Panic Attacks

Panic attacks manifest as a physical condition regardless of it's source or cause. So, panic attacks should be treated like a physical condition as well as a psychological one.


A true panic attack is an involuntary bodily response. It seems to result from excess adreniline or cortisol that is suddenly dumped into the bloodstream. These are hormones that the body produces as a result of either stress or an intense fear.
Most definitions found on the internet suggest phobias and other fears as the root cause. However, it is not clear to me if that is always the case.


First, use physical means to treat the onset. (Please verify all medical advice with your health care practitioner.) If the symptoms are severe, call someone you trust and talk to them about it... ask them to get help if you need it. The symptoms should NOT be ignored. Second, get at the root of the problem whether it is from a physical or a mental source.


PHYSICAL TREATMENT SUGGESTIONS (as approved by your medical professional)
1. Eat foods rich in Tryptophan like a turkey sandwich. Vitamin B2 is necessary for normal tryptophan metabolism. This particular vitamin, among other vitamins, is often depleted in those who take certain birth control pills.
2. Slow and deep breathing. Breathe in deeply through the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth. If shortness of breath is present, breathe both ways through the mouth.
3. Lay down. This will help control high blood pressure if that condition is present or suspected.
4. Regularly take a multi-vitamin.
5. A particular vitamin combination mentioned in Earl Mendell's vitamin bible works like Valium. a 2 to 1 ratio is recommended for calcium and magnesium supplements. Be careful not to over do or do too often. Too much calcium too often may be toxic. The body can only absorb about 500 to 600 mgs at a time.
6. Engage in regular exercise. Exercise during the onset of symptoms can be dangerous, depending on the symptoms.

MENTAL OR OTHER TREATMENT SUGGESTIONS
1. Learn Yoga and Meditation techniques. Breathing exercises are a part of learning meditation. Breathing exercises can benifit those with heart, blood pressure and stress related problems.
2. Take up Tai-Chi if possible. This combines movement and breathing. Both of which help the body cope with either physical or emotional trauma.
3. See a psychologist who specializes in cognitive therapy. A psychIATRIST treats patients with drugs first and primarily. If your situation actually requires drugs, then that's a different story.
4. Keep a daily or weekly diary. Pay attention to whether that helps or makes the attacks more frequent. If it makes the attacks more frequent, then seeing a psychologist would be recommended.

FOOD shelf life links

http://www.storeitfoods.com/shelf-life
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/food_product_dating/index.asp
http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/348/348-960/348-960.html
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Information/FreezerChart.htm
http://www.scribd.com/doc/13055200/food-shelf-life-charts
http://survivalacres.com/information/shelflife.html
http://communityawarenesspreparation.phpbb24.com/board/shelf-life-of-foods-storage-chart-t31-15.html
http://www.cherubimfood.com/en/product-shelf-life.html

Avoid FOOD poisoning

Food poisoning can happen at home, at restaurants and abroad while traveling.


AT HOME
Knowing how to identify bad food, paying attention to experation dates (and understanding them) and proper storage will aid in avoiding food poisoning at home.


Read food labels for expiration dates, know the shelf-life of what you use the most and store foods properly to avoid poisoning.  *Dairy and meats should be stored at 40 degrees fahrenheit.
*Throw out rusted or severely dented cans and any canned good that is bulging.
*Throw out canned goods that are 2 years or more old.
*Most canned goods should be stored away from heat or light.  Around 70 to 75 degrees F is the warmest they should ever be.
*Most Opened refrigerated items are usually bad if left out over 2 hours.

*A list of shelf-life items can be found on http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/content/0,21770,676079-1,00.html
*Charts for expiration dates and additional information can be found on http://www.a1usa.net/gary/expire.html  and http://www.algeri-wong.com/wiki/index.php?title=Expiration_Dates .
*A good site for specific products and how to read their expiration dates is:  http://www.foodreference.com/html/tcannedfoodshelflife.html 
*For a cupboard storage chart, see http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_fnut/HRAP/STORAGE/cupstor.htm
*For egg storage, see http://www.harristeeter.com/default.aspx?pageId=415 .  This also good for leftover storage and other useful things to know.
*For the meaning of "Sell by", "Born on", "Pull", "Best if used by", and "packaged date" , please see:   http://www.onhealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56270




