![]() Chocolate Seduction, Natural Health Benefits of the Cocoa Bean |
A red heart shaped box of chocolates is an iconic gift shared on Valentine's Day. With its ancient traditions and legends chocolate has a long history as the food of luxury, pleasure and
romance.
The cocoa tree was discovered by indigenous people in
the jungles of the Central America nearly 3000 years ago. Since then the cocoa bean, chocolate and the foods that contained them were always prized and enjoyed. Cocoa beans were used as a mode of
currency by the Mayan and Aztec people. The use of cocoa was sacred to the Mayans. Cocoa was reserved for important occasions and religious ceremonies. Cocoa was said to be the "food of the
Gods".
Between 1502 and 1504, on his fourth expedition to the Americas, while in Nicaragua, Christopher Columbus became the first European to sample the sacred cocoa bean. He obtained several cases of cocoa
beans while raiding the cargo of a Mayan merchant. Believing that cocoa, was a type of almond and that it may be valuable, Columbus brought them to Europe. However, the Europeans did not know how to
prepare the beans, thus they were discarded. It took another voyage in 1519, this time by the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes, for cocoa to become viewed as a delicacy amongst Europeans. Mistaking
Cortes for a god, the Aztec Emperor Montezuma introduced Cortes to a drink called "chocolatl" that was served in a goblet of gold. The Aztecs believed that cocoa beans were a gift from the heavens
and eating the fruit of the cocoa tree would bring power and wisdom.
Today, presenting someone with a box of chocolates symbolizes appreciation and love, but it was not always viewed this way. Many ancient traditions associate chocolate with love and it seemed that
chocolate exhibited aphrodisiac qualities. For that reason, the Aztecs prohibited women from eating cocoa. Actual chocolate candies were first manufactured in 1824 by George Cadbury. However, because
chocolate was considered an aphrodisiac, it was deemed to be inappropriate for the ladies. A man bestowing a box of chocolates to a lady at would have been an offensive act. Chocolates were only
given to prostitutes of that time.
Newly rediscovered Health Benefits of Chocolate and the Cocoa Bean
Cocoa beans are rich in many essential minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, iron, copper, potassium, zinc and manganese. Women who crave chocolate are often magnesium depleted. The pleasure of eating chocolate is not only because of its rich
taste melting in your mouth. Chocolate actually has several chemicals that stimulate our brain and make us happy. Specifically these include PEA (phenylethylamine), tryptophan, theobromine and
caffeine. Another chemical found in chocolate is anandamide that has a similar effect to cannabinoids (narcotic like substances) on our brain. The chemical anandamide stimulates pleasure sensors,
promotes relaxation and was found to inhibit human breast cancer cell proliferation (though there are only trace quantities present in chocolate).
It's no wonder people claim that eating chocolate makes them feel less stressed out and easies their depression. Women have been found to exhibit greater sensitivity to chocolate's mood enhancing
properties when compared to men. Due to the fact that these constituents of chocolate improve our mood and make us feel "in love", chocolate continues to be considered by many as an aphrodisiac.
Chocolate for the Heart, Cocoa improves more then our emotions
The newest scientific studies on the health value of cacao and chocolate are proving that chocolate is literally good for our hearts. Chocolate is a very rich source of polyphenols, powerful
anti-oxidants that protect our cardiovascular health. The higher the cocoa content in the chocolate the higher the
ORAC value. Dark chocolate containing more cocoa usually has an ORAC value of around 13,000. For the greatest health benefits choose chocolate that has at least 70 percent cocoa content. Cocoa
polyphenols decrease the levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase levels of HDL (good) cholesterol contributing to healthy cholesterol levels. Cocoa
polyphenols also lower insulin resistance.
In addition, the polyphenols found in chocolate have a very beneficial effect on the arterial wall improving its elasticity and blood flow as well as preventing platelet aggregation therefore
protecting against heart attack and stroke. Chocolate polyphenols prevent the inactivation of nitric oxide making it more bio-available. The well known drug Viagra that treats erectile dysfunction
(ED) works by enhancing nitric oxide pathways in a similar way to that of chocolate polyphenols. It is said that Emperor Montezuma
consumed as much as 50 goblets of chocolate a day. This may have kept his libido on especially high levels and Montezuma was known for having a very large harem that included hundreds of
wives.
