More and More, Scientists Recognize That Foods Can Heal

Folk remedies that used to be written off as old wives' tales are now being acknowledged by scientists and medical doctors as valid, food-based health remedies. Red wine is heart-healthy, tomatoes protect against prostate cancer, cucumbers are a safe and natural diarrheic, chicken soup really does alleviate the symptoms of the common cold, and blueberries can slow and sometimes reverse the process of macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness in the elderly. Ginger, long known in folklore as a wonderful remedy for digestive and breathing problems, has recently been recognized in the scientific community as responsible for anti-angiogenesis-its ability to prevent the growth of blood vessels that nourish malignant tumors. In other words, it can slow the growth of certain cancers.

And then there's chocolate-dark chocolate in particular. Chock full of flavonoids, compounds that simultaneously lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol in the bloodstream while acting to protect heart health, chocolate also contains a mild mood enhancer along with many nutrients, including its fair share of magnesium, a mineral that naturally tends to lower blood pressure. High-quality chocolate, made from cocoa butter rather than coconut or palm oil, is a great addition to a healthy diet-and it sure tastes better than broccoli! Scientists have finally confirmed what women have known for centuries: that chocolate is good for you!

As "Peanuts" character Charlie Brown once said, "Some of those old wives are pretty smart."