The Provocative Nutrition Blog

Chocoholics Rejoice!

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, this is an appropriate time to discuss the indulgent world of chocolate.  Having always been addicted to chocolate since I was 5 years old, I'm happy to know there are real benefits to cocoa.  I no longer have the "guilt" of my chocolate enjoyment!

The flavonoids in chocolate make it a potentially heart healthy food.  Clinical studies show that cocoa has several cardiovascular health markers such as antioxidant capacity of the blood, platelet activity and vascular tone.  These flavonoids known as procyanidins can be measured in ORAC values.  On a per gram basis, chocolate contains more antioxidants than berries, grapes, red wine, or green tea.  Dark chocolate has much less saturated fat and sugar than milk chocolate and white chocolate.  The chocolate you eat should be a minimum of 70% cocoa for optimal benefit.

Beyond heart health, chocolate does have an aphrodisiac effect since the cocoa  contains  phenylethylamine, a stimulant which is also released in the brain when people are infatuated or fall in love.  This stimulant also improves mood in depressed people.  At the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego, scientists have isolated the addictive substance in cocoa called anandamide.  Anandamide stimulates the identical brain cell receptors that respond to marijuana, promoting feelings of euphoria. Cocoa also increases serotonin in the brain inducing relaxation.  Chocolate does contain caffeine and unfortunately, the higher caffeine content is in the darkest chocolate.  However, in small amounts of chocolate the caffeine content is negligible when compared to coffee, tea, or sodas.  A 1.65 oz. portion only contains 10mg of caffeine.

Chocoholics rejoice!

Visit us at Dinaschocolate.com

N.B.  Cocoa products may be contraindicated for the following conditions:

Acid Reflux Disease

Cystic Breast Disease

Kidney Stones (if oxalate based)

Low oxalate diet

Chocolate Weekend at Mohonk

Every year the weekend before Valentine's Day is Chocolate Weekend at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY.   This year, Dina's Chocolate was invited to participate in this prestigious event.  What they do that is very special is that all the meals incorporate chocolate as in venisson with chocolate sauce or mahi-mahi au chocolat. 

Deserts by Executive Pastry Chef Andrew Comey are very rich and exciting, including a fountain of molten chocolote for dipping.  On the schedule are lectures and demonstrations on and about chocolate from all over the world.

Dina's Chocolate had donated a gift basket of chocolates and other goodies from The Khader Group.  Chef Andrew Comey who was lecturing presented the basket to the winner of the prize.

Dina's chocolate are for sale at the Mohonk gift shop, a perfect treat for Valentines Day.

Picture 1 is Mohonk's own Executive Pastry Chef Andrew Comey with the chocolate gazebo he build completely out of chocolate within the past two weeks.

Picture 2 is the winner of the raffle

Picture 3 is a shot of the crown including Chef Andrew Comey's Son.

My suggestions on Avian Bird Flu

There is so much information and misinformation about Avian bird flu that it can be scary out there.  I want to share some facts that should help alleviate part of the fear in you.

As of now there has not been a case of human to human transmission of the bird flu.  However,   it could happen anytime.

The virus kills by overstimulating the immune sytem which creates an inflammatory cascade that overwhelms the lungs and vital organs.

The virus can be destroyed topically by soapy water so the first line of prevention is basic hygiene,  i.e.  washing your hands after any contact and before touching any part of your face.   

Another critical "line of defense" is keeping your immune system in good balance by eating properly.  This means that you should eat according to your blood type.   By following the bloodtype program,  you build your gut immunity (60% of  immunity is in our gut).   In other words,  you are much less likely to pick up bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other similar organisms. 

Limit sugar, avoid fast foods,  sodas, and the nightshade vegetables.  Get adequate sleep and minimize stressors.  Maintain healthy hormone balance.

If you are exposed to the virus and develop symptoms, you can defend yourself by using some natural products like Super Oxyde Dismutase (SOD), specifically glisodin, extra strength oregano oil and oregacyn.   Oregacyn has been tested in vitro (testtube) and destroyed 99.7% of the virus in 20 minutes! (see research article)

What else can you do to protect youself?

So many of my clients have asked me what supplements I recommend I put together a powerful kit of supplements to help you when any Influenza virus looms.  The Avian bird flu is just one strain of the Influenza virus and keeping your defenses up from all of them is important.

The kit contains:

Enhanced C powder or tablets, Oregacyn P-73  respiratory, extra strength Oil of oregano, and SOD 500.

You can learn more about the supplements I recommend and purchase them as 1 convenient kit by clicking here.

WB (Channel 11 in New York) interviewed me for a segment they are doing on the Avian Bird Flu.  The program will air on Monday January 30 on the Channel 11 News at 10:00pm. 

