Chocolate is a Life Saver!

[3113]

See? I'm just looking after my health

Heart attack survivors who eat chocolate two or more times per week cut their risk of dying from heart disease about threefold compared to those who never touch the stuff, scientists have reported. Smaller quantities confer less protection, but are still better than none, according to the study, which appears in the September issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine.

Earlier research had established a strong link between cocoa-based confections and lowered blood pressure or improvement in blood flow. It had also shown that chocolate cuts the rate of heart-related mortality in healthy older men, along with post-menopausal women. But the new study, led by Imre Janszky of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, is the first to demonstrate that consuming chocolate can help ward off the grim reaper if one has suffered acute myocardial infarction -- otherwise known as a heart attack.

Full article here.
Isn't it nice to know that instead of going to the gym you can go to Godiva's Chocolates?

 

[R. Richard]

I certainly take chocolate for my health. I mean, only because it's rich in anitoxidents.

FromWiki:
Chocolate and cocoa contain a high level of flavonoids, specifically epicatechin, which may have beneficial cardiovascular effects on health. The ingestion of flavonol-rich cocoa is associated with acute elevation of circulating nitric oxide, enhanced flow-mediated vasodilation, and augmented microcirculation.

Prolonged intake of flavonol-rich cocoa has been linked to cardiovascular health benefits, though it should be noted that this refers to raw cocoa and to a lesser extent, dark chocolate, since flavonoids degrade during cooking and alkalizing processes. Milk chocolate's addition of whole milk reduces the overall cocoa content per ounce while increasing saturated fat levels, possibly negating some of cocoa's heart-healthy potential benefits. Nevertheless, studies have still found short term benefits in LDL cholesterol levels from dark chocolate consumption.

Hollenberg and colleagues of Harvard Medical School studied the effects of cocoa and flavanols on Panama's Kuna Indian population, who are heavy consumers of cocoa. The researchers found that the Kuna Indians living on the islands had significantly lower rates of heart disease and cancer compared to those on the mainland who do not drink cocoa as on the islands. It is believed that the improved blood flow after consumption of flavonol-rich cocoa may help to achieve health benefits in hearts and other organs. In particular, the benefits may extend to the brain and have important implications for learning and memory.

Cocoa also contains large amounts of antioxidants such as epicatechins and polyphenols. According to research at Cornell University, cocoa powder has nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine, and up to three times the antioxidants found in green tea. Cocoa also contains magnesium, iron, chromium, vitamin C, zinc and others.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Until now, I had never been a big fan of health foods.

 

[sadangel]

So, where is my chocolate? I want my Chocolate.

Now I know why I can't find it anymore. Everyone else learned what I knew. It really is good for you.

 

[TxRad]

So, where is my chocolate? I want my Chocolate.

Now I know why I can't find it anymore. Everyone else learned what I knew. It really is good for you.

Dove Dark anyone? Come to the dark side

 

[Safe_Bet]

OMG! That means, with the amount of chocolate I eat, I'm going to live forever! W00t!

 

[Safe_Bet]

Dove Dark anyone? Come to the dark side

You know that old saying... "Once you go dark..."

(It must be true too! I used to LIVE on Fruit Loops when I was a kid!)

 

[sadangel]

Dove Dark anyone? Come to the dark side

Never had Dove chocolate before, but oh, my favorite is any good dark chocolate. There is just something about that kinda sweet, kinda bittersweet taste that I just love.

OMG! That means, with the amount of chocolate I eat, I'm going to live forever! W00t!

I have a feeling we'll be both living far too long, if this is the case...though I will admit, I am eating a lot less chocolate these days. (Must remedy that soon)

 

[Boxlicker101]

Dove Dark anyone? Come to the dark side

Dove Ice Cream bar. Ummmmm.

BTW I have heard of lemon lifesavers and peppermint and other flavors, but never chocolate. Is it new?

 

[Handley_Page]

But what sort of chocolate ?
Continental (almost bitter), Plain, or milk ?

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I've been advised to restrict my self to 75% cocao dark. Somehow that hardly seems a sacrifice!

 

[DesertPirate]

OMG! That means, with the amount of chocolate I eat, I'm going to live forever! W00t!

You and me both toots!

