Friday, December 21, 2012
Chocolate
11:42 AM | 
Posted by
Kaplan Center for Health and Wellness
You
might have heard the good news: the powers that be have decided that chocolate
is good for us. Those of us who have a relationship with chocolate couldn't be
more pleased. It turns out that humans have included chocolate in their diets
for thousands of years, and not just for dessert. The Aztecs, Maya, and Olmecs
knew of the healing properties of cacao, and consumed a drink made of cacao
seeds.
Like
most fruits, the cacao seed is full of antioxidants. These healing properties
are derived from cocoa flavanols, the plant-based nutrients in cocoa which have
been intensely studied for their health benefits.
Chocolate
contains the same flavonoids found in red wine and tea. Flavonoids are potent
antioxidants and have been linked to numerous health benefits. Surprisingly,
chocolate has these antioxidants in even higher concentrations. One bar of dark
chocolate has twice the flavanol content of a glass of red wine and seven times
the amount as green tea. Most of these benefits have to do with their Oxygen
Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). The ORAC is a measure of the ability of
foods to neutralize harmful free radicals. Free radicals are associated with
many diseases such as Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, arthritis,
cataracts, cancer and more. Chocolate is a concentrated source of
antioxidants—other fruits and even vegetables don't come close. Prunes are in
second place behind chocolate at 5,770 ORAC units per gram, but dark chocolate
has 13,120 ORAC units per gram!
How Much is Too Much?
It is best to think about the antioxidant content as you look at the percentage on the label of a chocolate bar - essentially, the higher the percentage of cocoa the better. Dark chocolate has the highest amount of cocoa and less sugar. Currently, most sources say about 6.3 grams of dark chocolate (one square inch) per day is sufficient for a tasty antioxidant boost.
It is best to think about the antioxidant content as you look at the percentage on the label of a chocolate bar - essentially, the higher the percentage of cocoa the better. Dark chocolate has the highest amount of cocoa and less sugar. Currently, most sources say about 6.3 grams of dark chocolate (one square inch) per day is sufficient for a tasty antioxidant boost.
Happy
Holidays Everyone!
Nancy
Silva, ND
Faculty,
Health Sciences Dept
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Sweet Potatoes
12:13 PM |
Posted by
Kaplan Center for Health and Wellness
Whenever I think of sweet potatoes, I
envision the holidays. In my mind's eye I see that glass casserole dish with
warm gooey sweet potatoes covered in melted brown sugar and marshmallows. While
using the sweet potato as a holiday table specialty is nice, sweet potatoes are
actually much more versatile than one might imagine. There are many ways to
include them in one's diet—and many reasons one should. Sweet potatoes are
ranked highest of all vegetables in nutritional value by the Center for Science
in the Public Interest. Ounce for ounce you get a load of nutrients from a
sweet potato. This blog entry will focus on just a few that make this tuber an
excellent dietary choice for the cold and flu season.
Nutrition and the Immune System
As we make our food choices, we must remember that nutrient intake is an important contributing factor in the immune system's ability to function. Micronutrients that are required for the immune system to function efficiently include vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, Zinc, Copper, Iron, and Selenium. It turns out sweet potatoes are high in many of these:
As we make our food choices, we must remember that nutrient intake is an important contributing factor in the immune system's ability to function. Micronutrients that are required for the immune system to function efficiently include vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, Zinc, Copper, Iron, and Selenium. It turns out sweet potatoes are high in many of these:
Vitamin A. The intense orange color of the sweet potato is evidence
of its high concentration of vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene. In fact,
just one has five times the RDA of vitamin A. Besides being recognized as
essential for vision, growth and bone development, vitamin A plays a crucial
role in immunity.
Vitamin C. Sweet potatoes are considered
to be a very good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C affects the immune system by
stimulating the production and function of white blood cells.
Vitamin B6. Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin B6. Studies
have demonstrated that low dietary intake of vitamin B6 can result in depressed
immune function.
Copper and
Iron. Sweet potatoes are a good source of
both copper and iron. Minerals such as these are essential to immunity as they
aid in the maturation, function, and activation of defense mechanisms.
Eat Sweet Potatoes! Now that you know the incredible nutritional value of the
sweet potato, there is just no excuse to reserve them only for the holiday
table. Be creative - try adding them to your everyday meals, especially during
the cold and flu season!
Nancy
Silva, ND
Faculty,
Health Sciences Dept
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Cranberries
12:59 PM |
Posted by
Kaplan Center for Health and Wellness
Hi Everyone,
If you have been
following this blog for some time – you have probably noticed that I have a
deep interest in the health effects of food. Due to this passion, many of my
friends and family members enjoy asking me about the health benefits of
particular foods. And so, for this week’s blog – I’d like to analyze some of
our holiday favorites. First one up: Cranberries.
Cranberries not only
complement the taste of our turkey and decorate our holiday tables, they also
have many health promoting properties. Cranberries are rich in antioxidants
like vitamin C, and they are a good source of dietary fiber, manganese and
vitamin K.
Historically,
Native American Indians used cranberries to treat urinary tract infections and
other ailments. Current research has revealed that cranberries contain
proanthocyanidins which prevent the adhesion of bacteria to the bladder wall,
thus thwarting potential urinary tract infections.
In addition to the
wonderful properties listed above, cranberries contain significant amounts of
phyto-nutrients. When compared to many commonly eaten fruits, cranberries have
been shown to contain higher concentrations of antioxidant phenols. Antioxidant
rich fruits aid in the prevention of heart disease, cancer and more.
Stay tuned for a
close look at the health benefits of sweet potatoes…
Nancy
Silva, ND
Faculty,
Health Sciences Dept
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