Canadian researchers from McMaster University in Hamilton have discovered that eating a small amount of chocolate a week may lessen the risk of having a stroke. Also, they have found eating chocolate may help lessen the risk of dying from a stroke.
The researchers focused on three studies conducted on chocolate. The first study was in 2007 where more than 34,000 postmenopausal women in Iowa took part in a study where once a week they ate one serving of chocolate. The findings showed that they were 22 per cent less likely to suffer a stroke than those who did not eat chocolate.
The second study was conducted in Sweden where once a week 1,169 people ate 50 grams of chocolate. The findings in this study showed that 46 percent of people were less likely to die after having a stroke than those who did not consume chocolate.
A third study reviewed did not find a link between chocolate and the risk of death from stroke.
Chocolate is loaded with antioxidants which are called flavonoids and has many health benefits including being anti-inflammatory. There are more antioxidants in dark chocolate.
However, Dr Saposnik warned: “Eating too much chocolate can make you fat as chocolate also contains saturated fats.

Snakes whose venom could save your life

12 Bizarre Phobias Of Animals

Phobia which significantly affects quality of life

Enjoy a unique experience in the heart of nature! Located in the heart of nature, at the entrance of Gatineau Park, Le Nordik – Nature Spa is a haven that features relaxation techniques from the Nordic countries. Take the time to unwind and reenergize in our Nordic baths and waterfalls, steam bath, Finnish sauna, and relaxation areas. Revitalize all of your senses with a massage and a delicious and healthy meal.

Snakes whose venom could save your life

12 Bizarre Phobias Of Animals

Phobia which significantly affects quality of life

Milk, having a rich and creamy base, is a natural moisturizer, making it a versatile household item. It contains nutrients that are known to make skin smooth and healthy, which makes it an unconventional bath item and a popular ingredient for making soap.

Facial Mask –With milk’s moisturizing properties, you can use the dairy product to create a skin-pampering facial mask. Prepare half a cup of milk powder then add a little water. Stir the mixture until a fairly thick paste is formed. Once done, spread the milk facial mask on your face and let it rest for about 30 minutes. Wash your face then rinse right after. Your skin will be softer and will have a nice healthy glow, as if you used an actual facial mask.

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Relief for Sunburn – Sunburn, caused by the prolonged exposure to sunlight, is pretty painful. The burnt skin will sting even at the slightest hint of contact. You can relieve yourself of the discomfort by creating a milk-based sunburn solution. Mix powdered milk with water and two pinches of salt. Apply the solution on the burnt spots and after awhile, you’ll feel better.

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Shaving Cream Substitute – If you run out of shaving cream, you can use milk as a worthy substitute. Mix a generous amount of powdered milk with a little water. When a thick paste has been formed, apply it on your face before shaving. It may not be as smooth as shaving cream but it will produce the same results nonetheless.

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Milk Bath – Milk happens to be a popular bathtub item. Not only is it a better moisturizer than some soaps, it is also an effective skin softener. Fill one half to three fourths of your bathtub with milk. Once done, go ahead and take a dip. Let the white bathwater work on your skin for about 30 minutes to an hour. After your bath, you will certainly have soft and better-looking skin.

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Makeup Remover – Blush-ons, foundations, and other female facial enhancements latch on to your face like adhesives. It usually takes a while before you can completely wash them off your face. You can make the process easier by switching water with a mixture of powdered milk and warm water. Apply the solution on the makeup and in a matter of minutes, your face will be back to its natural state.

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Ingredient for Making Soap – If you want to have soap that is hard on germs but gentle on your skin, try making one using milk. Create a mixture from milk, glycerin, oatmeal, lard and natural scent oils. You can use a blender, to speed up things. Boil the mixture for a few hours then place it on the soap molds. When it dries, you will have a product that is just as good as the ones sold at health and beauty stores.

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Mask from chocolate - In order to get excellent skin, you are able to use a make up mask from this delicious food that is useful for the health of your skin.  Prepare a dark chocolate, full cream, and salt. First, melt the dark chocolate and blend with full cream and salt. Stir it and let the temperature down. And then you can spread it in your face for about 15 up to 30 minutes. Last, clean your face with fresh water.

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Chocolate Bath – Chocolate’s also great for a bath. Add it to your next bath to release the aroma of chocolate and to take advantage of chocolate’s soothing and relaxing benefits. Chop the chocolate into small pieces. Smaller is better. Add this to the heated soy milk. Stir well until the chocolate is completely melted. Do not let it boil! Allow the mixture to cool down. Draw your bath water. Add the cup of unscented bubble bath directly to the bath. Pour the chocolate mixture into the bath under the running water. Blend the chocolate solution and bath water together. Stir your hand around in the bath to mix the water and chocolate mix together. Get ready to get in. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Chocolate Perfume – It is a scientific fact that just the smell of chocolate is a male aphrodisiac and causes arousal! It is the only perfume that may actually help make you thin! Recent research indicates that just the smell of chocolate may actually fool your brain and satisfy your craving and appetite as if you’d actually eaten some chocolate! Chocolate perfume is a great novelty gift item for all ages – kids to adults – men and women – all love the smell of chocolate.

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Chocolate Massage Oil – Massage lotions enhance the overall experience of the massage by lubricating the skin and supplying sensual aromas. When the skin is well lubricated, even the slightest touch feels smooth and sexy.This recipe moisturizes extremely well and provides great lubrication for a romantic massage. It smells chocolaty and decadent without making your skin sticky or staining your sheets or clothing.

Now you can wash your hands with teeth!! A great stocking stuffer for the grandparents or the dentist in your life, or simply perfect for anytime you want to add a bit of fun to your bathroom.

Never mind a fried egg, here’s a brain on drugs for ya. A fetching green, and all sparkly, just like the real thing, with a pretty convincing fragrance!

We love the story of the little Dedo gargoyle (google it!), so we’re happy to have a little Dedo to wash with. Our benevolent buddy is a shimmery gray moss color, and is a captivating Parisian tinged with rosemary scent.

BOO! Bwaaaaaahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa!!! A most fantastic creepy coffin soap with a skeleton embossed atop it. The soap is a black-red color, and the skeleton is accented with a bit of gold mica.

Attention all goths and heart surgeons! Sorry it’s too late for Valentine’s day, but hey, if you love someone, you can give ‘em a heart anytime! Hot off the dugshop soap presses, we have an anatomically correct heart, in a fetching shade of organ meat red, but luckily not scented as such. Instead, it’s a powerful pomegranate, a fistful of fruity lushness that’ll last a good long time.

The perfect soap for you if the guy on the rope is too big, or if you’re more of a bath person, or if you just want some serene company in your soap dish.

You’ll go batty for this soap! They’re sweetly scented with a toasted marshmallow fragrance. Hand-poured natural vegetable glycerin soap, vegan friendly.

I’m a Lebowski, you’re a Lebowski, something for every achiever! You’ve got a cute carpet bag that’s untouched by Woo, with a gold rope handle that you can use for hanging or repurposing for a night on the town.

This fantastic flame-shaped soap is another dugshop proprietary mold, we’ve jazzed it up with glow-in-the-dark tips and detailing. Hand-poured natural vegetable glycerin soap, vegan friendly.

If you’re in the market for creepy soap, look no further.  You can buy your own baby hand-shaped soap in a variety of  tones and types.  Each pack comes with ten tiny hands made from goat’s milk and vegetable glycerin.  Imagine the look on your guest’s faces when they have to wash their hands with  bizarre, tiny baby hands.

Choose To Lose Diet: The Premise

Nancy and Ronald Goor have been writing and rewriting their Choose to Lose series for the past 15 years. Billed as a “food lover’s guide to permanent weight loss,” this 500+ page volume tells you everything you need to know, and more, about eating healthy and losing weight. Taking the opposite tact of many diet books, Choose to Lose encourages carbohydrate consumption, as long as most of it comes from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The focus of the diet is fat: finding it, counting it, and budgeting it. It explains how to plan your own personal fat budget, read food labels, ferret out the fat in the foods you eat, fat-proof your home, eat out healthfully, and switch to healthy fats.

