Phoenix Cavalier

If you ask anyone they are likely to say they want to be healthy, and they truly mean it. What is interesting is how the idea of being healthy can seem like a mysterious concept that’s just out of reach. In reality it’s not mysterious at all, it simply takes a little effort to start making choices that will move you toward, rather than away from health. This article takes a look at two surprisingly powerful foods that are scientifically proven to make wellness a reality and you don’t need a special code to benefit from this information either.

Mushrooms are Blooming with Healing Power

Last month we spoke about how food is chemistry, and this fact really is the foundation of making powerful choices every day. What’s amazing is how accessible health is when you know what to look for and what to avoid. When it comes to healing a physical wound, mushrooms are proven to be an excellent ally. In fact, “Mushrooms have various antibacterial substances that help a body heal. A 2009 article in The American Journal of Surgery reported that one such medicinal mushroom called Sparassis crispa was proven to promote wound healing at a significantly high rate when ingested. Other mushrooms that have high medicinal properties according to, healingmushrooms.com, include Reishi, Maitaki, Chaga and Shiitake mushrooms. However, cooked, fresh mushrooms provide more nutritional and healing benefits than canned mushrooms.” (1)

Heart Healthy… Chocolate!?

It’s safe to say most people don’t mind a little something sweet now and again. The good news is the perennial favorite of all sweets – chocolate is proving to offer benefits directly related to heart health.

To gain some clarity on the idea, consider these findings:

“A few squares of dark chocolate a day can reduce the risk of death from heart attack by almost 50% in some cases, says Diane Becker, MPH, ScD, a researcher with the John Hopkins University School of Medicine. Becker’s research found that blood platelets clotted more slowly in people who had eaten chocolate than in those who had not. This is significant because when platelets clump, a clot can form, and when the clot blocks a blood vessel, it can lead to a heart attack. “The flavanols in cocoa beans have a biochemical effect of reducing platelet clumping, similar to but much less than aspirin,” Becker says in an email interview. (2)

After reviewing 136 scientific publications on chocolate, its components and heart disease, researchers from Harvard University School of Public Health concluded short-term studies suggest cocoa and chocolate may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by:

• Lowering blood pressure
• Decreasing LDL oxidation
• Anti-inflammation action (2)

The key to this information understanding that if you want to get the benefits of cocoa you should look for dark chocolate, or items that offer a high amount of cocoa, often the packaging will say 50, 70 or even 85% cocoa. Milk chocolate is not the top choice here as it introduces other fats and stabilizers found in a common candy bar. “Researchers from the University of California at Davis said it best in a scientific review on cocoa and chocolate flavonoids published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. They concluded that people may benefit from including a variety of flavonoid-rich foods as part of a healthful diet — and dark chocolate, in moderate amounts, can be part of this plan.” (2)

Healthy Eating is Healthy Living

While this article offers just a couple tips about choosing beneficial foods, there are many other choices to make. Start with a simple choice; choose to seek out and find food that builds you up. Don’t waste another minute on foods that harm or hurt you. Your ability to be well starts and ends with you, so step up and be your best because you deserve to live fully, so start today! (3)

Stay food-informed to stay well,

Phoenix R. Cavalier