Alameda Runners – Get After It!

In the May 2010 edition of Runner’s World:

Boost Smoothies
Add Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder is rich in flavonoids – antioxidants that reduce blood pressure and cholesterol.  They also protect skin against sun damage and lower blood levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation.  “Unlike dark chocolate,” says Susan Kleiner, Ph.D., R.D., author of Power Eating, “cocoa powder contains no added sugar and less saturated fat.”

I’ve been meaning to purchase a juicer for a couple of weeks now — and still haven’t done it — but I may try this the next time I make a smoothie.

The magazine also adds:

Eat Smart – Avoid Dutch processed cocoa.  It’s treated with alkali (to give it a mild flavor) and contains fewer flavonoids.

Many runners know a lot of the information shared in Runner’s World, but I always find lots of neat little tips in each month’s issue.