Chocolate is not just for your sweetheart anymore. Researchers have found that consumption of dark chocolate, about 30 calories per day, may help reduce blood pressure without affecting body weight.
Adults coping with hypertension may benefit the most as reducing blood pressure is in direct correlation to hypertension. The study took place in Cologne, Germany and found that from baseline to 18 weeks, dark chocolate intake reduced mean systolic blood pressure (BP) by -2.9 mm Hg, and diastolic BP by -1.9 mm Hg, without changes in body weight, plasma levels of lipids, glucose or oxidative stress. Hypertension prevalence declined from 86% to 68%.
Just be sure you are consuming dark chocolate. White chocolate was found to have no effect on BP and will likely cause your body weight to increase in excess consumption.
What is really cool is that this study also concluded that commercial cocoa confectionary convey a similar BP lowering potential compared to dietary modifications proven to reduce cardiovascular disease. The addition of cocoa powder into your daily dietary regime is simple and easy to adhere to thus promising to be an excellent approach to lowering your BP.
Or you could just indulge in a small piece of dark chocolate every day, just make sure it isn’t filled with caramel or other goodies.
