Since the health care reform debate seems to keep dragging on, I figured it might be interesting to some of us if I outlined a short summary of the history of this issue. Some of you probably think this all just start popping up this year, or last year. You would be wrong. Your parents and grandparents probably debated this issue. And it looks like their generations actually got something done!

If you think I left something out, please feel free to register and comment! These are just notes, rather than an essay. I just wanted to give everybody an outline of the basics of heath reform ideas, progress, and battles in this century.

By the way, I got inspired for this by Health Care Reform – Where are We Now?

Teddy Roosevelt, FDR and Truman

In the 1910s Teddy Roosevelt was actually a progressive candidate. He campaigned on the promise of national health care, women’s voting rights, and safer working conditions for workers. He lost that campaign to Woodrow Wilson.

First Heath Insurance?In 1929, the year my own mother was born, Baylor Hospital in Dallas started a pre-paid program with a local teacher’s union. They intended to build a model for health insurance.  A couple of years later, and Oklahoma doctor formed a farmer’s cooperative health association. Members formed a flat fee, and they could access health care.

The First Time  Medical Plans Were Called Socialist: Wilbur was the interior secretary for the US in the 1930’s He formed a commission to study the issues of affording health care, which was found to be beyond the reach of many Americasns. This study called for the formation of group health insurance plans. Guess what. The American Medical Association called it socialist!

As early as 1935, FDR wanted a national health care plan to be included in the Social Security Legislation. Harry Truman, the next president, wanted a fund that everybody would contribute to, like we contribute to social security,  to provide the money for this plan.  This was left out of the New Deal, and the AMA continued to call it socialist.

Growth of Early Health Insurance:But the late 1930’s, pre-paid hospital plans are becoming more popular though. They tend to exclude the elderly and the unemployed.

Congress Funds Hospital Growth and Equality- By the end of WWII, congress realizes that their is a big gap between the price of heath care and what people can afford. They financed a lot of new hospitals. They also made mandatory to provide charity care. They also forbade discrimination based upon race, religion, etc., though it was still ok to provide “separate but equal” care.

The 1950’s – Labor starts adding health benefits to their collective bargaining agreements. Group health plans become more popular. In 1954, these health benefits become tax exempt.

The 1960’s and JFK – Kennedy worked very hard to develop the US Medicare and Medicaid programs. Medicare, of course, is our national health plan to cover senior citizens and disabled people. Guess what the American Medical Association called it – Socialist! Medicaid is the state and federal program to cover very poor people.

The 1960’s made some progress. A lot more people were covered. But then health care spending started to spike by the end of the decade.

1971 – Republicans and Democrats -Nixon proposed a bill that would require employers to provide a minimum amount of coverage. I mention this so you don’t only think that Democrats wanted health care reform. When Nixon was president, he also helped fund the growth of the HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) system in the US.  Senator Edward (Teddy) Kennedy proposed a single payer, universal health care system for everybody. This was the start of his life-long battle to introduce comprehensive health care reform.

In 1976, Carter brought up national health care again. He did get elected, but then the nation fell into a deep recession.

The 1980’s

COBRA is signed into law in 1986. This act forces some employers to extend group health benefits to terminated employes for several months. It also requires emergency rooms to screen and stabilize all patients, regardless of health insurance or financial status.

In 1988, the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act prevents seniors from falling into financial ruin because of health costs. It sets ceilings on charges and the amount that Medicare beneficiaries must pay. This plan passed by a large majority, but ironically, it is repealed a few years later under pressure from advocacy groups.

President Clinton and The 1990’s

President and Hillary Clinton championed a massive overhaul of the US health insurance system. They proposed universal coverage based upon the idea of “managed competition”. i.e. health insurance would still come from private companies, but those companies would be tightly regulated.  Powerful interest groups line up on the other side to defeat this idea.

The Clinton’s Health Security Act,of  course, failed to pass. Why? The main reasons that experts cite are powerful lobbying and partisan politics. Does this found familiar? At that time, though, medical groups, health insurance and drug companies, and possibly the administration’s combative strategy, were thought to bring about the downfall.

