Good Vegan and Vegetarian Food

As with everything else in nutrition and diet, the health benefits or risks of eating chocolate is a controversial topic. Every new study that comes along seems to throw doubt on the one before. Nowhere is this more true than in discussions of the health risks and possible benefits of eating chocolate. The answer, like much else in nutrition, may lie in considering the amount consumed.

One major reason that chocolate often makes the news is that it does contain a class of phytochemicals called flavonoids, in particular one called epicatechin. Flavonoids are known to have circulatory system benefits. That much is not in dispute. They are antioxidants, which help remove free radicals from the blood stream. Free radicals are charged atoms that can harm cells.

But from that point, opinions diverge. Some argue that the presence of those antioxidants is enough to declare that chocolate does have some health benefits. Others point out that the presence of fat and sugar in chocolate products outweighs the benefits, and that flavonoids are present in other foods, such as vegetables. Those other foods don’t have the high fat and sugar content that chocolate so often does.

Here again, the old pharmacological rule may be helpful. ‘Dosage makes the poison’. Anything is harmful in large enough quantities, even water. It can expand cell membranes to a dangerous degree. In moderate amounts, even fat and sugar are positive benefits.

Complex sugars are to be preferred because they take longer to break down, but simple sugars are still carbohydrates and provide needed energy, without which life would be impossible. Fat, too, in modest amounts performs useful biological functions. It helps regulate certain hormones in the brain and is also a type of carbohydrate that can provide quick, needed energy.

One major form of fat in chocolate is stearic acid, a saturated fat. Those are generally not preferred, since in general they can increase the ‘bad’ type of cholesterol. Though some studies suggest that stearic acid, as found in chocolate, does not contribute to that and in fact may help lower it.

The problem arises when these are consumed in high quantities, which is easy to do when eating a chocolate bar or chocolate ice cream.

But chocolate contains other compounds that can have positive health effects.

Though the amount of caffeine in a chocolate bar is only about 10-30% or less than that found in a cup of coffee, that might actually be a good thing. Low relative amounts of caffeine are known to be healthy.

Tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin, is present in chocolate. Serotonin is a ‘mood-elevating’ neurochemical and anything which combats stress is generally a good thing. Some studies also suggest that chocolate stimulates the release of endorphins, the “runner’s high” biochemical.

Theobromine is found in chocolate and this caffeine-related compound is a mild stimulant. Mild stimulants help keep the mind alert, the body ready for action and contribute to a positive outlook. They are partly responsible for why humans crave chocolate.

While research continues, and the pros and cons will continue to be weighed, consider Aristotle’s view that moderation is the key to well-being. Modern science would probably agree.

If you’ve been looking for a way towards a high octane diet, you’ll find fiber to be exactly what you need. Even though research has shown fiber to be powerful, many people aren’t taking this nutrient seriously.

To help you fuel your health with fiber, here are 9 facts to help.

1. Fiber fights diseases. A diet high in fiber can help to prevent colon cancer and heart disease. High fiber helps the body to eliminate cholesterol by binding it in the digestive tract. For thousands of years, fiber has been used to stop constipation.

2. Fiber can actually help with overeating. All high fiber foods will take longer to chew and digest, making you feel satisfied longer

3. Most popular foods don’t have enough fiber. If you like the more popular foods, you probably need to increase your intake of fiber.

4. Grains offer the most fiber. Dietary fiber is actually plant matter that we cannot digest. The best sources are whole grains and concentrated grain products.

5. Kids need fiber as well. Children that are older than 2 years of age should consume a daily intake of fiber. Kids are most receptive to fiber found in fruits, vegetables, and even fortified breakfast cereals.

6. More fiber needs more water. In order to keep fiber moving through your digestive tract, you’ll need to consume a lot of water. With your diet of fiber, you’ll need eight or more glasses of water every day.

7. Fiber cannot be cooked out. When you cook your fruits and vegetables, don’t worry about cooking the fiber out, as it stays. The fiber found in fruits and vegetables aren’t just in the skin or in the peel.

8. You can get enough fiber. If you eat more than 50 grams of fiber in a day, you can get diarrhea and bloating, which can interfere with your body’s absorption of other key minerals.

9. Getting the right amount of fiber in your diet doesn’t have to be hard. Even though you may think so, getting the amount of fiber you need isn’t very hard to do. All you have to do is eat the right foods and you’ll be well on your way to a fiber rich lifestyle.

As one of the key ingredients to healthy eating, fiber is something you don’t want to skip. Fiber can serve many different purposes, which were covered above. If you aren’t getting enough fiber in your diet you should do something about now instead of waiting until it is too late.

Throughout America, potatoes are the most popular vegetable, even being ahead of other well known vegetables such as lettuce and onions. You can cook potatoes in a variety of ways, and they are included in one out of three meals eaten by almost all Americans. When they are prepared in a healthy way, a potato can be an excellent source of energy and also pack a nutritional punch.

Like oranges, potatoes are very high in vitamin C.The fact is, one medium potato contains 45% of the vitamin C that’s recommended for good health. Potatoes are also high in fiber and carbohydrates and contain more potassium than a banana.

A potato is naturally low in calories and contains no fat, sodium, or cholesterol. The skins of the potatoes provide a helpful dose of fiber, iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, and several B vitamins.

You can prepare potatoes by boiling them, steaming them, or even roasting them. If at all possible,you should avoid putting potatoes in the refrigerator or freezing them, as cold will turn the potato starch to sugar and cause them to turn dark when they are cooked.

When you store potatoes, keep them in a cool, dark place. Too much light will cause them to turn green.You can store them in the basement if you have one, as the basement is the best place to keep potatoes.

From mashed potatoes to baked potatoes, a potato is something we all know and love. They serve many different tasty foods, and they provide our bodies with plenty of healthful benefits. We all eat potatoes, some of us even grow our own. Whether you grow your on or buy them, the potato is the one vegetable that makes everything just a little bit better.