Of course some people might question why substances like wine, beer, coffee or bread, which were perfectly acceptable foods to countless generations that came before us, suddenly turned into such sinister things. That question is beyond my ability to answer.
So let's look at the latest good news. Researchers in Italy studied the effects of chocolate on health and came to the conclusion that rich dark chocolate is actually good for you.
It seems to have some of the same affects that vitamin C exhibits, namely in helping the body to use insulin more effectively and lowering blood pressure.
The study compared dark chocolate and white chocolate ? which isn't really chocolate since it contains no cocoa solids.
Those who enjoyed 100 grams of dark chocolate daily for 15 days had lower blood pressure and better insulin function. The theory is that dark chocolate contains flavonoids that lower the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
Those who ate white chocolate exhibited no such change.
Another study of older men in The Netherlands, known for its luscious chocolate, indicated those who ate the equivalent of one-third of a chocolate bar every day had lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of death.
Dark chocolate is high in fat and dense in calories, so it might not be the best food to live on, especially if you're already overweight.
And recent studies on the effects of fat on women's health threw the whole nutritional establishment on its ear.
Dr. Jules Hirsch, Physician in Chief Emeritus at Rockefeller University, who has spent his career studying the effect of diet on weight and health has stated that ?They (the studies) should put a stop to this era of thinking that we have all the information we need to change the whole national diet and make everybody healthy.?
So who knows if chocolate will cure all ills? I strongly suspect it will do no harm if eaten in moderation.
If you want to try this out, have a piece or two of nice dark and rich chocolate with a glass or two of a fine red wine at night. Your life will be fuller for it and, if you're lucky, you'll live longer because of it.
This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice. Do not make any changes in your diet without consulting your physician first.
With interest rates on home loans rates falling, homeowners are flocking to lenders with hopes of refinancing their home loans at a lower interest rate and saving loads of cash in the process. On a $250,000 30 year loan, refinancing from 8 to the record lows in the 5 range that were reported in early 2009 would reduce monthly payments by nearly $500. Over the course of the entire 30 years of the loan, this would amount to over $170,000 worth of savings.
Most people, however, will not be able to qualify for a refinance loan and an even larger segment of the population will not be able to get approved for the best interest rates.
Having a better than average credit score simply isn't enough when it comes to getting approved for the best rates on a mortgage refinancing loan. Most people consider a 720 credit score to be a good score, says Chris Freemott, president of All American Mortgage, but to get the best rates on their loan, borrowers will need a credit rating of 740 or better.
Traditionally, people working to improve their credit scores have been trying to find for a way to turn a poor credit score into an average credit score or better. By taking credit scores below the 560 mark that many consider to be the cutoff for bad credit and increasing them to 600, 700, or higher, people found they were able to significantly improve their quality of life. They were able to get approved for home loans that were previously out of reach and qualify for auto loans or credit cards with sensible and manageable interest rates.
Today, a shift has been made where it is not just those with poor credit who could benefit from credit repair or other credit improvement services. As is evidenced by the current home loan market, even those with decent credit scores may be able to benefit from pushing their credit scores even higher.
For those homepwners who are looking to take advantage of the low interest rates, take some time to investigate a variety of lenders and shop around for the best rates. Don't get down if you get rejected by one lender because there may still be others who would be more than happy to help you. And if lenders are consistently turning you away or not offering the interest rates you want because of your credit rating, then making use of credit correction services like those provided by Lexington Law may be the first step you need to take in order to reach your goals.
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