Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, killing about 659,000 people each year. People at the highest risk of heart disease have underlying problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. Unhealthy habits such as smoking, heavy drinking, poor diet, and lack of exercise can also lead to potential heart disease.
For those at risk, there are ways to reduce your chances of changing your diet and constantly checking and managing your underlying condition. Medicines and supplements can also serve as useful aids.In fact, one study shows that: Cocoa extract supplements are a way to reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease..
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Studies conducted by American Journal of Clinical Nutrition We investigated whether supplementation with cocoa extract reduced total cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the elderly. Researchers included 12,666 women over the age of 65 and 8,776 men over the age of 60, all of whom had no major cardiovascular disease and were recently diagnosed with cancer.
The experiment used a double-blind, 2×2 factorial test. From June 2015 to December 2020, cocoa extract supplements were randomly given, as well as placebo (a harmless pill prescribed for psychological benefits rather than physiological effects) multivitamins. ..
3.6 years later Cocoa extract supplements reduced CVD mortality in the elderly by 27%.. We also found that protocol-by-protocol analysis (interpretation of randomized clinical trial results that remove data from non-protocol-compliant patients) supports a potential reduction in total cardiovascular events.
Cocoa beans are derived from the cocoa beans that are often found in chocolate. According to the National Cancer Center The extract has potential benefits such as anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protection, neuroprotection, cognitive enhancement and chemopreventive effects, and vasodilation.– Expansion of blood vessels as a result of relaxation of the muscle walls of blood vessels.
The extract contains flavonoids. Flavonoids are a group of plant metabolites that are thought to provide health benefits through cellular signaling pathways and antioxidant activity. Flavonoids include high levels of epicatechins, catechins, procyanidins, and xanthines such as theobromine.
The National Cancer Institute also suggests that when cocoa extract is consumed, its active ingredient causes vasodilation. This improves blood flow and lowers blood pressure. Cocoa extract also improves insulin sensitivity, enhances cognition, and reduces the production of pro-inflammatory molecules.
For more information on cardiovascular disease, see Diets to Avoid If You Don’t Want Heart Disease, Science says.
Kayla Garitano
Kayla Garritano is Eat This, Not That! I’m a staff writer. She graduated from Hofstra University with a major in journalism and two minors in marketing and creative writing.read more