IN RESTAURANTS, DELI'S and ABROAD OR WHILE TRAVELING
If the deli person or chef at the restaurant looks unkept or has poor hygiene habits, one should not accept food from them.  We might not get to see what the chef looks like, so some level of risk will always be present.  Things one might use to limit the potency of food or water toxins can include: 
*Lots of Lemons squeezed into clean water (make sure to eat some of the rind).  Eating the rind can also keep one sober while drinking most alcoholic beverages.
*Black iced tea or Earl Gray tea helps to reduce diarrhea in some people.
*In foreign countries, drink bottled water when possible.  If clean water is available, hard boiling it helps to reduce unfamiliar bacteria and tastes.  Letting water sit in an open container will also reduce most of any chlorine taste.  Just watch out for debris or bugs that might get into it while it's sitting out uncovered.
*Opt for restaurants that cook your food in front of you or that allow you to watch whenever possible. 
*A teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of lukewarm water may help prevent queasiness.
*An apple eaten before a spicy meal can stave off heartburn in most people.



SITES REFERENCED HERE
http://www.onhealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56270
http://www.harristeeter.com/default.aspx?pageId=415
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_fnut/HRAP/STORAGE/cupstor.htm
http://www.foodreference.com/html/tcannedfoodshelflife.html 
http://www.algeri-wong.com/wiki/index.php?title=Expiration_Dates
http://www.a1usa.net/gary/expire.html 
http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/content/0,21770,676079-1,00.html

Barometric Pressure & Pain

The connection between Barometric pressure and pain is like a chain with a weak link.  Since air (atmospheric) pressure is a type of compression, the fluctuation in this pressure causes expansions and compressions.

How Barometric pressure works, conditions that it affects and some coping techniques are key issues for people who suffer from it’s fluctuations.  Pain is like a broken chain where the Barometric pressure is what causes the break at the weakest link.  This is why some people respond poorly to both extremes of high and low pressure.

We all have weaknesses that we’ve either earned or that we were born with.  It’s these weaknesses that are affected the most when we experience atmospheric fluctuations in pressure.

In low Barometric pressure conditions things tend to expand.  The expansion of a balloon during low Barometric pressure is an example.  A high Barometric pressure level, then, compresses.   Lower elevations tend to have more compression.  And, whether there is a link or not, the majority of the worlds populations live at lower elevations.

(There isn’t a reference for the weak link analogy because this is my understanding from what I’ve read.  This is an overall, generic, analogy.  It is not meant to be an exact or precise description.  Its message is intended to convey a general direction of causality.  Moreover, information that I’ve found on the net indicates that scientists don’t know how atmospheric pressure affects the body beyond their observance that it does indeed affect some of us.  Basic physics suggests an obvious probability of a physical connection.)

One example of how scientists and doctors know that Barometric pressure affects the body is in blood pressure.    According to an article at http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5402542_atmospheric-pressure-affect-blood-pressure.html

“Many things can affect blood pressure, including changes in atmospheric pressure due to deep sea diving, leaving the atmosphere entirely, and changes in the weather. “ 

This article contends that blood pressure increases with a high atmospheric pressure level.  In addition, they reference an article in the Journal of Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (2001).  400 Individuals were studied where the resulting conclusion was that there is a correlation between atmospheric pressure and blood pressure.

HOW BAROMETRIC PRESSURE WORKS:  Believe it or not, air has weight.  Air is comprised of molecules with spaces in-between them.  When the Barometric pressure is high, those molecules are compressed together.  This reduces the space between them.   This is true in most areas of the world.  The poles and the equator are the exceptions.   Temperature and humidity also combines with Barometric pressure to affect pain. http://www.weather.com/newscenter/topstories/health/achesandpains/010712pressurearthritis.html?from=apfl

The air we breathe is comprised of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_air_molecules_and_water_molecules

The amount of oxygen available to us will vary with atmospheric pressure.  The amount of oxygen in our bodies will affect various bodily functions to some degree.  Lower elevations have a higher concentration of these gasses.  High concentrations of these molecules mean more air there is to breathe.

