Cervical Radiculopathy: Diagnosing a Pinched Nerve in the Neck

A pinched nerve in the cervical spine can be a pain in the neck. It can also cause pain in the shoulder and arm, as well as numbness and weakness.

Keywords:
cervical,radiculopathy,root,pinch,disk,herniated,slipped,emg,mri,myelogram,electromyogram,nerve conduction,diagnosis,weakness,numbness

When a nerve is pinched in the neck’s spinal column, pain can be such a prominent symptom that more subtle, but diagnostic, aspects are overlooked.

By way of background, the spinal cord in the neck is connected to the nerves of the arms through pairs of spinal nerves. These spinal nerves, also known as roots or “radicles,” transmit incoming messages (electrical impulses) from the arms’ nerves concerning sensations of touch, pain, heat and cold on various patches of skin. Additionally, the cervical roots convey outgoing messages (also electrical impulses) through the arms’ nerves to their muscles, causing them to contract.

So when a cervical root is pinched, the pinch can cause not just pain, but–by blocking incoming and outgoing nerve impulses–it can also produce numbness of patches of skin, weakness of muscles, or both. The syndrome caused by the pinch in the neck is called cervical radiculopathy. The suffix “-pathy” means damage or impairment, so radiculopathy means damage or impairment of a radicle (root).

There are four pairs of cervical roots connecting the spinal cord to the arms’ nerves and they are named for the segment of spinal cord to which they are attached–C5, C6, C7 and C8, with the “C” designating cervical. While a pinch of any of these roots typically produces searing, deep pain in the shoulder which preoccupies the unfortunate person who has it, the shoulder pain is the least identifying or diagnostic component of the person’s symptoms.

The pain often shoots into the arm on the affected side, and certain movements of head and neck can worsen or reproduce this pain. While the arm component of the pain is less intense than that felt in the shoulder, its location is often the key to figuring out which root is pinched. Moreover, the pattern of numbness or weakness also varies according to which root is pinched. These patterns are almost identical from person to person and are as follows:

C5 impairment can send pain over the top of the shoulder in the first fourth of the arm which is also where numbness occurs, when present. When there is weakness, it involves the ability to elevate the arm sideways to the level of the shoulder or above. There are no good (rubber-hammer-type) reflexes the doctor can use to test this root.

C6 impairment can send pain as far as the thumb which is also where numbness occurs, when present. When there is weakness, it involves the ability to bend the elbow. The doctor can additionally test for C6 impairment with the biceps-reflex which involves striking a tendon in the crook of the elbow.

C7 impairment can send pain as far as the middle fingers which is also where numbness occurs, when present. When there is weakness, it involves the ability to straighten the elbow. The doctor can additionally test for C7 impairment with the triceps-reflex which involves striking a tendon on the back of the elbow.

C8 impairment can send pain as far as the little finger which is also where numbness occurs, when present. When there is weakness, it involves certain hand-movements, including the ability to join the tips of the thumb and the little finger and also to spread the fingers sideways. There are no good reflexes the doctor can use to test this root.

Having identified the typical syndromes, the next step is to understand what caused the pinch in the first place. It is typically one of two things–a herniated (“slipped”) disk or a bony spur. Younger adults are more likely to have a herniated disk and older adults are more likely to have a bony spur. Disks are soft structures sandwiched between each pair of spinal column bones (vertebral bodies). Their ordinarily tough outer membranes can weaken and allow extrusion of inner disk material–somewhat like toothpaste squeezed out of a tube–into the side-canals through which the spinal roots must pass. This traps and compresses them. Bony spurs, in contrast, are not soft at all. Instead, they are hard ridges of excess bone located on the edges of the back-bones. They are produced by arthritic degeneration. They, too, can trap and compress the spinal roots where they exit the spine.

How is cervical radiculopathy diagnosed? As described, the patient’s history and examination are often very informative and specific. When the pattern of nerve-impairment is ambiguous, tests of nerve and muscle electricity–called nerve conduction studies and electromyography–can help localize the impairment. These electrical tests can also detect impairments in the nerves of the arms which might mimic cervical radiculopathy, but require different medical management.

