Clear Thinking, Better Memory, Mood and Stable Blood Sugar with New Chocolate

#a world that works for everyone

Time to change your ideas about chocolate? 

Certain types of cocoa and chocolate that are low in sugar and high in flavanoids seem to have remarkable health benefits  and can improve memory, focus, moods and cognition ,help stabilize blood sugar. improve blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular disease…..

Cocoa drinking Kunas started the chocolate investigation

Off the coast of Panama on the San Blas islands a group of native people-Kuna tribe drink  40-45 ozs of raw unprocessed cocoa beverage each day.  Despite their poverty level, lack of modern medical care and very simple hygiene…..the Kunas enjoy the world’s lowest rates of cardiovascular disease , reduced cancer levels, normal blood pressure and have almost no metabolic- blood sugar problems. (1)

They make their daily cocoa drink  by boiling a banana in water with a large amount of raw unprocessed cocoa powder for a long period of time. The startling health differences between the Kunas who drink their daily cocoa and their relatives who do not use the cocoa-led Harvard researchers to analyse  hundreds of research papers on cocoa flavanoids.

Memory,cognition and blood sugar metabolism -improved by high quality flavanoids from raw cocoa  

In 2011 the Harvard team published  a very large meta analysis of hundreds of research articles  which examined the health benefits of cocoa. (2) This year a smaller double blind study was published. Conducted on 90 elderly individuals over an 8 week period  it was determined that consuming 993 mgs of flavanoids from high quality raw cocoa per day improves cognitive function, lowers blood pressure and improves insulin sensitivity. (3) Perhaps something as simple as a strong, raw cocoa drink can help to preserve cognitive function for people struggling with early stages of Alzheimer's, dementia or memory problems. 

Along with researches around the world large candy companies like Mars and Hershey are are also investigating how to improve the quality of their chocolate products to bring improved benefits. 

Only raw unprocessed cocoa has remarkable properties 

Inside the cacao pod are the cacao beans. Roast these beans, grind them up, drain off the cocoa butter fat and solids and what is left behind is cocoa powder.  Raw unprocessed cocoa powder contains the highest amount of biologically active compounds called flavanoids which provide the greatest health benefits.  Almost all fruits and vegetables contain flavanoids which is why these foods are so healthy for us. 

Raw unprocessed cocoa powder tastes bitter.... but adding a lot of sugar  stresses  your body’s blood sugar metabolism and can lead to weight gain and high cholesterol.  Healthy raw unprocessed chocolate that brings these benefits with high flavanol content will never taste like the chocolate candy from your local store. 

A process known as alkalinization reduces cocoa's bitter taste, makes the cocoa blend easily with sugar and improves its taste when it is cooked or baked. With this procedure raw cocoa is washed with sodium or potassium bicarbonate (baking soda). 
Unfortunately alkalinization washes out the flavanols-the most active health building ingredients in raw cocoa. 

Where to find high flavanoid raw unprocessed cocoa 

Cocoavia , a subsidiary of Mars is one company that uses a patented high flavanoid producing process for their cocoa powders and candies. Cocoavia and other companies have isolated the flavanoids in capsule and tablet form. Local health food stores and online stores like Amazon offer a variety of raw cocoa powders and raw cocoa products.


How much do you need?

The ideal daily amount would be about 1000 mgs of raw cocoa flavanols. 

Look for sweetening ingredients  like stevia, maca, monk fruit, morinda fruit or yacon. These natural sweetners will not affect your blood sugar levels. 

New chocolate :

These are two chocolate bars that I like: 

The Ultra Calm Bar: Dark chocolate mixed with coconut, rice protein, rosemary extract and L-theanine and an amino acid from sunflower provides a profound sense of relaxation, well being and a lovely feeling of calmness within about 30 minutes after eating.(4) 

Improve memory, focus and mental clarity with Karma Melowl Bar: Dark chocolate mixed with lion’s mane mushroom extract, ginko, turmeric and bacopa (ayurvedic herb). (5) 

Another way to increase the flavanoid content is to mix raw cocoa with cranberry, acai, pomegranate, rosemary etc. The naturally high flavanoid levels of these fruits and herbs can also enhance the flavanoid content in raw cocoa products.  

What if chocolate is not right for you?

Some people are allergic to chocolate. Young people may feel it makes their skin break out. Because it has a natural amount of caffeine it even can keep some people awake at night. So if you want to give raw unprocessed cocoa start out by eating it earlier in the day-not at bedtime. 

Just as the world’s ideas about chocolate are changing….

You can change your health and vitality- whether or not you eat raw cocoa products.

