Marie Claire News

Saturday 4 July

CELEBRITY STYLE SPY: See all the latest celeb photos Stars animation


Dark chocolate cuts heart disease

Chocolate cake

Eating dark chocolate every day for two weeks can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease.

Grazing on a couple of squares of dark chocolate every day across a fortnight is apparently one way to beat high blood pressure and reduce the risk of diabetes – both of which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

The health benefits of our favourite snack have been well-documented, but this study is the first to highlight how rapid an effect dark chocolate can have at preventing illness.

The researchers who conducted the study believe these results could mean chocolate could help some patients improve their health without needing to take prescription drugs.

However, the scientists did stress that it is only dark chocolate and not milk chocolate that is good for the heart. Dark chocolate, which has high levels of cocoa, contains flavanols which produce nitric oxide which in turn helps relax artery walls and allows blood to flow more easily.

One researcher commented: 'Our findings suggest flavanol-rich, low-energy cocoa food products may have a positive impact on cardiovascular risk factors.'

Thursday 28 August 2008


Have your say ...

Add your own comment

I can not understand that the views regarding dark chocolate for Health is changing every day. Can you please tell me once and for all whether dark chocolate is genuinely good for High BP And Cardio disease?
Thanks

Suresh K Mehta
Comment by Suresh K Mehta on August 28 16:01

The article says that a couple of square of chocolate are good for your heart. So why not show a bar of chocolate instead of a piece of chocolate cake which would definitely not be good for your heart.
Comment by Gull Smith on August 28 22:32

Rate this ...

Rate this content

Thanks, your rating has been counted!

  • Current rating:

  • 4/5



Breaking headlines ...

August subscription offer