Stress Reduction For Cardiac Patients

Experts Respond: Chocolate consumption and heart health

The findings confirm results of existing studies that generally agree on a potential beneficial link between chocolate consumption and heart health. However, the authors stress that further studies are needed to test whether chocolate actually causes this reduction or if it can be explained by some other unmeasured (confounding) factor. "The authors selected studies in which "chocolate consumption was assessed by a validated tool" however from this food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) it would appear that they used "a single item from the food frequency questionnaire that asked about consumption of chocolate bars, snacks, or pieces" (this is unclear) thus other possibly confounding dietary factors would not have been captured.   Did those in the highest chocolate consumption category have a better overall dietary pattern?   "The  FFQ included chocolate drinks which may have indicated a higher consumption of milk. Some other dietary factors have been adjusted for (Table 2) but one wonders how these were measured.  One study reviewed (Mink et al 2007) measured flavonoid intake & only adjusted for energy consumption so one could assume that chocolate was only one item measured. "The authors "necessary cautions" and relatively cautious conclusions are appropriate however it is not clear that reducing the amount of fat & sugar in commercially available chocolate will transform it into a more beneficial food.  However the use of minimally processed, higher cacao products in developing countries may have some merit." "Cocoa butter, although a rich source of saturated fatty acids, does not raise cholesterol much because the major saturated fatty acid in it is stearic acid, which neither raises nor lowers cholesterol. The evidence regarding chocolate and blood pressure is mixed, with a recent study showing that cocoaflavonoids increase blood pressure. "Most chocolate we eat is milk chocolate, which in this country is different to continental milk chocolate in the amount of vegetable versus milk fat we blend with cocoa to give it its '30%/ 45% cocoa solids" definition.  Also, white chocolate is a totally different product altogether so can't be compared with brown chocolate with regards to flavonoid content.  Cocoa butter does not appear to raise cholesterol, due to it stearic and oleic acid contents, but of course the sugar content of the final item could raise triglycerides but the results seem to suggest any clinical consequence of this is negligible. "This paper doesn't really say eat chocolate to improve heart health - nor do the authors conclude this either.  What they seem to say is, those who don't deny themselves a sweet treat of choc - white or brown - have better cardiovascular outcomes.  I do feel that the perceived relaxing effect of chocolate (which is recorded in studies as being as soon as the taste and 'mouthfeel' of choc is experienced, before the product has hit the intestine and contributed to blood levels of sugar/serotonin whatever) is a contributor - perhaps akin to modest alcohol consumption - a relaxing treat, perceived as a 'de-stressor' and a food whose cost base is so low it's affordable by virtually all.  "In terms of UK chocolate, it has to be based on relaxation rather than nutritional content, as our fancy-and-filled product ranges (think Crunchie, Mars bar, Topic, Turkish Delight) contain such little actual chocolate per unit, and what is there is mainly milk choc with low cocoa solids, that this cannot be solely attributed to cocoa flavonoids alone.  For more information see http://www.cacaoweb.net/nutrition.html , New Zealand’s only medical newspaper.

Heart Rate Variability Monitors May Aid Stress Reduction ...

Stress is an unavoidable part of a life. However, a 2010 study conducted by the American Psychological Association found that the average American experiences a moderate to severe stress level that falls outside the bounds of a healthy lifestyle.

High anxiety levels can result in aches, pains, judgment lapses, listlessness, insomnia and weight gain. While many people use techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, stretching and exercise to quell their angst, others, unfortunately, resort to “self-medicating” with alcohol, drug abuse or cigarettes.

It’s a significant problem. “Anxiety disorders, which range from social phobias to panic attacks, affect 40 million Americans, and have also been linked to heart disease, as well as addictive disorders.” states Paul J. Rosch, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at New York Medical College and President of the American Institute of Stress.

A growing number of doctors and psychologists are focusing on biofeedback, using heart rate variability (HRV) monitors like emWave and StressEraser . The concept is similar to runners like me using heart rate monitors to keep their heart rate in the optimal training zone, except that these devices track tiny beat-to-beat variations in heart rate. When we’re in a calm, relaxed state, a graph of these intervals is smooth and “coherent,” resembling a sine wave, while stress creates a jagged, incoherent pattern.

With practice, users of these home devices can learn to influence their HRV into a relaxed pattern through slow, rhythmic breathing. The monitors help individuals “achieve an optimal respiratory and heart rate pattern that mimics the benefits of meditation,” Dr. Rosch says.

The EmWave, for example, relies on a sensor to take a pulse reading from the user’s thumb or earlobe. The device then graphs the data. Users engage in self-paced sessions and receive instant feedback through a series of colored LED lights, helping them access their degree of relaxation. These devices encourage optimal breathing patterns, says Howard Martin, executive vice president of HeartMath LLC, the creator  of the emWave2.

Water for elephants, a novel

Surprising, poignant, and funny, "Water for Elephants" is that rare novel with a story so engrossing, one is reluctant to put it down; with characters so ...

Getting Things Done, The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

Based on the premise that productivity is directly proportional to one's ability to handle tasks in a relaxed manner, the author offers strategies for self ...

Death Comes for the Archbishop

Willa Cather's best known novel; a narrative that recounts a life lived simply in the silence of the southwestern desert. From the Trade Paperback edition.

The case for Christ, a journalist's personal investigation of the evidence for Jesus

A former reporter for The Chicago Tribune and former atheist presents a tough-minded investigation of Christian beliefs, interviewing today's scientists, ...

Looking for Alaska

Sixteen-year-old Miles' first year at Culver Creek Preparatory School in Alabama includes good friends and great pranks, but is defined by the search for ...