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Summer is hurricane season, which seems far away right now. But it never hurts to be prepared, because hurricanes do more than devastate the landscape–they’re bad for pregnant women and their unborn children as well. Exposure to hurricanes can cause significant adverse fetal distress risks and can lead to longer-term health care problems for affected children. These risks contribute previously hidden human and economic costs to the impacts of severe hurricanes.
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Laugh & eat chocolate – Laughter is a highly complex process. Joyous or mirthful laughter is considered a positive stress that leads to a positive effect on health. It can help you STAY IN SHAPE! And if you’re not laughing enough, you’re probably eating chocolate.

Dr. Lee S. Berk has shown that repetitious “mirthful laughter” causes the body to respond in a way similar to moderate physical exercise. It enhances your mood, decreases stress hormones, enhances immune activity, lowers bad cholesterol and systolic blood pressure, and raises good cholesterol (HDL). Berk says, “We are finally starting to realize that our everyday behaviors and emotions are modulating our bodies in many ways.”
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chocolate is GOOD for you! – The great news this Valentine’s Day is that in addition to being decadent and delicious, moderate amounts of dark chocolate may play a role in cancer prevention.

Recent research indicates that dark chocolate’s chemicals, which act as antioxidants, have been shown to play a role in reducing cancer risks by helping to combat cell damage that can lead to tumor growth. These antioxidants occur naturally in the plant-based cacao bean, the base of all chocolate products. Cacao beans are, in fact, one of the most concentrated natural sources of antioxidants that exist.
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Finally?a prescription we WANT to take! Eating about 30 calories a day of dark chocolate is associated with a lowering of blood pressure, without weight gain or other adverse effects. And scientists now insist that chocolate isn’t REALLY addictive.

Previous research has indicated that consumption of high amounts of cocoa-containing foods can lower blood pressure, due to the action of the an ingredient called polyphenol in the cocoa. But it may not be effective enough to offset the high sugar, fat and calorie intake of most cocoa products (problems that Anne Strieber’s hot cocoa recipe for dieters has solved!)
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