Blood Pressure Chocolate

What about your blood pressure and chocolate? High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is an epidemic in our country today. It’s a dangerous disease that can shorten a persons life and cause a number of complications to every day living. In order to bring high blood pressure down to a lower, more healthy level, one can take prescription medication. Can one also consume chocolate?

The University Hospital of Cologne in Germany conducted a test to determine if the antioxidants in cocoa and tea, known as polyphenols, might possible be helpful in lowering blood pressure.

Five studies were performed and 173 people participated. They focused on the effects of chocolate on blood pressure. Of these five studies, four of them came out with positive effects!

The studies showed that, for high blood pressure, chocolate can help. The people participating in the studied consumed cocoa rich foods and realized a blood pressure drop that could also be achieved by taking prescription blood pressure medication.

Of course if you want to eat some chocolate to satisfy your sweeet tooth and possible help lower your blood pressure, chocolate is not all created equal. Chocolate does include sugar and fats. The lighter milk chocolates especially. If you eat a great deal of chocolate and are consuming more calories, fat and sugar, your overall health will not improve. In fact, your health could deteriorate. So when eating chocolate make sure you are doing so in a smart way to promote your health.

And remember that dark chocolate, like grape juice, can encourage your blood vessels to become more flexible to adjust to blood pressure. And make sure you always keep in touch with your doctor about your hypertension, chocolate or no!

Related posts:

1. Chocolate Health Benefits
2. Dark Chocolate Ingredients
3. Chocolate History
4. Sugar Free Chocolate
5. Chocolate Drinks

Tagged with: Blood Pressure • Health

Filed under: Health

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