They encourage dieters to keep a food diary, at least in the beginning, to learn about their own food habits and to reveal their weaknesses. One of the reasons the book is so long is that it provides a comprehensive food table with the nutrient content of each food, plus discussions of everything, literally, from soup to nuts. The information tells dieters what’s good (low-fat, high-fiber, and most nutritious), what’s bad (high-fat, low-fiber, empty calories) and how you can plan your new diet to keep some of your favorite foods on your weight-loss menus.

The Rationale

While some diets focus on limiting carbohydrate intake, the Goors’ plan focuses on limiting fat intake, especially saturated fat, since fat is the most concentrated source of calories in the diet and saturated fat is linked to heart disease. The diet plan has no gimmicks or hooks; it’s a no-nonsense approach to good nutrition that has withstood the test of time. Fat intake is limited but not excessively restricted, and the diet even allows for an occasional high-fat splurge.

The goal, say the Goors, is not to think of Choose to Lose as a diet but as an eating plan for life. Foods are clearly divided into groups according to how much of them you can eat. The diet also provides examples of “before” menus and then shows better “after” alternatives. Follow the guidelines of their plan, say the Goors, and over time you will adjust your taste buds to a lower-fat diet without having to greatly restrict your food choices.

What’s for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner?

The Goors’ diet provides more information about specific foods than most other diets, and it gives a week’s worth of sample menus and recipes. More than 250 of the book’s pages are devoted to food tables that give the calorie, fat, and saturated fat content of foods. You’ll find brief, informative sections on such foods as bread, potatoes, cereals, chicken, seafood, popcorn, and pretzels, just to name a few. A typical day’s menus might include oatmeal and whole-wheat toast with jelly, cottage cheese, strawberries, and skim milk for breakfast; chickpeas, whole-wheat pita, tangerine, carrot sticks, and orange juice for lunch; tortilla soup, chicken, green beans, rice, squash, cauliflower, nonfat yogurt, and blueberries for dinner; and nonfat yogurt and popcorn for snacks during the day. Total calories: 2,300. Guidelines are provided for cutting calories to 1,500 to 1,600 — the minimum they recommend. Supplements are not recommended. Follow a balanced diet, they say, and supplements shouldn’t be necessary.

Fact or Fiction: What the Experts Say

Information is power, and the Goors’ plan provides dieters with power over their diets and, ultimately, their health. The diet plan goes hand-in-hand with what most experts currently recommend, and it meets the needs of seniors as well. It’s a diet high in complex carbohydrate — mostly from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes — with limited fat intake, most of it from healthy fats such as olive oil. Though it’s not billed as such, the diet is in line with dietary recommendations for reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer.

Gains and Losses/What’s the Damage?

If you follow the Goors’ plan, using the recommended calorie adjustments, it should allow you to lose weight successfully. You get a lot of variety and choices on this diet, which also offers much-needed guidance for keeping the diet balanced and realistic. One chapter is devoted to exercise, which they sum up as “Eating Right + Exercise = Perfection.”

Now let’s consider another low-fat diet, the Eat More, Weigh Less program. Click to the next section to find out more.

Eat More, Weigh Less

The Eat More, Weigh Less diet is a program based on a very low intake of fat.

Eat More, Weigh Less: The Premise

Dr. Dean Ornish is famous for his strict low-fat diet program that reduces heart disease risk and even reverses arterial damage. The findings from his now-famous “Lifestyle Heart Trial” research, which show that major lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis and heart disease, are so well accepted that participation in one of the lifestyle program’s hospital sites is even covered by some health insurance companies. His program restricts fat intake to 10 percent or less of daily calories and prohibits animal products, oils, and sugar.

