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Bulletin, Progressive, Record, Reporter Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011 7B
Valentine's Day chocolate: the new 'supeo"ruit'?
C-FORCE
HEALTH AND FITNESS
CHUCK NORRIS
Q: Chuck, I'm giving out
chocolates this year to my
valentines. In doing so, am
I as concerned for their
healthy hearts as I am for
my romantic one?
--"Smitten for Sweets"
Bardstown, Ky.
A: With Valentine's Day,
cupids across the country are
contemplating what types of
sweets to get their sweeties.
The verdict this year is
definitely in: dark chocolate.
A brand-new study again
demonstrates the health
benefits of consuming dark
chocolate. Granted, the re-
search was done by The
Hershey Co.'s Center for
Health and Nutrition, which
seems a bit self-serving, but
the findings are still legit.
The research, published in
Chemistry Central Journal,
concludes that dark chocolate
and cocoa powder are better
for you than many "super-
fruits" -- a term describing
fruits that are particularly
high in nutritional value, es-
pecially in antioxidants.
The study reveals that dark
chocolate and cocoa powder
have a "greater antioxidant
capacity" and "greater total
flavanol and polyphenol con-
tent" than the fruit juices
studied. A big reason is that
dark chocolate and cocoa
powder are made from an
extract of cacao beans. These
beans are actually the seeds
of the cacao tree, whose
scientific name is Theobroma
cacao, meaning "cacao, the
food of the gods," a nod to
the etymological origin of
"cacao," which came from the
Aztecs. As senior author Dr.
Debra Miller explained, cacao
beans are a superfruit "pro-
viding nutritive value beyond
that of their macro-nutrient
composition."
The study elaborates:
"Analysis of the fruit powders
demonstrated that the antioxi-
dant capacity of cocoa powder
was significantly greater than
blue-berry, cranberry and
pomegranate powder on a per
gram basis. The total poly-
phenol content of cocoa
powder appeared to be greater
than acai, blueberry and cran-
berry powder; however these
differences did not reach
statistical significance. The
total flavanol content of co-
coa powder was significantly
greater than all of the other
fruit powders tested."
Flavanols are found in a
wide variety of fruits and veg-
etables and are phytonutrients
(meaning "plant chemicals")
that help maintain healthy
blood vessels. Poly-phenols are
antioxidants in plant foods.
They protect the body against
free radicals, which result in a
host of detrimental effects tied
to aging, including effects on
the cardiovascular system and
the brain:
We've long known that high
doses of antioxidants are found
in berries, grapes (including
red wine) and green tea. Dark
chocolate, too, has large quan-
tities of beneficial catechins
(a type of antioxidant phyto-
chemical). One ounce con-
tains as much as does a half-
cup of brewed black tea.
Chocolate also contains
copper, iron, zinc, potassium,
calcium, vitamin E and small
amounts of protein. However,
1 ounce of dark chocolate
contains about 6 grams of
saturated fats, so remember
that it's an occasional snack,
not a meal.
And let me dispel a few pop-
ular myths about dark choco-
late. According to the Mayo
Clinic Health Letter, there is
not an established iink be-
tween acne and eating choco-
late. Dark chocolate has no ad-
dictive ingredients. Studies
have not placed it high on the
list of cavity-causing products;
cocoa butter in chocolate may
provide protection against
tooth decay. Studies also show
that cocoa butter has a neutral
effect on blood cholesterol
levels because of its high level
of stearic acid. And contrary to
popular belief, chocolate only
contains very small amounts
of caffeine.
Lastly, before you go out
and go nuts at your favorite
candy store, keep in mind
that this study is verifying
the health properties in dark
chocolates (bittersweet, semi-
sweet and sweet), not milk
chocolates (e.g., those found
in candy bars), chocolates
milks or hot chocolates. In
Recycled signs meet expectations
The California Department
of Transportation (Caltrans)
and the Caltrans Recycling
Program facilitates the devel-
opment, implementation,
monitoring and promotion of
cost-effective departmental
recycling projects. In Part-
nering with other state agen-
cies, Caltrazii Working to
minimize materials going in-
to landfills while encourag-
ing new business opportuni-
ties.