Lecture at the New York Chocolate Show

We will be offering our famous organic chocolate bars at the annual New York Chocolate Show.

As many of you know, I am an admitted Chocoholic and creating the best organic chocolates has been an obsession of mine.

I am truly excited to be presenting at the show this year, giving a lecture and joining a panel discussion.

I hope to see you there! My lecture will be this Thursday evening from 7:00pm-7:45pm at the Viking Range Culinary Theater in the Metropolitan Pavilion. I will be signing books right after the lecture.

Metropolitan Pavillion & Altman Building
Entrance: 125 West 18th Street
(between 6th & 7th Avenues)

When:
November 10-13, 2005 - Chocolate Show
Thursday, November 10: 2pm to 9pm
Friday, November 11: 10am to 9pm
Saturday, November 12: 10am to 7pm
Sunday, November 13: 10am to 7pm

About Dina Khader and The Khader Group

Dina Khader began her private practice in nutrition counseling In 1990 after years of a passionate fascination with nutrition and the role she understood, before most in her field, that nutrition plays in affecting an individuals over all health and well being.

Her private practice came into being after working at Westchester County Medical Center and consulting at Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel, New York and New York Medical College in pediatric cardiology. Dina's individualized and caring approach to evaluating a client’s nutritional needs has made her one of the most highly recommended nutrition specialists in Westchester County, New York.

"She is a highly sought after public speaker for organizations such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center."

Clients with conditions ranging from Lyme disease to heart disease to cancer have found successful results while following Dina’s expertise and advice. She is a highly sought after public speaker for organizations like Gilda’s Club of Manhattan, The Heart Center at Westchester Medical Center, American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and professional groups such as Ninth District Dental Society for North America and The Executive Health Group at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.

"The Author of The Food Combining/Blood Type Diet Solution."

Dina Khader’s successes with her patients through individualized nutrition programs prompted a patient to encourage her to author "The Food Combining/Blood Type Diet Solution" (Keats Publishing, California, 2000) which was later translated and published in German in August 2001. Dina shows how complementing a diet based on blood type with food-combining principles can help people maximize their health while also losing weight.

Oxford Medicare Advantage commissioned Dina to author An Alternative Path to Nutritional Wellness. Written for senior citizens, the manual gives the 65 plus generation key points in slowing down the aging process and maintaining optimal health through proper nutrition and use of supplements.

"A nutritional advocate who has contributed to national print publications and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs."

Prior to writing her own guide to nutrition and dieting, Dina contributed recipes and meal plans to the best selling book, "Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s Eat Right For Your Type" (with Catherine Whitney, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York 1996).

Several of her clinical successes in combining the blood-type theory for lifestyle attitudes with attaining optimal nutrition are documented in D’Adamo’s book. Dina is recognized in Robin Kueneke’s book Total Breast Health (Kensington Books, 1998) as one of three nutritionists in the United States that she recommends for breast cancer prevention.

Her editorial coverage includes interviews and quotes in national publications like Seventeen, L.A. Parent, Jump, Healthy and Natural Journal, and The Sunday New York Times (Westchester). Television and radio interviews include topics on alternative therapies, healthy eating, food, nutrition, nutritional supplements, and lifestyle changes.

"The Khader Group continues to lead in the development of well researched and strictly formulated Nutritional Supplements."

In January 1997, Dina teamed up with the National Enzyme Company to formulate and manufacture her own line of nutritional supplements. The Khader Group continues to lead in this type of research and development with National Enzyme.

Dina Khader was named a Fellow of the Institute For Human Individuality in February 2003 and is one of the pioneers in the field of nutrigenomics, utilizing the blood type genome in her evaluation of patients before developing their dietary program.

Provocative Nutrition

Nutritional Therapy

Each year new medical studies continue to prove just how key proper nutrition is for the healthy functioning of the human body. The nutritional therapist ensures that clients and patients obtain the right nutrients to optimize body performance and help fight off disease. Unfortunately, today’s food supply is no longer a reliable source for the nutrients we require. Most of the soil, depleted of its nutrients by pesticides, acid rain, and chemical additives, is incapable of growing fresh produce rich in vitamins and minerals. Water pollution, hormones, antibiotics, and other treatments rob our fish, meat, poultry, and dairy of these essential nutrients. Processing (freezing, canning, cooking, reheating, etc.) further impoverishes the nutritional value of the meals we prepare. The more we manhandle the food supply, the less nutritional value it provides.

Supplements Helping to Prevent Disease

Nutritional supplements provide a pure source of essential vitamins, minerals and beneficial herbs to compensate for the poor quality of the food we eat. Exactly which supplements are right for you, is best determined by a qualified nutritionist who will inquire into your general health, family medical history, symptoms, eating habits, and food preferences to design the optimum food and supplement plan for you