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We’ll all cherish the day we learned chocolate was good for us. Maybe a few naysayers still remain skeptical, but study after study is proclaiming the health benefits, both mental and physical, of chocolate. Even the Life Extension Foundation includes chocolate extract in their flagship vitamin formulas. Many folks are switching from their daily dose of coffee to a cup of hot chocolate. It’s an antidepressant, an antioxidant, its full of vitamins and minerals, it improves sex drive, AND it tastes good. Really good. So what is the best way to get the health benefits? Is it as simple as eating cases of your childhood favorite chocolates? As you might have thought, there are considerations when indulging in chocolate as a regular part of your diet. But it can be done! Let’s see how…

Raw, unroasted chocolate IS A MUST to really reap the health benefits. Little of this fact is given weight in the mass-media’s portrayal of chocolate’s health benefits, but its the crucial point for anyone interested in bettering their health naturally. There’s a big difference in the chemical composition of un-roasted, naturally-dried chocolate when compared to 99% of the chocolate products available today. Nearly every single chocolate bar or drink, even at the large-chain heath food markets, is made from chocolate that’s been roasted at high temperatures. ‘Organic’ does not mean raw; chocolate powder is not raw unless it says its raw. High-end organic hot chocolate drinks are still roasted, and likely processed with alkali to make them dissolve more easily. Why the roasting and processing? Because we’ve become accustom to chocolate looking and tasting like it has since our childhoods. Working with raw chocolate (called Cacao – note this is different than Cocoa!), like so many things that are really good for you, is best prepared at home using carefully selected ingredients. It’s easy to do, and we’ll include some recipes at the end. But first back to the question of why raw is better.

Energy and stimulation is at the heart of the chocolate experience, but many people are sensitive to chocolate’s effects. There are however, significant differences in the alkaloid structures of raw and roasted chocolate. Raw chocolate’s stimulation comes primarily from theobromine, which has little anxiety producing effects. Studies by natural wellness professionals and user reports both note that while commercially prepared dark chocolate has a very stimulating action that caffeine sensitive individuals may find too strong, an equivalent amount of raw cacao does not. The stimulating effects are reported mild, gentle, and without a ‘crash’ that is often associated with caffeine. A reason for mothers to think about creating their own raw chocolate treats for their children, too. The jury is still out on the actual amount if caffeine in raw chocolate; some investigators have found none, some have found small amounts in the ’skin’ of the cacao beans, and others of found only small amounts in beans that have fermented somewhat (an indication of a lower-quality cacao). Either way, if you’ve refrained from chocolate because of it’s caffeine content, raw cacao may just be your answer to enjoying this treat again.

Next the question of anti-oxidants. Chocolate has been discovered to have exceptionally high quantities of important polyphenols. A study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry was titled: “Cocoa Has More Phenolic Phytochemicals and Higher Antioxidant Capacity than Teas and Red Wine.” It’s hard to argue with that. Here again the question of raw arises: One report notes that while roasted chocolate is made up of five-percent antioxidants, raw chocolate contains twice as much at ten percent. Another important note is the addition of milk to make milk chocolate. Research has shown that the addition of milk actually cancels-out the positive effects of chocolate’s antioxidants. And milk may be one of the reasons many people seem to be allergic to chocolate, as lactose intolerance is fairly common. Another chocolate myth is some individuals break out when ingesting high amounts; reports indicate that raw chocolate does not cause this response, and that it may be the refined fats and sugars present in most chocolate products producing this effect.

Finally, the question of mood-enhancing neurochemicals and precursors. Chocolate contains significant quantities of the essential amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan intake has recently been collated with neurogenesis, the development of new brain cells, and both long and short term memory. The presence of tryptophan is critical for the production of serotonin, a primary neurotransmitter associated with mood (Prozac works on the principal of enhancing the action of serotonin). Once in the body tryptophan reacts with B-vitamins in the presence of magnesium (all present in raw chocolate) to produce serotonin. Enhanced serotonin function assists in diminishing anxiety and stress – ccording to Dr. Gabriel Cousens, serotonin is literally our “stress-defense shield.” Tryptophan is heat sensitive and is often deficient in many cooked-food diets, even when animal protein intake is high. In addition to tryptophan (but not heat sensitive) chocolate also contains PEA, the ‘love hormone’ and Anandamide the ‘bliss chemical’.

Convinced? Ready for a little raw chocolate power? First its critical to find a good source; make sure the chocolate you’re buying is raw – it will be most likely labeled ‘Cacao’, the name for the raw chocolate beans and the tree on which they grow. Cacao nibs are small pieces of pure raw chocolate that can be eaten straight, or mixed with other healthy snacks like Gogi berries. But the best-loved raw chocolate preparation is the original chocolate drink: hot chocolate. Now it won’t be hot enough for long enough to convert any chemicals or to cook the chocolate, just to make it a warm comforting drink – and of course, heating the water isn’t necessary at all (though in recipes calling for Coconut oil, it helps to blend the oil into the drink). So to make a cup, use powdered raw chocolate (grinding the nibs or beans in a coffee grinder can work, though you’ll find this challenging as the natural oils in the chocolate will heat up and liquefy before the grinding is complete, leaving little crunchy bits). Put one or two tablespoons powdered chocolate, 1 to 2 teaspoons raw dark agave nectar (a low-glycemic index natural sweetner) and 1 to 2 teaspoons of Coconut oil in a blender. Add 8 to 12 ounces almost-boiling water and blend for 10 seconds. That’s it! You’ll find your personal favorite formula after a few preparations – more or less chocolate, oil, sweetener or water.