Take a few minutes each day to sit in silence away from the cares of your day, breathe deeply and repeat this healing treatment:

Every aspect of me is aligned with the Wholeness of all Life and Healing. New vibrancy, balance and radiant health are restored and renewed in me. I heal fully and permanently now. Every day I am guided to easily make healthy food choices and it becomes more enjoyable to move my 

body as I become more fit. 

Repeat this to yourself in quiet moments once or twice a day for one month. It usually takes about this long for positive healing changes to occur from this practice. 

References:
1.Cocoa and the Kuna indians
2,Flavanoid rich cocoa consumption affects multiple cardiovascular risk factors
3.Improved cognitive function from cocoa flavanol consumption
4.The Ultra Calm Bar
5.The Karma Melowl Bar

I'd love to hear your about your experiences and healing journeys. You might also enjoy:

New Memory Focus and Clarity Can Green Tea Help Your Brain
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New Memory, Focus and Clarity:Can Green Tea Help Your Brain?

Leaf Image-Neuron Forest

You probably already heard “eat your vegetables” but today there is a new dietary mantra for improving memory, focus, cognition and  preventing or even reversing some of the effects of Alzheimer’s.

“Drink Green Tea”

Over 70 international studies now document the benefits of green tea, not only for memory and brain related diseases but also for cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, obesity, cancer and auto immune disease. 1

36 million people around the world have Alzheimers. 1 out of every 3 seniors  is believed to have some form of Alzheimers or demential related illness. 2

Using sophisticate brain scans researchers  have been able to observe and document remarkable  memory and brain benefits from green tea. More studies are underway because it is now clear there is great potential for green tea to help  those with Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkison’s and other diseases of the brain. It also can improve a normal adult’s memory and ability to perform mental tasks.

The cortex creates our thoughts, feelings and memories

A wrinkled layer of nerve tissue called the cortex  covers most of the brain. The nerve tissue of the cortex is what allows us to think, reason, learn and remember. This is the area most affected by Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other neurodegenerative brain diseases like Parkinson’s, MS and ADEM.3

Billions of nerve cells or neurons reside in the cortex and they communicate with one another by sending nerve impulse signals along their nerve pathways.  Healthy nerve cells in the brain are densely clustered and look like tree branches in a forest with the tips of the leaves on each branch reaching out to one another.

The nerve impulses carry a slight electrical charge which allows them to jump from one nerve cell to another. As they cross the gaps or synapses between each nerve cell neurotransmitters or brain chemicals help move the signals along.

Inside each neuron a very well organized internal structure made of Tau protein allows proper nutrients to move easily within the nerve cells to keep them alive.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) produces a chain reaction 
of  nerve cell distortion and death

Protein that was once normal undergoes enzymatic changes. A sticky plaque like protein called beta amyloid breaks the nerve cells apart and makes the pieces stick together. The electrical charges that allow the nerve impulses to travel simply can’t make it through the sticky plaque. Neurotransmitters can no longer be produced and the neurons are destroyed.

The tau protein which maintains the interior structure of the neurons also changes. It gets tangled up, disintegrates so vital nutrients can no longer nourish and keep the neurons alive.

As these nerve cells begin to die-the brain actually becomes smaller. Inflammation develops in the affected areas. The cortex shrinks and hardens  while  fluid filled areas of the brain called ventricles enlarge.

AD takes away memory of loved ones, destroys the ability to communicate or even take care of one’s self.  Memory, thoughts, the ability to plan and understands things are gone. 3

ECGC in green tea reduces damage to the nerve cells and guards against the development of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia 4

A powerful antioxidant in green tea is epigallocatechion-3-gallate or EGCG. It is the EGCG which is the powerhouse nutrient of green tea.

EGCG appears to both dissolve the sticky plaque in the brain and regulate the naturally occurring enzymes in the brain. This allows the toxic byproducts of the beta amyloid plaque to be neutralized. 5

As this occurs the brain cells can respond to the neurotransmitters and the brains ability to think and remember can be restored and protected.

ECGC in green tea stimulates the production of 
new nerve cells in the brain:

In an aging, inflamed and diseased brain it can be very difficult to grow new nerve cells. ECGC also stimulates the growth of new neurons in the same areas that Alzheimer’s causes nerve cell death. 6

Tea Plant-Camellia Sinensis

How much green tea do we need to drink?


Two cups of green tea can boost memory ability in the brain and reduce cognitive decline by 54%. Partially roasted green tea-oolong  and black tea (fully roasted) bring more limited improvement of 13%.6

You can also use a daily dose of 750 mgs of green tea extract. Fortunately, the caffeine in tea has nothing to do with these benefits so decaffeinated tea or extract from green tea brings the same benefits. 6

If your memory, focus or ability to think clearly are not as sharp as you would like….think about drinking a few cups of green tea on a regular basis.


