News: Dark chocolate may lower blood pressure
Updated: Aug. 15, 2012
It’s a good week for chocolate lovers. We recently found out that eating dark chocolate every day may improve brain
It’s a good week for chocolate lovers.
We recently found out that eating dark chocolate every day may improve brain function, and now, research has found this sweet treat may also be good for your blood pressure.
According to researchers, chemicals in cocoa relax blood vessels making it easier for blood to flow through. The benefit, however, was only a slight reduction blood pressure’regardless of whether the participants consumed 3 g of dark chocolate or 105 g of chocolate each day.
High blood pressure is linked to 54 percent of strokes worldwide and 47 percent of coronary heart disease cases, reports BBC News. While a reduction in blood pressure is good, the fat and sugar content of chocolate makes it less than an ideal way to manage your blood pressure.
The bottom line: moderation is key, of course. But dark chocolate certainly has enough benefits (weight management, a boost in brain power, lower blood pressure) to convince me it’s a healthy daily snack.
How often do you eat chocolate?
Related:
‘ News: Dark chocolate could be good for your brain
‘ News: Chocolate helps you stay…slim!
‘ Nutrition: How dark chocolate protects against heart disease