Until the 1980s myelograms made the best pictures of the pinches occurring in the spine. To perform a myelogram a doctor started with a lumbar puncture (also known as a spinal tap) in the patient’s lower back and injected x-ray dye into the watery space within the membrane covering the spinal cord and its roots. The patient was then tilted so that the dye ran into the corresponding space in the neck. Standard x-ray pictures showed the column of dye together with any indentations of the column caused by a herniated disk or bony spur.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was developed in the 1980s and created similar pictures but without having to do a spinal tap or dye infusion. Computed tomographic (CT) scans, developed in the 1970s, are generally the least useful of the spinal imaging techniques, except when an immediately preceding myelogram has been performed, in which case they can be strikingly helpful. Each of these these imaging tests has its strengths and weaknesses–none of them is always the best–so testing must be tailored to each case.

And how about treatment of this condition? Well, that’s a story deserving its own essay. Stay tuned.

(C) 2005 by Gary Cordingley

Birth Control Patch: The Patch of Death?

This article is about birth control patches. It questions the safety of using this method of contraception as there have been multiple cases filed against the manufacturer of this product. Many women have experienced blood clotting on top of the other unpleasant side effects. There have also been reported cases of fatality because of using birth control patches.

Keywords:
birth control patch

A lot of different birth control devices have been created over the centuries and are now being marketed to the public. All of them supposedly have been tested by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) if it is safe to be marketed to and used by the public. However there is an ongoing controversy regarding the birth control patch.

In the United States, a number of women in the San Francisco area have filed complaints about the adverse effects they experienced since they started using birth control patches. A lot of these women have developed blood clots on different parts of their bodies, and a few women have died from complications brought about by this contraceptive patch.

The Birth Control Patch
The contraceptive patch is a transdermal patch attached to the skin that is used to release synthetic estrogen and progesterone hormones into the body to prevent pregnancy. This means of contraception can only be acquired through a prescription and is acclaimed to be just as effective as the combined oral contraceptive pill. At the moment, the only available brand of birth control patch is Ortho Evra. It is informally referred to as “the Patch”.

Birth control patches work by releasing hormones into your system through your skin. It prevents eggs from being released from the ovaries, it thickens the cervical mucus lining to prevent sperm from reaching the egg, and it changes the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation. It is worn for one week at a time and it is placed directly on the skin of your abdomen, upper arm, upper torso, or buttocks. It is replaced once a week on the same day each week for a three-week period. The birth control patch is not worn during the fourth week to allow for the menstrual flow to occur.

Side Effects
Just like any other medication, it has side effects to go along with the benefits it provides its users. Here are some of the noted side effects from using the birth control patch:
l Skin irritation at the site of application
l Headaches
l Breast tenderness, swelling, pain
l Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting
l Moderate weight gain
l Nausea and vomiting
l Bloating
l Yeast infections
l Depression

The scariest side effect of using a birth control patch is its thromboembolic risks. All combined hormonal birth control products poses a really small increased risk of severe or fatal clot formation and migration (thromboembolism). It has recently been documented that birth control patch users may double the increased risk of developing a non-fatal venous thromboembolism as compared to women who use oral contraceptive pills. At present there have been a few reported cases of fatalities directly pointing to the birth control patches as primary cause of death.

A Cry For The User’s Safety
On November of 2006, a group of 40 women filed a lawsuit against the only that manufactures birth control patches, Ortho-McNeil. They wanted the product to be pulled out from the market to protect other women who are not aware of the severity of its side effects. The FDA said that any hormonal contraceptive may cause blood clot as estrogen is also responsible for blood coagulation, however too much blood clot may indeed lead to other medical complications which may end in fatality. Because of the piling complaints against Ortho-McNeil, they re-tested the product and re-hashed the product label, indicating that it may cause blood clotting.

