Archive for the ‘heart health’ Category

Like What Your Heart

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

jantungThe human heart can be likened to a car engine: both are power supplies that keep bodies in motion. The heart works as a pump that pushes blood to the organs, tissues and cells of the body. The blood pumped by the heart delivers oxygen and nutrients to every cell and removes carbon dioxide and waste products made by these cells. But if the blood flow to the heart slows or stops or the rhythm of the heartbeat is disturbed, might endanger life. As with a car engine, how involved will determine how long the heart and how they work.

“Many people take better care of your car than your body,” said Dr. Denton A. Cooley, founder, president and chief surgeon at Texas Heart Institute. “They worry about an oil change, perform the regular tuning and use the proper fuel. But when it comes to their own body, feed it with foods that are high in fat and salt, smoke and do not exercise regularly. Medical advances can not eradicate cardiovascular disease. Good health depends largely on people to do their part. “

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The influence of chocolate for heart health

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

What is the common point between a glass of wine, a plate of broccoli, a cup of tea, a bunch of onions and a chocolate bar? Because these foods contain compounds called polyphenols chemical plants.

And if these molecules we are interested in, because many studies have shown they protect against cardiovascular disease and even some cancers. They are also found in the famous Mediterranean diet whose benefits are more evident.

Milk chocolate is not as good as a black

The influence of chocolate for heart health
As the cocoa content in chocolate, it is all the more interesting because it contains a large number of polyphenols. A cup of chocolate is such richer in polyphenols than a cup of tea or a glass of wine. Moreover, they pass quickly into the bloodstream and are well assimilated.

Note however, that things are different since chocolate also contains milk. Experience has in fact compared the levels of polyphenols in the blood of two groups of people. The first who ate dark chocolate, the second of milk chocolate. Result, they showed the quantities of polyphenols lower, suggesting to researchers of the study until the chocolate is combined with milk, it loses its properties.

The polyphenol content in cocoa beans called flavonoid has anti-oxidant, that is to say, it reduces the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). Result, the LDL cholesterol decrease, therefore the risk of cardiovascular disease as well. (more…)

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