There are lots and lots of recipes out there, and great reading on raw chocolate’s health benefits and preparation. You’ll cacao powder often combined with other super nutritious foods in smoothies and good-for-you deserts. Natural organic candies start with the same ingredients as the drinks, but without the liquid. Just make a paste, adding pecans, coconut shavings or whatever you like, and chill to harden. As you’re not baking anything, there’s little to go awry, and really, so many possibilities. By using raw chocolate, you’ll open up a whole new world of cooking for yourself and your family — and if you hadn’t before, you might just find yourself really motivated to treat yourself to natural health and wellness.

The Wellness author is currently writing a comprehensive wellness book for women. See her blog at www.organicmedicinalherbs.com

There are so many fad diets for losing arm fat. How are supposed to choose the right one? Picking the right nutritional approach for maximizing arm fat loss has become very difficult in this day and age.

So I’ve decided to lend a helping hand.

Thus, here are 6 reasons why fasting and arm fat don’t go well together:

1. Too much muscle loss. Once the muscle is gone the metabolism plummets. And a slower metabolism translates into less calories burned, even while you sleep.

2. Biggest rebounds. Having a weight gain rebound is the most demoralizing thing because it makes you feel like your efforts were in vain, not good!

3. Can’t be sustained. Fasting is a non-sustainable endeavor. Eventually you will have to get off of the fast or you’ll suffer some pretty serious health issues, not good.

4. Intense feelings of hunger. Fasting is painful, just ask anybody who’s tried it. The urge to eat everything under the sun will haunt you day in and day out. You’ll dream about food constantly.

5. Massive lethargy. Your body loves carbohydrates for energy. But without carbohydrates it can manage with protein. When you fast, your body gets neither. The end result is that it eats away muscle tissue for energy.

6. High frequency sickness. Without enough food coming in, your body will not be able to fight off sickness very well. Expect a much higher rate of sickness when on a fast.

Are you still excited about trying that fast? I hope not because for the most part, fasting is not a good approach for women wishing to get toned arms and lose arm fat. There are much easier and effective dieting methods for getting sexy arms. Besides, fasting is NOT sustainable. So why do it in the first place? Getting lean arms doesn’t have to be so painful!

Author Katherine Crawford, a Harvard fitness physiologist and recent flabby arms sufferer, teaches women how to reduce arm fat once and for all. Discover how to get sexy and toned arms by exploring her blog about how to get rid of upper arm fat with ultra fast methods now!

The benefits of wheatgrass juice is gaining attention day-by-day with the buzz it creates among health buffs. It has also been known that it is very easy and quick to grow wheatgrass from your garden. In this article, we will also give you tips on how to effectively tend your growing wheatgrass and prevent molds.

Buying wheatgrass is not entirely easy if you’re considering buying from ordinary stores. If you want to get high-quality wheatgrass, you should get it online or in specialist health food stores and they’ll surely know what you’ll need. Once you get your fresh bunch of wheatgrass seeds, now’s the time for you to get some lessons on growing it.

The first step in growing wheatgrass is to immerse your seeds in water for not more than eight hours. After this, a 10×20 seed tray with an approximately 2-inch depth should be prepared. You can then start putting in the wet compost, peat moss, and an all-natural grower to improve the health of your developing grass.

Next step would be draining and rinsing the seeds twice. Scatter the seeds around the soil but not far from each other; let them have close contact without really coinciding to let them grow well and freely. The peat moss shouldn’t be too moist so that it won’t hinder your grass by acquiring molds.

When watering your seeds, make sure you do it lightly and equally to also prevent disturbing the chemical interaction happening between the peat moss and the seeds. Make sure that your growing the seeds and peat moss are still moist but not wet. This is a very important part in tending your grass to ensure its healthy growth.

Cover the tray partially with another one on top or either use moist newspaper or bubble wrap to let your plant breathe while protecting it from destructive molds. Covering the tray maintains the needed moisture while the grass is undergoing growth. They should usually take not more three days before it becomes inches tall.

The grass should be uncovered so that it could get mounds of subsidiary sunlight to quicken its progress. We say indirect sunlight is better because if you use direct sunlight with the growing wheatgrass, it might dry up quickly and paralyze the development. The amount of sunlight will spur the appearance of chlorophyll in them, thus making your initially yellow grass greener and more nutritious.

Once your wheatgrass grows at around 7 inches, you may harvest it because that is their optimum stage when it comes to their health contents. Use an ordinary scissors or kitchen knife in doing this to ensure the continuity of your growing wheatgrass and after this, cut and clean your harvest well before you start juicing so that you will have a fulfilling glass of wheatgrass juice in no time. Join the others who have experienced the goodness of wheatgrass and get a glass now!

Know how growing wheatgrass can change your life now. Click here and learn why many are now choosing growing wheatgrass over pills and other medicines.