Choosing the right contraceptive product is not as simple as going for the most convenient or the cheapest one your money can afford. The first and most important factor that you should consider is your own health. Using a birth control patch may be convenient for you, but in the long run, will you still find it convenient after you’ve experienced all its adverse effects?

Call center and answering services for the medical & home health care industry

Now discover a whole new perspective to health care.\edical and home health care services provider, which offers a host of cost effective solutions – doctor answering service, physician answering service, doctor on call and call center services. With consulting health care services, home health care services and advanced medical answering services from Call4Health.

Keywords:
hospital call centers,family health call centers,health and safety call centers,health call centers,medical call center

When someone you love is severely unwell, you face one of the most difficult and delicate situations in life. You would love to be beside them to take care and make them feel secure and safe, but at the same time, you can’t let your work routine come to a standstill, as that can cause major financial havoc. At such times, hospital call centers can be extremely helpful. Wherever you are, you can call to find out about the patient’s well being. Of late, medial services such as medical call center and medical response answering service have become extremely popular due to the fast and accurate solutions they provide.

Many websites these days, cater to various health care services, which include health and safety call centers, family health call centers, hospital call centers and medical answering services. It becomes easy to find out information about the patient on the phone, from anywhere. Additionally some of them have medical answering services such as physician answering services and doctor answering service, which helps the doctors and patients to interact without a physical visit. You can also discuss symptoms and treatment.

Although there are many companies that cater to medical call center services, there are hardly any that come close to the high standards as provided by Call4Health. Hospital call centers at Call4Health are attended with utmost concern, compassion and efficiency, every hour of the day, every day of the year. Unlike health call centers, where the executives use a business-like tone, there is a humane angle at Call4health that can make you feel relaxed in tense moments. National and local family health call centers, medical call center, hospital call centers and medical answering services make life easier for both patients and anxious relatives. Patients are assisted in scheduling and keeping appointments and clients are given information on the necessity of office visits, billing inquiries, test results, and scheduled appointments.

Call4Health is a leading home and medical health care provider with health and safety call centers for various medical establishments and home care. Apart from health call centers, you can also find information on the Internet and with the messaging services. With valuable experience in medical call center services, Call4Health provides you high quality, accurate and timely care. Call center executives are always at your service and are competent and empathetic. Health and safety call centers is a technological advancement that can now give you a sigh of relief. While your loved ones are in the able care of the medical staff, you can be with them too – by being in touch with the call center and learning about their every development!

Can Hair Dye Cause Cancer?

Further study is needed to fully understand relationships between hair dyes and bladder cancer, researchers said. Basically, they found no overall increase in cancer deaths among users of hair dyes. These opinions are concerning the use of permanent hair dyes and bladder cancer in 2005. Because of the widespread use of hair dye, the possibility of a relationship between it and cancer is quite alarming. In this study, the two main criteria were exposure to personal hair dye pr…

Keywords:
hair dye,dye hair,hair,dye,hair color,color hair, colour hair,hair colour,coloured hair, cancer

Further study is needed to fully understand relationships between hair dyes and bladder cancer, researchers said. Basically, they found no overall increase in cancer deaths among users of hair dyes. These opinions are concerning the use of permanent hair dyes and bladder cancer in 2005. Because of the widespread use of hair dye, the possibility of a relationship between it and cancer is quite alarming. In this study, the two main criteria were exposure to personal hair dye products and an outcome of cancer at any anatomical site.

“The totality of evidence today is far more reassuring than alarming about any hazards of hair dye use,” Dr. None found evidence of a significant excess among hair dye users overall. A European Commission watchdog has criticized the hair dye industry for failing to provide evidence of the safety of its products. Until definitive evidence come in consumers may want to proceed with caution when selecting a hair dye. A European Commission watchdog criticised the hair dye industry in 2002 for failing to provide evidence of the safety of its products. But there is no strong evidence that hair dyes cause any of these.

