Health Benefits of Chocolate

Why Chocolate Really is Good For You!

Yes, its every chocoholics wildest dream - to wake up one morning and discover that their addiction is actually good for them! Finally, health experts are starting to agree with what chocolate addicts have suggested for some time, that eating the right type of chocolate in moderation really can be good for your health.

Historically, back in the times of the Aztecs, it's been viewed as an aphrodisiac and it was valued to highly that cocoa beans were even used as currency. Unfortunately, until the late eighteenth century, chocolate was only available as a fairly bitter drink, not something today's addicts would probably approve of. Thanks to the Swiss company, Lindt, who first used conching to create a really smooth melting chocolate, we can now enjoy the kind of smooth tasting flavour we know today.

As it contains small amounts of flavonoids, antioxidants, theobromine and phylethylamine (PEA), all of which can have a beneficial effect.

Flavonoids which naturally occur in the cocoa plant are though to help lower blood pressure. Theobromine is a stimulant, with similar, but less powerful effect to caffeine. Phylethylamine (PEA) is a mood elevator, hence chocolates association with love and romance, as it can give a lift similar to that of being in love. Antioxidants can help minimize the damage done to our body by free radicals.

Studies by the University of L'Aquila showed that eating dark chocolate (70% or more) could help control type 2 diabetes and reduce blood pressure. Other research has shown that regular eating of it can benefit the cardiovascular system. One Harvard study showed that eaters live longer, up to one year longer than non-choc eaters. The best results were shown for those who ate 1-3 bars of chocolate per month.

Before you start changing to a 100% choc diet, it's important to remember that it also contains fats and sugars, so should only be eaten in moderation.

Beware eating too much milk or white chocolate as these are full of added sugar and milk, with greater risk to health and far reduced health benefits. The chocolate which has been shown to have most benefits is dark (or plain, black) chocolate, with over 70% cocoa content. Top selling brands include Lindt, Divine and Green & Blacks.

Good news for those on a dairy free diet, is that they can indulge in dark chocolate, as it contains no milk. Make sure you choose bars with 70% minimum! Unlike some milk chocolates, dark chocolates have a stronger taste, wonderful slowly melting on the tongue.

So, how to include the right amount in your diet without overdoing it? Have a square of dark chocolate for dessert instead of your usual pudding or sweet. Enjoy hand made truffles for special occasions or give as gifts to health conscious friends.

You may have to adapt your eating habits - but the good news is that eating the right type of chocolate is now good for you and you can indulge in your favorite food guilt free!

My name is Kelley Herring.
I’m the Founder & CEO of Healing Gourmet, the world’s leading provider of organic, sustainable recipes and meal plans for health and weight loss.
I am also the Editor-in-Chief of a four-book series published by McGraw-Hill including: Eat to Fight Cancer, Eat to Beat Diabetes, Eat to Lower Cholesterol and Eat to Boost Fertility.
For more than 10 years, Healing Gourmet has provided life-saving education to our readers about the benefits of a natural diet… and the proven power of foods and nutrients to promote health and protect against disease.
We’ve helped thousands of people to dramatically improve their health and reach their optimal weight by simply following an all-natural, low-glycemic diet. CLICK HERE to see healthy recipes.





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Urinary Tract Infection Treatment

Urinary tract infection (UTI), as the name suggests is an infection affecting one or more body parts associated with the pumping of urine out of the body. Any of these parts can host the infection when diagnosed with a UTI - one or both Kidneys, bladder, ureters or urethra. On the basis of the urine and other test/s recommended by your doctor, the affected area and the severity of the infection can be determined. Along with the test reports, a physician may also consider the following as part of a urinary tract infection treatment:



Patient's age
Patient's sex
If the patient has any other illnesses
If the patient has a medical history of repeated UTIs
If the patient has conditions like diabetes, cancer, urine retention, kidney or bladder stone, bowel incontinence, enlarged prostate, etc.
If the patient is pregnant
If the patient is going through Menopause.
Urinary tract infections are more common in women and can be treated successfully with required antibiotics. In men however UTI is rare and hence is generally suspected to be a symptom of some other medical condition; these other tests will be prescribed to rule out any other medical problems before beginning with a urinary tract infection treatment.

In most cases, UTIs can be treated with antibiotics to be taken. The dose of the medicine and the duration of the treatment would depend on the severity of the infection and the factors mentioned above.

Let's take a quick look at urinary tract infection treatment in some detail...