 

[_Lynn_]

You all just enjoy your chocolate. My poor weak heart and I will lie here on the sofa.

trying not to scratch the hives covering my arms from the few M&M's with coconut I stupidly sampled tonight.

 

[Boxlicker101]

You and me both toots!

I don't eat all that much now, but I actually used to be able to sit down and make a meal out of a pound of chocolate covered peanuts. I wasn't a kid then, either, I was in my twenties or thirties.

I will live forever!

 

[3113]

trying not to scratch the hives covering my arms from the few M&M's with coconut I stupidly sampled tonight.

Wait...did you say...coconut M&Ms? Where? How? What? When?

Coconut?

I mean....Oh, dear, MistressLynn that is terrible. Here. Allow me to relieve you of that nasty, evil, terrible bag of coconut M&M's. How could the candy company have even imagined such an thing? I will get it out of your sight and dispose of it before it "hives" someone else. And I will write a letter to the M&M's company, explaining that any more bags of coconut M&M's should be sent to me for similar disposal. No. No. No need to thank me. I consider it my civic duty to protect the public from this new menace.

 

[_Lynn_]

Wait...did you say...coconut M&Ms? Where? How? What? When?

Coconut?

I mean....Oh, dear, MistressLynn that is terrible. Here. Allow me to relieve you of that nasty, evil, terrible bag of coconut M&M's. How could the candy company have even imagined such an thing? I will get it out of your sight and dispose of it before it "hives" someone else. And I will write a letter to the M&M's company, explaining that any more bags of coconut M&M's should be sent to me for similar disposal. No. No. No need to thank me. I consider it my civic duty to protect the public from this new menace.

Limited Edition Coconut M&M's, at that.

Cute little green M&M sitting next to an opened coconut . . . she has a red flower on her head, long eyelashes, white boots with heels, and white gloves. One leg is flat on the ground, with the other bent at the knee, her fingers splayed across her thigh. An adoring look in her eyes as she gazes at the coconut. A palm tree protects her from the heat. Such a cute empty bag it is.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

You forgot the yellow M&M falling out of the tree.

Coconut . . . http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/1volupturary_manque/9.gif

 

[Tricialen]

Chocolate has to be the true food of the gods

 

[_Lynn_]

You forgot the yellow M&M falling out of the tree.

Coconut . . . http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/1volupturary_manque/9.gif

Price tag was over it when I did that post. LOL LOL

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Chocolate has to be the true food of the gods

The Aztecs certainly thought so.

 

[3113]

Limited Edition Coconut M&M's, at that.

Cute little green M&M sitting next to an opened coconut . . . she has a red flower on her head, long eyelashes, white boots with heels, and white gloves. One leg is flat on the ground, with the other bent at the knee, her fingers splayed across her thigh. An adoring look in her eyes as she gazes at the coconut. A palm tree protects her from the heat. Such a cute empty bag it is.

I see. So the evil company tempted you into eating the entire bag and giving you hives.

I'm going to have to look into this while this limited edition is still around. Examine many bags to see how to counter this propaganda campaign.

 

[_Lynn_]

I see. So the evil company tempted you into eating the entire bag and giving you hives.

I'm going to have to look into this while this limited edition is still around. Examine many bags to see how to counter this propaganda campaign.

I shared them with my daughter. She had 1/2 of them. It was just the small bag, too. *sigh*

 

[3113]

Coconut . . . http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/1volupturary_manque/9.gif

It's okay, VM. If a bag should happen to fall into your hands, just send it to me. I love the people on this forum so much, http://bestsmileys.com/crying/2.gif I'm willing to fall on those coconut M&M's for you! I'll even eat 'em! No, no, please. You guys are my best buds! I'm sure that if M&M's ever comes out with a cilantro flavored candy, that you will do the same for me.

 

[JackLuis]

Now you people have made me want to go up to 7-11 and get a big ol Hershey bar. Damn I ran out of the chocolate truffels I had been keeping.

Can I put it on my medicine list and get the Govt to pay for them, maybe after Congress passes the Health Care, hunh?

 

[3113]

Can I put it on my medicine list and get the Govt to pay for them, maybe after Congress passes the Health Care, hunh?

Now *there's* a quick way to put an end to the health care debate. If the government has a chocolate plan...