10 things you don't know about chocolate

Yes those candy bars sure taste good, but there’s a lot you probably didn’t know about chocolate! Do you want to find out? Well, here goes!

1. We’ve heard of rice and pasta, but chocolate as a staple? Yes, ask the South Mexico Olmec tribe back in 1000 B.C. They ate chocolate all the time! Strange, but true!

2. Talk about sweet ceremonies! The Maya drank liquid chocolate during weddings, engagements, baptisms and even funerals! Whoever thought there was something ceremonial about chocolate!

3. Some chocolates may cost you but did you know that Cacao or chocolates beans were used as currency by Aztec and Maya tribes? If we had that today we would be eating out of our wallets!

4. So who thought of solidifying chocolate? Thank Mexican nuns from the 1700’s as they created and exported the first chocolate product as a fund raiser for their convent.

5. Here’s another fact. Not just 10 or 50 but chocolate remarkably has over 500 flavors in it! No wonder it tastes so good. Vanilla and strawberry don’t even come close to this figure.

6. Heard of Mexican Emperor Montezuma? He drank liquid chocolate before getting busy in his harem. Since chocolate make you feel good, it is considered an aphrodisiac.

7. Those gory scenes in Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’, was all chocolate syrup! Although the scene finishes in about 45 seconds, it took 7 days to get that shot done perfectly! Now that’s a sticky plot!

8. Chocolate was re-born in 1879 when Daniel Peter and Henre Nestle introduced milk chocolate to the world. In the same year Rudolphe Lindt introduced the conching process which makes chocolate smooth and soft.

9. Napoleon was great in many ways. Did you know he took chocolate along with him during his military campaigns. Now that was a clever move as chocolate gives you added energy and restores carbohydrates.

10. For all those of you out there dreaming about those chocolate bars, dream away! You can’t blame chocolate for raising your blood cholesterol. Now that’s a fact so eat!
Chocolate has changed the way we eat, romance and live. But don’t go overboard as too much of a good thing can be bad!

giving baby names.... One of the first challenges that new parents face is choosing a name for their new baby. This may sound like no-brainer and something low on the list of priorities, when faced with the seemingly daunting world of parenthood. Even so, choosing baby names can be very time-consuming, frustrating and even a source of consternation for new parents. There are so many things to consider when selecting the perfect name for your child. Many parents don't have a clue about where to begin and feel completely overwhelmed. The best place to start is with a list. Both parents should take a few minutes and jot down the first ten baby names that come to mind that they would deem suitable for the new baby. It's not as difficult as it sounds - it's actually surprising, how many unique and quality names have been stored in your memory, just as you go through your every day life. Make sure that you list names for both boys and girls, unless you already know the sex of your baby.

Once the lists are complete, both parents should sit down and eliminate any names that either parent objects to. Even if only a couple of names remain between the two lists, this is a good start. The next step, after this brainstorming session, is to define some agreed upon parameters for your baby names. Think about and discuss your preferences for cultural backgrounds, family names and number of syllables. You can also narrow it down to include only names starting with specific letters. Make sure that you keep plenty of paper handy and be aware when you are out and about. Listen for potential names when you're in the grocery store, listening to the radio and walking through a park. You'll be surprised at how tuned in you become. Make sure to use the Internet when hunting for baby names. So much of the work is already done for you. Using any search engine, type in the phrase 'baby names' and a huge amount of websites will appear, handling all facets of the subject. You can narrow down your search any way you wish. There are even forums where you can browse other people's name ideas and post your own to get unbiased feedback as you work through your choices. As you start to narrow down your list, pay special attention to the potential for teasing. Think of any negative words that may rhyme with or sound like the names you are considering. Also, look out for undesirable letter combinations formed by the initials of any baby names that have made it on your list. Try writing out the names that you come up with and make sure to say them out loud, to ensure that they roll of the tongue with ease. Again, be aware of any similarities to negative words or phrases that may be formed by certain name combinations. It is also a good idea, to ask friends and family for their thoughts and ideas. But beware! Your parents are from another generation and they may be stuck in a rut when it comes to good baby name choices. Too, siblings can be very opinionated and may try to take over the naming process. Just remember, that getting opinions on your baby names can be helpful, but at the end of the day, what you name your baby is up to you and your partner. You have the final say! If certain people have an aversion to a name that is high on your list, stick to your guns! Once people get to know your baby and form an affectionate bond, you will find that they quickly forget any negative connotation they may have had with the name, and come to love the baby, name and all!! So remember, choosing a name for your baby is a big job, but it can be a lot of fun and it's a good way to get your mind off the aches and pains that come with pregnancy. Going over baby names is something you can do with your partner, and it allows them to play an active role in the baby's life even before the actual birth. So rather than waiting to the last minute, take the time to go through the process, and you'll be sure to select a name that is perfect for your baby and lasts a lifetime!

Women's Heart Attack Symptoms Different from Men's

Symptoms may appear up to a month before attack

By Robert Longley, About.com

Government Ads

Heart Attack Symptoms My Health Women 'S Heart Health Health Symptoms Women

Research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that women often experience new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks.

Among the 515 women studied, 95-percent said they knew their symptoms were new or different a month or more before experiencing their heart attack, or Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). The symptoms most commonly reported were unusual fatigue (70.6-percent), sleep disturbance (47.8-percent), and shortness of breath (42.1-percent).

Many women never had chest pains
Surprisingly, fewer than 30% reported having chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks, and 43% reported have no chest pain during any phase of the attack. Most doctors, however, continue to consider chest pain as the most important heart attack symptom in both women and men.

The NIH study, titled "Women's Early Warning Symptoms of AMI," is one of the first to investigate women's experience with heart attacks, and how this experience differs from men's. Recognition of symptoms that provide an early indication of heart attack, either imminently or in the near future, is critical to forestalling or preventing the disease.

In a NIH press release, Jean McSweeney, PhD, RN, Principal Investigator of the study at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, said, "Symptoms such as indigestion, sleep disturbances, or weakness in the arms, which many of us experience on a daily basis, were recognized by many women in the study as warning signals for AMI. Because there was considerable variability in the frequency and severity of symptoms," she added, "we need to know at what point these symptoms help us predict a cardiac event."

Women's symptoms not as predictable
According to Patricia A.Grady, PhD, RN, Director of the NINR, "Increasingly, it is evident that women's symptoms are not as predictable as men's. This study offers hope that both women and clinicians will realize the wide range of symptoms that can indicate heart attack. It is important not to miss the earliest possible opportunity to prevent or ease AMI, which is the number one cause of death in both women and men."

The women's major symptoms prior to their heart attack included:[/br]

Unusual fatigue - 70%

Sleep disturbance - 48%

Shortness of breath - 42%

Indigestion - 39%

Anxiety - 35%

Major symptoms during the heart attack include:

Shortness of breath - 58%

Weakness - 55%

Unusual fatigue - 43%

Cold sweat - 39%

Dizziness - 39