A lack of oxygen results in hypoxia.   This presents as difficulty in doing regular activities and fatigue.  This is also common in uncontrolled type 2 diabetes where the cells become resistant to nutrients, water and/or oxygen.  Lack of enough oxygen can thus result in pain.

http://anthro.palomar.edu/adapt/adapt_3.htm http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/301notes6.htm

CONDITIONS THAT BAROMETRIC PRESSURE CAN AFFECT:  These include Migraine headaches, Rheumatoid arthritis, Asthma, Fibromyalgia, fatigue, sleep patterns, muscle pain, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, and moods.  People who are genetically predispositioned, unhealthy, injured or elderly may experience changes in air pressure the most.

http://www.arthritistoday.org/symptoms/pain/weather-pain.php

http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_weather.html http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/04/30/why-does-pain-get-worse-when-a-storm-is-coming/

http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/arthritis/44-1.html

COPING TECHNIQUES:  Coping techniques involve knowledge about how to predict your reaction to which level of Barometric pressure, dietary assistance and professional consultation for treatment.

The first recommendation is to track which level of Barometric pressure affects one and how it does so.  Make a journal with a dollar store journal book or notebook that has lines in it.  Making one in a spreadsheet program on the computer works too. 

A daily journal that records Barometric readings and how one feels physically and/or mentally would be ideal.  Recording one’s diet and blood pressure along with pH or other health items may also be useful.

A digital Barometer would greatly improve the usefulness of such a diary.  One Internet search for Barometers revealed this site: http://www.relieve-migraine-headache.com/digital-barometer.html

A map of an aches and pains index across the United States can be found at: http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/achesandpains/index_large.html

  (Make sure to refresh the page when you get there to make sure it shows current data.)

Other recommendations found in the above listed references include warmer temperatures, more exposure to sunlight, getting fresh air or an ionizer, and medications. 

Additionally, breathing exercises such as found in yoga or meditation may assist in getting more oxygen into one’s body.  The extra depth of breathing may relieve pain in any case, regardless of the atmospheric pressure.

Where one lives could also make a difference.  Honolulu, HI or Denver, CO might be locations of interest for pain management depending on how the air pressure effects one’s pain.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-areas-in-the-usa-have-the-fewest-barometric-pressure-changes.htm

Since a low Barometric pressure can cause swelling, some control over that process would be helpful in some cases.  Things that are often involved in swelling may include histamines, cytokines or other hormonal/chemical responses by the body to injury or stress.  A lack of oxygen could potentially be interpreted by the body as stress. http://arthritis.about.com/od/inflammation/f/cytokines.htm

A health care professional can diagnose and suggest methods of relief from the specific issue that Barometric pressure is aggravating.

Acid Reflux

Immediate treatment of  acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux (a.k.a. GERD), is secondary to preventing it.  Preventing it involves diet, medication interactions and exercise do's and don'ts.  Temporary relief treatments include a sodium bicarbonate mixture (baking soda) , herbal supplements, and posture.

Basically, what happens in acid reflux is that there is a sphincter type of muscle that relaxes too much due to diet or physical condition and thus allows the stomach acids to scald the lower portion of the esophagus.  Repeated scalding can cause other damage or health problems.

People with some blood-types produce more acid than others and thus are the ones most likely to have acid reflux to begin with.  The blood type diet will help some with this.

DIETARY PREVENTION:
Dietary prevention includes not eating spicy or acidic foods (like processed oranges and tomatoes which are better eaten raw & fresh), fatty foods, coffee, alcohol, soda pop, excessive amounts of vitamin C (these increase gastric acid secretion in the stomach), chocolate, peppermint, cruciferous veggies (cauliflower, onions, broccoli, spinach, brussel sprouts), milk products before bedtime.  Some of these foods actually causes the sphincter muscle to relax too much.  More info on diet can be found on http://www.reference.com/search?q=acid%20reflux.

Stop eating 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.  Eat slowly, savoring each bite.  The extra saliva produced by frequent small meals or slow chewing help to neutralize stomach acids.  Chewing gum does not fall into this category because it introduces too much air into the stomach thus making the acid reflux worse.  Also, don't over fill the stomach at meal time.

