Coconut Oil and its health benefits
Filipinos are well-known for their youthful appearance and soft, wrinkle-free skin, even though they live in a climate that exposes them to the sun's rays year round.The scientific name for the cocoa tree is Theobroma cacao which means food for the gods. It was used as a currency by the Maya Indians who were the ones to discover the value of cocoa.
Hot Cocoa Healthier Than Wine
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Researchers at Cornell University have shown that the popular winter beverage contains more antioxidants per cup than a similar serving of red wine or tea and may be a healthier choice. Many recent studies have touted the health benefits of red wine and tea, all of which are known to be high in antioxidants. Although researchers have been aware for some time that cocoa is also rich in these compounds, its relative contribution in comparison to other beverages has been unclear, says Chang Yong Lee, Ph.D., head of the study and a professor of food chemistry in Cornell's Department of Food Science and Technology, located in Geneva, N.Y.
To gain a better understanding of how these beverages compare in terms of antioxidants, the researchers tested them using similar serving sizes and conditions. The beverages tested included a cup of hot water containing two tablespoons of pure cocoa powder, roughly equivalent to the amount of cocoa in a normal-size packet of instant hot chocolate; a cup of water containing a standard size bag of green tea; a cup of black tea; and one glass of red wine (California Merlot) The researchers found that the antioxidant concentration in cocoa was the highest: It was almost 2 times stronger than red wine, 2-3 times stronger than green tea, and 4-5 times stronger than that of black tea.
What are the Health Benefits?
Chocolate was prescribed as a medicine in the 15th century to help women produce more breast milk, increase libido and improve digestion. Cocoa beans are a natural source of magnesium.Magnesium has been found to help in the following:
Magnesium plays a part in reducing elevated blood pressure by relaxing the muscles that control blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more freely. A slight decline in blood pressure can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke contains flavonoids namely catechin and procyanidins. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants. They can dilate blood vessels thus maintaining their capacity to carry blood and as an antioxidant can help neutralize dangerous molecules (called free radicals produced by the body that can lead to cancer,heart disease and many age-related illnesses.
African Americans suffer from cardiovascular diseases at a rate about five times higher than the rest of the population due to serious nitric oxide deficiency according University researchers Tadeusz Malinski Click for full story
In healthy humans, flavonol-rich cocoa induced blood vessel dilatation through the activation of the nitric oxide system. Endothelial dysfunction with reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide appears to be an early aspect of the insulin resistance syndrome; and may contribute to the accelerated atherosclerosis associated with insulin resistance and type II diabetes..Source: British Journal of Cardiology.)
Drugs for the management of erectile dysfunction (impotence)work through the nitric oxide mechanism and erectile dysfunction is often seen as a strong pointer for possibly unsuspected Coronary Heart Disease Consumption of cocoa rich in flavonols, a sub-group of naturally occurring flavonoids, may be associated with the modulation of nitric oxide, according to new research from a team of scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Nitric oxide is a compound critical for healthy blood flow and blood pressure and has been identified by scientists as an important compound in the area of cardiovascular health. It is produced in the lining of blood vessels and its major functions include opening up the arteries to increase blood flow, maintain elasticity and prevent platelets from adhering to artery walls.
Cocoa Improves Blood Vessel Function In Aged
The older you get the more you need flavonol-rich cocoa he needs.
Researchers at Harvard School and the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that drinking a standardized flavanol-rich cocoa beverage improved several measures of blood vessel function, especially among older study participants.
Flavanols are the natural compounds in cocoa that are increasingly being linked to promising circulatory benefits – including improved blood flow and a reduced tendency to form damaging clots. At the study's completion, significant improvements in vessel function following the consumption of flavanol rich cocoa were seen in both young and older adults. While aging has previously been shown to lead to a deterioration of blood vessel function, this study is the first to demonstrate that the consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa can improve this age-related loss of vessel function in older adults. These improvements in both young and older adults appear to be linked to the ability of cocoa flavanols to influence the body's production of nitric oxide, a key regulator of blood vessel tone.
Brownco Natural cocoa powder is made from Ghana's premium cocoa. For healthy heart and healthy bones drink Brownco Natural Cocoa powder.
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