CHIPS – In 1997, the Children’s Health Insurance Act did pass. This program helps cover children of low to moderate income families who lack private insurance. By 2008, over 7 million children were covered by this state and federal national health care program.

The 200’s

In the 1990’s, increased managed care had held down health care costs. But by the early 2000’s, costs had started to rise again. The Clinton plan may have been mostly buried, but the problems had only been delayed.

Bush and Medicare Prescriptions – In 2003, Bush (a Republican) expanded Medicare to cover prescription drugs.  Medicare Part D was born.

Meanwhile, health care spending continues to spike. Now business groups are starting to get more concerned about the growing cost of covering employees. Some surprising companies, like Wal-mart, are beginning to suggest they would be open to the idea of health care reform. Medical groups are no longer shouting, Socialist, in the streets either. Even health insurance companies are beginning to suggest they would be open to reform if they get to participate in the process. The health insurance companies are less than excited about any more national health plans though.

Obama campaigned on a platform of health care reform. I still believe he was sincere about this, but just had no idea how tough it would be. Hillary Clinton, a veteran of the health care reform wars from the 1990’s, was more conservative in her promises. Voters didn’t think she believed in change, and Obama won. As time passed, we recognized that her more conservative statements were probably more correct.

2009 – 2010 – Well the Congress passed a bill, and then another bill got mired down in the senate. In September, the Baccus bill was proposed which is supposed to merge the two bills and add Republican ideas so they don’t get left out. Meanwhile, we are seeing quite a storm of partisan politics as everybody wants some face time.

What’s Different Now in March of 2010?

Well I don’t hear medical groups, or even private health insurance or drug companies, using the S word. Plenty of Republicans and those nutty guys on Fox news did not get the memo, so they are still using the S word. Whoops, what happened to my unbiased outline of the history of health reform?

Well, stay tuned…..

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We were asked to publish this by Cancer.org -  I know my doctor advised me to get a colon cancer screening because I am over50, and I had put it off. So let’s add one more thing to our to-do lists this month!

“DON’T BE SEMI-INTERESTED IN YOUR COLON”
American Cancer Society Encourages Everyone 50 and Older to Get Tested for Colon Cancer

NEW YORK, NY (March 4, 2010) – This March, the American Cancer Society is encouraging men and women 50 and older to make getting tested for colorectal cancer a priority. Colorectal cancer (commonly referred to as colon cancer) is one of only two cancers that can actually be prevented through screening, which allows doctors to find polyps in the colon and remove them before they turn cancerous. Regularly scheduled colorectal cancer screening can help save lives and help achieve the American Cancer Society’s goal of creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays.
        Screening for colon cancer has been proven to reduce deaths from the disease both by decreasing the number of people who are diagnosed with it and by finding a higher proportion of cancers at early, more treatable stages. Overall, colon cancer rates have declined rapidly in both men and women in the past two decades, due in part to early detection and removal of precancerous polyps. However, only half of the U.S. population aged 50 and older have been tested.
        “We have an opportunity to significantly reduce death rates from colon cancer through regular screening,” said Dr. Clare Bradley, Chief Medical Officer for the American Cancer Society of New York and New Jersey. “However, there may be barriers to screening such as a lack of health insurance. We hope that people will use this month – National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month – as an opportunity to make screening a priority and talk to their doctors, family members and friends about getting tested. By doing so, they are taking a key step toward staying well.” Uninsured individuals are encouraged to call the American Cancer Society at 1.800.227.2345 to see if they are eligible for free colon cancer screenings in New York and New Jersey.

The American Cancer Society recommends the following tests to find colon cancer early:
Tests That Detect Adenomatous Polyps and Cancer
·        Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or
·        Colonoscopy every 10 years, or
·        Double contrast barium enema (DCBE) every 5 years, or
·        CT colonography (CTC) every 5 years

Tests That Primarily Detect Cancer
·        Annual guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) with high test sensitivity for cancer, or
·        Annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) with high test sensitivity for cancer, or
·        Stool DNA test (sDNA), with high sensitivity for cancer, interval uncertain.

