Posts Tagged ‘Dark Chocolate’
Eat Dark Chocolate for a Healthy Heart
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The typical recommendations from the health experts tell us to exercise more and eat healthy foods such as whole grains, but one of the results of recent medical research comes to an unexpectedly happy conclusion. The conclusion of that research revealed that eating dark chocolate is very good for our heart’s health. This is very good news for seniors who are concerned about taking preemptive aging steps to foster their cardiovascular health. More recently, some medical researchers in Sweden discovered why consuming dark chocolate is so good for our hearts. They found that folks who consume dark chocolate benefit from its effect on an enzyme that helps to regulate blood pressure and the body’s fluid balance. The dark chocolate inhibits the activity of that enzyme which is nicknamed ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme). In this way the dark chocolate achieves the same effect as the drugs that are designed to lower blood pressure. The tests used to determine the effect that dark chocolate consumption has on the enzyme were performed on volunteers. The researchers measued the activity level of the ACE enzyme in the volunteers before and after eating the chocolate. The volunteers consumed about 2.5 ounces of 72% dark chocolate in the tests. After eating the chocolate the blood tests showed that the ACE activity was nearly 20% lower which is similar to the level achieved by taking the drugs that are designed to lower blood pressure.
Preemptive Aging Foods for Seniors
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Seniors who are concerned about taking preemptive aging steps to safeguard their senior health need to take the first step and choose foods that promote senior health. The foods at the top of the preemptive list are the foods that preempt cancer which is one of the leading enemies of senior health. The good news for seniors is a follows. Foods that preempt cancer are some of the tastiest foods around. In the first place are all the colorful berries that include blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, and so on. Most of the berries contain tumor fighting compounds such as polyphenols and ellagic acid which are the enemies of cancer. Another winner is chocolate as long as it is 70% cocoa which is true for some of dark chocolate bars. It turns out that cocoa contains polyphenols similar to the berries and it also contains antioxidants. As an added bonus, cocoa contains a class of chemicals known as catechins that offer protection against cancer and heart disease. Finally seniors can moderately choose daily to imbibe a glass of red wine for its high concentration of resveratrol content that is provided by the grape skin. The resveratrol contributes in some unknown way to suppress metabolites associated with cancer growth. In summary, drinking a daily glass of red wine, eating some dark chocolate, and consuming a variety of berries throughout the week can provide an array of preemptive aging foods for seniors who are concerned about protecting their senior health against cancer.
