Health Benefits of Chocolate 

With Valentine’s day fast approaching many of you may be considering giving chocolates to your loved ones.  Did you know chocolate not only tastes great but has many health benefits. Chocolate helps the immune system, reduces the risk of some cancers,  promotes a healthy cardiovascular system and best of all boosts our spirit.  The only catch is you need to eat  organic dark chocolate to truly experience the  many health benefits.
Dark chocolate is full of nutrients such  as iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, chromium as well as the vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E. Dark chocolate is the highest natural source of magnesium, which protects against hypertension, heart disease and helps to regulate blood sugar levels. 
Eating chocolate can reduce stress and creates a feeling  euphoria. Consuming chocolate releases the neurotransmitter phenylethylamine, which is a mild mood elevator. Phenylethylamine occurs naturally in our brain when we feel love or joy.  Chocolate also boosts serotonin levels, which act as our brain's natural antidepressant. 
Dark chocolate contains more flavonoids than any other food — including green tea, black tea, red wine, and blueberries. Flavonoids are antioxidants that help fight free radical damage and help boost the immune system.  Flavonoids can also keep our cardiovascular system clean and blood flowing freely through our arteries.
Indulging in chocolate can be a truly heavenly experience.  It is preferable to buy organic dark chocolate that is low in sugar. This rich form of chocolate will satisfy your cravings for sweet foods and also provide you with many health benefits as well.
 

Healthy Benefits of Coconut

I could easily live on a desert island living on coconuts.  I love the taste of the sweet meat , the luscious water and creamy milk that coconut produces.  Coconuts in fact may be considered the “perfect” food. It is   high in nutritional value, containing vitamins, minerals and vital nutrients. Coconut is easily digested making it a good source of nutrition for those with compromised health, and it also is a good food source for babies. Coconuts are high in protein,  healthy fats and in the following nutrients: manganese, iron, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, calcium, and magnesium.  Let’s take a look at the nutritional benefits of all the components of a coconut.

When you first crack a coconut the first thing you will notice is a clear liquid that comes out, this is the water of a coconut.  Coconut water has the perfect balance of electrolytes, making it far better than any sports drink. It is perfectly ph balanced, thus balancing your own body’s ph. Coconut water can be purchased in most health food stores and makes a great choice to rehydrate your body after a workout. The water also helps the kidneys and bladder maintain proper functioning.

The next part of the coconut is the meat. This delectable meat is rich in  lauric acid, which is a fatty acid  found in breast milk. Lauric acid is known to contain antiviral and antibacterial properties which is  extremely beneficial in fighting off infection. It is the lauric acid in breast milk that helps protect infants from being infected by viruses and bacteria.  In addition coconut meat also supports brain health,  by balancing neurotransmitters and assists in hormone production.  Eating coconut can help fight gas, constipation, ulcers, and other digestive and stomach ailments. Coconut also supports thyroid function because it naturally contains iodine. Coconut meat can be made into coconut milk by steeping the meat in hot water, this makes coconut milk equally as nutritious as eating the meat.

Virgin Coconut oil is also made from the meat of the coconut.  There is a lot of misinformation presented that coconut oil is harmful for you and leads to weight gain. It is only unhealthy when you consume processed coconut oil that contains trans fat. Just like all food, eating coconut oil in its whole pure state provides you with  health benefits.   Apart from being good for the skin and hair, coconut oil has been found to be beneficial for: lowering cholesterol levels, regulating blood pressure levels, assisting metabolism, burning fat, stabilizing blood sugar levels, improving digestion, and strengthening bone density.

As a natural health advocate I have several favorite remedies that I believe everyone should take and have in their “medicine chest”.  One of these is elderberries.

Elderberries are a member of the honeysuckle family and have  been used as a natural remedy for centuries.   The first recorded use was by Hippocrates and used extensively by the Native Americans. Elderberries have recently regained popularity and become well known as an immune boosting supplement. These deep purple berries contain a large amount of vitamin C, vitamin A and B and are rich in flavonoids which include quercetin and  anthocyanins. Flavonoids have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and can activate immune cells that help the body to fight off viruses. The elderberry fruit also contains components known as lectins which have been shown in the laboratory to stop replication of ten different strains of the flu virus.  During the recent H1N1 flu outbreak, elderberries proved to be a very effective remedy in my family and among my clients. Elderberries are a versatile herb and can be used to treat a diversity of ailments.  In addition to boosting the immune system elderberries can help to lower cholesterol levels, improve vision, and assist the cardiovascular system.

Elderberries can be used in a variety of ways: they make delicious jelly, tea, syrup and even wine.  Both the flowers and fruit have medicinal properties. The flowers can be brewed as tea and are commonly used in skin care products.  

Elderberries are safe and useful to take for extended periods of time, it is especially useful to take elderberry tonic or syrup throughout the winter months due to its powerful antioxidant and anti-viral benefits.  I encourage you to try this nutrient superstar, that is not only packed full of health benefits but is delectable too. We sell a tasty elderberry syrup on our website that I enjoy taking everyday. I often pour a small glass and sip it for my dessert or I also put it on my salad I encourage you to discover the magical properties of the elderberry.

Nicole Hawksley

Natural Health Practitioner

www.acureforyou.com