Weight Loss Made Easy

Chocolate can be a real \”Heart Healthy\” Treat!

Adding healthy chocolate to a healthy diet could make your heart healthier. According to recent medical research, you could indulge your sweet tooth and ward off heart disease and heart attacks at the same time.

So what is it in the sweet stuff that gives it a healthy kick? Medical researchers have stated it is the flavonoids in chocolate that can lead to improvement of vascular function. Dark chocolate contains more flavonoids than lighter chocolate. Processing and adding milk to chocolate to create what we buy as milk chocolate, can inhibit the absorption of flavonoids and also reduces the content of this key healthy ingredient. So the benefit gained by eating chocolate is mainly found in dark chocolate and cocoa.

In one new study, consumption of cocoa in healthy volunteers, aged 18 to 77, resulted in significant improvement in their vascular responsiveness. (The measure the researchers used looked at the \”stiffness\” of blood vessels. In patients whose blood vessels are \”stiff,\” hypertension is common.) The beneficial effect was most noticeable in patients who were over 50 years of age.

The flavonoids found in dark chocolate act as an antioxidant. As explained by Discovery Health, antioxidants are nutrients and enzymes that fight the effects of the natural process of oxidation and the potential damage done by free radicals.

So what is the healthy ingredient that gave this cardiovascular health boost? It is something called flavonoids, and it is found primarily in dark chocolate. Milk chocolate does not contain as many flavonoids, because they are lost in the processing of this type of chocolate. Milk in the chocolate can also prevent some of the absorption of flavonoids, Therefore, cocoa and dark chocolate provide the most improvement in vascular function.

According to Dr. Ronald Buhler, an Oregon State University researcher: Antioxidants can play a role in preventing or reducing the effects of oxidation, thus counteracting the damage done by free radicals. Examples of antioxidant nutrients include vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin E and selenium.

These medical studies on the health benefits of dark chocolate that is high in phenols is changing the trend in chocolate production by major brands. It is even starting to change the way chocolate is brought to the consumer, and the way it\’s marketed. The wave of change is towards a trend in offering organic chocolate. One of the most recent examples is the Kraft Foods acquisition of Green & Black, a company known for selling chocolate that comes from sustainable farms and contains a high percentage of cacao.

How do you know what the content of cacao is? Sometimes it is prominent on the chocolate packaging. Other times, you have to look closer at the label for the ingredients and percentage of cacao in the chocolate. There are more antioxidants in chocolate with a higher cacao percentage, which is the percentage of the bar that comes from the cacao bean.

As with most good things, however, it is good to take your mom\’s advice on this one–\”everything in moderation.\” You should limit your daily intake of chocolate, and it should be part of a healthy and balanced diet. There are a lot of calories in chocolate, and obesity can negate any health benefit of the treat. Talking to your doctor or a nutritionist will give you the best idea of how much chocolate you are able to integrate into your daily diet.

Healthy Chocolate is here! As part of a sensible diet, chocolate is emerging as a new health snack! Long sought as the world\’s great comfort snack, chocolate now appears to provide additional health benefits. Visit the Healthy Chocolate Shop webpage today for more background and information! Also published at Chocolate And A Healthy Heart.

Canada is undoubtedly one of the most diverse countries in the world. Second in size only to Russia it is the largest country in North America. This size and diversity can be seen in its people, its products, and of course its food. This carries over into its restaurants and eateries. Like almost all countries, Canada has a lot of different national blends in its cuisine. Also like other countries they use their individuality to put a spin on all of the different national foods. They also have their own unique dishes.

There are large portions of Canada that have an extremely strong French influence in both culture and cooking. It is not strange to find both French restaurants and a strong french impression in their foods. Even though the French are so ingrained in Canada you can still find traditional Canadian things in their dishes.

Very close the the United States in history, Canada has had a large Chinese population for most of its growth. While working on a Canadian railroad the Chinese of course adapted their own favorites to suit the cooking times and ingredients that this area had to offer. Also this taste carried over into both Chinese full service eateries and fast food establishments. This tradition still remains in most of this country.

There are also Canadian influenced Greek establishments in almost all the provinces of Canada. Even though there is a huge difference between ingredients the resourceful immigrants adapted them to their own cooking. This gave rise to Greek establishments as well.

Some foods served in popular restaurants are specific just to Canada. Like any country this one has its very own specialties and dishes. One very interesting food served in many of the diner style establishments across the country is call poutine. This dish definitely deserves a closer look.

Poutine is a French fry dish that immediately brings to mind fast food. Of course it has a definite twist. It is topped with cheese curd and basically what ever else happens to be around. Like American trash fries it sometimes is covered in gravy and different meats. It is worth a try if you are a French fry fan.

Some of the top Canadian restaurants are very regional. Of course the sea food is centered around the coastlines, which are both extensive and teaming with cold water fish. The interior features game meats and cattle as well as vegetables grown in the rich Canadian soil. This is not to say that all foods and food styles are not available.

No matter what you are craving you can find it in Canadian restaurants usually with a decisively Canadian flair. Not only is Canada a cultural melting pot but they enjoy the tastes from every corner of the world. Like all countries Canada puts its own special spin on the fair that they serve.

Hungry for some delicious Chinese food? Then visit your local Chinese restaurants and supermarkets for tasty oriental treats and meals that will always fill your appetite!