Is chocolate good for you?

I’ve heard that chocolate is good for you as it’s high in antioxidants. Is this true?

>> Dark chocolate is your best choice — since it is the sugar, dairy, and other additives that change chocolate from healthy into a junk food.

Held in high regard by the Aztecs, raw cacao beans were used as currency — it has been eaten for celebrations, rituals and for vitality since ancient times.

When chocolate is minimally processed, and has a cocoa content of 70% or more, it is truly rich in antioxidant polyphenols, which metabolise glucose and regulate blood pressure.

Two to four squares of chocolate daily provide the health benefits without over-indulgence. Chocolate releases serotonin and endorphins, creating a sense of relaxation and mild euphoria. Researchers at the Neurosciences Institute, in San Diego, have found that anandamide, a neurotransmitter in chocolate, attaches to the brain’s receptors for THC — the agent in marijuana responsible for the ‘high’ feeling.

* I need an iodine supplement for an under-active thyroid. What would you would recommend?

>>The thyroid gland controls your metabolism, blood pressure, heart rate, libido, breathing, and mental alertness, so when it isn’t functioning correctly, it has an enormous impact on your health.

Hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid) is a result of your thyroid producing too little thyroid hormone: you may feel cold, tired, constipated, have dry skin, and become depressed and forgetful.

The most effective iodine supplement is nascent iodine. The safest, least irritating iodine formula, it is different from iodine used as an antiseptic, and is different from glandular extract thyroid formulations and prescription medication designed to replace the hormones required for the thyroid to function.

The formulations and medications work by taking over the role of the thyroid. Nascent iodine corrects the imbalance.

Also, consume a diet rich in iodine through sea vegetables, leafy greens, nuts and seeds. This will support thyroid function, but you still need to take corrective therapeutic measures.

Nascent iodine is produced by subjecting a 1% tincture of iodine to a high electromagnetic field. Once consumed, the charged atom loses its energy over two to three hours, and the body recognises this atom as the same nascent iodine it produces in the thyroid to make T3 and T4 hormones.

Along with hypothyroidism, other conditions have been treated using nascent iodine, from persistent fungal nail infections to breast cancer. It counter-reacts against cell differentiation in cancerous tissue, resulting in significant improvement.

Start with a small dose, such as 3 to 5 drops daily, in half a glass of cold water — this small amount can provide energy and improved health. Increase this amount over a week, until you are taking this amount three times daily. From the second week onwards, take 5-10 drops, three times a day. Take the nascent iodine on an empty stomach. Frequent, small doses are far more effective than larger amounts taken less often. If you purchase 2% nascent iodine, then halve the dosages recommended here.

Nascent iodine drops are available from health stores or Karuna Flame Holistic Health Centre (www.karunaflame.com; 071-9663311). A 30ml bottle costs €36. Survival Shield nascent iodine is available online from Electrobiotics, in Dublin, (www.electrobiotics.com). A 30ml bottle costs €39.99.