risk. That’s 28 ways for the month of February, America’s Heart Health Month, to reduce your risk of having heart disease. Oh well, I suppose, when it comes to health, it’s never too late to start taking steps to improve our lifestyle!

It’s the love-month of February! Planning to prepare some special treats for Valentine’s Day? You can’t go wrong with this! Bittersweet Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cupcakes combine superfoods such as honey, chocolate and raspberries! Not for those counting calories, certainly, but delectable, and antioxidant packed!
Ingredients
• 8 oz. 60% cocoa bittersweet chocolate, divided
• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup pure honey*
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 pint raspberries
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
1. Cut 2 ounces of chocolate into 18 pieces; set aside. Place 6 ounces …read more

It’s Superbowl Weekend! What’s on the menu? Guacamole dips all done?
If you’ve got your guacamole dips recipes all sussed out and you think you’ll have excess avocados, how about whipping up an Avocado Caesar Salad? Or some Avocado Pasta for something more filling than just chips? Or — and this sounds yummy– an Raspberry Avocado Smoothie as a refreshing drink for the morning after (but not for those with hangovers I guess).
Contrary to popular myth, avocados have been documented to actually help ward off cardiovascular disease, as well as Alzheimer’s Disease and cancer because of its high antioxidant content. It …read more

I’ve written about Omega-9 oils previously, but if you’d like more info, I just found out that Dow Agrosciences has created a website solely about Omega-9 Canola and Sunflower Oils. Some pdf files that may be of interest to you:
• Omega 3-6-9 Fact Sheet: What are the differences among omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fats, and how do they add up for better health?
• Frequently Asked Questions: Answers to questions about Omega-9 Oils, what restaurants are using them, their health benefits, and more!
• Oils Comparison Chart: Not all fats are created equal! Click on the chart to compare the profiles of …read more

Whether the public is ready or not, big leaps are happening in the field of nutrigenomics. In a paper published in Nature Genetics, scientists have identified 11 new gene variants (in addition to 19 other previously reported) associated with three blood lipids measured to determine cardiovascular disease risk: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides.
These results indicate that a person may have any combination of these genes which can result to dyslipidemia, i.e., a combo of high LDL and triglyceride levels and extremely low HDL-cholesterol which is linked to cardiovascular disease risks. A personalized dietary plan drafted according …read more

High blood pressure, which often remains unnoticed by those affected, is crucial for the development of cardiovascular disease. Among the carotenoids found in plant foods, lycopene is the most powerful antioxidant in vitro. As shown by Paran and colleagues, lycopene-rich tomatoe extract (Lyc-O-Mato) – when tested in a double blind cross-over study over 6 weeks versus placebo – may help to better control hypertension in patients receiving standard low-dose medication (such as ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers).
“The benefits of our study are in the use of an effective concentration of antioxidants in their natural formulation, tomato extract with all the nutrients …read more

If you can’t or don’t want to drink wine, eat grapes instead; an animal study indicates that
grapes may help lower blood pressure and signs of heart muscle damage, and improve heart function.
The researchers studied the effect of regular table grapes (a blend of green, red, and black grapes) that were mixed into the rat diet in a powdered form, as part of either a high- or low-salt diet. They performed many comparisons between the rats consuming the test diet and the control rats receiving no grape powder — including some that received a mild dose of a common blood-pressure drug. …read more

Here’s another study that justifies that “Heart Healthy” label you see in some whole grain foods: a new study of over 14,000 participants for more than 13 years found that whole grain consumption lowered hear failure risk.
“Although risk estimates were modest (7% lower risk per 1-serving increase in whole grain intake; 8% greater risk per 1-serving increase in high-fat dairy intake; 23% greater risk per 1-serving increase in egg intake), the totality of literature in this area suggests it would be prudent to recommend that those at high risk of HF increase their intake of whole grains and reduce intake …read more

I’ve tried Yo-Plait, but I don’t remember having seen Yo-Plus in our local grocer yet. Sounds like it’s one notch healthier:
Yo-Plus and is the only yogurt available that contains Optibalance™, a blend of special probiotic cultures and a natural fiber. Yo-Plus is a good source of calcium, fiber, Vitamin A and Vitamin D. When compared with Dannon™’s Activia™, only Yo-Plus has the added benefit of dietary fiber for added digestive health benefits, plus vitamins A and D.
Have you tried Yo-Plus yet? No? You can print some coupons for some discount.