Nowadays, chocolate isn't what it use to be. Once only reserved for kings and powerful rulers, a "gift from paradise", chocolate is now consumed on a massive global scale by millions of people. The
chocolate craze has sparked the growth of an immense cocoa industry and there is something you should know about the world's most seductive sweet.
The Dark Side of Chocolate
You may want to think twice before you indulge in that box of chocolates…
it may contain more guilt then you realize.
The cocoa tree needs a very specific environment in order to produce cocoa beans. Cocoa trees require a shaded plot of land, temperature of at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit and high humidity with over
80 inches of rainfall. Ideal locations that fit this description just happen to be tropical rainforests. The majority of chocolate consumed today comes from cocoa farms that are situated on what once
use to be bio-diverse rainforest ecosystems. It is estimated that cocoa production is responsible for the deforestation of 8 million hectares of tropical rainforests including those in Brazil, Peru,
Indonesia, Cameroon Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Ecuador (source: World Wildlife Fund, WWF, Hardner et al. 1999). This type of deforestation is accountable for the release of tons of Co2
into our atmosphere and further amplifies the devastating effects of the climactic imbalance.
How dirty is your chocolate bar? It may be tinted with a child's blood.
Slavery was abolished, right? Not in the sweet production of chocolate.
One of the most controversial aspects of the chocolate industry is the prevalent exploitation of children in cocoa
production. Specifically cocoa imported from Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), which supplies 46 percent of the world's cocoa, may be gathered using child labor. UNICEF reported that Ivory
Coast farmers use enslaved children from neighboring regions and force them to work through hundred-hour weeks in inhumane conditions. If a child attempts to escape, he or she is then severely
punished and brutally beaten. Another report from BBC stated that children under the age of 11 are forced to carry sacs with kilos of cocoa so heavy that open wounds form over their shoulders.
These facts were acknowledged by the Chocolate Manufactures Association which admitted that some of the cocoa had indeed been gathered by child slaves. Many international chocolate manufacturers
including Hershey's, Nestle, and Cadbury acquire cocoa that has been grown in the Ivory Coast. Maybe we should pause a moment before we take a bite of our favorite chocolate bar or mix ourselves a
nice cup of hot chocolate. You simply may be consuming more then cocoa. A little something extra that's not mentioned on the ingredient list. This chocolate may possibly have the blood, sweat and
tears of enslaved children on it. Are you still addicted to it now?
In 2008 Fortune magazine stated "little progress has been made" to act upon the current conditions under which coca continues to be produced.
Therefore, you should only purchase chocolate products that use certified fair trade and sustainably cultivated cocoa. In fact, sustainable agriculture methods for growing cocoa provide the farmer a
higher standard of living, encourage other farmers to restore deforested areas and do not use child labor.
![]() Bones, the Foundation of the Body |
Bones are the only part of your body that will virtually outlast every aspect of your life. In a hundred, thousand, even millions of years, there is a good chance that your bones will still be
here. If only the rest of your body could last that long...
Nutrients, hormones and physical movement maintain our bones in good health and are the essential
factors that influence proper bone development. After all, bones are the support of the human body and the infrastructure of the musculoskeletal system. Even after they stop growing in size, our
bones are being continuously changed and rebuilt.
The process in which old and worn bone tissue is replaced by new healthy bone cells in known as bone remodeling. Minerals that are the building blocks of bones, vitamins that assist bone metabolism
(including vitamin
D and vitamin K) and hormones such as testosterone, estrogens and progesterone that support
correct bone formation must remain in balance to assure healthy bone remodeling.
Different forms of weight bearing exercises (such as push-ups and squats with added weights) that place resistance and involve muscles pulling and pushing against the bones enhance the bone
remodeling process. Studies suggest that these types of weight bearing exercises do more then simply prevent bone diseases including osteoporosis; these exercises may actually help replace current
bone loss.
Diseases and age can slow down bone tissue replacement, especially when it comes to new bone development. This can lead to weak, less dense bone formation and conditions such as osteopenia and
osteoporosis. People with low bone density are predisposed to fractures.
