New explanation for heart-healthy benefits of chocolate

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2011 — In time for the chocolate-giving and chocolate-noshing fest on Valentine's Day, scientists are reporting discovery of how this treat boosts the body's production of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) — the "good" form of cholesterol that protects against heart disease. Just as those boxes of chocolates get hearts throbbing and mouths watering, polyphenols in chocolate rev up the activity of certain proteins, including proteins that attach to the genetic material DNA in ways that boost HDL levels. Their report appears in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, one of 39 peer-reviewed scientific journals published by the American Chemical Society.

Midori Natsume, Ph.D., and colleagues note that studies have shown that cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate, appears to reduce the risk of heart disease by boosting levels of HDL, or "good" cholesterol, and decreasing levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol. Credit for those heart-healthy effects goes to a cadre of antioxidant compounds in cocoa called polyphenols, which are particularly abundant in dark chocolate. Until now, however, nobody knew exactly how the polyphenols in cocoa orchestrated those beneficial effects.

The scientists analyzed the effects of cocoa polyphenols on cholesterol using cultures of human liver and intestinal cells. They focused on the production of apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), a protein that is the major component of "good" cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B (ApoB), the main component of "bad" cholesterol. It turns out that cocoa polyphenols increased ApoA1 levels and decreased ApoB levels in both the liver and intestine. Further, the scientists discovered that the polyphenols seem to work by enhancing the activity of so-called sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs). SREBPs attach to the genetic material DNA and activate genes that boost ApoA1 levels, increasing "good" cholesterol. The scientists also found that polyphenols appear to increase the activity of LDL receptors, proteins that help lower "bad" cholesterol levels.

Sugar and your body by Jean-Sebastien B. Miousse



"Of all the foods consumed today, refined sugar is considered to be one of the most harmful."



The Facts About Refined Sugar



1. Refined sugar contains no minerals
2. Refined sugar contains no proteins
3. Refined sugar contains no fiber
4. Refined sugar contains only empty calories, period



So when you are eating too much refined sugar this is what happens in your body



1. Your body must use nutrients from your healthy cells to metabolize the incomplete carbohydrate.
2. Sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium reserves are use to make use of the excess sugar.
3. Calcium is used to neutralize the effects of sugar, often it could result in osteoporotic bones because you are lacking calcium
4. You end up gaining weight way faster than with complex carbohydrates apart from all the facts mentioned above
5. Your blood is becoming thick and too sticky which could result in potential life threatening conditions



Since refined sugar contains no nutritional value at all, you end up running low on other critical minerals and vitamins. An over-acid condition results, and more minerals are needed from deep in the body to correct the imbalance. If the body is lacking the nutrients used to metabolize sugar, it will not be able to properly handle and rid itself of the poisonous residues. These wastes accumulate through the brain and nervous system, which speeds up cellular death. The bloodstream becomes over-loaded with waste products and symptoms of carbonic poisoning result.



Now how to avoid too much refined sugar consumption in 5 easy steps?



1. Eat complex carbohydrates (brown and multi-grains bread, fruits, vegetables, legume, rice)
2. Avoid simple carbohydrates (refined sugar, corn syrup, fruit juice, soda, white bread made of white flour, candy, all baked foods made with white floor)
3. Exercise! By exercising your are not only burning calories, you are also burning sugar and making a better circulation in your blood vessels which will reduce the thickening of your overly glucose blood. Some hormones produced during exercising are actually good a maintaining body functions and make use of that excess of sugar.
4. Have a little candy or two when you have a sugar craving because if your body is used to high sugar consumption it will crave it. You can easily remedy to the situation by eating a simple candy that will not be too dramatic for you. Honey is a good option too.
5. Only drink water! You may be used to soda and fizzy drinks or fruit juice but it is as easy to get used to water as it is to get used to those nasty drinks. Once you are withdrawn from sugar you will notice that all you want to drink is water or vegetable juice or green tea! In fact those are the 3 drinks you should drink but especially just drink water and green tea. Water is helping your body, it is pure, you do not need to metabolize sugar and all other ingredient from soda or fruit juice when you drink water which makes it the perfect choice when you are thirsty. Also drink plenty of green tea because it is basically only water with added health benefits and flavor! Do your research on green tea and you will be astonished to see how good it is for you. It is a powerful antioxidant to it's massive amount of polyphenols especially it's cathechins like EGCG (espigallocathechin gallate). It reduces by a huge percentage some kind of cancers. Colon-rectal cancer for example show a reduction of 30% in people who drink more than 3 cups a day. It is tasty and healthy! Try some honey or mint in your green tea for some sweetness http://www.ehow.com/facts_5005425_benef ... n-tea.html

People say water is tasteless but once you reprogrammed yourself to drink water you find it extremely tasty and it quickly becomes an addiction.



Good luck! Willpower is a state of mind! If I was able to do it you can do it!



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