Can Eating Dark Chocolate Protect My Heart?
October 20, 2009 No Comments
According to a scientific study – just 1 ounce of dark chocolate has more healthy axtioxidants than a glass of red wine. For instance -Dove Dark, manufactured by Mars contains Cocoapro cocoa, which is a specially processed cocoa that contains super-high levels of the antoxidant flavonoid. The flavonoids in Dove Dark are so high that Dove Dark is often chosen to be used in medical research.
Studies have shown that people with high level of flavonoids in their blood stream tend to have a lower risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In one of the studies carried out by renowned professor Penny Kris-Etherton, R.D., Ph.D., of Pennsylvania state University – concluded that people who ate a diet rich in cocoa powder and dark chocolate had lower oxidation levels of bad LDL cholestrol, and a 5 percent higher levels of good HDL cholesterol.
Chocolate (cocoa) also reduces blood clotting, and may also stabilize arterial plaque, making it less likely to travel and cause a stroke or a heat attack. The effect is said to be comparable to that of aspirin. Some of the procyanidins in cocoapro trigger the production of nitric oxide, which help arteries to be flexible and increase blood flow.
How much chocolate should I eat a day?
Don’t overeat chocolate – as the health benefits will be counter-productive. According to Scientists from the ‘Italian Catholic University’. Approximately 7 grams (approx 1/4 of an ounce) of chocolate per day is a healthy amount for the protection of inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