References: 
1.Green Tea and Obesity, Green Tea-Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer
2.World Report on Alzheimer's 2013
3.Take A Tour of the Brain
4.Neurological Mechanisms of Green Tea in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease
5.Antiamyloidal Properties of ECGC
6.Neuro Effects of Green Tea Extract on Brain Activation in Humans


I enjoy hearing about your adventures in healing so let me know how you are doing.

You might also enjoy: Nutrition and Your Brain
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                                 Environmental Toxicity and You


#a world that works for everyone

Pain, Inflamation, Diabetes?----Try Turmeric

“Time is an herb that cures all Diseases.”

 Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Poor Richard's Almanac

Ben Franklin was thinking more about the passage of time than natural healing when he wrote this quote. Yet there is a spice that does as least as well as the passage of time, a spice that is able to help with so many diseases: turmeric.

Turmeric is a member of the ginger family and is known as a sacred herb with remarkable healing properties since its first mention in the Atharvaveda 6000 years ago. Today, India’s Ayurvedic healers consider it to be a profoundly balancing and deeply purifying spice.

A World Wide Healing Tradition

From Hawaii to the rain forests of Central & South America, in China, Africa, Jamaica, Japan, Thailand and South East Asia-turmeric has been used as a valuable traded good for dyeing cloth, flavoring food and as a soil building crop.  Healers applied it to the body for itching, skin ulcers & wounds as well as to keep the skin youthful looking. It has been consumed for headaches, inflammation, weight loss, jaundice, fluid retention, diarrhea, eye conditions, ringworm, fertility issues, flatulence, colic, colds and fevers, parasites, leprosy, cancer and respiratory problems, as a children's remedy and to ease childbirth.

Today its use is widespread and now includes treatment for cataracts, liver diseases, atherosclerosis, Crohn’s disease and cystic fibrosis. Numerous studies have confirmed it’s value as a potential therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.1 

Turmeric Is Unique

Turmeric blocks the inflammatory enzymes that produce pain, swelling and inflammation as effectively as today’s hydrocortisone. It can actually slow the brain changes of early Alzheimer’s disease. As it moves through the blood stream turmeric normalizes insulin levels in type 2 diabetes and helps to balance blood lipids.2

Turmeric is rich in antioxidants. It is a good source of vitamin C, magnesium, fiber, vitamin B6, iron, potassium and manganese. Combining turmeric with black pepper, ginger or garlic enriches it’s ability to support your immune system and reduce inflammation.

Start Out With a Great Curry

Indian curries flavored with turmeric, ginger, black pepper and other spices are delicious and can be a fun way to enjoy turmeric. By itself it can taste a little bitter if you are not used to it.  

At home - you can  use also use turmeric for musculoskeletal  pain, feeling run down or to soothe your digestive system. It is considered very safe but if you are taking any prescription medication check with your MD before you try turmeric. Also its brilliant yellow color can stain your clothes so be careful with it.

How Much Turmeric to Use?

Drink  1-2 cups of Turmeric tea a day-it’s similar to chai in flavor but does not contain any caffeine.  Or you can use 400 mg of powdered turmeric in capsule 3 times a day. These two tea recipes are wonderful:

Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Tea

From littlefig.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/anti-inflammatory-turmeric-tea/‎

32 ozs boiling water

½ Tbsp turmeric powder or 1 thumb size piece of grated turmeric root

1 handful of cilantro chopped

1 clove of garlic peeled and crushed

1TBSP olive oil

2 lemons juiced

5 peppercorns whole

10 drops stevia or 1 2/2 TBSP raw honey

Cayenne pepper to taste

Place all ingredients in boiling water and let steep for 10 minutes then strain and enjoy. 

Turmeric Tea

1 cup almond milk, rice milk or Silk Coconut drink

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp turmeric powdered

¼ tsp powdered ginger

1 tsp honey or a few drops of stevia

Whisk the powdered ingredients thoroughly into to your liquid. Bring  it almost to a boiling point- then turn off flame and let steep for 2 minutes. Strain and enjoy. 

So whether you try a healthful Indian meal, add turmeric to your cooking or drink some turmeric tea….  I invite you to check this out for yourself.  Give it a try for a few weeks I‘d love to hear about your experiences.

References:

1.James A. (Jim) Duke.“The Garden Pharmacy:Turmeric, the Queen of COX-2 Inhibitors: Alternative and Complementary Therapies. October 2007, 13(5): 229-234. doi:10.1089/act.2007.13503.

2.Skulas-Ray AC, et al "A high antioxidant spice blend attenuates postprandial insulin and triglyceride responses and increases some plasma measures of antioxidant activity in healthy, overweight men" J Nutrition 2011; DOI: 10.3945/jn.111.138966.