People diagnosed with "metabolic syndrome" will likely be advised to lose weight.  To many that means no more sweets, especially chocolate.  But Australian researchers think a daily dose of dark chocolate may be just what the doctor should order.  It might well reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in these high risk patients.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that increase the probability that someone will develop heart disease or diabetes. It is sometimes referred to as Syndrome X.  Generally it includes high blood pressure, excess weight around the middle or central obesity (usually described as an apple-shaped body), and insulin resistance or the inability of the body to use insulin effectively.

In a study published in the British Medical Journal, Australian researchers concluded that daily consumption of dark chocolate can reduce cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, in people with metabolic syndrome.

The researchers used a mathematical model of 2,013 people at high risk of heart disease to predict the long-term health effects of daily dark chocolate consumption compared to not eating any dark chocolate. The participants all had high blood pressure and the signs of metabolic syndrome, but had no history of heart disease or diabetes.

According to the analysis, if all of the study participants ate some dark chocolate every day (what a hardship!), 70 non-fatal and 15 fatal cardiovascular events per 10,000 people would be averted over 10 years.

Even if only 80% took their chocolate "pill," researchers believed the therapy would still be effective with 55 non-fatal and 10 fatal cardiovascular events potentially averted over 10 years.

You may know microgreens as the delicate, colorful garnish on your overpriced and undersized meal at an upscale restaurant. Yes, they're visually appealing but aren't they pointless decoration?  

Some aficionados have claimed superfood status for these tiny edible greens produced from vegetable, herb or other plants.  New science says microgreens aren't just cuter lettuces – they may be more nutritious.

Researchers from the University of Maryland and the USDA conducted the first analysis of the nutrient levels in microgreens.  They concluded that in general these babies have more vitamins and other nutrients than their fully mature counterparts.

Tired of apologizing for your addiction to a morning mug (or two or three) of coffee? No more need for guilt - that java may be just what the doctor should order

According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, older adults who drink coffee have a lower risk of death overall than non-coffee drinkers. The coffee drinkers were less likely to die from heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, injuries and accidents, diabetes, and infections.

Green tea is one of the latest superfoods making its way into bottled waters and energy drinks.  You'll even find it in energy bars, mints, chewing gum and ice cream. It has many claimed health benefits.  Texas researchers add to the list with evidence that green tea aids in the prevention of osteoporosis.  Especially when coupled with a tai chi practice.   

Green tea is full of compounds called polyphenols which are known for their potent antioxidant activity. Studies have shown that people who consume the highest levels of green tea polyphenols tend to have lower risks of several chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease.

Animal studies suggest that the mechanism behind this correlation may have to do with lowering chronic levels of inflammation.  These studies show that green tea may benefit bone health by mitigating bone loss due to aging, estrogen deficiency, or chronic inflammation.  That in turn may improve clinical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, normalize bone metabolic disorders, and impact trace element metabolism.

For modern cooks, rosemary is best known as the perfect herb to pair with a good roast chicken or lamb. But as with other herbs, it also has powerful and ancient medicinal properties. Modern science is catching up to what the ancients knew.  One scientific study finds that a compound in rosemary promotes eye health and may even protect against age-related macular degeneration.

Reporting in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, a team of scientists from Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute led by Stuart A. Lipton, M.D., Ph.D. discovered that carnosic acid, a component of the herb rosemary, protects your retina from degeneration and toxicity.

What is age-related macular degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration is the most common eye disease in the U.S.  It affects close to 11 million Americans, most over the age of 50. According to the American Health Assistance Foundation, macular degeneration causes deterioration of the central area of the retina, resulting in blind spots and blurred or distorted vision. One-third of people over the age of 76 suffer from the condition.

The underlying cause of macular degeneration is not known but some of the risk factors include smoking, sun exposure, high blood pressure and obesity. Genetics are believed to play a role in most cases.

Some earlier studies had suggested that the disease might be slowed by antioxidants that fight free radicals. That's where rosemary comes in.

In this study, Lipton and his colleagues found that retinal cells treated with carnosic acid found in rosemary triggered the production of antioxidant enzymes in the cells.  That in turn lowered cell-damaging free radicals.

They also tested carnosic acid in animals, finding that mice treated with it suffered less vision damage whden exposed to light.

Rosemary's health benefits

Protection from macular degeneration is just the latest in rosemary's many health benefits which have been known for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks prized rosemary for its ability to boost memory.  And Greek students are reported to have worn rosemary sprigs in their hair when studying for exams.  Lipton and his team are also exploring whether rosemary may be useful in preventing certain forms of dementia.

