Antiaging Food Facts - C
Calcium
Calcium rich foods are proving to provide protection
from breast cancer, , says a new study from France.
Increased intake of dairy products may reduce the risk
of developing breast cancer by at least 45 per cent
- much of the benefit may come from the calcium content
of the food.
The research, published in the Annals of Nutrition
and Metabolism, reports that the benefits are increased
further for pre-menopausal women.
Carbonated Drinks
Carbonated sodas are playing havoc with tooth enamel;
encouraging erosion. All carbonated drinks in a recent
study had some impact on tooth enamel . Citrus-flavored
sodas and colas hit teeth hardest, and it didn't matter
if the drinks were diet or full-sugar. It's not the
sugar, but the acids that is the culprit.
The total acid content and acid type -- phosphoric,
citric, malic, and tartaric -- in a beverage affect
how strong the attack is on your teeth. Reduce the impact
of acides by rinsing after sipping a soda.
Cashews
This favorite nut improves baroreflex sensitivity -
when your blood pressure rises, cashews tell your heart
to calm down, among other cardio benefits.
Cashews are a source of heart-healthy good fats, magnesium,
potassium, protein, and fiber.
They are high in calories -- about 175 per quarter
cup.
Chocolate
Chocolate possesses both good and bad food elements.
Good Chocolate Facts
Antioxidants – only found in the cocoa,
not the sugar or milk. Will stay in the blood for up
to 6 hours. Only dark chocolate has the antioxidants.
Stearic Acid – a
fatty acid that doesn’t raise cholesterol.
Minerals – magnesium,
copper, iron, zinc.
Bad Chocolate Facts
The less cocoa, the more sugar:
- 75% cocoa bar has only 25% sugar
- 40% cocoa bar has 60% sugar
Most chocolate candy bars are manufactured with alkalides,
which works against the antioxidants. So look for dark
chocolate without alkalides.
Chocolate is addictive – it has 3 addictive
substances
- Sugar
- Caffeine
- Theobromine – same category as caffeine. A
natural pesticide for bugs and animals. So never give
chocolate to your pets. Also has a stimulant effect
on animals. Contributes to acid reflux in humans.
High Calories – a standard Hersheys
bar at 55g contains 275 calories. 25% total daily fat
allowance. With 33g of carbohydrate, with 31g of this
from sugar. The average chocolate bar 220 calories.
If you ate 220 calories of fruit you are getting all
the nutrients as well as the sweetness.
Cocoa / Chocolate
High blood pressure is virtually unheard of within
the Indian tribe in the Panamanian islands. This is
thought to be due to tribe members drinking three or
four 10-ounce servings of cocoa per day. Cocoa contains
flavonoids, which are known to be good for the heart.
The gently manner in which they process their cocoa
beans, releases maximum epicatechin, a flavonoid that
helps widen and relax blood vessels.
The tribes lack of other common illnesses such as heart
disease, diabetes, and cancer may also be attributed
to their high intake of fish
and fruit.
To get your cocoa flavonoids from chocolate - go for
the dark kind - it hasn't had its flavonoids completely
destroyed by processing. Chocolate is also known for
its mood calming properties due to its tryptophan content.
The majority of studies to date using flavonoid-rich
cocoa have focussed on potential benefits for cardiovascular
health, while a small number of studies have reported
benefits for diabetes and skin health.
Coffee
Drinking more than three cups of coffee a day may decrease
a woman's rate of cognitive decline associated with
age, but offers no such benefits for men.
A study, published in the journal Neurology, included
4,197 women and 2,820 men in France, found that women
who drank at least three cups of coffee a day had a
33 per cent lower decline in verbal retrieval and an
18 per cent lower decline in visuospatial memory, compared
to those who drank one cup or less.
Regular and high coffee drinking may reduce the risk
of liver cancer by 55 per cent, says a new meta-analysis
of observational studies published in Hepatology. Liver
cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer in
the world, and third most common cause of death from
cancer, according to Cancer Research UK.
Vitamin C
Higher intakes of Vitamin C and linoleic acid are associated
with better skin-ageing appearance. Higher intakes of
vitamin C and linoleic acid, combined with lower intakes
of fats and carbohydrates are associated with better
skin in older age, leading to beauty foods and nutricosmetics.
This is mainly due the vitamin's antioxidant properties,
affecting collagen synthesis and protecting the skin
from photo-damage.
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