High cholesterol can increase your risk of serious health problems, from heart disease to stroke, so it’s important to keep your levels in check. Maybe, but some research suggests it does.
Dark chocolate, with its intense flavor, not only tastes great, but also has health benefits.
Combining this treat with some almonds can even help lower cholesterol levels in four weeks.
A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association makes a strong case for enjoying this snack.
The combination of crunchy nuts and rich chocolate types significantly lowered LDL cholesterol, also known as the “bad” cholesterol.
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Not all cholesterol is harmful, but a type called bad cholesterol can clog arteries and increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.
A research team investigated the effects of dark chocolate, cocoa, and almonds on coronary heart disease risk markers in 48 overweight and obese people between the ages of 30 and 70.
During the first month of the trial, participants did not eat any of the foods studied.
For the next four weeks, they ate only 42.5 grams of almonds each day.
Penny Chris Etherton, lead author of the study, said:
“The message is not that you should go out and eat lots of chocolate and almonds to lower your LDL.
“People are allowed about 270 calories per day, and when foods such as almonds, dark chocolate, and cocoa are taken together as ad libitum, they are not associated with health benefits, unlike other ad libitum foods such as frosted donuts. benefits.”
If you’re tempted to give up almonds and reach for chocolate alone, Chris Etherton cautioned against this choice.
Eating dark chocolate and cocoa alone didn’t appear to have a significant impact on heart health, according to the study.
“Chocolate doesn’t raise cholesterol, but it doesn’t lower it,” she added.
So if you want to level up, it’s important to combine sweet treats with almonds.
However, cocoa beans seem to be powerful as Heart UK explains that cocoa beans contain phytochemicals called flavanols, which are a type of antioxidant.
Studies looking at these goodies, especially one called epicatechin, have linked flavanols to heart health benefits such as increasing the elasticity of blood vessels and lowering blood pressure.
But the best way to get enough flavanols is sadly not from cocoa. This is because plant foods such as berries and nuts contain only sufficient amounts.
