2007 Ezines...

No fudging, it really is good for you!
Chocolate provides a number of nutrients the body requires daily. A milk chocolate bar weighing 1.4 ounces contains about three grams of protein, 7 percent of the adult daily value (DV) of riboflavin, 8 percent of the DV for calcium and 5 percent of the DV for iron. In fact, dark chocolate has now been shown to be good for your health! New studies suggest that chocolate lovers can take heart in recent findings that this favorite food is packed with high-quality polyphenol antioxidants that may promote overall cardiovascular health. Cocoa beans contain flavonoids (the same found in tea and red wine), which promote healthy cholesterol levels and act as antioxidants. Even though the research indicates only dark chocolate has this positive effect and not milk or white chocolate, there are other good reasons to eat those! See also: The Nutrients in Chocolate.
Courtesy of the Whole Foods Market. For more information, please visit WholeFoodsMarket.com.

Quip or Quote of the Week

Quip:
Dark meat from chickens takes longer to cook than white does because of its higher fat content.

Quick Recipe

Dark Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
Between the fiber in the strawberries and dark chocolate's antioxidants and cholesterol-reducing fats, this sweet treat is a healthy indulgence.
Ingredients:
1 ounce dark chocolate chips, melted
3/4 cup strawberries
Calories: 150
Holding by the stem, dip washed strawberrries into melted chocolate. Place on waxed paper and chill until chocolate is set. Or, eat right away with melted chocolate!

Tidbit(s)

Six Meals a Day?
New research suggests that people who eat 6 smaller meals a day are healthier, and have an easier time maintaining their weight and cholesterol levels. By avoiding larger meals in favor of more frequent smaller ones, your body becomes more conducive to metabolizing food. It just takes a little planning; it could be as simple as dividing your lunch. If you'd normally eat a sandwich, with pretzels and fruit, eat the sandwich at lunchtime, then save the pretzels and fruit for later in the afternoon. The Medifast Diet is this type of diet, and is clinically proven to help you shed pounds with this satisfying approach to weightloss.

Food Fixes

The fuzzy brown skin on a kiwi fruit is edible and has no distinguishable flavor, but for appearance sake most people pare it away and eat only the green flesh. Kiwi fruit cannot be used in gelatin salads or desserts because the papain enzyme prevents it from gelling.

Peppers: Pick peppers that have green stems and feel heavier than their size. Peppers do best when stored unwashed in the crisper in a loose plastic bag.

Chopping cumin and fennel seeds can seem like an impossible task. Place your seeds in a pile and add enough water or oil until they are moist. Now you can chop them easily without having them all over your kitchen.