Because of their greater potential to prevent cancer, the tests that have a higher likelihood of finding both polyps and cancer are preferred if patients are willing to use them and have access to them.                                                                                                

In addition to screening, there are healthy lifestyle behaviors individuals can adopt to reduce risk of colon cancer. Studies show that being overweight or obese increases risk of colon cancer, and people whose diets include a high amount of red and processed meats are at increased risk. The American Cancer Society recommends that adults engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on five or more days of the week; and consume a healthy diet that includes five or more servings of vegetables and fruits each day, whole grains (instead of processed grains and sugars), limited alcohol and processed and red meats, and controlled portion sizes (visit cancer.org/GreatAmericans for tips and ideas on how to eat healthy and exercise regularly).                                                                

Smoking also increases risk of colon cancer. A 2009 study from the American Cancer Society found that long-term smoking (smoking for 40 or more years) increases colon cancer risk by 30 to 50 percent. Smokers who want to quit can call the American Cancer Society Quit For Life^® Program operated and managed by Free & Clear^® at 1-800-227-2345 for tobacco cessation and coaching services that can help increase their chances of quitting for good; or visit cancer.org/GreatAmericans for customized tips that can help with quitting smoking for good. An estimated 146,970 cases of colorectal cancer were expected to occur in 2009, and 49,920 deaths were expected. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women. Risk factors for colon cancer include a personal family history of the disease.

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This is an awful situation for a lot of unemployed and underemployed Americas. When people lose their jobs and income, it becomes more likely that they get behind on bills. This can lead to some late payments which show up on credit reports. However, when these same people are out looking for a job, they may find that the pre-employment credit check is one hurdle they cannot overcome.  In my opionion, it is easy to understand why an unemployed person would struggle with debt, but employers may not be that forgiving.

With 10% officially unemployed, and the real numbers probably almost double that, this is becoming a very signifigant issue. If this has burned you, or you are just learning about it, please consider this when you continue your job search. You could be wasting a lot of effort by job hunting with bad credit.

What can you do about credit checks hurting your chances of a job offer? We found some tips from job hunting experts. These may not allow you to overcome the hurdle with an employer that has a set policy against hiring people with bad credit. But it may keep you from wasting your energy by looking for the right job at the wrong time.

Know your credit! You have the right to obtain a free credit report every 12 months from the 3 major credit reporting agencies. There is no use trying to guess. You can go to AnnualCreditReport.com to apply for your free report. You may spot errors on your report, and these can be corrected to help improve your scores.

Don’t Ignore Creditors! I know that when your situation is bad, it is easy to just avoid the phone for fear of collection calls. But experts tell us the best advice is to pick up the phone and explain the situation. Some creditors may work out something with you. They all won’t be that easy to deal with, but at least you can tell them you are aware of your late payments, and you wish they would not call you anymore.

Be Honest with Employers. Don’t try to lie about your credit situation. I know people who got into trouble with late payments because of unemployment or medical bills. They started off by explaining the situation to the employer, what steps they intended to take to fix the problems, and since they were honest about it, they got hired anyway. All employers are not heartless.  This won’t always work because some companies, and even public employers, just have policies against hiring people with credit issues. But it won’t help to lie about it, and then get found out when the company runs a credit check before they make a hiring decision.

Look for Another Job. If your dream job requires a credit check, you just may have to put a hold on that while you get your financial situation cleaned up.  Consider freelancing or contract work to make income while you work towards your goals. Lots of us have had setbacks lately, and delayed gratification may just be a fact of life we have to live with.

Work Towards Cleaning Up Your Credit – Even a couple of months of timely payments can raise your socre by 20 or 30 points. You can try to work out payment plans with creditors, and let them know what you are doing to fix your problem. You may also be able to settle for less than you owe. This isn’t as good of a solution as being able to pay off your debts, but it is better than ignoring the phone when it rings.