I. UTI treatment in women

For an otherwise healthy adult female with no other underlying medical condition/ illness, an oral antibiotic dose of 1 to 3 days is recommended for a not-so-severe UTI.
For a woman who is pregnant or with diabetes or a mild kidney infection, an antibiotic treatment of 7 to 14 days is recommended.
If the kidney infection is of a higher degree, treatment needs to be continued for several weeks.

In women who get UTI repeatedly, long term treatment or preventive antibiotics might be required. A daily dose of antibiotics or a short term course or an antibiotic dose every time after sexual intercourse can be prescribed depending on the cause of infection.

In women with menopause, along with the antibiotic UTI treatment, use of topical estrogen is also prescribed to reduce the risk of recurrence.

II. UTI treatment in men

The treatment will have to be continued for 7 to 14 days in case of an otherwise healthy male with no other illnesses.

If a male patient with UTI is also suffering from prostration or a kidney infection antibiotic treatment needs to be continued for several weeks.

III. UTI with pain and burning sensation

If a patient diagnosed with UTI experiences pain in the abdomen or pain, uneasiness and burning sensation while urinating pain killers or bladder anesthetics might be prescribed. These medicines might make the urine reddish orange.

These medicines often help the patients who get a severe urge to urinate but do not pass anything when they actually try. The medication reduces the urge.

IV. Severe UTI

If the infection is severe and not advisable to be treated with oral antibiotics, the patient is treated with intravenous antibiotics in the hospital.

In patients who have UTIs due to the back flow of urine from the bladder to the kidneys or due to a structural problem like an enlarged prostate, surgery might be required.

V. UTI treatment in kids

If the infection is not severe, oral antibiotics are prescribed and the duration of medication depends on the symptoms and diagnosis.

In severe cases or if the infected child is less than 6 months of age, hospitalization along with inject-able or intravenous antibiotics are required.

In most cases, the symptoms of UTIs subside within 24 to 48 hours of taking medication and the patient feels better. But the course of antibiotics as prescribed by the doctor should be completed or the infection might recur and get more severe.

Along with the antibiotic urinary tract infection treatment, all patients diagnosed with UTI must increase their water intake to flush out the infection causing bacteria. Intake of alcoholic, caffeinated, sugary and acidic (some fruit juices) drinks should be discontinued as these irritate the bladder and interfere with the antibiotic treatment. Spicy and oily foods should also be avoided for more effective treatment.

A urinary tract infection can affect one or more parts of the urinary system. This infection is highly treatable with timely diagnosis and proper care. However it is extremely important to diagnose and treat UTIs in the initial stages to avoid complications. Do not neglect even the slightest symptoms. Go here now, and learn about UTI




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Eliminate Candida Symptoms For Good

The one common problem amongst people who try to eliminate Candida symptoms for good using natural treatments is that they simply can't. Candida is a deep rooted condition that requires deep routed methods in order to fully alleviate it.

The 3 popular methods:

Normally when someone tries to eliminate Candida symptoms they will try 3 things.

1. Dietary Changes
2. Probiotics
3. Anti-fungals

Dietary Changes- These are key in preventing Candida from gaining a foothold over your health as well as allowing a Candida sufferer to eliminate their symptoms for good. By changing your diet you effectively change the terrain that the Candida is living on. Candida absolutely loves a toxic environment of processed foods, sugar, and a lack of fiber so food just sits in your body and rots. Fungus can't survive in high oxygen environments, when you leave food sitting in your bowels it rots, you need to up your fiber intake so Candida doesn't have this advantage. You need to eliminate sugar so it has nothing to feed on and you need to consume more live foods like vegetables so your body is constantly supplied with nutrients that will strengthen your immune system and allow your body to heal itself.

Probiotics - These beneficial bacteria are the direct enemy to Candida. They naturally produce a compound called hydrogen peroxide in minute amounts that oxidize Candida and allow your body to eliminate Candida and it's symptoms rapidly. Of course those who have had Candida for a while will require larger doses for longer periods of time.

Anti-Fungals - Naturally anti-fungal herbs such as Garlic, Oregano and Olive leaf are used to eliminate Candida and its symptoms. They are a staple in any Candida elimination protocol. Their downside though is that when you come off of them unless you have effectively eliminated the root cause you will be plagued with Candida once again.

So in the end if you want to eliminate Candida symptoms once and for all you need to attack the root cause and completely eliminate it. Only then can you experience true relief from Candida.

The Cure is here! Never before has a natural Candida and Yeast Infection system been as effective at targeting and eliminating the root causes of both Candida and Chronic yeast infections until now.

Click Here to read about this first of a kind natural cure.





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