High cholesterol and high blood pressure portend serious health problems, from heart disease to stroke. One clogs the arteries and the other gives them elasticity, but chocolate can help with both.Michael Mosley, M.D., says that certain types of this sweet treat can lower cholesterol and high blood pressure levels. Red explains that he may bring it back from his zone.
Chocolate is loved by many people for its rich yet sweet taste.
You might be tempted to enjoy a milk square with your favorite filling, but this type doesn’t do much for your cardiovascular health.
However, according to Dr. Mosley, dark things can see your high cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure.
The doctor wrote in the Daily Mail:
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“But I often allow myself the luxury of eating a few small squares of dark chocolate in the late afternoon (or after dinner).
“It helps satisfy sweet cravings while also providing potential health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow, insulin and cholesterol levels, and energizing the brain.”
The reason why dark chocolate is so powerful comes down to its high flavanol content.
Dark chocolate contains these compounds, while white and milk chocolates have these compounds removed during the manufacturing process to reduce their bitterness.
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In addition, there is research to back up Dr. Mosley’s words. A study published in the journal BMC Medicine reviewed a variety of randomized controlled trials that tested cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate.
After settling on 15 trials that met their criteria, the researchers found that the food offered a “significant blood pressure-lowering effect.”
However, the team also found that only participants with hypertension or prehypertension could enjoy this benefit.
A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that combining dark chocolate and almonds reduced high levels of cholesterol in four weeks.
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After examining 48 overweight or obese individuals, researchers found that almonds alone lowered bad cholesterol by 7%.
Additionally, combining crunchy foods with dark chocolate also helped reduce fat sources.
Dr. Mosley spoke with Professor Edin Cassidy, an expert at Queen’s University Belfast, to find out the root of dark chocolate’s power.
“Professor Cassidy, a chocolate expert, believes that the flavanols in dark chocolate also ‘nutrition’ the ‘good’ bacteria that live in your gut.
“When you eat dark chocolate, the flavanols reach your colon before they can be metabolized,” says Cassidy.
“There, gut bacteria munch on them and convert them into special compounds that travel to the heart and brain to increase cerebral blood flow and aid in learning and memory.”
Chocolate experts recommend choosing dark chocolate with around 50% cocoa solids to enjoy its benefits.
“This is a compromise between very high cocoa solids (which can be very bitter) and low cocoa solids (high in calories and potentially too indulgent),” added Dr. Mosley.