Permanent hair dyes, the most popular choice among consumers, come in two categories: oxidation and progressive. Thus it may be concluded that it is hair dye that accidentally spilled over and has taken effect by oxidation. They are called Oxidation hair dyes because they contain Paraphenelenediamine, which is a basic constituent of these dyes.

You might feel good after a chemical hair dye but, if you’re dying your hair in this way frequently, It is belived that you’re killing yourself softly. A chemical free hair dye, use at home hair colour. A compound henna mix is not a chemical free hair dye. Suraiya As with any chemical product, you should always use hair dyes in a well ventilated area. Here are the facts: Hair dye, bleach, perms and relaxing solutions are all absorbed into the bloodstream to some degree.

Child hernia surgery restrictions & advises

Hernia surgery is a very simple surgery that succeeds in almost all cases. But doctors recommend parents not to delay their child’s operation because some complications can appear in this situation. Next follow some useful facts about the surgery.

Keywords:
hernia, hernia surgery

Hernia surgery is a very simple surgery that succeeds in almost all cases. But doctors recommend parents not to delay their child’s operation because some complications can appear in this situation. Next follow some useful facts about the surgery.

The operation lasts for about one hour and the child can return home the same day the surgery was performed. Overall the child must spend around five hours in the hospital, but if any complications appear at least one day of medical supervision is required.
No visible scars will remain on the child’s skin because all the work is done under the skin. Also there are no stitches that need removing but there is going to be a covering tape over the incision, but it will fall or it can be removed after a few days from the surgery. In some cases dried blood gathers under the tape but that will also be gone.
At many children who suffered a hernia surgery the scrotum has swallowed a little and it was also bruised, but this is a normal side effect that disappears is a few weeks.

After one week or so regular activities can be performed again, but the child should not do any sporting activities, or to the gym class until the doctor says its ok to do that.
The child can go to school the second day after the operation but tell him not to do any activity that involves physical effort, in fact he should not lift anything that weights more than 10 pounds for four weeks from the surgery.
When it comes to bathing, a shower or a sponge bath can be done but only after 48 hours pass from the surgery. A normal bath cannot be done in the first five weeks that pass, but the child can bathe or swim freely afterwards.

Most of the children do not suffer from great pain after the surgery and almost everything returns to normal in a few days, but if any pain occurs he should take pain relievers. These are prescribed by the doctor who performs the surgery, in the case that pain appears.

In conclusion, hernia surgery does not have any dangerous side-effects, but if you suspect anything or if the child has a fever that does not drop, or an unusual bulge appears around the surgery scar, contact your doctor for further information.

Causes of Bad Breath: What Are They?

There are so many causes of bad breath. We uncover what some of those causes of bad breath are and how to stop them in their tracks.

Keywords:
cause of bad breath

There are many factors that could be the causes of bad breath, and many of the factors that could be causes of bad breath can be dealt with quickly and easily using simple techniques. In fact the causes of bad breath are so well documented that it is easy to find the factors which are the cause of bad breath for you.

So what are the causes of bad breath exactly?

Bad breath, which is usually halitosis, is caused by VSCs (Volatile Sulphur Compounds) in the mouth, these are the most common of the causes of bad breath. But what are they, anyway?

Bacteria in your throat and mouth help to break down certain proteins. When some Amino acids which have a lot of Sulphur inside, start to get broken down and then produce various foul smelling compounds from the back of the mouth and throat.

There is a common misconception that bad breath can come from your stomach, and although it may feel like that sometimes, the smeel comes from the compounds produced your throat and mouth. Some foods however after they have been consumed encourage the production of certain chemicals that are then discharged via the lungs. So that extra helping of deep-fried onion rings is actually making a smell through your lungs.

So how can we avoid these great causes of bad breath?

Well many of the causes of bad breath are things that we take for granted and use everyday. Most toothpastes can be a cause of bad breath because the stuff that makes the foam actually promotes production of VSCs.

A dry tongue can also be a cause of bad breath. The bacteria that produce those nasty SVCs actually don’t like oxygen, so a dry mouth is perfect and hence becomes a cause of bad breath.

