Can’t Live Without Chocolate?
No problem. Scientists may one day claim you need the stuff to be at
your healthiest.

It’s a theory growing from a study of the diets of a small Indian
tribe in the Panamanian islands. High blood pressure is virtually
unheard of within the group. And tribe members drink three or four 10-
ounce servings of cocoa per day. Coincidence?

Killer Compounds
The Panamanian tribe doesn’t drink run-of-the-mill cocoa. Because of
the gentle way they process their cocoa beans, their cocoa is chock-
full of epicatechin, a flavonoid that helps widen and relax blood
vessels. If the tribe’s lack of high blood pressure (as well as other
diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer) does turn out to be
because of epicatechin, researchers speculate that the flavonoid could
one day be given vitamin status.

Other Potential Reasons

But before you buy stock in Hershey’s, there’s still research to be
done. The tribe members also eat lots of fish and fruit, and their
diet or their lifestyle — or both — may be part of the lack-of-
disease equation. So far, researchers have ruled out genetics.

Bottom Line
What remains true: Flavonoids are good for your heart; lots of
research points to this. But dark chocolate is just about your only
hope for chocolate that hasn’t had its flavonoids completely destroyed
by processing. And if you need to cut calories to lose weight, a
little bit of chocolate goes a long way.

But this sweet treat has chocolate’s health-boosting compounds without
the fat.
RealAge Benefit: Getting 31 milligrams of flavonoids — cocoa beans
are naturally rich in them — a day can make your RealAge 3.2 years
younger.

Try out this tip: Enjoy a cup of heart-friendly cocoa made from
organic Central American cacao beans.

The following is an exeprt copied on-line from New Energy future announcing the latest Starbucks price increase and some of the reasons for it.”  As you know, many of your vendors have had price increases recently. Now is the time to raise your prices again too. Your customers are expecting it. Don’t announce it, don’t make excuses, just do it and protect your margins. Hopefully there will be a correction in the milk market soon and maybe we’ll be lucky enough to see some prices come back down.

Cheers,”  David

New Energy Future – July 25th 2007

Corn Ethanol Behind Starbucks Price Spike

July 25th, 2007 by Dan
–>Record Corn Prices Driving Up Milk Cost For All Those Pricey Lattes

The corn growing bonanza driven by government subsidies for the alternative fuel ethanol has tipped yet another domino in the economic food chain: Starbucks coffees.

At least, it’s part of the reason Starbucks is raising its prices, on average, 9 cents per drink.

American farmers planted more corn this year than at any time in more than a half century, yet cattle ranchers, dairy farmers and other food producers are finding the supply tight. That’s because so many corn farmers are growing their crop for fuel, not food. The rise in corn prices is one reason for the rise in milk prices, which is one reason for the rise in the cost of a latte…..