"Cocoa"-loco!!

Thanks to yesterday, it is only a necessity that I make tonight's post a dark chocolate/cocoa post!!
As most of you know, the benefits of dark choc. are ENDLESS! A few examples include...

The number one health benefit and most widely known benefit of cocoa is cardiovascular health improvement. Cardiologists actually recommend for people to eat a few squares of dark chocolate every day in order to help keep hearts healthy.
Dark chocolate and cocoa also provide many surprising antioxidants. It tops the charts along with blueberries ad green tea.

Cocoa also reduces blood pressure, improves blood flow, and may help prevent plaque formation in arteries.

Though it is a sweet treat, dark choc. has a low glycemic index similar to...get ready for it...OATMEAL! Yes, you heard right. Our beloved dark chocolate, along with our beloved oats, will keep you full and won't spike your blood sugar.

Just like all plant based foods (since cocoa comes from the cocoa tree), dark chocolate is very high in important vitamins and minerals.

Recent studies are showing that dark chocolate might be one of the many cancer-fighting superfoods! Now...if this reason doesn't convince you to start chowing down, I don't know what will!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's! Until next time...

Stay happy. Stay healthy.


:D

Rainy...and then SUNNY!!! :)

So when I woke up this morning...it was raining. I was SURE that was a bad sign!! But then it turned sunny and I got...GOOD NEWS AT THE DOCTOR!!! MCL is NOT torn!!! Just severely sprained...but I DO have a bone chip on my knee...it hurts pretty bad, but won't slow down the recovery process...just cause a lot of pain...But if everything goes well, the doc said I could be back on the ice in 3-4 weeks!!! YAY!!!

~Daily Eats~

Breakie: Honey Peanut Butter Cinnamon Oats-a recipe from the bestie, straight from her blog!!
old-fashioned oats, oatbran, peanut butter (LOTS!!), honey, LOADS of cinnamon--YUMMY!!! Along with my pile of vitamins and 2 trusty advil :)

Lunch (after doctor appt): After my visit to the orthopaedic, I was super relieved and in the mood to make one of my VERY FAVORITE fall sammies!!
Ezekiel bread, all natural peanut butter, no sugar added (juice sweetened) apple butter, 1/4 apple sliced, MULTITUDES of cinnamon w/ a beautiful gala apple!!

Snack 1: an over-ripe banana--just the way I like 'em!
Snack 2: some almonds and 2 prunes
Snack 3: Cherry Pie larabar=total LOVE!! :)

Dinner: Okay...this one was super creative...and SUPER DELISH!!! Listen up, bloggies:
Spaghetti squash (I microwaved it AFTER I cut it in half--it worked suprisingly well!!) with spinach, salmon, and crunchy almond butter with a slice of yummy ezekiel and a glass of skim milk...It sounds nasty, but it's basically the same as "Thai-style" noodles...just without the noodles!! ;)
With an accompanying delish pbutter ball--pb, oats, and 80% dark chocolate....ohhhh yeahhhh....:)

Note: It is recommended by cardiologists for people to eat at least one square of dark chocolate a day for heart health. It is also PACKED with antioxidants...not to mention it is super yummy!! :)

~Fitness is Fun!~
Alright, my peeps...one word. YOGA. I AM ADDICTED TO YOGA!!! It has SO many health benefits (shocking, really!!) and is SUPER fun and relaxing! And not to mention boosts flexibility AND immunity! So, dearies...let's all rock a "downward dog" and find our center! :) "Namaste"!!

Weight Lifting...need I elaborate?!? LOVE doing weights. I do upper-body every day, and when I have completely working legs, I do ankle and leg weights about 3 times a week. Can I hear a                        "R-I-P-P-E-D"?!

Push ups may be old-school, but they NEVER go out of style. And even though pull-ups can replace them in the physical fitness testing, they don't come close to giving you the same benefits as a good ol' hardy push-up...so DROP AND GIVE ME 20!! :)

~In Closing...~
I hope all you dearies in the bloggy world had a happy, healthy day. Enjoy this season. It is such a beautiful time of year and it is gone before we know it! So take time every day to enjoy the beauty of the world and appreciate those who go to great measures to preserve that beauty.

And one question before I go...I must know...How do you tag people in your blog? If anyone knows, please share by writing your answer as a comment! Thank you! Your feedback is appreciated!

Until tomorrow, then...have a wonderful rest of this GORGEOUS October-ful Wednesday! Stay happy and healthy! :)