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There is a popular speaker in the midwest. Her name is Amy, and she is also a professional psychiatric nurse and mother of 2 lovely girls. She is asked to speak at many conventions and events, and her unique blend of common sense, caring attitude, humor, and music have delighted people all over the midwest. I have been lucky enough to call her a friend. Now you get to meet her.

Here is Amy’s statement :

I believe we are all given gifts as unique as our fingerprints and that we are called to this world, during this time and place, to create change because of our presence. I hope is to inspire and motivate others to reach their greatest potential as well as to to receive their help for me to reach mine.

If you would like to learn more about Amy, I urge you to visit her websites:

Amy’s Speaking Website

Bold Women

The unique thing about Amy, besides her many talents and skills, is that she is not all that unique at all. She has been a mother, wife, ex-wife, dater, and all of the thing things that many of us have been. She seems to handle each of these experiences with good grace, warmth, and humor, though she is struggling with the same problems that many of us have struggled with. 

I urge you to visit her online so you can take away some of her grace and faith.  It isn’t all about going through life with no problems. It is, I think, about how we handle them.

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We have published some articles on health insurance, and even ranted a bit about health reform in the US. I do not care what your political outlook is right now, but you have to know that the US health system has some big problems that affect patients, doctors, and employers. In fact, every player in this issue has a crisis to deal with right now, and I wish our own government could somehow get past the silly stuff and get some work done.

Who Needs Help Affording Health Care?

We have gotten some very sincere emails from our previous posts. I am not going to pubish them because of privacy issues. You will have to take my word for it. People are having real trouble because they cannot afford prescriptions or other health services. I think this problem is really tough for those of us betwee about 50 and 64. We are too young for Medicare, and too old to easilly qualify for private individual policies. Even if some of us have health isurance, our policies may not be all that good. I have heard of tragic cases of people running out of benefits or having huge copays, deductibles, or limits when they needed expensive medical treatment.

Solutions to Affording Prescriptions, Doctors, Clinics, Hospitals, ETC.

I am going to link to this article on finding health with health care for people who cannot afford prescriptions, doctors, hospitals, and other costs associated with being sick or injured. I think it provides a clear and succint roadmap

What to Do if You Cannot Afford Health Insurance << Click Here

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (And Other Medical Services)

One of the big resources it mentions is PPARX.org.   Though the name of the organization is the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, it does even more than provide prescription help.

This website, and organization provides a portal to private and public assistance for prescriptions, clinics, financial aids, and patient advocates. You can look up your prescriptions. You can enter a zip code and find nearby low cost (or free) clinics. You can find orgaizations that provide some financial aid for your costs or that will advocate for your treatment.

Are You Healthy Now?

This may really surprise you, but many people do not bother to get health insurance when they are still healthy because they just do not see the need. Or they may buy a policy that is very cheap, but has some limits that really make it a poor choice is a serious illess or injury crops up.  I am hardly an advocate for insurance companies, but you should understand that the best time to buy health insurance is when you are healthy! You are not going to get a private insurer to cover you after you are already sick. Insurance doesn’t work like that! That would be like trying to buy life insurance after you are already dead!

Do You Have A Decent Income, But Still Lack Health Insurance?

A major medical plan with a high deductible, for a healthy person, should not cost more than the price of a couple of family restaurant meals every week. You really need to examine priorities. Besides, for many of us, health insurance premiums are tax deductible. And even if you are still responsible for deductibles and copays, you will be able to avoid financial run.

Besides, people with insurance tend to pay less for services. My own plan does not cover testing under the deductible. But when I do get those tests they are discounted. Last time I got routie blood tests, I paid about $70 for $300 of charges because of the discount. My friend, who lacks insurance, paid the whole amount. Is it fair to offer discouts to people with insurance? It isn’t fair, but it is real.