The nasty stuff from the bacteria comes from the breakdown of Amino acids, which are found in protein. So high protein foods can be a cause of bad breath, even a generally high protein diet could be one of the causes of bad breath.

Once you have elevated levels of the bacteria in your throat, it becomes very difficult to fight off the bad breath as those bacteria can use anything to be the next trigger for your bad breath. By successfully reducing the amount of bacteria in your throat you can make sure that it becomes that much more difficult to get the bad breath in the first place.

You literally zap the cause of bad breath at its source.

So one of the causes of bad breath are those things that allow the bacteria to produce more SVCs, so avoid or treat these and you will rid yourself of your cause of bad breath. Otherwise hit at the source and reduce those bacteria.

Breakthrough Digest for the latest medical discoveries and treatment

BreakthroughDigest.com offers the latest news on recent medical breakthroughs and treatments. The site covers medical research and discoveries, for many diseases such as various types of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s and so much more; plus it also offers information on the most current medical research in areas such as genetics, vaccines, and stem cell research. Breakthrough Digest presents articles from leading universities, hospitals and research centers.

Keywords:
breakthrough, medical, treatment, medicine, disease, illness

So often when you are suffering from an illness, it can be extremely difficult to find the information that you need. And when time is of the essence, difficulty finding information about your illness and its treatment is an added stress that you do not need. Even if you find information, many times it has not been updated or is not current. The latest treatments and clinical trials are next to impossible to find unless you have the inside scoop.

This is where BreakthroughDigest.com can help – Breakthrough Digest picks up where other sites leave off. At Breakthrough Digest, you will find the most up to date information concerning different illnesses and learn about the newest technologies being used to manage and treat disease and sickness. BreakthroughDigest.com offers updated news on recent medical breakthroughs and current clinical trials. The site covers a wide spectrum in the medical field, including many diseases such as various types of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s and so much more; plus it also offers information on the most current medical research in areas such as genetics, vaccines, and stem cell research.

Breakthrough Digest presents articles from leading universities, hospitals and research centers. For your convenience, the site also includes a video Medical News Feed that is updated regularly. So you will never miss any of the latest medical findings. If you are looking for the most current information on drugs and treatments for various medical conditions, you may find that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) News Digest is the section that may be most helpful for you. In this area of Breakthrough Digest, you will discover which drugs/treatments have been approved by the FDA and which drugs/treatments you should be cautious about. It is also refreshing to see that Breakthrough Digest includes a ‘Commentary’ section on its website. Often you visit a website that offers you health care information, but there are no comments about the information and/or treatments. The ‘Commentary’ section of BreakthroughDigest.com allows you to get a better overall picture of various medical updates and news. In this section, you can read how about how others feel about different medical treatments and also how effective these treatments have been. This allows you to make an informed decision about your medical care. One of the real gems on the Breakthrough Digest website, though, is the ‘Clinical Trials’ section.

Many times, people suffering from illnesses, such as cancer and auto-immune disorders, perish because they do not have access to the newest drug therapies and treatments. The ‘Clinical Trials’ area of the site keeps you informed about any current clinical trials that are in process that may be beneficial in the treatment of your illness. BreakthroughDigest.com is a true asset to the medical community online. It is refreshing to have the medical information you need in one convenient location. Whether you need information on lung cancer, stem cell research, health care, or simply nutrition, you will find what you are looking for at Breakthrough Digest – one of the most comprehensive medical news and updates site you will find on the Internet.

Clock is ticking for independent women

Over the last 10 years, there was a dramatic increase in the number of women over age 35 requesting medical intervention for infertility. there are lot of women who are delaying their plans on bearing a child not realizing the consequences it will do for them.

