I'm Gonna Make Your Day...!

Just in time for your week-end, I'm gonna give you some news that should help you to enjoy yourself even more!

In an article I read at CNN, both chocolate and coffee have some positive health effects for you!

That got your attention, didn't it? I'm going to put the two parts that deal with both chocolate and coffee right here, but for the other so-called "bad habits" that may be good for you...you can read the whole article right here!

A daily chocolate fix:
Our experts gave a hearty thumbs-up to nibbling a little chocolate every day -- as long as you stick to a square or two of the dark kind, to minimize sugar and fat intake and maximize the benefits. (The temptation to overeat this sweet treat accounts for it not making it into the top three.)

Dark chocolate and cocoa may help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of stroke, and provide other cardiovascular benefits, multiple studies have shown.

"Dark chocolate contains antioxidants called flavonoids, believed to improve the flexibility of blood vessels," Goldberg explains. "That can help lower blood pressure and also make blood vessels more resistant to plaque buildup."

Chocolate's rep as a go-to comfort food when you're upset has science behind it, too. A study published late last year found that eating 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced stress hormones in highly anxious people. Check for at least 75 percent cacao content to get the most bliss for your bite.

Your morning java:
It's completely OK if you need it to pry your eyes open in the a.m. A wealth of research suggests that coffee doesn't just pick you up -- it fights heart disease and some cancers, and it may even help you push through harder, longer workouts.

Moderate coffee-drinking in middle age has been associated with lower risks for dementia and Alzheimer's. And a 2009 review of more than four decades of research found that for every additional cup of coffee you drink each day -- high-octane or decaf -- your risk of developing type 2 diabetes shrinks by 7 percent, possibly because chemicals in the beverage improve your body's insulin sensitivity and increase metabolism.

Enjoy up to two cups a day; more than that may leave you jittery or rob you of that precious number-one pleasure -- sleep

Now that should make your days off just a little more guilt free, or at least a tiny bit more enjoyable! Just trying to do my part!

Now, my friends, let's get some fresh coffee and sit outside! It's good for ya, remember?