The importance of nutrition for the growth of strong bones is not a new concept. Significance of calcium in a diet is well-known to everybody. An average American diet usually provides adequate
amounts of calcium. However, if there is a low level of vitamin D in the body, calcium cannot be properly incorporated into the bone.
Nutritional factors and hormonal imbalances that affect bone loss:
Women after menopause are at an increased risk for bone density loss due to a decline in hormones such as estrogens and progesterone. Postmenopausal women therefore are advised by their doctors to increase
their calcium intake, either through diet or nutritional supplements. This scenario may actually be dangerous. If an adequate amount of vitamin D is not present, then calcium cannot be integrated
into the bone. This unabsorbed calcium is referred to as "circulating calcium". An excess of circulating calcium levels can be deposited in the arterial walls causing stiffening of the arteries. In
addition, a surplus of circulating calcium can create kidney stones and breasts calcifications.
Studies show that an overload of calcium and a lack of vitamin D can increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and hypertension in postmenopausal women. Young women who drink excessive amounts of
carbonated soda beverages are also at risk for decreased bone density due to an imbalance of the calcium to phosphorus ratio.
Many believe that osteoporosis is a disease of women after menopause; however men
over the age of 50 are also at risk for osteoporosis due to a decline in androgenic hormones such as testosterone and DHEA.
Allopathic medicine addresses osteoporosis with prescription drugs such as Fossamax® and Actonel® (known as bisphosphonates). These drugs increase binding of calcium into the bone. This makes the
bone harder, denser, but less flexible and easier to break. Unfortunately, bisphoshonates have very serious side-effects, the most infamous being "jaw death" (a condition in which bone tissue in the
jaw cannot heal after minor injury like a dental procedure). Bisphoshonates have also been known to increase one's risk for esophageal cancer and cardiac arrhythmia.
So why would anybody risk such devastating negative outcomes with prescription drugs when more effective natural treatments for preventing and reversing osteoporosis are readily available?
These natural alternatives and therapies for ensuring bone health include:
1. Natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy - BHRT through the use of
bioidentical hormones strengthens bone structure by preventing bone loss and restoring bone
tissue that already has been lost. Bioidentical hormones have been effectively used in the
treatment of osteoporosis for both men during andropause and postmenopausal women.2. Mineral supplements - consisting of calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, strontium, boron,
silicon, zinc, manganese and copper, facilitate proper levels of bone specific nutrients needed
for the development of healthy bones.3. Vitamins that support bone health - vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and
vitamin A. These specific vitamins are required for bone remodeling as they allow for the
satisfactory incorporation of minerals into the bones.4. Adequate protein - protein will sustain collagen support in the bones. Collagen acts as a
connective tissue for bone cells. However, an excess of protein can cause the body's acidity
level to increase that results in accelerate calcium loss from the bone.
Hormones play a very important role in correct bone formation and metabolism. Hormones that have a profound influence on the health of bones are
steroid hormones such as DHEA, testosterone, estrogens, progesterone. Other hormones include thyroid hormones, cortisol, human growth hormone
HGH, calcitonin and parathyroid hormone.
Women at menopause and men during andropause (male menopause) who take nutritional supplements for bone health, exercise regularly and
are on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can enjoy strong and healthy bones for years to come.
<< MORE >>
![]() Natural HGH (Human Growth Hormone) |
When someone discovers the fountain of youth what do you expect them to do? Keep it for themselves of course.
HGH has always been a taboo in the medical society. Its use restricted, its benefits controlled.
"In the United States, off-label distribution or marketing of GH to treat aging or aging-related conditions, and for the enhancement of athletic performance is illegal and punishable by
imprisonment."
- (American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists)
Growth hormone replacement in the adult
population remains controversial, especially if used for anti-aging therapies. However, approximately 30 percent of HGH prescriptions in the US are for the treatment of adults with growth hormone
deficiency due to aging.
The use of HGH (human growth hormone) for anti-aging purposes started to gain popularity after Dr. Daniel Rudman's famous HGH study that was published on July 5
1990 in the New England Journal of Medicine. In his study Dr. Daniel Rudman documented significant benefits of HGH replacement in
the aging population. Additional proof of the safety and effectiveness of utilizing human growth hormone for anti-aging purposes was presented in 1993 by American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.