Be wary of limited benefit plans that cap out limits on the top end. An example might be a policy that pays out some figure, like $2,000 a day, for hospital stays. This is not going to be that helpful for you. You need to absorb the bottom costs, like a deductible or office visits, and have a major medical plan at your back when you really need it.

If You Cannot Afford Health Insurance or Health Costs

If you just cannot afford it, then please take time to look at the article above or the PPARX website so you can have a game plan of what to do get sick. There are organizations out there that provide prescription assistance, low cost clinics, sliding scales for hospital costs, patient advocates, etc. It would be a good idea to be aware of these before you experience a crisis.

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We already wrote about the health benefits of dark chocolate, and now we get to follow up with some surprising health benefits of drinking coffee.

Where Does Coffee Come From?

In the US, we prefer coffee over tea. In fact, Americans drink 20% of the world’s coffee, though the only common American place for coffee to be grown commercially is Hawaii. Mexico actually supplies a lot of our coffee, though Brazil and Columbia are larger producers worldwide. Most people think that our favorite brew actually originated in Ethiopia. It is the home of the arabica tree, and also most tales about the origins start there. So the one thing we need to start our morning rarely actually comes from the US.

Is Coffee Health Food?

Well, according to WebMD, coffee may actually have a lot of surprising health benefits for people. I always have to add a disclaimer. There are some people who do not tolerate coffee well. It may give them the jitters or interfere with digestion. But for most of us, especially people like me who were weaned on the stuff, a moderate amount of coffee a day probably does more good than harm!

Note: If you have a particular health condition, please talk to your doctor. He or she may tell you that you can enjoy coffee, or that you should eliminate or moderate your consumption.

Disease Prevention

Harvard researchers declared that moderate coffee drinking cut diabetes risk, but heavy coffee drinking may actually cut the risk in half. In addition, several studies have demonstrated that people who enjoy their cup of Joe are much less likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease. Moderate use also cut the risk of liver cirrhosis and colon cancer. Studies are being conducted that also demonstrate that it helps reduce asthma attacks.

Coffee  and Vice

In fact, research demonstrates that our favorite drink may even offset  the risk of developing problems from other vices we engage in, like smoking and heavy drinking. Please don’t run out and tell everybody that we are promoting smoking or heavy drinking. Cut that stuff out, but keep your coffee!

Can Coffee Make Us Happy?

Most of us know that caffeine is a mild mood enhancer. Caffeine?Well, we are certainly not writing about the decaf stuff! It also seems to relieve headaches, and many pain relievers also contain caffeine.  And while nobody suggests that it makes us smarter, most of us know it can make us more focused and alert.  In fact, several studies have been done on giving kids coffee and milk to improve mental focus, and also to alleviate depression.

Coffee, coming from plants, also contains potent anti oxidants. These may actually be made more potent by a typical brewing process. It also contains healthy minerals, like magnesium. Coffee is good food!

Who Should Not Drink Coffee?

You know the news could not be all good. Some people should really watch their cosumption of coffee, especially the high caffeine kind.

• It can be addictive. If you are a regular consumer, and you have had to give it up for a few days, you may experience a withdrawal headache. That probably goes away if you take a pain reliever, but that may just contain more caffeine.
• It can disrupt sleep. A lot of us are careful to limit the times of day when we have our brew, and never drink past about 7pm so we can get to sleep later. This is a worse problem for some people who are prone to sleeping disorders.
• It may increase cholesterol. Coffee may contain oils that raise the LDL (bad kind) of cholesterol. Some research suggests that using a French press aggravates this problem, while other methods for making coffee may reduce this.
• Headaches. Caffeine can treat headaches, but it can also cause them.
• Unfair Trade Agreements – Farmers in developing countries may not get very fair prices for their beans. You may want to look into Fair Trade Coffee to be sure that the particular brand you enjoy is being purchased for a fair price.

We know that most of you love to know that you are really not hurting yourself with a cup or two a day. Have you had any experiences with coffee that were either positive or negative? Let us know by commenting!