The Ornish plan calls for eating a very low-fat vegetarian diet, relaxation, and exercise. A side benefit of the program, he discovered, is weight loss. How much the diet benefits you is not a matter of age but how well you follow the program. This book is already a classic; it was one of the first to advocate such a major cutback in fat while increasing the intake of complex carbohydrate foods. Here Ornish translates the Lifestyle Heart Trial program for people focusing on weight loss.

The Rationale

Ornish believes that it’s better to make broad, comprehensive changes in your diet all at once rather than to make small, moderate changes. Thus, he advocates dropping your fat intake from the typical 30 to 40 percent of calories to 10 percent and switching from a diet high in sugar to one that contains virtually none. The rationale for the drastic reduction in fat, Ornish says, is that fat calories are more easily converted to fat in the body.

A diet high in complex carbohydrate, on the other hand, is inefficient at converting the calories to fat. In fact, some calories are wasted during the conversion, allowing you to eat more calories than you could on a higher-fat diet. Moreover, a diet low in fat is by default low in calories and reduces the body’s production of free radicals, which are destructive compounds that are believed to contribute to the aging process.

What’s for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner?

Eat More, Weigh Less provides more recipes than most diet books — and with good reason. It’s tough to buy and prepare foods with such a low fat content. In fact, more than half the book’s pages are devoted to recipes. A typical day’s menu might include Scrambled Mexican Tofu, salsa, whole-wheat toast, and orange juice for breakfast; Black Pepper Polenta with Bell Pepper Sauce and Shiitake Mushrooms, Italian Bean Salad, tossed green salad, and Melon Sorbet for lunch; Roasted Tomato Sandwiches, Anasazi Bean Soup with Corn and Chili, Oven-Roasted Potatoes with Fresh Herbs, green salad, fresh fruit, and Apples and Raspberries in Apple-Ginger Consommé for dinner. A table of some common foods and their nutrient content is also provided at the end of the book.

Fact or Fiction: What the Experts Say

Most experts acknowledge Ornish’s body of research showing the dramatic opening of clogged arteries experienced by most people following his program. However, the biggest problem most experts have with Ornish’s diet is that it’s just not realistic for most people. The real test of any diet program is how easy it is to stick with over the long haul. Regardless of how healthful a diet may be, it’s useless if you can’t stay on it. That lack of stick-to-it-ability may be the downfall of Ornish’s plan for most people.

Gains and Losses/What’s the Damage?

There’s no doubt that if you’re able to stick with it, Ornish’s diet works. The question is whether you’re willing to go that far with your dietary changes — and maintain those changes. Though exercise is encouraged, especially walking, few specifics are provided about how to get started and keep going. And because the diet is so low in fat, you’ll need to do some special food preparation every day if you want to avoid meal monotony. While the diet should help lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, it could be low in some fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins D and E, if you don’t supplement them. The same is true of calcium. While calcium-rich, fat-free dairy products are allowed on the diet, the sample menus provide only about one serving a day — not enough to meet your calcium needs.

The world has given a network of high technology. We sit before computers for hours and we become more sedentary. Both these intake of over calorie food and sedentary life-style ended in the epidemic of overweight people. So now it is up to you to make up your mind to burn more calories than you consume and this guide is going to give you some tips to make this possible.

The first thing is the modifications in eating habits:

1. To boost your metabolism to burn the fat, take 3 regular meals and 3 small snacks in between.

2. Eat lean meats, skinless chicken and fish.

3. Eat smaller portions.

4. Eat slower.

5. Eat more fruits and vegetables.

6. Avoid cookies and chips.

7. Drinking 1 glass of water before taking every food will help you eat less.

Increasing the activity is the second important thing:

Exercising for at least 30 minutes a day is a must and failing which you may try to do the following simple things.

