Why Chocolate Is The Perfect Food: Tryptophan

Chocolate contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid and mood enhancer that cannot be synthesized in the body; it must be part of the diet. Tryptophan is a biochemical precursor to several compounds, including serotonin. An imbalance in serotonin is thought to be one cause of depression.

There are many sources of tryptophan, but chocolate is by far one of the most pleasurable to consume! Other sources include: oats, dried dates, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, red meat, eggs, fish, poultry, sesame, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, spirulina, and peanuts.

Some people use tryptophan from dietary supplements to enhance sleep, but there is considerable disagreement in the research on this.  Tryptophan in turkey is said to be the cause of drowsiness following a large Thanksgiving meal, but the levels of tryptophan in turkey are actually similar to those found in other types of meat.

Tryptophan also helps prevent a niacin deficiency (Vitamin B3).  Niacin helps to control cholesterol levels, stabilize blood sugar, and help the body to process fat.

Don't Have a Will? You're Not Alone

According to an article in the April 2011 issue of Money magazine, most Americans do not have a will.  Are you one of them?  If so, you can either hire an attorney or do it yourself with Quicken’s WillMaker Plus ($42 at nolo.com).  Using this bestselling software, you can write your own will, create a power of attorney for finances, a healthcare directive, and executor documents.

There are pros and cons to writing a will on your own vs hiring an attorney. A lawyer knows the ins and outs of estate planning and can ask questions that you might not think of, giving you a more thorough document than you might write on your own.

Money magazine says this software is best for a person with a small estate or someone whose spouse may be their sole heir.  You won’t want to attempt to write your own will if your estate is complicated or worth more than $5 million.  You’ll also want to go with a lawyer if you think any of your heirs may contest your will later.