Eating Two Chunks of Dark Chocolate a Day Keeps Heart Disease at Bay

The hard to resist chocolates need not be resisted anymore! A new study found that treating yourself with two chunks of dark chocolate a day for two weeks can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease.

The study also found that eating dark chocolate daily can keep high blood pressure at bay and also slashes the risk of diabetes, which are both major risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.

The scientists from America and Italy claims that dark chocolate has far more antioxidantsdefine than milk or white chocolate which is quite popular in UK. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants --nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries!

Dark chocolate, which is rich in natural ingredient flavanols, is good for the heart and has 65% or higher cocoa content. Milk chocolate has a much lower flavanol level and white chocolate has none. Flavonoids, helps in relaxing blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide and allows blood to flow more easily.

The Italian and US researchers conducted the test on 19 subjects suffering from high blood pressure. The subjects received 100 grammes of white chocolate each day for 14 days and at the end of trial researchers measured the blood pressure and cholesterol levels of the subjects.

Again, subjects were given 100 grammes of dark chocolate per day for two weeks, an average of just over 6 grammes every day and at the end of the trial again scientists measured their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

After a fortnight of eating dark chunks of chocolate, the average blood pressure readings among the subject’s dropped subjects. On average, their blood pressures fell by three millimetres of mercury.

But no health benefit was seen when the volunteers received white chocolate daily.

The team of researchers found that eating two chunks of dark chocolate daily can cut deaths from heart attacks and stroke by as much as 6 percent.

Tim Chico, a cardiologist at Sheffield University said, "If I had a high blood pressure I'd chose a dark chocolate bar rather than milk."

Previous studies have suggested that chocolate may help to protect against heart disease and even cancerdefine.

A past study conducted by the researchers at the Yale Prevention Research Center in Connecticut found that flavanol--phytochemicals which is found in chocolates, fruits and vegetables, boost the function of vital endothelial cells that line up inside the blood vessels, thus slashing down the risk of cardiovascular disease.

In 2003, twin studies showed that eating or drinking a certain kind of chocolate can not only boost brain power but it is also helpful at slowing down brain degeneration as a person ages.

Another recent study found that people with diabetes can now eat chocolates without getting any warning from their doctors, as studies reveal that an enriched hot cocoa beverage can improve blood circulation for people with type 2 diabetesdefine.

Several earlier studies proves that eating dark chocolate is good for our heart. A small bar of it everyday can help keep your heart and cardiovascular system running well. A dark chocolates contains a lot more cocoa than other forms of chocolate. The two other main health benefits of dark chocolate are a) eating dark chocolate daily reduces “bad cholesterol” or LDL cholesterol by up to 10 per cent. B) It can lower the blood pressure.

Nothing can beat the taste of dark chocolate. Apart from great taste, dark chocolate stimulates endorphin production --it gives a feeling of pleasure. It also contains contains serotonin (which acts as an anti-depressant) and contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants.