A small amount of dark chocolate every day helped reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients. That’s the conclusion of a study conducted by researchers at the University Hospital of Cologne in Germany. According to the researchers, eating about 30 calories of chocolate each day could have positive effects on blood pressure are the side effects like weight gain.
Previously, other studies had shown that consumption of large amounts of foods containing cocoa can lower blood pressure. This is believed to be flavonoids, chemicals that contain certain plants and believed to be responsible for the beneficial health effects.

“In the past it was thought that flavonoids were anti-nutrients” said Lorraine Agostini, nutrition expert at the University of Seville, Spain.” That is, acting against nutrition. But since the 90s began research on the health benefits of foods containing: cocoa, red wine and fruits and vegetables.”

Previous studies suggested that the beneficial effects of flavonoids were lopsided, especially in the cocoa by the high content of sugar, fat and calories in these products. But now, new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, scientists analyzed the effects on blood pressure in very small amounts of cocoa taken daily.

“Every food has a different concentration of flavonoids,” says Lorraine Agostini.

“And the cocoa is one of the foods with high content of flavonoids, followed by red wine.”

“So also indicates the consumption of red wine in small amounts as a cardiovascular protector,” the expert.

The tests included 44 adults between 56 and 73 years with pre-hypertension high range (between 120/85 and 139/89) or Level 1 hypertension (between 140/90 and 160/100). Participants were divided into two groups that received daily for 18 weeks, 6.3 gr. (30 calories) of dark chocolate, or the same amount of white chocolate.

Dark chocolate containing 30 mg of polyphenols, while white is free of this substance.
The researchers found from the start of the tests in the first group reduced blood pressure without producing changes in body weight or lipid levels or blood glucose. Among these individuals, systolic blood pressure reading measures the force than the blood when the heart beats, dropped by 2.9 mm. Cocoa is a food with high content of flavonoids, followed by red wine. It also indicated that consumption of red wine in small quantities as Protector cardiovascular Lorena Agostini nutricionista diastolic pressure far less than is taken when the heart relaxes-lowered 1.9 mm.

The researchers say that although the reduction was small, the results are clinically noteworthy.
“A reduction of 3 mm. In blood pressure, say the authors could reduce the risk of death from a stroke in 8%, coronary artery disease in 5% and in general causes of death in 4%.

“The most surprising result of this research, added,” is that small amounts of cocoa products offered commercially, have similar benefits to dietary modifications carried out to reduce cardiovascular events. ”
And besides, they add, is much easier to add to the diet of these small amounts of cocoa rich in flavonoids, which take “complex changes in behavior” to achieve lower blood pressure.

Experts warn however, that chocolate is high in fat and calories and heavy drinking can be harmful.
“The problem is that chocolate has some addiction,” says nutritionist but in a measure may be beneficial, provided there are no other joint pathologies that prevent their consumption. ”

He adds that “the fruits and vegetables also offer a variety of polyphenols, as well as vitamins and minerals.” Therefore, five or more servings per day of these products is the best way to protect your heart, he says.

Possibility Related Posts:

• Hypertension
  Blood pressure is simply the amount of force exerted when the blood pushing against blood vessel walls. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is when there is too much pressure on vessel walls, which ...
• Hypertension
  Hypertension or high blood pressure occurs when the arteries are contracted or narrowed thus increasing resistance to blood flow through them. This makes the heart work harder to pump blood forcefully...
• White coat hypertension
  Hypertension can be caused by the elevation of the high, low or both simultaneously. Blood pressure changes throughout the day demonstrating a rise in the morning and decrease at night. Emotions, pain...
• Sales diet for hypertension
  When you have high blood pressure, the main problem that arises for many people is like seasoning foods, especially those with hypertension who like salty foods. Well, on the market for high dietary s...
• Hibiscus Tea to lower blood pressure
  The hibiscus tea is used quite frequently in folk medicine, especially for control of the flu. However, applications of the hibiscus plant ( Hibiscus sabdariffa ) are multiple, and one of them has bee...