German researchers have suggested that while some people believe drinking tea can lower blood pressure, foods rich in cocoa powder may be more effective.
According to the Archives of Internal Medicine, foods rich in cocoa powder appear to help lower blood pressure, whereas green and black teas may not have the same effect. Researchers divided volunteers with high blood pressure into two groups: one followed medical advice to take hypertension medication on schedule, and the other consumed cocoa foods. After two weeks, the therapeutic effects of both groups were found to be essentially the same. The researchers noted that while using cocoa foods to lower blood pressure, there is also the potential to reduce the risk of heart attacks by 10% to 20%.[China Cuisine]
Why is cocoa more effective than tea for lowering blood pressure? It turns out that both cocoa and tea contain certain polyphenols, which are chemical compounds that help prevent cardiovascular diseases, and most fruits and vegetables also contain these polyphenols. However, cocoa contains a specific polyphenol that is more active in lowering blood pressure, a substance not found in tea.
The researchers warned: "Don't just hang out in coffee shops all the time because cocoa can lower blood pressure; too much of a good thing can be bad for your health." Research indicates that black chocolate mousse should perhaps be replaced by other high-calorie desserts, and any sensible diet must include a certain amount of cocoa foods rich in sugar, fat, and calories. He wrote: "From a practical standpoint, cocoa foods could potentially be included in the list of recommended foods for lowering blood pressure."