But today, a Tweet got my attention. It was about this article:

Title: Sorry, No Proof Chocolate Prevents Stroke

Summary: Just shy of Valentine’s Day, a holiday known for the sale and consumption of copious amounts of chocolate, Canadian researchers have released a review of studies to assess whether eating chocolate is associated with a lower risk of stroke.

A couple of hours later, I received an email about another article:

Title: Chocolate Linked to Lower Stroke and Stroke Mortality Risk

Summary: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, a new systematic review from Canadian researchers suggests higher chocolate consumption may be associated with a lower risk for incident stroke and stroke-related mortality.

(I think access to the second article requires an account on Medscape.com)

I’ll let my readers draw their own conclusions but it looks like the 2 articles contradict each other.

Of course, in order to have the final word, the full text is required. But more often than not, studies are complex readings. Sometimes, studies are criticized by peers and the findings or conclusions might be erroneous…

Where I want to go with this is, I usually use common sense about everything I try or do. For example, to stay in Valentine’s day spirit, I like to eat a little square of dark chocolate daily. If it’s bad, then that’s OK, I don’t eat much. If it’s good, then that’s OK, I eat some. In the end, I will never know if I consume the right amount, but I like a small piece after diner and everything is fine.
Until next post, Lift Consciously

But I do have my preferences or bias, such as training to failure. But even this is going through some sort of evolution…

There are aspects of training that I try to avoid discussing. The most obvious is dieting.

But not today.

Other then Fasting (I did a couple of fasts in my life and the last one was a so-so experience), the first diet that really got my attention was The Zone, by Dr Barry Sears. From my point of view, The Zone is a balanced -in term of the carb, fat, protein ratio- diet.

Then I got hooked by low carb type of diets. Of course, I tried Atkins, by Dr Robert C. Atkins. I went further down the path of low carb. Really further…

Since I am interested in bodybuilding, I was “introduced” to BodyOpus (ISBN-10: 0965310701), by the late Dan Duchaine. This is The very low carb diet designed for people looking to get lean and ripped. BodyOpus is a turn-key diet for individual looking for definition.

The low carb diet is really something I like. For example, Protein Power, by the Eaders Drs is interesting.

Finally, again in the low or very low carb diet department, there is also The Ketogenic Diet, by Lyle McDonald.

Until next post, Lift Consciously