1. Park your car farther away from the spot where you have lot of work.

2. Use staircase than going in elevator.

3. Keep away the TV remote and get up to change the channels.

4. Do dancing simply.

5. Join water exercise instead of walking who do have trouble in their joints with stress while walking.

6. For your heart health and reduce weight, you may ride in a stationary bike for a while.

7. Get a good partner, who will keep you to give support.

8. Always do warm up and cool down your body before and after doing physical exercise to protect your heart and muscles. Better to have contact and guidance always with your doctor to do any change in your lifestyle which reduces your body weight.

9. Losing weight is not because of dieting or starvation. But all because of the changes in the lifestyle you make.

10. Commit your self to eating better and exercising more.

Tip 1 – Eat more fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants that are good for your body. Those who try to lose weight should replace snacks, cookies and chips with fruits and vegetables.

Tip 2 – Though everybody knows about taking lot of water is good for health, only few are doing it practically. Drink at least 8 cups of water daily. If you do not like to take much water up to 8 cups, you may replace it with low –calorie flavored drinks.

Tip 3 – Exercise is the best thing to lose weight of your body and many people think and fear about doing exercises. But it is not the thing to get afraid of. Doing simple exercise for about 30 minutes in a day but 5 to 6 days of the week is enough for you to reduce your weight. Something like walking for at least 30 minutes is enough for anyone.

Tip 4 – Alcohol is always not good to reduce your body weight and many alcoholic beverages are very high in calories, especially the beer is the one alcohol which has more calorific value and will not help you in any way to lose weight. Hence stop drinking alcoholic beverages at once. Give up the habit of taking it routinely and occasional habit of taking it will not harm you and does not bother about it.

Tip 5 – Have smaller meals daily as opposed to fewer big ones. If you usually eat three big meals every day, try to change your eating patterns to include 5 to 6 smaller meals. This has been a pretty well proven method to losing weight gradually. Having more small meals daily will help to decrease calories that are taken in. If your schedule can accommodate this kind of change, it is a good way to help lose weight.

These weight loss tips are by no means complex, but they are very likely to work if followed.

Pineapples have exceptional juiciness and a vibrant tropical flavor that balances the tastes of sweet and tart. They are second to bananas as America’s favorite tropical fruit. Pineapple is one of those foods that it is heaven to eat. A good, juicy ripe pineapple can satisfy a sweet craving as well as any chocolate bar

There are many benefits for eating pineapple. Pineapple is full of vitamins and nutrients. All fruits are full of nutrients. However, pineapple has more benefits than just being packed with vitamins and nutrients. Pineapple benefits are also:

Pineapple is Loaded with Vitamins and Minerals

The obvious benefits of pineapple are all the vitamins and minerals the fruit is loaded with. Its nutrients include calcium, potassium, fiber, and vitamin C. In addition it is low in fat and cholesterol.

The benefits of pineapple can be achieved through eating fresh, canned, or frozen pineapple or by drinking its juice.

Strengthens weak bones

Ever kneel down and you hear that slight pop of your bones? If you have this is a sign that you are not getting enough iron in your body. Pineapple helps strengthen your bones so you won’t have to worry about that pop turning into a snap.

One of the benefits of pineapple is that it helps to build healthy bones. Pineapples are rich in manganese, a trace mineral that is needed for your body to build bone and connective tissues. Just one cup of pineapple provides 73% of the daily recommended amount of manganese. The benefits of pineapple can effect the growth of bones in young people and the strengthening of bones in older people.

Good for Gums

Although the Food and Drug Administration has successfully banned illegal marketers, some products are still available. Consumers can be deceived of the labels which claims caffeine or ephedra fee not knowing that these supplements composes of other ingredients that may pose the same health risks. These include heart and digestive problems, headaches, insomnia, and even psychological side effects.

Other supplement manufacturers say that their products contains EGCG which is a phytochemical ingredient found in green tea. This so-called component claims to speed up metabolism but in reality poses to reduce the risk of cancer. Some studies denote that it could slightly increase the potential to burn calories and now can be found in many weight loss supplements. It has good points on the other hand since the body might conform to EGCG after a period of time. Eve the weight loss benefit could sum up to 60 to 70 calories a day. This helps prevent excessive weight gain.