Keywords:
Infertility

Independent Women, a song popularized by the group Destiny’s Child is part of the official soundtrack of the movie, Charlie’s Angels. The song best describes the women of the new millennium. Women today are doing a lot more than you can imagine. Many of them are recognized as achievers, leaders, or top professionals in their chosen fields. Women are now more focused on pursuing a career, getting another degree, and becoming financially stable. They want to get what they want on their own, just by themselves. And as they are enjoying their time because of this independence, some women are placing marriage and pregnancy at the back seat. These career women are mostly in their late 20s and early 30s, often comfortable in their status as a single person without a partner or a child of their own. But eventually, some of these career women do realize that all their material and personal success would never be enough. Some realize late in life that having a family is one of the few things that would truly make them happy. Even if some of these women do get married, the prospect of getting pregnant becomes a challenge. After spending their early years in pursuit of career success, the task of getting pregnant becomes a biological hurdle that many find as impossible to overcome.

Over the last 10 years, there was a dramatic increase in the number of women over age 35 requesting medical intervention for infertility. Approximately 20% of women in United States are having their first child after age 35. This is most likely due to a combination of older age at the time of first marriage and more significantly due to the delay of childbearing in marriage. Countless clinical trials have revealed that a woman’s fertility declines significantly when she gets older, yet aging only minimally affects male fertility.

In addition, research supports that this decline in female fertility is more likely related to the aging egg and less likely due to an aging uterus. The healthiest and most fertile eggs are ovulated when a woman is in her teens through her late 20s, a woman’s time of peak fertility. When a woman reaches her mid to late 30s, the remaining eggs have substantially less potential for fertilizing and establishing a healthy pregnancy. This is mostly due to chromosomal injuries that normally occur as eggs age within the ovaries.

The vast majority of eggs ovulated have a normal chromosomal composition on women less than 35 years of age. An increasing number of her eggs are likely to be genetically abnormal, aneuploid, as the woman progresses beyond 35 years old. This is a natural process of aging.

With even the most recent dramatic advances in infertility treatment, age related infertility remains as one of our most difficult challenges. Reproductive specialists have known for years that the pregnancy rate is inversely related to the female partner’s age. Early explanations for this trend included decreased coital frequency, diminished desire for childbearing, decreased overall time to try for a pregnancy, and diminished ovarian reserve with advancing age. As women age, even while still regularly menstruating, there are subtle shifts in hormonal patterns that may make the endometrium less receptive, which will make them difficult to get pregnant.

Women who are delaying their plans of getting pregnant should somehow learn from past generations and apply the wisdom of their parents or older friends to be responsible, to savor life, and learn from life’s hard lessons. Independent women should take charge and enjoy what they have right now. They must realize that their biological clock is ticking.

Choosing the right playground equipment for Schools, Churches, Parks and Communities

For commercial use – It is important that you know a few things about your needs before we get started. …..

Keywords:
playground equipment,commercial,swing sets,swingset,park,school,daycare,church

For commercial use – It is important that you know a few things about your needs before we get started. It is a buyer’s market so there are many different options when looking for new commercial playground equipment. First, you must have an idea of the age group that the playground must be tailored to. Standard age groups are 2-7, 2-12, 2-5, 5-12, and 8-up. Next you must decide on the area where your playground equipment will occupy – what are the dimensions of the space? And finally, what is your budget for your playground project? Keep in mind that you will have installation and playground safety surfacing as an expense by the time your project is complete.

So on to the fun part – deciding on a design. There are many different pre-designed units that are available to manufacture but more than 80% of people choose to customize their commercial playground equipment. You can start with a simple idea that fills the limits of your project area—then add a slide here and a climber there, and the next thing you know, you’ve created everything that you could ask for in a playground.

It is also important to note that the size of the playground needs to accommodate the number of children that are expected to be playing on it at any given time. You will find that newer playground equipment—with a good design—will attract a lot of attention, and it would be a shame to have overcrowding on a structure that is likely to become a safety hazard. Overall, you will want to make sure that the playground equipment has at least the basics (climbers, slides etc.). If you have no idea where to start you might also find it useful to ask the kids what they would like. Have them all create drawings of their “dream playground,” then you’ll know that the final design you choose is based off the ideas of what the children want. After all, the children are the ones that will be using the playground equipment the most – hopefully.