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Chamonile is an effective and mild herbal remedy for many ills. And it is also pretty cheap and easy to buy. Almost all grocery stores stock it in the tea aisle, or you can find it in health food stores. Instead of taking it as a tea, you could choose to take it as a supplement in pill form.

Please look at the end of this article for some chamonile tea warnings too. Some people have allergic reactions, and doctors warn that it should not be taken with some medications.

Let’s look at some benefits of chamonile tea so you can decide if it will help you.

• Benefits of Chamonile Build Up – Chamonile is actually a cumulative remedy, so steady use will give you more benefits than a one time use.
• Muscle Relaxer – Women take it because of menstrual cramps. People may want relief from sore muscles.
• Skin Care – Topical forms of chamonile can help treat burns or skin irritations. As a note, make sure you are not sensitive to anything else in the cream.
• Stomach Soother – Many people use chamonile as a natural remedy for digestive problems.
• Anxiety and Sleep – The muscle relaxer action probably helps us calm down and get to sleep. That is why chamonile tea is a popular bedtime drink.
• Increased Levels of Glycine – Researchers studied chamonile tea drinkers and found that they are likely to have a higher concentration of Glycine in their urine. Glycine is an amino acid with many demonstrated health benefits. It helps us convert glucose into energy, and it may also provide anti-oxidant protection against some forms of cancer.
• Improved Liver Function – Again, this may come from the glycine.

Are There Chamonile Warnings?

Be aware that there may be some cases where chamonile tea will not be good for you. Doctors warn against taking this herb with some medications, especially blood thinners.  Please ask your doctor if you will have a problem if you are taking any other medication. I guesss this concerns me because many of us take a daily low dose aspirin as a blood thinner. I’m not sure if this will affect most people, but it is a concern.

Also note that chamonile is related to ragweed and some people have experienced allergic reactions.

Most people can enjoy this herb safely, but it is worth noting that it is not for everybody!

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President Obama had an ambitious agenda when he took office. A majority of Americans voted for that agenda. However, there are rules in place that give the minority some power, and one of those is the ultimate tool of obstruction – the filibuster. Right now, Republicans are using this tool at a record place. This means that a simple majority will not be enough to get legislation through Congress.

What it also means, in my opinion, is that we taxpayers are spending a lot of money to get nothing done. It is amazing that the wheels of our nation are moving at all with these obstructionist tactics. And what is it all for?

Well the concept arose from our national sense that the majority rules, but the minority must be protected. However, in this case, I hardly think it is used to protect some disadvantaged minority, but simply for political gain. The minority, in this case the Republicans in Congress, want to score political points by keeping the majority from getting anything done. They want to stall progress, and so they want to stop progressives.

Health Reform

If you are over 50, you should be concerned about health reform. Even if you have an employer plan, you know that costs are rising, and your own coverage is at risk.  A lot of large companies are asking their employees to shoulder a greater part of this burden, or they are cutting benefits. If you are a small business owner, you know how much more expensive it is to keep a good health care plan for your family and employees. This problem is hurting business! Many companies, large and small, are in favor of US health reform.

The only group that I can see to benefit from a lack of progress are the insurance companies. We need to look at our problems and will make sensible changes that will benefit health consumers (all of us) and medical providers.

The health insurance companies, in my opinion, should be at the bottom of our concerns. Why aren’t they? That is a question you should ask. One other question you should ask is how our representatives would be reacting if they had to purchase their own health insurance or depend upon Medicare.

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Since the population is aging, I see a lot more discussion of the need long term care insurance (LTCI). There is no doubt that odds are good that many of us will require some sort of nursing care in our lives. This could be assisted living, a true nursing home, or even home health care. And since it is common for this care to cost a few thousand dollars a month, this expense should be planned for.

But do we need to plan with a long term care insurance policy?

Why Consider LTCI?

