Benefits of Dark Chocolates

Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries). Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body.

Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.

Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.

Some of the fats in chocolate do not impact your cholesterol. The fats in chocolate are 1/3 oleic acid, 1/3 stearic acid and 1/3 palmitic acid:

•Oleic Acid is a healthy monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil.

•Stearic Acid is a saturated fat but one which research is shows has a neutral effect on cholesterol.

•Palmitic Acid is also a saturated fat, one which raises cholesterol and heart disease risk.

That means only 1/3 of the fat in dark chocolate is bad for you.

•Chocolate is thought to improve insulin resistance and sensitivity.

•It can increase alertness, lessen pain and promote a general feeling of well-being.

•Chocolate may reduce the risk of cancer.

Chocolate is a good source of magnesium, copper, and iron; with lesser amounts of calcium, zinc, Vitamin A, niacin, and phosphorus.

Chocolate's beneficial levels of magnesium—56 mg in a 50g bar of dark chocolate—may help to explain some of chocolate's sedative effect on stressed-out people. Stress causes the body to deplete its supplies of magnesium, ultimately leading to an out-of-balance biochemistry. It may be that the magnesium in chocolate helps restore the body's magnesium balance.

Other Benefits of Dark Chocolate:

•it tastes good

•it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure

•it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant

•it contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants

Theobromine will stimulate the central nervous system, relax the bronchi in the lungs and your blood vessels. Phenylethylamine (PEA) is similar to amphetamine. PEA reproduces the feeling someone has when he or she falls in love. So maybe chocolate may help soothe a broken heart.

This information doesn't mean that you should eat a pound of chocolate a day. Chocolate is still a high-calorie, high-fat food. Most of the studies done used no more than 100 grams, or about 3.5 ounces, of dark chocolate a day to get the benefits.

Following are the general rules for choosing chocolate for maximum health benefit:

•The darker the better.

•The higher the cocoa content the better.

•The less fat the better.

•The less sugar the better.

•Non-alkali processing is a must.

Review of Medimix Soaps

Company: Cholayil Pvt. Ltd.
Country: India
Product: Medimix Ayurvedic Soaps

The term "Ayurveda" literally means "the science of life". Ayurveda teach people to understand their unique body constitutions and show them how to use diet, massage, herbs, and lifestyle adjustments to harmonize body, mind, and spirit. This natural approach to health care is safe.
Medimix ayurvedic soap is one of the best soaps I have ever come across. 15 years back, I developed itching and approached 3-4 allopathic doctors and applied creams and took medicines. Atlast, one local allopathic physician suggested me to change the soaps I had been using and start using medimix. After two weeks, I started getting relief and even today, I use this soap. I even use it for my child. It works wonders on various skin irritations and dryness and even some skin diseases.
The soap bar with natural fresh fragrance and superior lather is effective for dry skin. The soap contains a unique combination of purest and finest grade vegetable Glycerine and the time tested ayurvedic formulation of coconut oil. These effectively moisturize dry skin making it soft and supple and helps reduce itches and cracks caused by dryness. It is also effective for people with dry skin and for dryness caused by winter and adverse seasons. This product has for years proven effective in preventing prickly heat. This also contains antifungal, antibacterial agents. This product acts as a coolant to skin, prevents excess sebum secretion, prevents itching, removes bad body odour. It has natural aromatic substances like Piper aurantiacum. Has also been found to be emollient, reduces scarifying and brightens complexion and relieves skin irritation.
It is a traditionally hand made ayurvedic soap. Medimix soaps give relief from pimples, body odour and skin infections. Even doctors in India recommend this product for people with sensitive skin.
Medimix handmade chemical free soaps are made from only natural vegetable oils and are bio-degradable. Natural fragrances and natural colours are used and is enriched with natural glycerin and pH balanced. The soap retains the natural glycerin produced during the saponification process. It is a hand made soap with a time tested and unique formulation that combines the goodness of 18 herbs, Medimix is clinically proven to act effectively on many kinds of skin problems.

