Eating just one square of chocolate a day can cut the risk of heart attack and stroke by 39%, researchers said today.That's a tiny amount of chocolate for an effect. Further down it notes:Eating 7.5g of chocolate daily also leads to lower blood pressure, a study found.
Researchers in Germany followed 19,357 people aged between 35 and 65 for at least a decade.
Those who ate the most amount of chocolate - an average of 7.5g a day - had lower chances of heart attacks and stroke than those who ate the least amount (1.7g a day on average).
The difference between the two groups amounted to 6g of chocolate - less than one square of a 100g bar.
The study, published in the European Heart Journal, concluded that if those people who ate the least chocolate increased their intake by 6g a day there would be fewer heart attacks and strokes.
Frank Ruschitzka, from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), said: "Basic science has demonstrated quite convincingly that dark chocolate particularly, with a cocoa content of at least 70%, reduces oxidative stress and improves vascular and platelet function.70% cocoa chocolate is not that nice, in my experience, so I'll eat twice as much 40% chocolate instead.
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If you decide to try to incorporate chocolate into your battle against high blood pressure, keep in mind that the chocolate must still have the flavonoids in it for it to have any possible cardiovascular benefits. Most commercial chocolates are so processed they no longer have the flavonoids so be sure to check the label before you buy.
Researchers believe that chocolate may help by increasing nitric oxide levels in your blood stream which then helps your body control your blood pressure. Exercise is probably one of the best ways to increase nitric oxide and it is supported by many scientific studies. Another great way to lower blood pressure naturally is with an isometric handgrip therapy device called the Zona Plus.
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