People purchase this coverage for a variety of reasons. The most common reason is to protect the assets they have built up over a lifetime. Medicare, the federal health insurance program for seniors and disabled people, only covers short term nursing care. Medicaid, the federal program for poor people, requires a very low income and few assets. People do not want to have to spend all of their assets on nursing care so they can qualify for Medicaid. They want to leave their resources intact. They may also want more choices, since Medicaid only covers approved and participating facilities and services.

Is There Another Way to Pay For Nursing Care?

We were very interested in this article about long term care insurace alternatives. There are some other creative financial products that may provide ways to plan for the possibility of needing nursing care.

Why consider alternatives? Well, premiums can get expensive, and they increase as we age. This can be a tough burden for older people on fixed incomes or anybody with a moderate income! LTCI is certainly a popular option, but is not the only product to consider.

Nursing Care Riders – You can find life insurance policies or annuities with provisions to pay out in case you need nursing care. The life insurance policies may pay out a portion of the face value in case of a terminal illness or nursing home confinement.  Their may be similar provisions on retirement annuities. You may also be able to make a deal for a cash settlment on permanant life insurance or an annuity too.

You can look into these options so you can use one of these insurance products to perform a double duty.  They could provide a death benefit for your heirs, in the case of life insurance. Or, if you need it, you can use part of the benefit to help care for you while you are still alive.  An annuity can provide you with retirement income. But, if you need it, it could also help cover the costs of care. Life insurance policies and annuity contracts differ, so you will have to look into the specific plans on the market where you live.

How Do You Know If You Need Long Term Care Insurance?

You need to balance the costs and benefit of a LTC insurance policy. Then look of other ways to fund this potential expense. An estate or retirment planner should be able to help, or you could speak with a local insurance agent. If any of these professionals will only illustrate one type of policy, be wary. A good financial professional should be able to work with you to compare your options.

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This article may be a little late, because our traditional excuse for eating chocolate has passed – Valentine’s Day! But as I glance at my calendar, I can see that several other good excuses are coming up. Cadberry Cream Eggs are a personal favorite of mine, and so is matzah with melted chocolate! And now, we can even excuse some moderate chocolate consumption because it has health benefits.

I got inspired by this post on CurePure.com - health benefits of dark chocolate.

Here are Some Good Reasons To Enjoy Chocolate (In Moderation):

Note that most health experts suggest eating dark chocolate.

• Chocolate is, after all, made from plants! It actually does have some of the same health benefits that dark vegetables have. In fact, dark chocolate contains eight times more antioxidants than strawberries. Note that the picture I have for this article demonstrates how well, in fact, strawberries and chocolate work together!
• Chcolate is good for your heart! A small bar of dark chocolate may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
• It tastes good. That is, it tastes good to most of us. There are some people who don’t like it, but I don’t get that.
• It may actually help alleviate depression symptoms, be stimulating, and increase the “feel good” chemicals in your body. There is no doubt that a gift of chocolate always makes me feel good.

Isn’t Chocolate Bad For My Diet?

Well, we have all learned by now, that moderation is key. If you eat the whole contents of your chocolate heart in a day, it isn’t likely to do you much good. But most people can enjoy 2 or 3 selected pieces with no guilt. And a small bar of chocolate does not mean the new super sized bars you seem to find everywhere. A good tactic would be to break those up in pieces so you can enjoy a little bit every day if you want to.

I illustrated this article with a strawberry dipped in dark chocolate. That would be one way to make a little bit go a long way. Allow yourself strawberries with a small amount of dip. Adding a spritz of real whipped cream would be delicious, and it probably won’t derail your diet either.

But be aware of what else your chocolate is mixed with. Light chocolate contains a lot of milk, and some research says that having milk with chocolate may actually hinder your body’s ability to absorb the antioxidats. That is why we are told to have dark chocolate, and not light chocolate.

And finally, we admit that chocolate food are usually energy dense, high in fat, and caloric. If that candy bar has 400 calories, that can can make a big dent in your allowance for the day. Again, we suggest breaking that bar in half and enjoying if over the span of a couple of days.

A couple of bites of dark chocolate can give most of us all of the pleasures and health benefits of chocolate without ruining a diet.

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