OrangeSoul Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Dark chocolate can not only soothe your soul but can lower blood pressure too, researchers reported Monday. The study, published by the American Heart Association, joins a growing body of research that show compounds found in chocolate called flavonoids can help the blood vessels work more smoothly, perhaps reducing the risk of heart disease. "Previous studies suggest flavonoid-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, tea, red wine and chocolate, might offer cardiovascular benefits, but this is one of the first clinical trials to look specifically at dark chocolate's effect on lowering blood pressure among people with hypertension," said Jeffrey Blumberg of Tufts University in Boston, who led the study. "This study is not about eating more chocolate," Blumberg added. "It suggests that cocoa flavonoids appear to have benefits on vascular function and glucose sensitivity." Scientists are far from being able to make specific recommendations for patients based on their research on chocolate, and nutritionists have urged people to be cautious because chocolate is high in fat, sugar and calories. Blumberg and colleagues at the University of L'Aquila in Italy studied 10 men and 10 women with high blood pressure. For 15 days, half ate a daily 3.5 ounce (100 gram) bar of specially formulated, flavonoid-rich dark chocolate, while the other half ate the same amount of white chocolate. Then each group "crossed over" and ate the other chocolate. "White chocolate, which has no flavonoids, was the perfect control food because it contains all the other ingredients and calories found in dark chocolate," Blumberg said. "It's important to note that the dark chocolate we used had a high level of flavonoids, giving it a slightly bittersweet taste. Most Americans eat milk chocolate, which has a low amount of these compounds." Writing in the journal Hypertension, Blumberg's team said when the volunteers ate the special dark chocolate, they had a 12 mm Hg decrease in systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) and a 9 mm Hg decrease in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) on average. Blood pressure did not change when the volunteers ate white chocolate. "This is not only a statistically significant effect, but it's also a clinically meaningful decline," Blumberg said. "This is the kind of reduction in blood pressure often found with other healthful dietary interventions." Eating dark chocolate also seemed to improve how the body used insulin, and reduced low density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol by about 10 percent on average. "The findings do not suggest that people with high blood pressure should eat lots of dark chocolate in lieu of other important blood pressure-reduction methods, such as medication and exercise," Blumberg said. "Rather, we are identifying specific flavonoids that can have a benefit on blood pressure and insulin sensitivity." http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/heart_chocolate...HNlYwMlJVRPUCUl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solarix Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 dark chocolate makes me sick =\ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostShell Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 That's good news. I love dark chocolate. :happy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten T Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 dark chocolate makes me sick =\ 586239362[/snapback] Me too. Espesialys Hershys Spesial Dark :x :x :x :x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdodson Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 Why chocolate and not vanilla? :/ 586239851[/snapback] Chocolate and vanilla are two totally different substances. Unless you mean milk chocolate compared to dark chocolate? I love dark chocolate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L3thal Veteran Posted July 20, 2005 Veteran Share Posted July 20, 2005 Why chocolate and not vanilla? :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giga Veteran Posted July 20, 2005 Veteran Share Posted July 20, 2005 dark chocolate makes me sick =\ 586239362[/snapback] Same. I prefer milk chocolate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougal.s Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 This has been covered in Europe before I'm sure, I certainly knew it. Now if only I could afford the dark chocolate and red wine diet.... Dougal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoXY Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 I was reading this one in the news paper actually...good stuff..:happy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1g1talMan Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 heard this on WTOP this morning as well. Unfortunitally Milk Chocolate didn't contain enough of the heart-fixxer-upper stuff. Good thing I like dark chocolate though...=) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
:B: Rex Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 i always have Herseys Special Dark chocolate here beside my monitor :yes: yummy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirk26 Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 Mmmmm, dark chocolate. My favorite... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudy Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 i hate dark chocolate, i can handle milk chocolate but i dont really like it either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.KICK Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 I'm pretty sure this was discovered ages ago , such as last year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koolslacker Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 I am ordering 10 pounds of chocolate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gowcra Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 Cadbury ALL THE WAY!!!! I LOVE MY BRITISH CHoCY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sin-ergy Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 Dark chocolate is :x bitter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin-uk Veteran Posted July 20, 2005 Veteran Share Posted July 20, 2005 like milk chocolate better, but i dont mind Dark :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsnotabigtruck Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 Dark chocolate pwns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majortom1981 Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 I like the really dark chocolate. I think i found one that was like 90 percent. best chocolate i have ever had lol . Found it at a local candy shop here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabureiru Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 (edited) In an article from Mens Health magazine was a report about this. I think it was something like health foods that you will love, or something like that. Glad to hear that. Mexico is well known for its chocolate Edited August 2, 2005 by fred666 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhangm Supervisor Posted July 20, 2005 Supervisor Share Posted July 20, 2005 I can't handle milk chocolate. The stuff is way too sweet for me. I do eat dark chocolate once in a while, but even then, sometimes its too sweet. Ate unsweetened baking chocolate once. That stuff is definitely not too sweet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobster Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 I love all chocolate and especially dark chocolate :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Atlantis Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 Those people were most likely paid to do those tests. I WANT THAT JOB! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUZLA+ Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 I already knew bout the blood preasure thing,, & I eat tons of dark the darker the better. I cant stand cadburys more sugar than chocolate :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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