Forget the roses and champagne. When it comes to Valentine’s Day, nothing says you care about your special someone’s health and well-being more than dark chocolate and red wine.

Not only do these luscious foods delight the senses, they’re also heart-healthy! Both dark chocolate and red wine are rich in polyphenols, natural plant compounds that will keep your Valentine’s heart healthy and strong.

Dark Chocolate

Cocoa beans have one of the highest concentrations of a class of polyphenols called flavonoids. Found in most fruits, vegetables and grains, flavanoids are recognizable as the bright pigments that give so many good-for-you foods (like blueberries, red onions, and yellow squash, etc.) their bright colors. They also help shield plants from the unhealthy effects of environmental toxins while promoting repair of damaged tissue.

There’s ample scientific evidence to suggest flavonoids provide important support for human heart. For example:

A large, prospective US cohort study that followed 38,000+ men and 60,000-plus women over seven years found that flavonoid consumption was associated with lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Even regular intake of relatively small amounts of flavonoid-rich foods was shown to be beneficial.¹

A review of experimental, observational, and clinical studies of the relationship between cacao, chocolate, flavonoids, and the risk of cardiovascular disease published over a forty-year period provides convincing evidence that cocoa flavonoids are likely protective against coronary heart disease mortality.²

Red Wine

Researchers have long believed that substances found in red wine might have health benefits. The famous French Paradox, in which French people were observed to suffer a relatively lower incidence of heart disease despite having a saturated fat-rich diet, is attributed to their relatively high intake of red wine.

Science has just begun to uncover the exact mechanisms that make red wine so heart-healthy. Preliminary research suggests that resveratrol, a polyphenol that occurs naturally in red grape skins, grape juice, peanuts, mulberries, and some Chinese herbs, may confer important cardiovascular and anti-aging benefits. For example:

A research review published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found evidence to suggest resveratrol may be an effective anti-atherogenic agent that could be used in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.³

A separate review of in vitro and animal studies suggests that resveratrol exerts multifaceted cardioprotective activities.⁴

A review of available studies on the molecular targets of resveratrol found a wide range of cardioprotective activities. It may have a role in stimulating endothelial production of nitric oxid, reducing oxidative stress, inhibition of vascular inflammation, prevention of platelet aggregation, reduction of blood pressure, and slowing the progression of atheroscelerosis.⁵

Best Wishes for Ultimate Health and Majestic Dreams!

Steve Wallach

CEO

AL International

Helping YOU Live Younger, Longer!

“Resolve Today to Make the Best Use of Tomorrow”

References:

1. McCullough ML, Peterson JJ, Patel R, Jacques PF, Shah R, Dwyer F. Flavonoid intake and cardiovascular disease mortality in a prospective cohort of US adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Feb;95(2):454-64. Epub 2012 Jan 4.
2. Ding EL, Hutfless SM, GIrotra S. Chocolate and prevention of cardiovascular disease: a systemic review. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2006 Jan 3;3:2.
3. Ramprasath VR, Jones PJ. Anti-atherogenic effects of resveratrol. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2010 Jul;65(7):660-8.
4. Wu JM, Hsieh TC. Resveratrol: a cardioprotective substance. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2001 Jan; 1215:16-21.
5. Li H, Xia N., Forstermann U. Cardiovascular effects and molecular targets of resveratrol. Nitric Oxide. 2012 Jan 4;26(2):104-110. Epub ahead of print.

Your Team is a Reflection of YOU

As an independent business owner, building a strong team is one of the greatest challenges you can face. However, if you’re successful, it can also be one of the most rewarding!

While there any number of models and programs are available to teach you how to build a successful team, never forget that the single greatest factor in your success is YOU and YOUR ATTITUDE. If your team sees you as energetic, enthusiastic and positive, they’ll adopt these qualities. It’s called Leading by Example. If you expect certain behavior from your team, you have to display those behaviors.

Take meetings, for example. Say you’ve called a meeting and expect people to be on time, then you must show up on time. If you set an agenda, make sure your team receives it well in advance so they can come prepared. If the meeting is scheduled for a certain amount of time, stick to the program and ensure it ends on time. Respect the fact that other people have schedules. If you respect theirs, they will respect yours.

Another proactive strategy is to train your team to bring you both challenges (not problems!) AND suggested solutions! You can do this simply by saying, “What would you do in this situation?” and waiting for their response. This will empower them and foster a “can-do” attitude, which will strengthen your team.

By doing these things consistently, you’re displaying leadership in several ways. Your team will subconsciously adopt the way you speak, your actions, and your overall attitude. Using the law of attraction… you are likely to build a team of positive people who will do positive things!

Vanessa Hunter

Vice President of Marketing

AL International

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