Fats slow digestion which means that the stomach stays full longer.  Which results in more acid.
According to the book called 101 Home Health Remedies, being overweight or pregnant puts pressure on the stomach and therefore encourages acid reflux.  Getting the stomach to process foods quickly is ideal.  Therefore, several very small meals throughout the day, not eating till full, eating fresh veggies and fruits are ways to do this.

MEDICATION:
Certain medications will have heartburn as a side effect and some combinations of drugs, herbs or food can create heartburn.

EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:
*Don't exercise for 2 hrs after eating a big meal.
*Sleep elevated.  Gravity will help keep the acid in place.
*Any exercise that aggravates the sphincter muscle or stomach should be avoided in the case of chronic heartburn.

TEMPORARY HOME REMEDIES FOR HEARTBURN OR ACID REFLUX:
1.  Mix a tablespoon, approximately, of baking soda with luke warm water and drink casually. (I use this occasionally, but I am an AB blood type... which means I rarely get heartburn due to a low secretion of acid.)
2. Herbal teas or tinctures of any of the following (together or separate) may bring some relief:  Chamomile, Fennel, Catnip, Ginger root and Slippery Elm.  I've found Slippery Elm to be mentioned most often for a remedy.
3.  I've heard that apples help too.  I imagine that the pectin in them, which is also used to prevent colds, also helps with heartburn.
4.  Liquid fasting.
5.  Limit food intake to fresh veggies and fruits.
6.  Check posture.  Slouching can put too much pressure in the wrong place.

Please remember to consult with your primary health care professional for your specific needs.

STYES (Sty)

A Stye presents itself often as a pimple on the edge of or just under either the top or bottom eyelid.  It may or may not have pain associated with it.  There may be some crustiness in the mornings.  The overall condition of the eyelid may or may not be swollen.

A Stye is basically a gland that gets blocked and becomes infected or noticeably irritated by what blocks it. It is often caused by poor eyelid hygiene, diabetes  (mellitus or type 2),  stress and seborrhea.

Additionally, "Studies have shown that those who have high levels of blood lipids are more susceptible to blockages in the oil glands, including those of the eyelid and, therefore, are more likely to develop a sty." (http://www.medicinenet.com/sty/page2.htm)

The temptation to pop it or lance it should be resisted since this can spread the infection.  Only a trained medical person should do any lancing and only if it doesn't resolve itself with basic at-home care.   And there is an antibiotic-steroid ointment that should be applied first before any risky treatment like lancing.

It will usually goes away in a weeks time with proper treatment it is just a stye.   If it doesn't go away or if it happens repetitively have a doctor do an HISTOPATHOLOGIC examination to rule out cysts or cancer.

Terms also used to describe styes are Hordeolum and Chalazion.

TREATMENT OF A STYE:
1.  I use a Visine advanced formula to keep it clean. 
2.  And a regular application of a heat compress every day to reduce swelling.  How long one holds the compress on depends partially on tolerance.  There appears to be some disagreement as to how long to hold it, but 15 minutes is probably the maximum.  Less if a person has Diabetes (5 to 10).  And this should be repeated about 4 times each day until it diminishes significantly or altogether.

PREVENTION:
1.  Don't share a used nose tissue with the eyes.  There's a bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus that is often found in the noses of humans and many animals which can promote a stye.
2.  Wash hands often.  After petting animals, rubbing nose, handling meat or other toxic or irritating substances are definite times to wash hands.
3.  Keep eyes clean.  On days where there is high pollen or debris in the wind, a simple eye wash helps.   Washing off make up before bed is also useful.
4.  Good blood sugar control by those who have diabetes is useful.

BioModulator

pH Balance

The body is either healthy or it’s not.  The pH condition in one’s body determines susceptibility to illness.   Introduction to what pH is, food lists, and suggestions for discussions with one’s health care provider form the basis of understanding how pH relates to our health. References and links are listed throughout and at the end of this discourse.

pH refers to the acidity or alkalinity of a liquid (aqueous) substance.  Substances most people are familiar with include soil, pool water and a person’s blood.  

