Study: Chocolate could reduce heart risk

By MARIA CHENG (AP) – 13 hours ago

LONDON — The Easter Bunny might lower your chances of having a heart problem. According to a new study, small doses of chocolate every day could decrease your risk of having a heart attack or stroke by nearly 40 percent.

German researchers followed nearly 20,000 people over eight years, sending them several questionnaires about their diet and exercise habits.

They found people who had an average of six grams of chocolate per day — or about one square of a chocolate bar — had a 39 percent lower risk of either a heart attack or stroke. The study is scheduled to be published Wednesday in the European Heart Journal.

Previous studies have suggested dark chocolate in small amounts could be good for you, but this is the first study to track its effects over such a long period of time. Experts think the flavonols contained in chocolate are responsible. Flavonols help the muscles in blood vessels widen, which leads to a drop in blood pressure.

"It's a bit too early to come up with recommendations that people should eat more chocolate, but if people replace sugar or high-fat snacks with a little piece of dark chocolate, that might help," said Brian Buijsse, a nutritional epidemiologist at the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Nuthetal, Germany, the study's lead author.

The people tracked by Buijsse and colleagues had no history of heart problems, had similar habits for risk factors like smoking and exercise, and did not vary widely in their Body Mass Index.

Since the study only observed people and did not give them chocolate directly to test what its effects were, experts said more research was needed to determine the candy's exact impact on the body. The study was paid for by the German government and the European Union.

Doctors also warned that eating large amounts of chocolate could lead to weight gain, a major risk factor for heart problems and strokes.

"Basic science has demonstrated quite convincingly that dark chocolate ... improves vascular and platelet function," said Frank Ruschitzka in a statement, a cardiologist at the University Hospital Zurich and spokesman for the European Society of Cardiology. "However, before you rush to add dark chocolate to your diet, be aware that 100 grams of dark chocolate contains roughly 500 calories."

Buijsse said people hoping to benefit from chocolate's heart healthy effects should cut out other snacks and sweets if they wanted to eat chocolate. "The biggest problem with this is not to gain weight," said Buijsse. "Eating too much chocolate will have negative effects that far outweigh the positive effects of cocoa."

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.



Dr. Elson Haas On Spring Cleansing!

In 2006, I heard Dr. Elson Haas speak as I was studying at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
One element that stayed with me about Dr. Haas' lecture was a sense that he was in very good balance, and as he spoke I understood that for him - internal balance came with being in touch with the ancient tradition of healing with the seasons. Each season calls us to focus on a different part of our life, environment, diet, and inner self. Here is a selection he wrote on Springtime which describes my inspirations for tying Spring Cleansing with our Spring Collection! Enjoy!

From Dr. Elson M. Haas, M.D. 's book : Staying Healthy with the Seasons

"All is restored with life ant the beginning of spring. That which is found within us in winter surfaces and wants to come forth in the full bloom of spring [...] The beginning of spring is March 21st, the time of the spring equinox, when day equals night. [...] You may now feel a new spark and power, and be filled with inspiration and energy to act upon your ideas. This is a good time to take a look at your life and make a new plan. What do you want to clear out as the past in your environment and within yourself - and what do you wish to see happen this year? This can be a new start!

Take a little time to write a new health/life plan, including goals for how you wish to feel and what you would like to do and see happen. Let those dreams blossom. Spring is the greening season. It is the time for planting. After the rain and snow of winter, the seeds begin to sprout from the depths of the soil, trees bud, and nature awakens in her green, flowering beauty. New growth in our lives, relationships, and work is stimulated now as well. We and nature will flourish this season.

In the Chinese system of the Five Elements, the spring season w correlated with the element Wood, which foverns the galbladder and liver. [Hence our use of liver detoxifying medicinal herbs and tart berries in our Spring Collection...] The Wood element is associated with the sour flavor, and the Nei Ching says, 'the liver craves the sour flavor." Some sour foods will nourish the liver; too much can cause problems. [...] With springtime, there is an opporutnity to look at old patters in your life with a new awareness. So, let's look at a most important energy source for you, your body's fuel - food. The way you eat is a significant part of a healthy diet. Taking a special moment to relax before eating perpares your body to receive the full nourishment of your meal.

The springtime seems to be the best time for a major cleansing, drinking nourishing liquids, such as fruit and vegetable juices, for a period of five to ten days or longer. [...] Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is another good springtime healer. The greens, very nourishing and high in Vitamin A, are good in salads or used to make tea. The root (used in our Spring Collection) is a blood and kidney cleanser, particularly a liver cleanser and tonic, as well as a diuretic.

Summary: Making contact with your creative self is vital to spring harmony. Who are you inside? What do you need to express to feel free? You are continually creating your life ; be aware of this, and dance and play the tune that you are! As you can see, a lot is going on in the springtime of life. It is important to clear out the past to create spaces for the future to come into being now."