the daily consumption of chocolate. It may be neces-
sary to have their cholesterol tested. Overweight or
obese people should ask their health professionals
whether it is wise to include chocolate in their diets.
In addition, the Pasta-Popcorn-Chocolate Diet is
not nutritionally balanced because it limits dairy prod-
ucts and proteins. All food groups are included in
Voak’s plans. However, some diets are less than
1,200 calories per day. That’s the medically recognized
minimum calorie allowance for people not following a
medically supervised diet.Resources
BOOKS
Voak, Sally Ann.The Chocolate Diet.Blake Publishing,
Ltd., 2001.
ORGANIZATIONS
American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza,
Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606. (800) 877-1600.<http://
eatright.org>.
American Heart Association National Center, 7272 Green-
ville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231. (800) 242-8721.<http://
http://www.americanheart.org.>.Center for Science in the Public Interest 1875 Connecticut
Ave. N.W., Ste. 300, Washington, D.C. 20009. (202)
332-9110.<http://www.cspinet.org>.
OTHER
Barrionuevo, Alexei. ‘‘Apple a Day for Health? Mars Rec-
ommends Two Bars of Chocolate’’New York Times
(Oct. 31, 2005.<http://www.nytimes.com/>(April 13
2007).
CocoaVia. 1-(866) 290-6849.<http://cocoavia.com/>April
13,2007).>
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center
for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
Physical Activity and Good Nutrition: Essential Ele-
ments to Prevent Chronic Diseases and Obesity At A
Glance 2007.<http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publica-
tions/aag/dnpa.htm>(April 13, 2007).
U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of
Health and Human Services.Dietary Guidelines for
Americans 2005,<http://www.health.gov/dietarygui-
delines/dga2005/document>(April 9, 2007).Liz SwainCholesterol-lowering dietseeTLC diet
Choline
Definition
Choline is a nutrient required by the body. It does
not meet the classic definition of a vitamin because the
body makes some choline, but not enough to support
health. The remainder must be acquired through diet.
For practical purposes, choline is grouped with the
B-complexvitaminsbecause it is a water-soluble com-
pound that performs some functions similar to these
vitamins.Purpose
Choline has several functions in the body. It is
incorporated into the fat (lipid)-containing structures
in cell membranes, and is necessary for the formation
of certain signaling chemicals made by cells to activate
other molecules. Choline is also necessary for the for-
mation of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neuro-
transmitter that transfers information from nerves to
muscles. Acetylcholine is also thought to be important
to memory and learning in the brain. Finally, choline,
like several other B vitamins, is active in the metabolic
pathway that breaks down homocysteine and removes
it from the body. Homocysteine is an amino acid that
circulates in the blood. When too much homocysteineQUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR
DOCTOR How much weight should I lose?
Should I have my cholesterol tested?
Would any health condition prevent me from
starting a diet or exercise program?
Would any health condition prevent me from
starting a diet or exercise program?
Would you recommend the pasta-popcorn-
chocolate diet?
Are any of Sally Ann Voak’s diets consistent with
a healthy weight-loss plan??
Will I still lose weight if I eat chocolate?
Is there a health benefit to eating dark chocolate
every day?
Will eating chocolate affect medication
including drugs for managing cholesterol?
What is the best type of exercise for me?
How long should I do this exercise?
How many times a week should I exercise?
Are there any instructions I need to prevent
injuries?Choline