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.