Dark Chocolate May Reduce DNA Damage
MILAN, Italy—Dark chocolate improved DNA resistance to oxidative stress and researchers say this effect is most likely due to its flavonoid content, according to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition (2009 Nov 5:1-7).
Researchers investigated the effect of dark chocolate that contained 860 mg polyphenols, of which 58 mg were epicatechin, compared with white chocolate, which had 5 mg polyphenols and undetectable amounts of epicatechin in 20 healthy subjects. The subjects followed a balanced diet (55 percent of energy from carbohydrates, 30 percent from fat and 1 g protein/kg body weight) for four weeks. On the 14th day until the 27th day, researchers gave 45 g of either white (n 10) or dark chocolate (n 10).
At the end of the study, detectable epicatechin levels increased two hours after subjects ate dark chocolate (0.369 (se 0.041) mumol/l) and mononuclear blood cells DNA damage decreased 20 percent from two weeks into the study (- 19.4 (se 3.4) % at day 14 v. - 24 (se 7.4) % on day 27, P = 0.7). While both effects were no longer evident 22 hours after eating the dark chocolate, no effect was observed in the white chocolate group.
FA
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
AN OUNCE A DAY KEEPS THE STRESS AWAY
It's true, eating an ounce of 70% cacao or more can affect your health in a positive way.
EVERYDAY? FANTABULOUS!
70% CACAO
Uses:
Molding,
Enrobing, Filling,
Mousse,
Ganache, Glazes,
Sauces, Sorbets,
Chocolate, Beverage,
Ice Cream & Tasting!
Dark chocolate: "Recent studies show that eating dark chocolate may lower blood pressure as effectively as the most common antihypertensive medications and may increase HDL cholesterol and lower LDL cholesterol. Interesting fact: The Kuna Indians, who live on islands near Panama, have little age-related hypertension. They drink more than five cups of flavonoid-rich cocoa a day."
YOU: Staying Young by Michael F. Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D. Copyright © 2007 by Michael F. Roizen, M.D., and Oz Works LLC, f/s/o Mehmet C. Oz, M.D. Reprinted by permission of Free Press, a Division of Simon and Schuster, Inc.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
CHOCOLATE PARTIES AND THE PAST
Chocolate Parties bring back the commune in community.
Remember helping make the punch for the party and focusing your eyes on the cookies with anticipation of the moment you get to dip one in the punch? I do. I was raised in the seventies when you and your family were at least aware of all of the names of your neighbors. People watched out for each other and the sidwalk was the runway for children to take off into their land of imagination........
Even though I am a very private person, I miss the days of community. Melange Sucre chocolate parties are a way to rebuild a sense of community by meeting the neighbors around you and celebrating with chocolate. How could anyone not want to participate? The parties will provide not only a social environment, but an educational one as well and hopefully introduce a neighborhood to each other.
Melange Sucre chocolate parties will be a way to have fun tasting and learning about chocolate and eventually making your own! How cool would it be to give chocolate creations as gifts or even selling them to make money for a local charity. Remember the "bake sale" at school? I hope to create the Tupperware party of this decade for a new familial society.
What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)