Newsletter – August 18

Dietitians and BDA spokespersons, say it’s important to remember the studies on the health benefits of chocolate have focused on cocoa extracts, not chocolate.

Dark chocolate has recently been discovered to have a number of healthy benefits. While eating dark chocolate can lead to the health benefits described below, remember that chocolate is also high in fat and also has a risk of causing cavities if the frequency is high enough during the day.

1) Dark Chocolate is Good for Your Heart

Studies show that eating a small amount of dark chocolate two or three times each week can help lower your blood pressure. Dark chocolate improves blood flow and may help prevent the formation of blood clots. Eating dark chocolate may also prevent arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)

2) Dark Chocolate is Good for Your Brain

Dark chocolate increases blood flow to the brain as well as to the heart, so it can help improve cognitive function. Dark chocolate also helps reduce your risk of stroke.

Dark chocolate also contains caffeine, a mild stimulant. However, dark chocolate contains much less caffeine than coffee. A 1.5 ounce bar of dark chocolate contains 27 mg of caffeine, compared to the 200 mg found in an eight ounce cup of coffee.

Dark chocolate also contains several chemical compounds that have a positive effect on your mood and cognitive health. Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine (PEA), the same chemical your brain creates when you feel like you’re falling in love. PEA encourages your brain to release endorphins, so eating dark chocolate will make you feel happier.

3) Dark Chocolate Helps Control Blood Sugar

Dark chocolate helps keep your blood vessels healthy and your circulation unimpaired to protect against type 2 diabetes. The flavonoids in dark chocolate also help reduce insulin resistance by helping your cells to function normally and regain the ability to use your body’s insulin efficiently. Dark chocolate also has a low glycemic index, meaning it won’t cause huge spikes in blood sugar levels.

What better day to find some friendship quotes and share them on face book with your favorite people than National Friendship Day. Below are a few heartwarming quotations that truly define what it means to be a friend to someone. From being able to talk about anything in the world to not having to say a word at all, a friend really is there for everything. Please feel free to leave us your quotes on the 30th on our face book page.

How often do we actually take the time to tell our closest friends — and yes, that definitely includes our very best friend — how much we appreciate them? If you are anything like me, it’s not nearly often enough.

1.”In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” — Albert Schweitzer

2.”Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.” — Woodrow Wilson

3.”The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.” — Elisabeth Foley

4. “A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he/she knows that you are slightly cracked.” — Bernard Meltzer

5. “A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” — Walter Winchell

I will share a picture of a gift that was given to me by one of our patient’s she is a very thoughtful lady and on friendship day I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you very much.