The company claims a complete hair-to-toe-care solution. These soaps are available
in 125gm, 75gm, 45gm, & 8gm. It is easily available at all retail outlets and medical stores. It has variations made using Sandal and Eladi oils and was found effective for skin blemishes. This product works effectively on blemishes, dark spots and other pigmentation marks leaving you with clear, blemish-free skin.

Applying the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, these natural ayurvedic soaps are made from the highest quality natural ingredients and comply with stringent modern western cosmetic standards. They are 100% true to the principles of ancient Ayurvedic science
Medimix puts nature to work at caring for your skin. And it's time you discovered why.

Product Review of Nannari Sarbhat

Company: Sumo Food Products
Country: India
Product: Nannari Sarbhat (a beverage)

One of the hottest categories in the beverage market is “Organic”. The growing understanding of the connection between diet and health has made natural and organic products the most dynamic area of the food retailing business.

Sumo Food Products’ “nannari sarbhat” makes a delicious summer drink when mixed with cold water. A dash of lime is also added to taste better. It can also be added to drinking soda. It quenches thirst, cools the body, and reduces the burning sensation of the body. It is antibacterial and its astringent properties prevent infection and help in the healing of ulcers. It is used as a laxative to relieve constipation. Its diaphoretic properties, that is, sweat inducing properties induce copious perspiration, thereby reducing the temperature. The organic value of this drink is high.

“Nannari” is a herb seen grown in hilly areas in India. The roots and seeds are used in ayurveda and for preparing Sherbet (summer drink). The roots contain resins, tannin, essential oil and glycoside. It is commonly called Indian Sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus). The plant is used as tonic, alterative, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic and blood purifier. It is used for in cases of nutritional disorders, urinary diseases and skin infections. It stimulates the flow of bile and removes toxins from the body. It is a good diuretic and increases flow of urine three to four times. It is also considered to be good for hair growth. Small doses of the root extract is claimed to improve the general health, plumpness, clearness, and strength.

Around 20-30 ml sarbath has to be mixed with 100ml of water. This drink is the root extract of Indian Sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus). It does not contain any added colour or flavour. Price is also reasonable. 750ml costs only Rs.64 in Indian States. It has a shelf life of one year. It is yellowish brown colored. It is available in various organic retail outlets. Addition of rose petals, lotus petals, milk, honey or palm sugar to the decoction, make it a refreshing summer drink. This is a common summer drink in South India.

People who are looking for healthier beverage products ought to try this drink. It is a safe alternative to your thirst quenching drinks that contains chemicals.

Product Review of Eaternal Soapnuts

Company: Eaternal
Country: India
Product: Eaternal soapnuts

Organic, natural products are a hip these days. This is a cleaning product that might be less known in rest of the world. But in India, we had been using this much before this branded version came into existence.

Eaternal soapnut powder and soapnut shell is used for laundry, washing dishes, household surfaces etc. It cleans clothes the natural way and is gentle on fabrics. Soapnut liquid extract is used in shampoos, soaps, detergents or any other natural / herbal application. Here they use natural, herbal preservatives. Soapnuts preserve the colour of your valuable laundry. In south Asian countries people wash even the finest silks using soapnuts. Soapnut can be used as a substitute for liquid soap and pet shampoo. The left over soapnut liquid from washing or laundry can be used as a pesticide to repel insects off your plants. Soapnut Suds can be used to clean the kitchen or bathroom as effectively as most chemical cleaners. It is also used for cleaning and shining jewelry in India.

Soapnuts are a natural, organic and eco-friendly replacement for commercial laundry detergents, which cares for your clothes as well as the environment. The fruits of the soapnut tree (a common tree in India), is naturally sun dried without being subject to any chemical process, harmful chemicals or artificial ingredients and used. The soapnut shell contains a substance called saponin. When the shell absorbs water, it releases these saponins, which frees dirt, oil and grime from laundry and other household items. When the clothes or household items are rinsed, the saponins are washed out. They do not pose any threat to the environment, as they are completely organic and biodegradable. And does not contain any synthetic fragrances or foaming agents and toxins. Soapnuts remnants can be deposited on compost heap. Soapnuts are re-useable. One can get from 2 to 4 washes from a single batch of Soapnuts (4 to 8 half shells), depending on water temperature, hardness or water and size of the load.