A few other significant effects of weight loss supplements is that it may contain ingredients that makers claim will prevent the absorption of carbohydrates. One good example is Chitosan, which appears most promising, which in fact shows no positive result in fat absorption. It could even take up to seven months for men to lose just a pound of body fat and for women, there is no fat loss at all. Thyroid supplements act as thyroid replacements help regulate and optimize the thyroid at a higher level. This they say makes the body feel like a couch potato and won’t perform the job it has to.

Since the number one reason why people eat is because they feel hungry, there is another type of ingredient that manufacturers made which increases the feeling of being full and decreases appetite, Guar Gum. However, recent studies show that it has no meaningful benefit at all to weight loss. It is ironic that manufacturers mix Psyllium that has the reputation of reducing eating and aiding weight loss for initial studies so far do not support this claim although it helps control blood cholesterol and sugar.

One of the latest innovations in the fat loss industry is by way of skin absorption. There’s a Cutting Gel, which is an epidril product by far the best selling in fat loss creams technology. Rub it where you want the fats cut. For now, it will seem safer to advise the age old remedies to excessive weight gain and that is to invest on walking shoes instead of diet supplements, go to the park and do brisk walking, go to the gym, and have a well balanced diet instead.

United States – Private system

Private sector funded, with more than half from private sources. Private health insurance available through employer, government or private schemes.

15.3% of population (45.7 million people) do not have health insurance.

Federal government is largest healthcare insurer – involved in two main schemes, Medicaid and Medicare, each covering about 13% of population.

Medicaid – joint funded federal-state programme for certain low income and needy groups – eg children, disabled.

Medicare – for people 65 years old and above and some younger disabled people and those with permanent kidney failure undergoing dialysis or transplant.

Most doctors are in private practice and paid through combination of charges, discounted fees paid by private health plans, public programmes, and direct patient fees.

In-patient care is provided in public and private hospitals. Hospitals are paid through a combination of charges, per admission, and capitation.

UK – Universal, tax-funded system

Public sector funded by taxation and some national insurance contributions.

About 11% have private health insurance. Private GP services very small.

Healthcare free at point of delivery but charges for prescription drugs (except in Wales), ophthalmic services and dental services unless exempt.

Exemptions include children, elderly, and unemployed. About 85% of prescriptions are exempt.

Most walk-in care provided by GP practices but also some walk-in clinics and 24-hour NHS telephone helpline. Free ambulance service and access to accident and emergency. In patient care through GP referral and follow contractual arrangements between health authorities, Primary Care Trusts and the hospital.

Hospitals are semi-autonomous self-governing public trusts.

France – Social insurance system

All legal residents covered by public health insurance funded by compulsory social health insurance contributions from employers and employees with no option to opt out.

Most people have extra private insurance to cover areas that are not eligible for reimbursement by the public health insurance system and many make out of pocket payments to see a doctor.

Patients pay doctor’s bills and are reimbursed by sickness insurance funds.

Government regulates contribution rates paid to sickness funds, sets global budgets and salaries for public hospitals.

In-patient care is provided in public and private hospitals (not-for-profit and for-profit). Doctors in public hospitals are salaried whilst those in private hospitals are paid on a fee-for-service basis. Some public hospital doctors are allowed to treat private patients in the hospital. A percentage of the private fee is payable to the hospital.

Most out-patient care is delivered by doctors, dentists and medical auxiliaries working in their own practices.

Singapore – Dual system

Dual system funded by private and public sectors. Public sector provides 80% of hospital care 20% primary care.

Financed by combination of taxes, employee medical benefits, compulsory savings in the form of Medisave, insurance and out-of-pocket payments.

Patients expected to pay part of their medical expenses and to pay more for higher level of service. Government subsidises basic healthcare.

Public sector health services cater for lower income groups who cannot afford private sector charges. In private hospitals and outpatient clinics, patients pay the amount charged by the hospitals and doctors on a fee-for-service basis.