Mar 2011 - Michigan South Asian

Michigan South Asian MARCH 2011 Page 4
‘Super Food’ Dark Chocolates Are
Healthier Than Fruits
London, Feb 7
There’s good news for chocoholics
as US researchers have
discovered that their favourite
treat could be an even better
way to boost their health than
fruit, and also dubbed it as the
latest ‘super food.’
They found that
chocolates contain
more healthy
plant compounds
and antioxidants,
gram-for-gram,
than fruit juice and
provides far more
nutritional goodness
than food
experts had previously
thought, reports
the Daily Express.
Scientists at the Hershey Center
for Health and Nutrition compared
cocoa powder, the raw
ingredient of chocolate, with
powders made from fruits like
acai berries, blueberries, cranberries
and pomegranates, the
‘super fruits’ known for powerful
health-giving properties.
The research into dark chocolate,
containing around 60 percent
cocoa, and cocoa drinks
found that they too had more
antioxidant activity and more
flavanols—health-giving plant
chemicals—than fruit.
The good news, however,
doesn’’t apply to hot chocolate,
which is processed.
The discovery means cocoa
beans meet the nutritional criteria
needed for fruits to be
classed as ‘super fruits’.
“The compounds in dark chocolate
are just as
good as the botanical
compounds in
fruit,” said Debra
Miller, a senior
member of the
team.
“Cacao seeds
should be considered
a ‘super fruit’
and products derived
from cacao
seed extracts, such as natural
cocoa powder and dark chocolate,
as ‘super foods’,” she said.
Late Nights ‘Increase Risk Of
Strokes, Heart Attacks’
Washington, Feb 9 Prolonged sleep deprivation and disrupted
sleep patterns can have long-term, serious health implications, new
research from Warwick Medical School shows. Leading academics
from the University have linked lack of sleep to strokes, heart
attacks and cardiovascular disorders, which often result in early
death. “If you sleep less than six hours per night and have disturbed
sleep you stand a 48 per cent greater chance of developing or dying
from heart disease and a 15 per cent greater chance of developing
or dying of a stroke,” Professor Francesco Cappuccio from the
University of Warwick Medical School, said. “The trend for late
nights and early mornings is actually a ticking time bomb for our
health so you need to act now to reduce your risk of developing
these life-threatening conditions.”
Cappuccio and co-author Dr Michelle Miller, from the University
of Warwick, conducted the research programme, which followed
up evidence from seven to 25 years from more than 470,000
participants from eight countries including Japan, USA, Sweden
and UK. Cappuccio said: “There is an expectation in today’’s
society to fit more into our lives. The whole work/life balance
struggle is causing too many of us to trade in precious sleeping time
to ensure we complete all the jobs we believe are expected of us.”
He added: “But in doing so, we are significantly increasing the risk
of suffering a stroke or developing cardiovascular disease resulting
in, for example, heart attacks.” Miller explained further: “Chronic
short sleep produces hormones and chemicals in the body which
increase the risk of developing heart disease and strokes, and other
conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes and
obesity”. But Cappuccio did warn of the implications of going too
far the other way, as sleeping overly long – more than nine hours at
a stretch – may be an indicator of illness, including cardiovascular
disease.“By ensuring you have about seven hours sleep a night,
you are protecting your future health, and reducing the risk of
developing chronic illnesses. The link is clear from our research:
get the sleep you need to stay healthy and live longer.” The study
has been published today in the European Heart Journal.
Most South Asian
Students who travel
20000 plus miles for
studies in Michigan
feel home sick within
the first 30 days of
landing. They would
love to go some place
called home and talk
to or spend time with
a family.
ADOPT A
STUDENT
Families interested in
creating a ‘Home Away
Home’ for these students
can email their contact
info and we will post it
on MichiganSouthAsian.
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Interesrted students will
contact you directly.
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