People with sensitive skin and skin disease and kids may use soapnut shells as bathing liquid soap with out any problem. This product is worth trying. It is economical, eco friendly, 100% natural and with no harmful effects.

Small Business Courses/Training Programs

Let your inner entrepreneur shine with these business courses and training programs.

The Small Business Training Network (SBTN) is a virtual campus providing quality and targeted online training to meet the information needs of prospective and existing small business owners.
SCORE helps you in mentoring advice, find an office,low-cost workshops, “How to" articles and business templates, & Online workshops and learning.
Business Week Online (bwcourses.com) offers training in topics ranging from technology to business. All courses are led by experts in their fields, and offer you the opportunity to interact with the instructors and other students online.
About University (u.about.com/) offers free email business courses on everything from public speaking to increasing business success.
My Own Business (myownbusiness.org) offers course that teaches you what the common mistakes one make in the beginning and how to avoid them.
School for Champions (school-for-champions.com) offers free online lessons to give you a start at improving your business skills.
Learn That (learnthat.com/business/) offers free business tutorials and courses in a variety of subjects including career and job tutorials, small business instruction, and free management courses. Learn how to manage your business, marketing, career, and employees in these free business tutorials.
Trump University offers courses designed to give aspiring business owners hands-on experience in the real world and to turn the school into a resource for business leaders.
The Sloan School of Management provides access to hundreds of free business courses online.
The Entrepreneurship and Business Planning Course taught at Carnegie Mellon is a great course for new entrepreneurs.
The U.S. Small Business Administration offers several courses on starting a small business.
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Kutztown University has one of the largest collections of free business entrepreneurship courses on the web.
SmallBizBee(www.smallbizbee.com) - presents review of 85 absolutely free online business classes in Business.
SmallBizU (http://www.smallbizu.org) is an online university offers a range of courses across all functional areas of small business specially for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Regional Help Centres:
The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) is a University-based economic development program which provides assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout Arkansas.
The Small Business Center mission is to increase the success rate and number of profitable small businesses in New Hanover and Pender Counties. They provide Seminars/classes to prospective and existing small business owners.
Chamber of Commerce in your region.

Exhibitions & Trade Fairs - Opportunity? or Networking?

Exhibitions give a unique opportunity to network, transact business & build brands. It is a platform of social networking where one can transact business. Exhibitors & visitors see exhibitions as a tool to come together & talk business. Trade fairs and B2B shows are easy & highly cost effective medium for business promotion.
MSMEs can get better Return on Investment (RoI) of their trade fair participation expenses by clearly defining their goals. Decide exactly what you want to achieve from participation - set yourself objectives that are ambitious but achievable. The goals should be effective and realistic. A well formulated promotional strategy and marketing plan is must. This planning can be started 3 to 6 months ahead of the fair.
At the place of exhibition the first and foremost goal should be to present a professional image. Making eye contact with the visitors is very rewarding. While an effective eye contact compels the visitors to visit the booth, a friendly appearance encourages people to stop and talk. Appoint best people to represent your company.
Set up and decoration of the booth is also very important, so all efforts should be made to make the booth attractive and interesting. Ensure that your booth should not give a cluttered look and Logo or brand should be highlighted prominently in your booth. Graphics and visuals can play a very important role in making the booths attractive and interesting. Nobody is going to remember the textual information, only graphics will stay in the minds of the visitors. Some kind of demo or learn shop should also be arranged. A good speaker needs to be placed at demo or learn shop.
Since purchase decisions are mostly not made at fair venue so try to collect as many leads as possible and then have a proper follow up. First follow up should be promptly after the fair and the requested literature should also be sent immediately. Second follow up can be after 2- 6 months.