Until recently, allopathic physicians and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) were against the implementation of HGH (human growth
hormone) in treating any adults with growth hormone deficiency, even those who suffered from GHD (growth hormone deficiency) due to a pituitary gland disease.
However, in November 2009, the AACE issued new guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of growth hormone deficiency. Growth hormone deficiency is described as: a condition in which human growth
hormone is secreted in lower then normal values for the appropriate age and sex.
In their new guidelines, the AACE acknowledges that growth hormone deficiency in adults increases one's risks for cardiovascular disease as well as osteoporosis and that low levels of growth hormone are
associated with diminished quality of life. It has been also recognized by AACE that head trauma and traumatic brain injury contribute to growth hormone deficiency.
The October 2009 AACE Guidelines State:
THE SYNDROME OF GHD (GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY) IN ADULTS
Adult GHD is a recognized clinical syndrome associated with abnormal body composition, reduced
physical performance, altered lipid metabolism, decreased bone mass, increased insulin resistance,
and reduced QOL (Quality of Life).
CONSEQUENCES OF UNTREATED GHD
Cardiovascular complications
Previous epidemiologic studies have shown that hypopituitarism in adults may be associated with
increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rates. GH-deficient adults have an increased number
of atheromatous plaques in carotid and femoral arteries.
Metabolic complications
Patients with GHD (Growth Hormone Deficiency) have increased visceral fat and elevated levels of
total and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Adults with GHD have also been consistently shown to
have reduced skeletal muscle and lean body mass and increased fat mass with central distribution of
fat mostly in the visceral compartment being associated with an increased risk of mortality and
morbidity from cardiovascular disease. Adults with GHD demonstrated fasting insulin levels above the
normal reference range.
Therefore, in treating adults with GHD, physicians should consider evaluating the fasting glucose,
hemoglobin A1c, fasting lipid profile, body composition through the measurements of BMI, waist
circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and lean and fat mass quantification using DEXA scans at baseline
and periodically during GH treatment, since these factors are the main parameters that are impacted
if adult GHD is untreated.
Osteopenia / Osteoporosis
There have been studies showing that treating GH-deficient adults with GH therapy improved BMD
and reduced fracture risk.
Quality of life
The majority of studies have shown that adults with COGHD (Childhood Onset Growth Hormone
Deficiency) and AOGHD (Adulthood Onset Growth Hormone Deficiency) experience diminished QOL
(Quality of Life). Reductions in physical and mental energy, dissatisfaction with body image, and poor
memory have been reported.
These new 2009 guidelines for adult growth hormone supplementation are validation of the safety and effectiveness of HGH human growth hormone. Like other bioidentical hormones (testosterone, DHEA,
progesterone,
estrogens, thyroid hormones, cortisol), human growth hormone when replaced in adult growth hormone
deficient patients, can generate significant health benefits such as decreasing risk for cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. It can also significantly improve quality
of life in those who are growth hormone deficient. Growth hormone significantly decreases during our adult years and can be very low in the elderly. However, despite the well documented health
benefits and safety of HGH (human growth hormone) replacement, the AACE doesn't recognize age-related decline in growth hormone as an indication for treatment.
There continues to be a lack of research concerning the effects of HGH replacement therapy on the aging human body. Further scientific studies are mandated in order to be able to accurately determine
whether human growth hormone truly possess its legendary "fountain of youth" properties.
You can naturally boost your body's growth hormone production through a Healthy Lifestyle.
Research has shown that the majority of people will develop some degree of visual impairment as they grow older. The primary cause of age related blindness is macular degeneration. Macular
degeneration can lead to total loss of vision over time. Conventional allopathic medicine is helpless in addressing this condition. There is no successful treatment for age-related macular
degeneration (AMD). However, nutritional interventions through a healthy diet and natural
nutritional supplements offer an effective approach to the prevention of macular degeneration. The most important supplements for optimal ocular health and vision support are
antioxidants from the carotenoids
group such as lutein and zeaxanthin, and omega 3 fatty essential fatty acids.
Clinical trails established a significant role of B vitamins in helping vision preservation.
Age related macular degeneration is caused by degenerative atherosclerotic changes in the arteries of the eye. Homocysteine plays a major role in the process of degeneration of ocular blood vessels.
