'The Science behind the Love of Chocolate'! Just the Facts..

Dark chocolate, the 'food of the gods', is great for everyone! Here's a bit about the science behind it...

From Tamara Wilson's lovely blog, A Peek at the Life of a WAHM, comes this great article where she has descrbed in sweet detail the many benefits of dark chocolate...here's more from her article:

"Cacao has been described as the “food of the Gods” by the ancient Maya. Scientists are finally realizing the beneficial aspects of chocolate in relation to physical, mental, and emotional health. One ounce of dark chocolate a day can improve a person’s vigor and energy by up to 67% and in many cases much higher percentages.



Chocolate also contains the amino acids tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine. All of these amino acids increase the serotonin levels in the brain which acts as an antidepressant. In addition to the amino acids listed above, chocolate has also been proven to act as a stimulant due to the substance theobromine.

Many people may be surprised to learn chocolate, when taken in small amounts and with higher levels of cocoa, can actually help you lose weight. If the antidepressant amino acids and stimulant theobromine can improve the way a person feels, they may be less likely to overeat. Chocolate can also act as an appetite suppressant which can speed up your metabolism."

Read the rest of this delicious article here.

Is There a Spiritual Center In The Brain?

Dark chocolate love resides heavily in our brains indeed! But - what about a "spiritual center"?

From ABCNews.com is this rather intriguing article about the possibility of a "spiritual center" in the brain. Here's more from this fascinating article:

"The researchers worked with 88 patients with tumors in various locations in the brain and found that those with damage in the parietal region -- located in the top rear region of the brain -- could be seen to have a change in their attitude toward spirituality, something that tends to be relatively constant in a person.

This finding highlights the key role of parietal cortices in spirituality and suggests that changes of neural activity in specific areas may modify even inherently stable dispositional traits," explained Cosimo Urgesi, one of the study's lead researchers and an assistant professor in psychobiology and physiological psychology at the University of Udine in Italy.



The specific scale researchers used to determine spirituality is known as self-transcendence, a measure used to determine spirituality that appears to remain stable in a person over time.
The tumors researchers based on their findings on were gliomas, the same type of brain tumor with which doctors diagnosed the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, that affects the brain tissue itself. Meningiomas, another type of brain tumor that does not affect tissue, did not have an impact on people in the study when removed, Urgesi said.
After the removal of gliomas from the rear of the brain, those patients showed a significant elevation in their level of self-transcendence."

There's much more to this article here on ABCNews.com ....have a peek!

Dark Chocolate is Among The Healthiest 'Superfoods' for Women!

Dark, organic gourmet chocolate flies high among the healthiest 'superfoods' women can consume...

From the great site, Health.com is this article all about the greatest foods women can indulge in for optimal health. And yes indeed, dark chocolate is one of them! Here's more from the article:

"You love to eat, but you also love to feel great. You can do both if you choose foods that make you smarter, leaner, stronger—and then use them in tasty new ways....



" ...When you mix and match these America’s Healthiest choices, you get super combos with even more power—a breakfast that’s good for your heart, a dinner that fights cancer, a sweet treat that helps keep your tummy calm and mind sharp. Plus, we’ve rounded up 15 delicious, benefit-packed runners-up, too."

Have a look at the selection of these fabulous foods here on Health.com!

Seeking Longevity? Here Are Five Wonderful Tips...

Dark Chocolate means a happy life indeed! Here are a few more tips...

From the marvelous Huffington Post is this wonderful article by Dr. Maoshing Ni about the top five things you can do to lead a longer, happier life! Here's more from the article:

Laugh out loud!
We know from research that laughter and joy boost immune functions, especially the production of the natural killer cells that help protect the body from illness and cancer. Laughter also increases the release of endorphins, compounds that give you a sense of well-being, in your brain. Without a doubt, joyful people live longer and healthier lives.



Drink it up--tea, that is.
Besides being anti-cancerous and cholesterol lowering, the antioxidant-rich tea leaves also protect your brain from free-radical damage, strengthen your bones against osteoporosis and according to studies published in the Journal of American Medical Association, lowers risks of death from all forms of cardiovascular diseases. So drink tea to your heart's content!

Read this wonderful article, and the rest of Dr. Maoshing Ni's tips here in its entirety on Huffington Post.

Intentional Chocolate Donates 100% of Profits to Charities Supporting Haiti Until Valentine’s Day!

Intentional Chocolate focuses on helping Haiti...

Now you can help support Haiti relief causes and spread the love with Intentional Chocolate for Valentine's Day at the same time! Here's more about the cause to help Haiti:

"...Intentional Chocolate, a leader in the revolutionary field of intention-enhanced food, announces today that from now until Valentine’s Day, 100% of the company’s profits will go to charities directly supporting Haitian relief.
Those who purchase Intentional Chocolate as a gift for their loved ones for Valentine’s Day can now also know that they are sharing their love, good intention, and support for Haitian recovery."

Read more about the cause, and Intentional Chocolate's divine array of glorious, gourmet dark chocolate here on IntentionalChocolate.com.

All About Living Until 100 - How to Increase Your Longevity!

Dark chocolate is excellent for longevity, but here are a few more fun-loving tips from Health.com to boost your years!

"....There was big news recently for anyone born after the year 2000: They’ll probably live to 100, according to new research from Denmark. That’s roughly 20 years longer than the life expectancy of the rest of us. But we could live that long, too, says Walter Bortz II, MD, a clinical associate professor of medicine at Stanford University: “What’s holding us back are bad habits.”



Luck and genetics play roles in longevity, of course, but you can’t control that. To hike your odds of hitting 100, focus on what you can do, like loading up on fruits and veggies (add five years), working out five days a week (add two to four years), and cutting down on stress (may add up to six years)."

Find the rest of the article here, including a great slideshow, yoga moves and recipes!