Specifically, pH is shorthand for Hydrogen potential (concentration/power of hydroxyl ions or the concentration of hydronium ions  H3O+). http://www.coastwidelabs.com/Technical%20Articles/ph__the_power_of_hydrogen.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PH

Thus, a very low pH score is said to be Acidic and a high score is said to be Alkaline.  Too low is called acidosis and too high is called alkalosis.  (Same website as the last one.)  Both extremes are unhealthy.

A low (acidic) pH level contributes to any number of health problems.  Those problems can range anywhere from constipation, gout, Kidney stones, diabetes and cancer.  In the human body, the fluid inside and outside of our cells is what’s measured for Alkalinity or Acidity.  The full pH scale range is from 0 to 14 where 7.35 to 7.45 is ideal for the human body. http://drbenkim.com/ph-body-blood-foods-acid-alkaline.htm

A chronic condition of acidity tends to leach the bones and teeth of what they need to be healthy.  Osteoporosis, for example, isn’t about getting enough calcium when there is a chronic condition of acidity because the low pH steals every bit it can get it’s ‘hands’ on and then some.

Type 2 diabetes is a complication of chronic low pH.  And, it further promotes bone and tooth loss by interfering with the digestive process where mal-absorption is often present.

A pH level is produced by the ingestion of food or prescription medication as well as being produced by the body.  The body influences pH level via the normal metabolic (bodily) process, and our emotional state of mind.  This is one way that stress or chronic stress can cause illness.

The metabolic process is about how our bodies convert food into energy.  “Human beings are heterotrophs, which means that humans are dependent on organic molecules that have been ingested to meet energy needs. Organic molecules are the building blocks that meet anabolic needs as well. Metabolic activity begins with ingestion, when food is taken into the body. Metabolic enzymes come into play during digestion, when food is broken down in the body through a process called hydrolysis. During hydrolysis, starches become sugars, proteins become amino acids, fats become fatty acids and glycerol, and nucleic acids become nucleotides.” http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-metabolic-activity.htm

Enzymes come in all whole (raw produce and meats) foods and are rarely ever found in pre-packaged or processed foods.  Some supplements, such as those by the Enzymatic brand, might contain enzymes as claimed by that company.

According to http://drbenkim.com/ph-body-blood-foods-acid-alkaline.htm

  “When you ingest foods and liquids, the end products of digestion and assimilation of nutrients often results in an acid or alkaline-forming effect - the end products are sometimes called acid ash or alkaline ash.”

MEASUREMENT OF pH:

There are basically three ways to measure one’s pH level.  The two most common are Litmus paper and liquid acid-base (base is also a word used to mean alkaline) indicators.  Indicators are plastic strips with a substance at the tip of it.  These are used on either saliva or urine in much the same way as Keto-Diastix applicators that test for Ketones and sugar in the urine.  An additional testing tool sometimes used by doctors and pharmacists is a pH meter. http://www.coastwidelabs.com/Technical%20Articles/ph__the_power_of_hydrogen.htm

One website that sells pH meters is: http://www.jencostore.com/ph-meters?gclid=CLTt07q236YCFQTNKgodzVQL2w

The cost is about $40 with shipping for the in-home model.

There’s an additional measurement tool for acidity that’s available that can be used for immediate repair.  It’s called the Tennant Biomodulator.  It appears to be a combination of a voltameter and some type of Tesla technology.  A low pH is also low voltage in our bodies.  Here is a video introduction for the biomodulator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPtP5KWkNOg&feature=related

DIET:

In terms of the basic science about what pH is, most websites are fairly accurate.  Clarity as it relates to acidosis or food choices is not so good.

A good guide to how much intake of alkaline and acidic foods is  “To maintain health, the diet should consist of 60% alkaline forming foods and 40% acid forming foods.  To restore health, the diet should consist of 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acid forming foods.”  This is according to: http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm

At a basic level, most kinds of fresh produce is alkaline forming.  Meats, dairy, processed foods (including flour and sugar), and artificial sweeteners, MSG are acid producing.

Many of the ingredients listed on the side of a packaged product will contain hidden sources of MSG.  Further reading on that can be found on http://www.rense.com/general52/msg.htm

FOOD LISTS:

Specific food lists can be found on the following sites.   Please exercise serious caution however.  For example, while eggs are acid forming, they also help keep the liver healthy. 