Elevated homocysteine levels increase one's risk of age related macular degeneration. Healthy homocysteine metabolism is dependent on B vitamins, especially:
vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folic
acid. Therefore, low levels of these B vitamins are assocaited with elevated homocysteine.
Recent scientific studies have also linked the importance of hormonal balance to proper vision and eye health. Hormonal imbalances can cause macular degenerated that leads
to impaired eye health and vision loss.
The retina of the eye contains hormone receptors. The retina can also make its own hormones such as DHEA from
molecules of cholesterol. Patients with macular degeneration were found to have very low levels of the hormone DHEA.
The ability of the retina to produce its own hormones can be altered by the following:
It was observed that women who enter menopause at a
younger then average menopausal age are at an increased risk for developing macular degeneration due to a decline in the hormones
estrogen and progesterone. Drugs that lower estrogen levels such as Tamoxifen (a drug used in the treatment of breast cancer)
can lead to macular degeneration that results in damage to the retina of the eye.
Restoring hormonal balance to youthful levels can prevent macular degeneration and even improve an early stage of macular degeneration.
To protect your eye health and preserve your vision you need to:
Restoring healthy hormonal balance through bioidentical hormones and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is vital for ocular health and vision
support.
Only bioidentical hormones are known to contain these vision protective properties. Research
has shown that synthetic
hormones do not provide the same beneficial effects on the health of the eye as oppose to bioidentical hormones.
![]() Natural Vitamin D the Sunshine Vitamin |
![]() Do You Really Need a Flu Shot? |
As the so called "flu season" approaches, people are lining up for flu shots. Ads in the media urge everyone to get a flu shot. The frightening news of flu vaccine shortages place many people in panic mode. And pharmaceutical companies that produce the flu vaccines make multimillion dollar profits.
Flu shots will not assure that you will remain healthy throughout the flu season. Flu vaccines have many limitations. They are not very specific due to the very frequent mutations of flu viruses. Also, many illnesses that are called "flu" are not caused by the influenza virus. Even when you get a flu shot, you still can catch a cold, get throat infection, sinusitis or upper respiratory infections that are caused by other viruses or bacteria.
The better the health of your immune system, the lower your risk for infectious diseases.
Antioxidants are always beneficial especially in balancing the immune system. Antioxidants aid the body by reducing the risk for flu and colds. In addition, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, etc.) by improving phase II liver detoxification, protect the body against infections and toxins including those produced by viruses and bacteria.
You can greatly improve the health of your immune system through the use of natural nutritional supplements.
Vitamin C is well known to possess anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Many dangerous infectious diseases (including West Nile virus, and HIV) were successfully treated with vitamin C. In order to be effective, the dose of vitamin C must be higher then 3,000 mg per day.
For the body to be able to better tolerate these higher doses of vitamin C, buffered vitamin C is recommended. Vitamin C does not create dangerous side effects even at higher dose and is considered to be safe. For the best utilization by the body, vitamin C should be taken in multiple doses of 1,000 mg several times per day.
Vitamin A becomes a natural antibiotic when taken at higher doses of 60,000 to 100,000 units per day. However due to the fact that vitamin A is stored by the body, it can be used at these high doses for a few days only. (Caution: Pregnant women should avoid high doses of vitamin A).
Vitamin D is a very important defense against influenza. Studies showed that vitamin D supplementation prevents influenza better then a flu shot. Individuals with low levels of vitamin D are especially predisposed to getting the flu and upper respiratory infections. The sun's UV rays reduce the incidence of viral respiratory infections. During the winter months in northern regions, it is impossible to get adequate sunlight, therefore vitamin D supplements are an important factor in maintaining your health through the winter.
Zinc helps improve immune function; however many over-the-counter zinc containing cold medicines, especially topical sprays have been associated with permanent smell loss and therefore should be avoided. Since zinc is a mineral, thus in order for your body to be able to absorb it, zinc should be taken in a chelated form. A chelated zinc supplement means that the molecules of zinc have been broken down into the smallest form for maximum absorption.
By keeping your immune system in good balance, you may avoid many viral and bacterial infections in a natural way without the risk of side effects from flu shots that contain toxic elements such as aluminum, mercury and formaldehyde among others.<< MORE >>
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