PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURE

truth and realism

Tara Mette is an award-winning Namibian photographer from the coastal gem that is Swakopmund. Her expertise ranges from fashion to commercial photography, but if a paycheck isn’t in the picture, you’ll find her deeply invested in documentary photography. Fascinated by capturing the vulnerability that makes us all human, Tara utilises her affinity for others to expose raw emotion and paint a picture of her subjects’ strengths and weaknesses. Some of her core beliefs – truth and realism – are transparent in her work. Tara strives to always portray the bigger pictures that have shaped the people she photographs.

Website: www.taramette.com

Facebook: @TaraMettePhoto

The benefits of chocolate

This April we once again celebrate Easter and, while the long weekend may entail travelling to some exciting new, or even much-loved, familiar, destinations, many people associate this Christian festival with only one thing: chocolate! The history of Easter eggs is colourful and

much debated, but the general consensus is that the

egg was adopted by Christianity as a symbol of new life,

representing the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. During the Easter festivals of old, many people would paint or decorate chicken eggs and use them as decorations or gifts. The first

chocolate eggs were produced in Europe in the 19 th

century

and the tradition soon spread to other parts of the world.

These days much of the focus of celebratingEaster has shifted to indulging in chocolate eggs of all shapes and sizes. Although many of us may not agree with the commercialisation of Easter, we nevertheless felt that you may be interested in the fact that indulging in a chocolate egg (or two!) may actually hold some benefits to your health, if they are carefully balanced against the potential risks.

The key ingredient in chocolate, cocoa, contains antioxidant compounds which have proven beneficial in combatting certain conditions such as high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. The darker the chocolate – and therefore the higher the cocoa content – the better. Chocolate containing 70 percent or more cocoa is considered best. Dark chocolate is also rich in minerals such as magnesium, zinc and phosphorus. But it is important to remember that health benefits associated with chocolate are based on a small intake of cocoa and it is not advisable to overindulge. There is also evidence from certain studies that chocolate helps elevate one’s mood by releasing feel-good chemicals in the brain, and that it can increase your brain power: researchers from Oxford University and from Norway studied the diets of more than 2,000 people over the age of 70 and found that those who consumed flavanol-rich chocolate, wine or tea scored significantly higher on cognitive tests than those who didn’t!

Chocolate hasn’t, however, been proven to improve your health, and because of its high saturated fat and sugar content it is important to always eat it in moderation. Risks of overindulging can include dental caries, weight gain and associated conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes.

So, although you may be tempted to reach for that third chocolate egg, bear in mind that the benefits may yet be outweighed by the risks!

Health tips brought to you by The Namibian Oncology Centre

Care • Support • Hope

Our comprehensive service offerings include Clinical and Radiation Oncologists, a Paediatric Oncologist, Radiation therapy services, Chemotherapy services, a dedicated Oncology Pharmacy, Counselling services and an 11-bed cancer care ward including a specialised isolation unit.

Tel: +264 (0)83 330 5015 | info@namoncology.com 3 Heliodoor Street, Eros, Windhoek, Namibia www.namoncology.com