Radio Naturopath Episode 338: Happy Valentine's Day! History, Chocolate, and Love; Herbs To Help With Blood Pressure

This week Ron and I talked about Valentine's Day and our relationship, since it's also our anniversary. 17 years and going strong! We also talked about why chocolate is good for you, and how it came to be part of Valentine's Day. In a word: CADBURY! Richard Cadbury thought up the idea of giving out chocolate in heart shaped boxes with cupids on them! And as usual, and a little history on Valentine's Day. I then went into a number of herbs that have blood pressure-reducing capacity, specifically in the form of angiontensin converting enzyme inhibition. Next week we'll talk more about a number of herbs that have similar mechanisms of action to existing blood pressure drugs!

Radio Naturopath Episode 158: Chocolate, Cocoa and Your Health: How It's Good For You!

 I talked a little about the origins of Valentine's Day, which aren't so great. Like, did you know that the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia from February 13-15, during which time the main took goats and sheep and hit women with them? The women would line up for it, because they thought it would help their fertility! And then, the emperor Claudius executed two different dudes named Valentine two different years on February 14. Shakespeare helped to make it more of a romantic holiday. Thank goodness.

So CHOCOLATE. The higher flavanol content, the more antioxdants! Flavanols can protect against cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol and improving cardiac function. The antioxidant activity helps them to protect against cancer. They also help to regulate blood sugar, and improve cognition! Chocolate makes you healthy AND smart. But you have to eat the dark kind to get the antoxidant benefit. And if you eat at least 40 g/day (1.4 oz, or 1/2 to slightly more than 1/2 of a 70%+ chocolate bar/day), you can increase your exercise performance!