Once you have decided on a design for the playground equipment you will want to make sure that you get an estimate which includes the cost, freight, tax and installation (if needed). The idea is to get all of your possible expenses laid out on paper so you will know the amount of funds you’ll need to buy the structure and have it installed. It is best not to do this in reverse, which would be to get the funds first and then pinch pennies to spend no more or no less than the budget provides. In some cases this is unavoidable but with enough planning, you can arrange to raise the money that you may not have to buy the commercial playground equipment that your community needs. Playgrounds are very expensive but when everything is complete you will create an environment for children where they will have happy memories which will contribute to their well-being now and later in life.

For more information on products like this go to http://www.creativesystems.com

Chocolate: The Body Defender and Protector

Attention all chocolate lovers! Did you ever feel bad about sneaking in your favorite chocolate into your daily diet? Or how about going a little bit overboard with the chocolate dessert? Well there’s no need for you to worry.

Keywords:
chocolate, antioxidant, chocolate goodies,

Believe it or not, chocolate is very good for your overall heath! After years of being put down, science has finally come around to give chocolate the respect it deserves.

Chocolate has been known to contain over 300 chemicals, and has been the subject of a number of studies by universities and other scientific organizations. The following are a few of the findings in the scientific community to back up the positive health benefits of chocolate:
1. Cacao, the source of chocolate, contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. Of course, this is counteracted by the high sugar content of milk chocolate.

2. The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.

3. Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator.

4. The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which may raise good cholesterol.

5. Drinking a cup of hot chocolate before meals may actually diminish appetite.

6. Men who eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don’t.

7. The flavanoids in chocolate may help keep blood vessels elastic.

8. Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.

9. Mexican healers use chocolate to treat bronchitis and insect bites.

10. The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.

Another strong suite for chocolate is the amount of antioxidants that it has naturally. Most of us have heard that antioxidants are good for you, but what do antioxidants do? Basically, antioxidants get rid of the things in our bodies that attack DNA, which will in turn damage the cell membranes and our hearts making cancer and heart attacks far more likely. These attackers often called free radicals, attack our cell structure and are the cause of aging, so there really is no way of stopping them from attacking us. So in theory, the more antioxidants you eat the longer you are likely to live because they help defend your body against the attackers. Antioxidants are found in many natural plants. You can tell how rich they are in antioxidants by the color of the plant’s bearings or the plant itself. The deeper the color, the more antioxidants the food contains. For example, blackberries, blueberries and red grapes all dark in color, all rich in intense antioxidants. Now look at the color of natural chocolate, it is so dark it is almost black, making it one of the healthiest foods you can put in your mouth. Keep in mind this is natural chocolate that has not been overly processed. Researchers have found that raw and / or minimally processed cocoa contains flavonoids similar to those found in green tea. According to preliminary studies, these antioxidants have been linked to help accomplish the following in the body:
• Decrease blood pressure
• Improve circulation throughout the body
• Lower death rate from heart disease
• Improve function of endothelial cells that line the blood vessels
• Defend against destructive molecules called free radicals, which trigger cancer, heart disease and stroke
• Improve Digestion and stimulate kidneys
• Has been used to help treat patients with anemia, kidney stones and poor appetite
There are two different kinds of flavonoids called catechin and epicatechins. Catechins, which have recently been found to be abundant in cocoa and minimally processed chocolates, could also help prevent heart disease and possibly cancer, as well as boosting the immune system, according to recent studies. Dark chocolate has also recently been found to contain more than 3 times the amount of catechins as that found in tea. Chocolate is also a good source of copper and magnesium, which helps to regulate heartbeat and blood pressure.
So there it is, chocolate worth eating, but as in any food, a mass quantity can be destructive. By giving someone a basket of chocolate goodies or having some yourself, you can effectively causing an uplifting emotional but also healthy outcome. Have you had your chocolate today?