A little dark chocolate lowers blood pressure

Posted on August 26, 2013 by john in Health Food

This new research was done in Germany in addition to a list of evidence that suggests that dark chocolate has health benefits, but it is the first to suggest that it takes just a small amount to achieve the benefits.

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Volunteers who participated in the study consumed only six grams of dark chocolate daily for almost five months.

People who ate that amount ended up with results lower blood pressure than people who ate white chocolate.

The researcher at the University of Cologne, Dirk Taubert, the lead author of the study, indicated that the reduction in blood pressure of volunteers with dark chocolate were small but substantial enough to potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, although the volunteers study were not followed long enough to achieve measure these effects.

The study involved only 44 people ranging in age from 56 to 73 years, but the results reiterate other smaller studies made with foods containing cocoa.

Cocoa contains flavanolas, vegetable complexes which are attributed to heart-healthy benefits. They can also be found in red wine.

However, the problem with chocolate bars with cocoa tend to be high in calories, so Taubert and his colleagues experimented with small quantities watched a total of 30 calories.

The new study will be published in Wednesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association. The study was sponsored by the University Hospital of Cologne.