Also, one site lists potatoes (a nightshade plant that’s not good for arthritis) as an alkaline forming food but does not specify the effects of different cooking processes.  Microwaving a potato robs it of all it’s fiber content and makes it strictly a starch like processed wheat (flour). 

Additional info on nightshade foods can be found at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KWZ/is_5_4/ai_111734421/?tag=content;col1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanaceae

and http://science.jrank.org/pages/4675/Nightshade.html

FOOD LIST SITES:

http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm

http://drbenkim.com/ph-body-blood-foods-acid-alkaline.htm

http://www.naturalhealthschool.com/acid-alkaline.html

http://www.detox.net.au/Acid-Alkaline-foods.htm

http://www.rawfoodexplained.com/acid-and-alkaline-substances/acid-and-alkaline-in-the-diet.html

Healthy Chocolate

How about some good tasting chocolate for a person with diabetes and that doesn’t have the all the fat and sugar of store bought chocolates?  Truly healthy chocolate can’t be bought at the grocery store.  At this time, Xocai appears to be the only real healthy chocolate available.   Can the major candy bar companies promise a chocolate that gives you the equivalent of a full days’ worth of fruits and vegetables in 15 grams of carbohydrates? (3 individually wrapped squares) 

           

Have you ever noticed that these companies usually call their products ‘candy’ bars and not chocolate bars?  What little chocolate there really is on or in their bar, has been cooked and thinned with fillers.

           

I’ve had products that claimed to be Belgium chocolates and ice creams that claimed to have been made with Belgium (reported to be the best chocolate available) chocolate… but, now I am wondering if I just heard it wrong about their chocolates. 

I’ve tried the Xobiotic chocolate squares from Xocai.  I have never tasted any chocolate this good!  And, I really didn’t think I was a big fan of dark chocolate.  I can’t even eat the Dove chocolates anymore.  Every other chocolate pales in comparison.           

I’m a fan.  I admit it.  I don’t sell it and don’t plan to.  But, I do think people should know the truth. I buy it because I have type 2 diabetes and it’s the only chocolate that I can have.  Each square is 5 grams of carbohydrates.  It takes 15 grams of carbohydrates to make one starch exchange.

THIS is REAL chocolate.  It is cold processed and combined with the Acai berry and sometimes other berries.  This company has several types of chocolate products that utilize various berries in addition to Acai. 

BENEFITS OF THE RIGHT KIND OF CHOCOLATE:

(Antioxidants)

Good for the heart.

Appetite control.

Better blood pressure.

Less chance of getting cancer.

Alkaline forming.

Can lower blood sugars if used appropriately.

Anti-inflammatory (helps with arthritis).

Good for lungs because it dilates blood vessels.

Contains natural caffeine, which affects neurotransmitters, which results in less brain-fog.

Lowers LDL cholesterol.

Whenever considering a dark chocolate for a healthy food choice, look for the ORAC values as well as the amount of flavonoids.  One Xobiotic square contains an ORAC SCORE of 28259 and 634mg of flavonoids. 

ORAC is an acronym for Oxygen radical absorbance capacity.  This is a measurement tool that determines the antioxidant capacity of different foods.  Or, how many oxygen radicals a food can absorb or neutralize.  Oxygen radicals damage our cells.   Rust on metal is oxidation.  Free radicals oxidize our cells.  So, anti-oxidants are like anti-rust for our bodies.  An ORAC rating is the same thing (or synonymous) as an antioxidant value.

This Xocai product is said to be an alkaline forming food.  A high acidic pH in the blood equals low voltage and illness.   A balance between alkaline and acidic pH is necessary for a healthy body.  Please watch these following clips on how diet soda makes people fat.  These two do a really good job of explaining pH balance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpoAtwVyzZI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nscWKkAGAw

Whatever brand of chocolate one pursues for health measures, the uncooked or cold process is the best route.  It is even better when combined with high flavonoid foods like blueberries and acai.

Here is a mainstream news media clip about Xocai (pronounced so-shi):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcRKCRxHxKI

For more detailed information on the Xocai products, please contact that company or view their various websites that are listed below:

http://www.cocoa101.com

http://mxicorp.com