Chocolate lovers everywhere-celebrate!  Chocolate is good for you!  But, before consuming for its health benefits, be very picky.  Most commercially available chocolate has been processed in a way that destroys its healthful compounds and is mixed with damaged oils, refined sugar, and condensed or powdered milk.  Instead, look for dark chocolate with a cacao level of 70% or greater.

Due to the rich soil required to grow the cacao bean, dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, compounds that negate free radicals that lead to premature aging and cause degenerative diseases in the human body.  In fact, cacao has a high ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) rating, outperforming green tea. Read the rest of this entry »

As outlined in the October 2010 edition of Wellness Matters, alcohol is clearly not a friend to your health.  The benefits received in an alcoholic drink, like red wine, are from the grape skins and seeds and not from the alcohol, which is fermented sugar found in the meat of the grape.  Also, even higher levels of antioxidants and bioflavanoids can be found in healthful sources like muscadines, acai berries, and green tea, and even in dietary supplements.  Consuming alcohol is not worth the risks like brain and liver damage, cancer, and even addiction.

When a person becomes addicted to a substance like alcohol, several factors are usually at play including emotional and spiritual issues that will need to be addressed.  The body will need to be detoxified from this potent neurotoxin.  As the body becomes nutritionally depleted due to alcohol consumption, nutrition must play a major factor in recovery. Read the rest of this entry »

Research suggests that drinking alcohol in moderation can be a great way to get beneficial bioflavanoids and antioxidants, like resveratrol.  Alcohol has even been promoted as a way to improve heart health and ward off dementia.  What is not widely known is that there has never been a study conducted to test the connection between moderate drinking and odds for a longer life.

Alcohol is produced by fermenting the sugar found in the meat of the grape.  Closer investigation shows that the beneficial properties of red wine, for example, are found in the grape seeds and skins.

It is widely known that alcohol is a neurotoxin.  Neurotoxins are elements that poison the brain, leading to cognitive decline and even damage, especially if consumed in heavy amounts.  Changes in brain function occur after the consumption of alcohol as the brain chooses the sugar found in the alcohol rather than the glucose it normally functions on. Read the rest of this entry »

You may recognize the name chia from the commercials at Christmas time advertising chia pets, the novelty item you watch sprout into an interesting creature or shape.  Although not widely popular in America, chia seeds, a member of the mint family, have a long history in Central and Southern Mexico.  Legend has that Aztec warriors received chia seeds as part of their daily rations.  Chia seeds fell out of favor after the Spanish conquest in an effort to forego anything tied to Aztec religious offerings.

Chia seeds are particularly rich in Omega-3 essential fatty acids, essential because the body does not produce these fatty acids and they must be obtained through the diet.  Chia seeds contain even more Omega-3 EFAs than flaxseeds and with less effort as chia seeds do not require grinding.  These seeds are appealing to people who are lactose intolerant and are looking for another source of calcium.  In fact, chia seeds have five times as much calcium as milk. Read the rest of this entry »

For some time raw apple cider vinegar (RACV) has been promoted as a great preventative and restorative health tonic and used for a wide variety of distresses including:

• Acid reflux
• Arthritis
• Cancer
• High cholesterol and
• Gout

While some claims may be overstated, the benefits of RACV should be investigated.

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Well, not exactly. But, pets do add so much to our lives. They provide companionship, loyalty, and protection. In turn, they look to us for upkeep and nourishment. Most pet owners want the very best for their family friends. Read the rest of this entry »