Dark Chocolate Can Reduce Blood Presure

ABC News reports new research shows dark chocolate in small amounts can help reduce blood pressure without weight gain. The findings about how chocolate flavanols lower blood pressure is to be released on Wednesday by the Journal of the American Medical Association. Flavanols are the healthy substances found in plants that give wine healthy benefits. The participants, ages 56-73, who volunteered in the research ate 6.3 grams of chocolate equal to one square of a Hershey's candy bar or one Hershey's kiss. Their blood pressure ran slightly higher between 130/85 and 160/100 and monitored for eighteen weeks. The average blood pressure when the study began was 147/86.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Dirk Taubert of Germany said on ABC, "We found that it's good to eat small amounts of chocolate every day on a regular basis" He used smaller amounts of candy in research since cocoa products tend to be higher in fat and calories. The dark chocolate used in the research contained at least thirty milligrams of polyphenols. The study showed the systolic rate (top number) decreased by 2.9 points and the diastolic rate, the bottom number, decreased by 1.9 points. Taubert said even a slight decrease in blood pressure could reduce coronary disease mortality rates by five per cent.

The polyphenols in chocolate increase nitric oxide, a substance that aids blood flow in the arteries and veins. The fact has been known for some time about the effects of chocolate on blood pressure. Dr.Laura
Svetky of the Duke University's Hypertension Center thinks the research needs to be conducted on a larger scale. She said on Fox News, "I would be as happy as the next person if I got to eat more chocolate. " Dr. Svetsky cautions weight gain from eating too much chocolate would interfere with the benefits of lower blood pressure.

Small amounts can have health benefits but should not be a substitute for blood pressure medicine.
How likely it be for people to eat small amounts of dark chocolate? Dr. Stephen Cook at the University Of Rochester Medical Center commented on ABC News, "Our society, media, and our business industries do no promote moderation. So small findings like this end up getting misunderstood by the masses and seem to give them agree light for eating a pound of dark chocolate per day."

Experts agree the most effective methods for maintaining lower blood pressure, loosing reducing salt intake. Dark chocolate can be included as part of a well-balanced diet with fruits and vegetables. Doctors recommend eating the darkest chocolate possible.

ABC News, "Dark Chocolate Heart Healthy...in Moderation"
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/Story?id=3342232&page=2

Fox News, "Dark Chocolate Lowers Blood Pressure, Study Says"
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,287948,00.html