Top 5 Reasons You Should Eat Chocolate This Valentine's Day

1. Live Longer

2. Bye Bye Stress

3. For Your Heart

4. Stops Sore Muslces

5. Anti-depressant

1. Live Longer: Chocolate has eight times the amount of antioxidants found in strawberries! Antioxidants are so important for one's longevity since they protect the body from free radicals. These free radicals damage the bodies cells and organs and are the cause of aging and diseases like Cancer. 

2. Bye Bye Stress: A study done at The Nestle Research Center in Switzerland showed that participants who rated them self as having high anxiety showed a decrease in stress levels after eating 1.4 ounces of chocolate every day. However, those who were given greater amounts than 1.4 ounces showed an increase in stress levels due to the fact that they were gaining weight. Like most things in life; moderation is key. 

3. For Your Heart: Studies have shown that eating small amounts of dark chocolate every day will reduce your cholesterol and blood pressure. This is because Chocolate, like many fruits and vegetables, comes from a plant and is full of Flavanoids. Flavanoids are a type of antioxidant that reduce the risk of heart attack by preventing blood from clotting in the heart. 

4. Stops Sore Muscles: Polyphenols, another type of antioxidant that is associated with Flavanoids, is found in chocolate and helps reduce the amount of severity of sore muscles in those who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. So if you find yourself craving chocolate after a workout, don't feel guilty when taking a bite!

5. Anti-depressant: Ever devour a box of chocolates after a bad test grade or rough break up? Well turns out that chocolate increases serotonin levels in the brain which combats depression and causes feelings of happiness. It also acts as an endorphin which is the chemical associated with feeling pleasure. 

**Disclaimer:  Chocolate may be a delicious addition to your healthy diet but limiting the amount of calories is essential. You only need a small piece of dark chocolate to see the benefits that dark chocolate has to offer. 

A Twofer

Among the thousands of uninformative articles on the top things to do to better one’s mood, I found a real diamond in the rough with the Reader’s Digest article on the 20 simple ways to get happy.

Take a dog for a walk and Volunteer, were the two tips on the list that stood out to me the most. Since my roommates have banned me from ever owning a pet again after our disastrous experience with a hamster by the name of Optimus Prime, this task seemed out of the question. Then, in perfect timing, I happened upon an email looking for dog-walkers at the Houston Animal Shelter. Not only would I literally be taking a dog for a walk but I would also be volunteering, a task shown to increase all six aspects of well-being.

While this is based solely on my own personal reflections, I whole-heartedly believe volunteering and dog walking are proven mood boosters. It was a great way to put aside all of my worries and stress and focus on these animals that were dealt a bad hand. I encourage everyone to try a volunteer project such as this one and see the impact it can have on your life. 

It's All Greek To Me

Greek Yogurt is the new miracle food that is sweeping the nation. With twice the amount of protein and far less the amount of carbohydrates, sodium, fat and sugar than other yogurts on the market, choosing Greek is a no-brainer. So imagine my disappointment when I ran to the store and stocked my fridge with the stuff, only to take my first bite and nearly puke from the sour taste and odd consistency! Coming from a girl whose mom has dubbed the human garbage disposable due to her ability to eat anything and everything, this statement carries a lot of weight. However, the endless list of health benefits were far too lucrative for me to give up on the yogurt so quickly. With the help of online resources, advice from friends and some experimenting of my own, I compiled a list of recipes to mask the sour taste and take advantage of the creamy texture. Here are a few of my favorites...

SUPER Easy Eggs:

1 whole egg, 1 egg white

1 1/2 tbls plain non-fat Greek Yogurt (I use Fage)

1/3 cup cheddar cheese

pinch of salt and pinch of pepper

Extras:

green and white onions, mushrooms, tomatoes...etc. 

Directions:

Mix the eggs, Greek Yogurt and Cheddar Cheese in a bowl then add to medium pan and cook up some eggs. (If you don't know how to scramble eggs, then we have a lot of work to do)

Banana Berry Smoothie: 

1 Banana (preferably frozen)

1 cup blueberries (preferably frozen)

1/2 cup strawberries (preferably frozen)

1 package of Greek Yogurt

Extras: you can change out any fruits you like and add honey if you want it to be a little sweeter!

Directions:

Add all ingredients and blend until smooth.

Brownies! (in a health blog? YES!)

5 oz Greek yogurt

1 1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tbls vanilla extract

2 eggs

3/4 cup flower

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat medium size pan with cooking spray. Mix the wet and dry ingredients SEPARATELY. Then add the dry mix to the wet mixture and add the chocolate chips as the final touch. Place in the over for 25-30 minutes. 

Fundamentals

For the first post of my blog, I thought it would be beneficial to start with some fundamental tools for living a healthy and happy lifestyle. My mantra in life is that "balance is essential" and by following this I do not intend to alter anyone's lifestyle or even encourage anyone to drastically change the way they eat or exercise. As great as it is to be dedicated to a healthy diet, it probably won't kill you to indulge that sweet tooth every once in a while or forgo a workout to catch the Grey's Anatomy marathon (guilty). Therefore, I simply aim to provide easy to use tips to put a healthy twist on common recipes and to live life with a positive outlook. 

Health Basics:

BE CREATIVE! Whether your eating in the college serveries or cooking for yourself at home, there are millions of healthy possibilities and interchangeable ingredients. In order to prove my point and torture those chocolate chip muffin lovers like myself, here is a recipe that changes a heart clogging breakfast pastry to a nutrient filled snack: 

Unhealthy (trust me, I excluded a picture for your own sake.)

1 1/2 tablespoon instant espresso powder 
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil 
2 large eggs 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar 
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Guilt Free!

3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 bananas
2 eggs
1 cup coffee (decaffeinated or regular)
1 cup nonfat milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Exchanging white flower for wheat flower, butter-milk for skim milk, bannanas for oil and eliminating the brown sugar, are small exchanges that can make a huge difference on the amount of calories your treating yourself to. 

FIND A WORKOUT BUDDY! Mounds of research shows that working out in groups releases endorphins that block out the pain of exercising. Also, it's nice to have someone there to laugh with if you happen to slip off the treadmill (again, guilty).

IF YOUR GOING TO BREAK THE RULES THEN GO BIG! Resisting unhealthy food all week should be rewarded. You can ditch eating a less than satisfying servery cookie everyday at lunch in order to indulge on an amazing dessert once a week. 

Happiness Tools:

IT'S ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE! Looking for the positives rather than the negatives of every situation can dramatically alter your mood for the better. So maybe you completely failed your COMM 300 Writing Assignment today, but at least you found 20$ in your jeans when you were procrastinating the assignment by doing laundry. Every situation has a good and bad result, it all depends on which one you decide to focus on. 

DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF! "Count you blessings," "Be greatful for what you have," etc...There are a million different cliche ways to say it but probably for good reason. It is always important to remember how fortunate you are. Say you find yourself complaining over how cold you are driving to school in the awful 35 degree Houston winter weather, be thankful you aren't covered in snow.

LIVE IN THE PRESENT! Don't dwell on the past because you have no control over things that have already occurred. 

SMILE! often!

Final Thoughts:

Now that the basic foundation used in living a healthy lifestyle have been laid out, future blogs can go into greater detail of important tips I have learned throughout my own personal wellness journey. I hope you find these tools and my future recommendations to be easy, useful and entertaining!

your self-proclaimed wellness guru,

Alison