According to a German study report, limited amounts of dark chocolate can lower blood pressure.
But the good news comes with a warning: the amount of chocolate must be limited to 30 calories per day, which is slightly more than a single piece of Dove chocolate. German scientists pointed out in the research report that only the flavanol-rich cocoa powder in this specific range of dark chocolate "can guarantee a moderate reduction in individual blood pressure."
Eating chocolate without any restriction will not lower blood pressure, because "the reduction in blood pressure is attributed to flavanols, which can be offset by the high sugar, fat, and energy content in cocoa-based foods."
This study, published in the July 4th issue of the *Journal of the American Medical Association*, included a survey of 44 adults aged 56 to 73. These individuals had either slightly elevated blood pressure or severe hypertension.
The participants had no other heart conditions—this means they were not overweight, did not smoke, and did not have diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or kidney stones. Additionally, they were not taking any vitamins or nutritional supplements, and the only cocoa-containing food they consumed was provided by the researchers.
For 18 weeks, half of the participants were asked to eat 30 calories of dark chocolate (rich in polyphenols, an antioxidant) daily, while the other half were given 30 calories of white chocolate daily, which had the same nutritional content as the dark chocolate but was devoid of polyphenols.
By the end of the study, the group that ate dark chocolate had an average blood pressure reduction of 2.9 mm Hg, while the group that ate white chocolate showed no change.
Although the decrease in blood pressure was not significant, the effect is noteworthy. On a population-wide basis, experts estimate that for every 3 mm/Hg reduction in blood pressure, the risk of stroke can be reduced by 8%, the risk of coronary artery disease by 5%, and the risk of other various diseases by 4%.
The study was led by Dr. Dirk from the University of Cologne, Germany, who had previously conducted various studies on the effects of cocoa powder on hypertension. The doctor suspects that dark chocolate can increase nitric oxide in the body, which helps relax and open blood vessels.
Similarly, a U.S. nutrition expert found the following:
"If you have high blood pressure and regularly eat chocolate, it's best to eat a small piece of dark chocolate daily, as this will be very beneficial to your body."
The expert recommends choosing dark chocolate with a cocoa content of over 50%. He also pointed out that people who are sensitive to caffeine should be cautious when eating dark chocolate, as its caffeine content is higher than that of milk chocolate. Although the caffeine content in dark chocolate is not as high as in a cup of coffee, you will feel its effects if you consume it in the evening.
Furthermore, if you are in poor health, the findings of this study may not apply to you. It is only applicable to those who do not have severe hypertension or other illnesses and are not overweight. If you have diabetes or kidney disease, it is best to avoid chocolate.
To reiterate, while chocolate is not a magic wand, it is a great tool for maintaining health for relatively healthy individuals!