MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'dark chocolate'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:11:03 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762799&cid=t_131631_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F28%2F10-quick-stress-busters%2F Stress is like dark chocolate. A little of it won’t kill you. In fact, small blocks here and there can be good for you, or at least give you a reason to get of bed in the morning. But chronic and severe stress can damage your body and mind, blocking the fluid communication to and from most organs — especially in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and in the limbic system, the brain’s emotional center. Believe me, you want these two systems–much like the House and Senate — running as smoothly as possible, with low levels of the delinquent stress hormones in your bloodstream. Which is why I have handy some tress busters. I use an average of five a day. Today I’m using all ten. Here they are, and good luck! 1. Simplify. Cut your to-do list in ha... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762799 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:11:39 +0100 4762799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275395&cid=t_131631_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2010%2F12%2F21%2Fdark-chocolate-receptor%2F They tested the protection of epicatechin on heart infarct size in mice. Epicatechin is a flavinoid and a major component of dark chocolate. It has antioxydant effects associated with a lower risk of stroke and heart failure. Epicatechin can bind to opiod receptors that can induce heart protection, moreover it can induce cardiac protection from ischemia-reperfusion injury with a heart attack. What they did was treat mice with epicatechin and naloxone alone and a combination of both. Naloxone is an opiod antagonist. Infarct size was significantly reduced in the epicatechin group, this effect was attenuated when administered together with naloxone. These data suggest that the protective efect of epicatechin is mediated by the opiod receptor. This is the first demonstration of a receptor-medi... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275395 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 06:22:06 +0100 4275395 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632246&cid=t_131631_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F181211%2F Chocolate-y, Healthy, and Free! Don’t forget to enter Blisstree’s Exclusive Better Oats™ Oatmeal Giveaway – Just leave a comment about your favorite way to eat oatmeal by this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, and you could win a whole case of Better Oats™ Lavish Dark Chocolate Oatmeal! Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632246 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:25:28 +0100 3632246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3621959&cid=t_131631_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FHpBKrixmcew%2F Surprising health benefits of dark chocolate promoted to healthcare professionals – alternate to antioxidants in alcohol. Doctors, dietitians and nutritionists are being promoted the health benefits of dark chocolate in the new Switch to Dark campaign. A Switch To Dark campaign highlighting the health benefits of consuming small portions of dark chocolate has been launched in leading healthcare publications, which include the Australian Doctor and Medical Observer; the Dietitians Association of Australia as well as the "prescriber’s bible", MIMS. Emerging evidence suggests that dark chocolate is a surprisingly rich source of antioxidants which may contribute to some health benefits. "The evidence is there, that dark chocolate is a good alternative to milk choc... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3621959 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:50:00 +0100 3621959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3534042&cid=t_131631_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F05%2Ffive-foods-to-consider.html I don’t write much about food choices. But believe me, as a person with diabetes (and gluten intolerance), I struggle with them all the time. We PWDs are used to hearing the “generic” nutritional suggestions from our dietitians and CDEs: don’t eat too much sugar, eat lots of veggies, drink water, etc. But what about [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3534042 Wed, 05 May 2010 13:00:32 +0100 3534042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3524120&cid=t_131631_88_f&fid=38958&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yourerdoc.com%2Feverything-bad-for-you-is-now-good%2F News Alert! Everything Bad For You is Now Good Great news! All of my former guilty pleasures have turned out to be health foods. Instead of fearing that my addiction to dark chocolate, coffee and red wine is leading me to premature death, I am in fact increasing my life span, and reducing my chance of many horrible diseases. Yes! Take coffee. I cannot function in the morning until I’ve had a large cup, sometimes two. I’ve always felt bad about this, knowing that I am dependent on the tasty black liquid, and its stimulant effects. My family understands that each morning during the pre-coffee phase, I will be unable to communicate effectively, beyond some basic grunting noises. I shuffle around, scratching and muttering while the beans are grinding and the water is percolating. I... Your ER Doc blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3524120 Sat, 01 May 2010 19:29:19 +0100 3524120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370495&cid=t_131631_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2010%2F03%2F16%2Fchocolate-against-stress%2F 40 grams of dark chocolate per day reduces the urinary excretion of the stress hormone cortisol and it almost normalizes the stress related differences in energy metabolism and gut microbial activities between participants with low and high anxiety traits. You are what you eat, it has been described how dietary preferences is associated with metabolic processes in healthy subjects. How does dark chocolate, by some considered to be a very healthy, affect the human metabolism? A number of studies have shown cardiovascular benefits of eating flavanol rich cocoa. In a recent post I discussed the possible underlying mechanisms of these cardioprotective properties of chocolate. The mechanism of action of chocolate at the molecular level are poorly understood. In this recent study the metabolic c... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370495 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:28:42 +0100 3370495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3306916&cid=t_131631_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2010%2F02%2F25%2Fthe-essence-of-chocolate%2F Nutrition had a very nice and comprehensive editorial on the essence of chocolate. It mentions the recently discovered profitable effects of chocolate on the human physiology often mentioned on this blog. In short: Reduction of blood pressure by 6 grams of dark chocolate per day. Probably due to the flavonol epicatechin Reduction of platelet and endothelial cell activation Reduction of inflammatory mediators It can also inhibit oral caries It can cross the blood brain barrier and increase cerebral blood flow in humans Rightly the authors question the effects of chocolate on mood and it’s possible addictive potential. As written before on this blog, chocolate is not an antidepressant and chocolate craving is a difficult concept consisting of different features. The authors explain t... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3306916 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:32:45 +0100 3306916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3063320&cid=t_131631_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2009%2F12%2F07%2Fhow-much-chocolate-do-we-eat%2F From the graphic above and down under you can see for each country how much chocolate per person per year (2007) was consumed in kilos. Found this graphic on the site of Alpha Galileo Europe’s site of research news, thanks to David Bradley (@sciencebase). Eighteen EU countries were among the world’s top 26 chocolate confectioneries consumers in 2007, ranking from 11.85 kg eaten per capita in Ireland, to 4.5 kg in France and 1.04 kg in Poland. The EU 27 consumed in total 2.5 million tons of chocolate products that year, which account for around half of the global consumption world-wide The post is also about a new method to analyze fats used in the making of chocolate. This is important because according to the Chocolate Directive (Directive 2000/36/EC) it’s only allowed... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3063320 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:59:48 +0100 3063320 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2838982&cid=t_131631_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F28%2F6-healthy-habits-that-can-make-you-sick%2F I dance the Macarena whenever I come across an article that argues against healthy living. I cautioned you against too much positive thinking a few days ago. I laughed while reading research about dark chocolate firing up the happy brain. And I high fived the doctors who warn folks against too much sunscreen — because it blocks the vitamin D that all of us need. I hate that stuff and was looking long and hard for an excuse not to look like a clown this summer. Thank you! I’ve even performed the opposite of an intervention with one of my friends last week who was foolishly trying to give up alcohol and nicotine at the same time. “No, no, no,” I told her. “You can’t do both of these together and expect to keep friends. Now I suggest you go pour yourself a ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2838982 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:43:58 +0100 2838982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2800494&cid=t_131631_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FL8Van4mRm9k%2F This study is by no means definitive as there are many variables that weren’t taken into account, such as mental health. The researchers also didn’t qualify what type of chocolate was eaten and this could be an important factor because milk chocolate and dark chocolate are quite different in properties. ~~~~ Images: PhotoXpress.com Post from: Blisstree Chocolate After Heart Attack = Good Thing (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2800494 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:23:06 +0100 2800494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2634465&cid=t_131631_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FsxOcXKxe8o8%2F I just found a call for a study I’d volunteer for but - alas - I don’t fit the criteria, nor do I don’t live in Norwich, Norfolk in the United Kingdom. Researchers there are looking in to the health effects of dark chocolate and they’re recruiting 40 non-smoking women, 75 years or younger, who are postmenopausal (no menstrual period for at least a year), who have type 2 diabetes, and who have been taking cholesterol-lowering medications. The goal is to find if specially made chocolate, with flavonoid compounds, helps decrease the chances of the women developing heart disease. The trade-off for eating chocolate every day is that the women have to fill out questionnaires about their health, have a scan of their arteries, and have regular urine and blood tests. A simil... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2634465 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:02:57 +0100 2634465 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2621852&cid=t_131631_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F21%2F5-ways-to-practice-gratitude-an-interview-with-sonja-lyubomirsky%2F Today’s interview is with happiness expert Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., who is Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside and the author of “The How of Happiness.” In 2002, Lyubomirsky was awarded a Templeton Positive Psychology Prize. Currently, she holds a 5-year million-dollar grant (with Ken Sheldon) from the National Institute of Mental Health to conduct research on the possibility of permanently increasing happiness. Her research has been written up in dozens of magazines and newspapers and she has appeared in multiple TV shows, radio shows, and feature documentaries in North America and Europe. Question: I know that gratitude is one key component of happiness, and you mention keeping a gratitude journal, where you regularly write down the thing... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2621852 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:32:12 +0100 2621852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376220&cid=t_131631_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F27%2Fchocolate-and-mood-disorders%2F Isn’t it great that we can have something that is not only good for us, but fun to use? I’m talking about chocolate! Yes sir, dark gold, pure happiness! You’ve probably heard the buzz about dark chocolate, and how it’s good for your blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, prevents cancer and can fix nearly anything that is wrong with you, except that expanding waistline. (And for the record — white chocolate is not really chocolate at all. It’s milk solids and fat. No cocoa. Nada.) The basic ingredients of dark chocolate include cacao beans, sugar, soy lecithin (an emulsifier to preserve texture), and flavorings. This yummy treat, which contains fewer milk solids than its more popular cousin, milk chocolate, often is rated by the percentage of cocoa solids in the bar. The ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376220 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:33:37 +0100 2376220 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2177636&cid=t_131631_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fg4ho3MdcrU8%2F Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum cardiologist of Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, gave some sweet news for dark chocolate and red wine lovers. In the interview the doctor explains that by eating dark chocolate and drinking red wine you are actually fighting against heart disease. Eating one small square of dark chocolate that contains about 30 calories, will aid in fighting high blood pressure and heart disease. Dark chocolate contains flavonids that act as an antioxidant in your system. When eating dark chocolate be sure to read the label to see that it contains at least 70% of cocoa bean content. Red wine contains the same antioxidant properties as does dark chocolate. How to fight heart disease with dark chocolate and red wine Video thanks to http://www.howdini.com/howdini-video-6657679.html Tags... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2177636 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:58:02 +0100 2177636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2137874&cid=t_131631_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FmlU64E525UE%2F With Valentine’s Day just around the corner you may want to consider giving your love, a heart healthy treat. For those of us with partner’s that have high blood pressure or heart problems that love their sweets, this article is a great find. Dark chocolate may be just what the answer you are looking for. Do you know that cocoa is actually a fruit? We all know that fruits are good for us. Researchers have found a link that shows cocoa and dark chocolate aid in the fight against cardiovascular disease.  The studies show reduced risk for blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks. Food scientists at Cornell University found that there are twice the antioxidants in cocoa as were in red wine. The study also stated that there were three times more antioxidants in cocoa than found in green... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2137874 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0100 2137874 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2107832&cid=t_131631_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FmUkj0B3ak3o%2F I am not trying to push dark chocolate, but the fact is that we are all trying to improve our health. Our heart is the jewel of our body, when the heart is not functioning properly the whole body suffers. While looking for ways to improve our heart health we all look for everything available on heart. Finding that a small amount of dark chocolate daily is good for the heart, is a great treat. Dark chocolates are fully loaded with many flavaniods. So by simply eating 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate daily we may improve our heart health. A spot on CBS News, told of a research study that included 20 male smokers’ that were divided into two groups. The men were given 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate or white chocolate and then waited for two hours for the results. The men that ate the dark chocola... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2107832 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:31:52 +0100 2107832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1780127&cid=t_131631_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F387263580%2F This article was written by Pascale Michelon, Ph. D., for SharpBrains. Dr. Michelon, Copyright 2008. Dr. Michelon has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and has worked as a Research Scientist at Washington University in Saint Louis, in the Psychology Department. She conducted several research projects to understand how the brain makes use of visual information and memorizes facts. She is now an Adjunct Faculty at Washington University, and teaches Memory Workshops in numerous retirement communities in the St Louis area. More articles on the topic: - A Multi-Pronged Approach to Brain Health - Overview of Nutritional Supplements and Brain Fitness Alzheimers, Alzheimers risk, Antioxidants, berries, brain diet, Brain health, citrus fruits, cocoa, Corrada, Curcumin, dark chocolate, DHA, enhance me... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1780127 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:05:57 +0100 1780127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1642630&cid=t_131631_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F07%2F21%2Fmake-me-happy-sweet-chocolate-and-lower-my-blood-pressure%2F Image details: Health Food Junk Food served by picapp.com Is there just anything better than reading about the health benefits of steak, beer or chocolate? Methinks not. So here’s another gem for you: German researchers say that eating a square of dark chocolate every day can reduce your systolic blood pressure (the top number) by 3 points and your diastolic pressure by 2! And you don’t have to worry about breaking the diet bank, either. Each square only totals about 30 calories (calories full of bliss, I might add.) The trick? Natural compounds found in dark chocolate raise your levels of nitric oxide, a known blood-vessel relaxer. So…more chocolate in your life = better health? Man, what great news for a Monday, eh? Bon apetit! Tags: Chocolate for Health, Diet, Health, ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1642630 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:00:57 +0100 1642630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=733647&cid=t_131631_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F13%2Fsome-natural-solutions-for-high-blod-pressure%2F Filed under: Alternative therapies, Women Heart Health, Men Heart Health, Aging Heart HealthSometimes medication is necessary in order to get your blood pressure under control, but if you haven't reached that critical stage yet, there are some natural remedies that you can use to lower your blood pressure. So if you're serious about getting heart healthy, try these solutions from eDiets: Exercise: 30 minutes a day is all it takes ... so how about a walk this evening? Quit Smoking: Qutting's not easy, but it will make a world of difference Lower Salt Intake: Use a low-sodium salt alternative, or try cutting it out altogether Get More Fiber: Increasing your fibre intake doesn't have to mean eating cardboard-like cereal. Ask your doctor how to get more fibre Eat Dark Chocolate: Don... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=733647 Fri, 13 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 733647