Healthy foods that make you happy

Studies done suggest that eating one bonbon of dark chocolate a day is healthy.

They didn't test eating more chocolate a day - probably because there is absolutely no reason to think THAT is healthy. Still.

Eating that one small piece of chocolate a day does actually help your arteries and make you happier. Who doesn't love chocolate - I suspect most of the Western world is chocolate addicted. We put it on everything.

For your health the thing to remember is: it is only dark chocolate that is good for you and for women it is actually a sign of good health to be eating chocolate. I used to eat a whole bar of chocolate a day - that's chocolate addiction for you. Now I'm comfortably back to a bar a week - that's probably alright. And you guessed it: it makes me happy!

Seriously - that's not just my addiction talking. Studies suggest that women who eat chocolate regularly are on average in better mental health than those who don't.

Chocolate Indulgence Art Print
Ferri, Stefania
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Chocolate Chip Bites

1/2 c Canola oil
1 c Light brown sugar
3/4 c Sugar
1 Egg
2 Egg whites
2 1/2 c All purpose flour
1 ts Baking soda
1 ts Salt
1 1/2 c Semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray or wipe two baking sheets with vegetable oil. In a large mixing bowl, cream the oil, sugar,egg and egg whites until smooth. Add flour, soda and salt. Mix well. Add the chocolate chips and mix gently. Place dough in 1/2 teaspoon mounds on sheet. Bake for 7 minutes or until brown.

Pieces of Chocolate in a Bowl Photographic Print
Rynio, Jörn
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Chick peas literally make you happier. They contain an amino acid (that's protein) that just helps you become happier. Like all beans, chick peas are healthy as well.

Beans contain protein B vitamins (folic acid, niacin, pyridoxine and thiamine), vitamin K, and don't have as many calories per serving as lean meat does. The calories beans do have come in the shape of 'complex carbohydrates'. That means the body has to work to degrade them. This is good: getting your body to work is always good. In this case it's good because it means that your sugar level will not just go up and then down, but will go up slowly and stay up on a healthy level longer. Because beans take a long time to digest, they help you lose weight or maintain your figure. Beans contain natural fiber which is good for the digestive system. Human beings can survive off beans and be fine.

More on beans

Fruit and Vegetables Poster
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Recipe courtesy Padma Lakshmi on EricWeisstein.com

* 10 ounces fresh spinach leaves, rinsed, or 1 (10-ounce) package frozen leaf spinach
* 19-ounce can (2 cups) chick-peas, drained and rinsed
* 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
* 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives
* 1 to 2 lemons, juiced or to taste
* 1/4 to 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

If using fresh spinach: Cook the spinach in a saucepan with the water clinging to its leaves, stirring, until wilted. Drain, squeeze dry, and finely chop. If using frozen spinach, follow package directions, drain, squeeze dry, and finely chop.

In a bowl combine the spinach with the chick peas, pepper, chives, lemon juice, oil, salt, and pepper. Serve as is or chilled with toasted bread or as a filling for pi [sic?]

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients
# 3 garlic clove, minced, more if you like
# 1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
# 1 tablespoon lemon juice
# 1 teaspoon olive oil
# 1/4 teaspoon salt
# 1/4 teaspoon paprika
# 1/8 teaspoon pepper
# 1 (19 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
# 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

1. Combine everything in blender or food processor and process until smooth.
   
2. The blender gives the best result.
   
3. If you need more liquid to make a nice consistency, add a bit more yogurt.
   
4. Chill.
   
5. Serve with pitas, as a veggie dip, on bread or toast.

Source

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) - also available as a sweet (especially in the Netherlands, where it's called 'drop').

St.-John's-wort
Old folk remedie that turns out to be effective.

More on these herbs for depression

Blackwell,...
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