Good news for all you dark chocolate lovers. New research shows daily consumption of a very small amount of dark chocolate can successfully reduce blood pressure. In this recent study, participants at the beginning stages of high blood pressure (also known as prehypertension) consumed 6.3 grams (approx. 30 calories) of either dark chocolate or white chocolate daily for a period of 2 years. Those consuming the dark chocolate experienced a 3-point drop in their systolic blood pressure and a 2-point drop in their diastolic blood pressure; no benefit was found in those consuming the white chocolate. Unlike white chocolate, dark chocolate contains polyphenols that are believed to be responsible for the cardiovascular benefits of dark chocolate. According to study researchers, while this is a small number in and of itself, it would represent a 5 percent reduction in cardiovascular death risk. It’s important to note that while this small amount of dark chocolate provides cardiovascular benefits with no noted health risks, increasing the amount of dark chocolate consumed daily could increase caloric intake significantly which itself has health risks.
Government researchers have just announced that Americans are far from consuming adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables which in turn increases their odds of acquiring heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease as well as numerous other serious health conditions. These findings come from a health and eating habits survey conducted in 2005 of more than 300,000 Americans, called the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. According to the survey, less than one third of adults consumed at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables – the government’s suggested daily consumption of fruits and vegetables in 2005. New government guidelines have now increased the suggested daily consumption to three to five servings of fruit and four to eight servings of vegetables daily.
Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. March 16, 2007.
Copyright: ProfessionalPlanets.com LLC 2007
Think all multivitamins are created equal? If so, read on. Not only could you be throwing away money by not receiving what is listed on the label, you could be consuming something that is potentially toxic to your body. Results from ConsumerLab.com indicates more than half of 21 multivitamins they tested had too little or too much of certain ingredients listed on the label and many had unacceptably high levels of the toxic heavy metal lead. ConsumerLab.com conducts independent tests to help consumers and healthcare professionals evaluate health, wellness and nutrition products. According to their results, out of the 21 products tested, only 10 had accurate amounts of stated ingredients as well as other quality standards. Some of their other findings included – one women’s multivitamin contained more than 10 times the lead allowed without a label stating so (against current California law), one children’s vitamin contained more than double the vitamin A (potentially toxic to children under the age of 9) and some products weren’t likely to break up in one’s digestive tract and instead, simply pass completely through without sufficient absorption. So when purchasing vitamins, it’s a good idea to purchase a quality product from a reputable company to ensure you’re not only getting the health benefits you paid for, but also, so you’re not consuming a product that is potentially toxic.
Source: ConsumerLab.com LLC, January 19, 2007.
Copyright: ProfessionalPlanets.com LLC 2007
Eating good, healthy meals doesn’t have to be the expensive, time-consuming ordeal many people think it is. In fact, eating healthy can often times be just as cost effective and efficient as eating packaged or semi-prepared meals IF you follow a few simple steps.
- Buy In Bulk – when shopping for your food, anytime you can purchase larger quantities you’ll save money.
- Don’t Forget The Freezer – make extra and freeze it for a later date. This is a GREAT way to not only save money, but time as well!
- Embrace the Season – not only does eating food that is in season, choosing locally grown food usually means better taste and quite often a cheaper price.
- Eat It All – don’t let anything go to waste! For example, if you have a whole chicken one night, make chicken stock that can be used as a later date.
Remember, eating healthy doesn’t have to be a burden, financially or otherwise. Just be wise with how you buy and prepare your food and you’ll enjoy healthier, more flavorful and many times, more efficient meals.
The theory of ‘eat slow and you won’t eat as much’ has now been proven in a new study conducted by University of Rhode Island researchers. Generally speaking, researchers found women who were instructed to eat slower ended up consuming significantly fewer calories. Additionally, immediately and within an hour of consuming their meals, women who ate slowly felt fuller and reported feeling more satisfied. Researchers stated that individuals could expect to consume around 200 calories less per day simply by eating slower.
Source: Reuters. December 1, 2006.
Copyright: ChiroPlanet.com 2006
The holidays are are wonderful time of the year. Parties, family get-togethers, dinners, lots of special treats going around, and not to mention the festive spirit in the air. It’s definitely a special time.
Unfortunately, it can also be a time when healthy living takes a backseat to all the festivities and indulgences. Well, it doesn’t have to be that way.
I recently read this fantastic article that shares 5 tips for keeping you healthy this holiday season.
Here are the 5 tips:
- Stay hydrated – Drinking plenty of water will not only help you fight off dreaded holiday sicknesses, but it will also help you avoid over-eating.
- Keep working out – Just because kids are out of school and you have some vacation days at work doesn’t mean you get a pass to stop working out. Sticking with your workout routine will help keep your metabolism running smoothly so when you do indulge in dessert, it won’t set you back too far.
- Bundle up after you work out – With the holiday season comes the colder weather and going from hot and sweaty to freezing cold as you walk to/from your car is a great way to guarantee you’ll spend the holidays under the weather!
- Give ‘active’ gifts – Why not motivate your friends and family to get active as well. Give something that will help them be inspired to live healthy and enjoy an active lifestyle.
- Enjoy…in moderation – Nobody is saying you can’t eat all the good food you’ll be around this holiday season. We’re just saying it’s probably a good idea if you don’t eat ALL the good food. Enjoy a little, but don’t go overboard.
I hope these tips are helpful this holiday season!
Do you have any tips for staying healthy this holiday season? What would you suggest? What have you found works for you?
Go ahead and post a comment below.
While many studies have shown the substantial benefits of improved diet and exercise, few such studies have been done on the older population. Now results from a new study in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicate these benefits are also significant in the older population. In a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 27 sedentary, obese men and women aged 65 were randomly assigned to a diet and exercise program.
Those older subjects who were assigned to the diet and exercise program significantly lowered their bodyweight, blood pressure, blood sugar and bad blood triglycerides. More specifically, those elderly who were assigned to the diet and exercise program lost an average of 18 pounds and experienced a 59 percent decrease in metabolic syndrome (a collection of conditions that increase individual’s risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease) as compared to the control group who did not participate in the program.
At Hall Chiropractic Center, our holistic approach to back pain and other common complaints begins with a whole body assessment including a nutritional profile to help identify nutritional deficiencies which can be an underlying cause of certain pain syndromes. Our whole-body system of care includes joint mobilization, exercise, therapeutic massage and nutritional support.
Call us today at (803) 412-2240 to schedule a consultation.