As part of a demonstration
project, the Office of Road-
side Maintenance in District
2 has installed and monitored
four recycled tire sign posts
(Post Savers) at the following
locations: the Weed Safety
Roadside Rest Area (SRRA),
the Castella Vista Point, the
Shingletown SRRA and at a
location near the north en-
trance to Lassen Park. The
Post Savers that were in-
stalled at these locations
have met all expectations.
Based on these results, Cal-
trans recently purchased 60
units for installation and
evaluation under additional
conditions.
The Post Saver footing is
manufactured from Northern
California recycled tires, re-
duces post replacement cost
and time due to rot, wind and
snow removal; eliminates the
need for new treated posts;
increases worker safety by
reduced exposure to hazards;
increases safety by reducing
collision damage and sign
down time, and provides for a
stable below-ground post an-
chor footing.
Keith Gross, M.D.
Diplomate American
Board of Dermatology
Q|
A.
What does skin cancer look like?
The skin cancer which occurs most commonly is basal cell car-
cinoma. It may appear as small non-healing sores or bumps on
the skin. These should be diagnosed and treated early as their
.continued growth makes treatment more difficult. If you have
any questions about a possible skin cancer, be sure and consult
a board-certified dermatologist.
SEEING PATIENTS FEBRUARY 24, 2011
Fellow American
Academy of
Dermatology
Board Certified
in Dermatology
• Skin Cancer Specialist • Skin Cancer Screening
• Skin Cancer Surgery •Acne • Moles
• Skin Diseases • Fruit Peels
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fact, the study concludes that
hot chocolate contains little,
if any, of those nutrients be-
cause of the processing (alka-
lization) of the chocolate.
Only dark chocolate is your
safe bet as a rich source of
heart-helping flavanols and
polyphenols.
So, as cardiologist Suzanne
Steinbaum concluded, "When
looking for a sweet snack, a
square of dark chocolate
might, in fact, be your health-
iest choice."
And it might be your most
romantic choice for your
valentine, as well.
Q: Dear Chuck, I under-
stand that dark chocolate is
good for us, but how much
should we eat, and which
kinds do you recommend?
--Jane F.
Cranston, R.I.
A: On the high end, Mayo
Clinic nutritionist Katherine
Zeratsky advises: "Choose
dark chocolate with cocoa con-
tent of 65 percent or higher.
Limit yourself to no more
than 3 ounces (85 grams) a
day, which is the amount
shown in studies to be helpful.
Because this amount may pro-
vide up to 450 calories, you
may want to cut calories in
other areas or step up the
exercise to compensate."
On the other han d , writer
Karen Leland noted an Ital-
ian survey that concluded
that 6.7 grams of dark choco-
late per day (about half a bar
per week) is the ideal amount
to fight against inflammation
and cardiovascular disease.
As a person espousing mod-
eration in all things, I think
the healthy amount of dark
chocolate probably falls be-
tween those two conclusions.
Leland also conducted a
fun and informal survey by
enlisting 15 of her chocolate-
loving friends to sample 42
brands of high-end dark
chocolate. I think their top-10
list of dark chocolates should
suffice for any valentine or
health-conscious chocolate
lover:
Dr. Dave's Mega-O
Theo Chocolate
Mademoiselle de Margaux
Xocolatl de David
Vosges' exotic truffles
Oliver Kita Fine Confections
Alter Eco's Midnight Crunch
Dean & Deluca
Gall Ambrosius Chocolatier
Divine Chocolate's 70 per-
cent dark chocolate with rasp-
berries
Write to Chuck Norris
(info@creators.com) with
your questions about health
and fitness.
Copyright 2011 Chuck Norris
Distributed by creators.corn
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