Keeping the Women we Love Healthy

   For the Howell Foundation, things couldn't have turned out better.  February 3rd was ' Go Red for Women Day', the Heart Health Month awareness campaign was once again reminding women about the risks of heart disease,  and we had invited Dr. Taub from UCSD to present her latest research on cardiovascular disease.  And she might just pretty well have given us the greatest tip of all: knowing that we can take care of our heart while making our lives a little more pleasurable with chocolate... dark chocolate! Dr. Taub is a general cardiologist and believes that prevention is the new frontier in cardiology.  She is also is a huge believer in chocolate.  Her research focuses on the beneficial effects of dark chocolate and going back to basics; nutrition, controlling our cholesterol and managing our blood pressure -- which is simple, doesn't cost a lot of money, and requires little effort. It is clear that the benefits of cacao are now recor...

Photo courtesy of rakratchada torsap- FreeDigitalPhotos.net Talking about heart health month, it only seems appropriate to talk about CHOCOLATE!   Though recommended to eat sparingly, the health benefits of dark chocolate are widely known.   The secret of healthy dark chocolate resides in the levels of cocoa.  The higher the amount the better!  To get all the health benefits of dark chocolate, nutritionist recommend chocolate that contains 70% or more of cocoa. From famous pastry Chef François Payard, this Chocolate Tofu Mousse is as healthy as dessert can get! Ingredients: 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped 1 cup soy milk 1/2 vanilla bean, scraped 10-ounce silken tofu, drained 1/4 cup raspberries 1/4 cup blueberries Preparation: Place chopped bittersweet chocolate in a bowl.  In a saucepan, combine soy milk and scraped vanilla bean. Bring to a boil; pour over chocolate. Let stand 1 minute. Remove vanilla bean and whisk until smoo...

Heart disease is hard to digest.  We all pretty much know by now the facts on women and heart disease:  1 in 3 women will die of heat failure every year; compared to 1 in 31 american women who loose their battle to breast cancer.  But do we know what steps to take to take care of our heart?  Join us at our next Howell Luncheon Series "Chocolate and Heart Disease: The Bitter Truth" with Dr. Pam Taud , who will be discussing  cardiovascular disease in women, the risk factors for heart disease, preventive measures for heart disease and the story of chocolate. The idea that chocolate has beneficial effects and the mechanisms behind those beneficial effects derive from Dr.Taub's own research. How better to prepare for Valentine's Day than to hear some good news about chocolate (dark chocolate, that is)! When: Friday, February 3, 2017 Time:   11:30 - Registration and Networking              1200 - Presentatio...

This just in from the Daily Mail:  "World's first 'medicinal' chocolate: Scientists have developed a bar so healthy it could be taken as medicine." Oh sweet heaven! As widely known, cacao contains antioxidants that might lower the risk of several diseases.  The research trend of super-foods has shed light on the new medicinal benefits that have been attributed to cocoa. The most recognized? Slowing the aging process, regulating vascular changes that lead to heart disease and minimizing the risk of developing cancer.  And then there is a myriad of side benefits: Improves our mood  Used as an aphrodisiac  Balances Hormonal Mood Swings  Creates loads of energy and combats fatigue Improves skin texture Lowers our blood pressure naturally  Improves cognitive function and prevents Alzheimer’s Reduces insulin resistance and sensitivity Improves our kidney functions, promotes better digestion and stimulates our bowel  But these health b...