Eating For Health

According to CDC , about 34-36 million Americans have type 2 diabetes.   Although type 2 diabetes develops more often in people over 45, more and more children, teens and young adults are developing type 2 diabetes.   In addition to type 2 diabetes, as of 2021 an estimated 97.6 million Americans aged 18 and older had prediabetes or about 1 in 3 adults.   Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with some lifestyle changes.   Are there foods you can eat that would lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes? Yes.   Foods high in a substance called flavonoids can help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.   What are flavonoids? Flavonoids are compounds found in certain foods and beverages including some fruits, vegetables, teas and some other plant-based foods.   These flavonoids help give “fruits and vegetables their deep, rich colors”.     Studies have found that consuming a diet rich in flavono...

As the cold weather approaches a hot chocolate with marshmallows sounds tasty.   Are there any health benefits from drinking hot chocolate?   Apparently so.   Numerous articles have been written and research done on the health benefits of cocoa and hot chocolate.   So this winter when you are drinking your hot chocolate by the fire, think of these great health benefits:   Cocoa Boost Brain Power - The November 2013 issue of the Tufts University Nutrition Letter,   notes that drinking hot chocolate can boost brain power among the elderly ( Drinking Cocoa Boosts Cognition and Blood Flow in the Brain ).    A new study has shown that as little as 2 cups of cocoa a day can improve brain function by improving cognitive function and blood flow to the brain.   It seems the flavonoids in cocoa and in dark chocolate help the brain by improving blood vessel function and thus blood flow.   Harvard researchers gave 2 cups of hot chocolate to...