In addition, rosemary has traditionally been used to stimulate the immune system, improve digestion, increase circulation and act as an anti-inflammatory.

Long associated with tea sandwiches and white gloves, watercress contains a powerful plant compound that may help fight breast cancer.

According to a study conducted at the University of Southampton and published in the British Journal of Nutrition and Biochemical Pharmacology, the plant compound known as phenylethyl isothiocyanate, may suppress breast cancer cell development. It works by turning off a signal in the cells which is necessary to cancer cell growth.

You've heard of anorexia and bulimia.  They're both life threatening eating disorders. There is also something called orthorexia.  That's an extreme obsession with healthy eating or eating only the "right" things.

Eating disorders are becoming more common among teens and college students.  But college students suffering from eating disorders are also engaging in heavy alcohol consumption, another unhealthy habit typical of this age group.

"Drunkorexia" is a term coined to describe the combination of disordered eating and heavy alcohol consumption.  According to researchers from the University of Missouri when college students combine these two unhealthy habits, they risk long-term adverse health effects.

Victoria Osborne, assistant professor of social work and public health, examined the relationship between alcohol misuse and disordered eating, including calorie restriction and purging.  She found that 16 percent of college students surveyed reported restricting calories to "save them" for drinking. Of the respondents, about three times as many women reported engaging in the behavior than men.

Motivations for "drunkorexia" include preventing weight gain, getting intoxicated faster and saving money that would otherwise be spent on food to buy alcohol.

According to Osborne, "drunkorexia" can have dangerous cognitive, behavioral and physical consequences. It also puts people at risk for developing more serious eating disorders or addiction problems.

Osborne notes that depriving the brain of adequate nutrition and consuming large amounts of alcohol can both be dangerous on their own.  But together, they can cause short- and long-term cognitive problems including difficulty concentrating, studying and making decisions.

People who participate in disordered eating combined with binge drinking are also more at risk for violence, risky sexual behavior, alcohol poisoning, substance abuse and chronic diseases later in life.

Osborne says women are at higher risk for health problems related to binge drinking because they metabolize alcohol differently than men. This means women can get sick faster and suffer damage to vital organs sooner than men might.

Are you walking into rooms but can't remember why? Staring into the refrigerator and wondering what you needed? Forgetting familiar phone numbers? Maybe an orange or a carrot would help.

A study from the University of Ulm suggests that people with mild dementia – an early sign of Alzheimer's Disease – have significantly lower blood concentrations of vitamin C and beta-carotene than their healthy counterparts.

The researchers suggest it might be possible to influence the development of Alzheimer's Disease by your diet or by taking dietary antioxidants.

Berries have long been known to pack big health benefits in their small size. According to Harvard researchers eating at least three servings of blueberries and strawberries every week can save women from heart attacks.

Scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom examined the berry-eating habits of 93,600 women between the ages of 25 and 42.  The women were part of the Nurses' Health Study II. They completed questionnaires about their diet every four years for 18 years.

In their study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association the researchers concluded that women who ate three or more servings of blueberries and strawberries per week reduced their risk of heart attack by as much as one-third.

Women who ate the most blueberries and strawberries reduced their risk of a heart attack by 32% compared to women who ate berries once a month or less.

And it really has to be berries.  They make the difference. Women who otherwise ate a diet rich in other fruits and vegetables did not enjoy the same reduced heart attack risk.

How do berries help lower heart attack risk?

Blueberries and strawberries contain high levels of naturally occurring compounds called dietary flavonoids.  These compounds are also found in tea, chocolate, grapes, wine, and other fruits and vegetables.

According to the researchers, a specific sub-class of flavonoids, called anthocyanins, may help dilate arteries, counter the buildup of plaque and provide other cardiovascular benefits. Anthocyanins are found primarily in red, blue and purple fruits and vegetables such as blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and eggplant.

For more than 2,000 years, a spiky purple plant known as the "liver herb," has been used in traditional medicine for healing a wide range of conditions from mushroom poisoning to indigestion. Modern researchers have now added the prevention of photo-aging and skin cancer to the long list of milk thistle's benefits.

Studies from the University of Colorado Cancer Center show that silibinin, a milk thistle extract, protects against skin cancer and photo-aging induced by exposure to UV radiation. It does this by killing skin cells that have mutated due to UVA radiation exposure and by protecting skin cells against damage by UVB radiation.