High blood pressure or hypertension is a serious disease in the U.S. and in the world. It is so serious that every day millions of people take prescribed medications in an effort to lower their blood pressure to normal range. But what if the simplest of all medicines was dark chocolate? Can dark chocolate really reduce blood pressure?
According to a recently completed German study, the answer is yes. Dr Dirk Taubert, a researcher at the University Hospital of Cologne divided 44 adult men and women with stage 1 hypertension and ranging in age from 56 to 73 years into two groups. One group was given just over 6 grams of dark chocolate a day, each containing 30 mg of polyphenols. Each day the second group received an equal amount of white chocolate, without polyphenols. The study lasted 18 weeks.
At the study's end, it was found that the systolic blood pressure of those participants who ate the dark had dropped an average of three points. Diastolic pressure was reduced by 2 points. In addition, those who ate the dark experience no weight gain. According to Dr. Taubert, the study showed that "Regular intake of small amounts of the dark can help to lower pressure."
Although prior studies have linked foods that are rich in cocoa to lower incidences of heart disease and heart attacks, this study specifically focused on the effects of cocoa on blood pressure. It would appear the the magic ingredient in the chocolate is polyphenols. The higher the percentage of polyphenols in the dark chocolate, the more the LDL (i.e., "bad cholesterol") in the bloodstream was reduced. At the same time the amount of HDL (i.e., "good cholesterol") in the bloodstream increased.
As the news of this study gravitates to the general public, there are bound to be a number of important questions and concerns regarding the intake of dark chocolate. Here are answers to a few:
What is a polyphenol? Polyphenols are a group of chemical substances found in plants. Polyphenols are loaded with antioxidants and flavonoids which have been shown to be very helpful in enhancing the immune system.
Will dark chocolate be covered by insurance? At the present time, no. However, if universal health care passes, there is a possibility that it could be covered. Write your congressman or woman.
Will I require a prescription to buy dark chocolate? Initially no. But as the major drug companies invade the chocolate industry there are sure to be patented chocolate medicines that will require a prescription. Talk to your doctor for the latest info.
Can I overdose on dark chocolate? Yes you can, if you consume a great deal of chocolate in a short amount of time. To best protect yourself, try to only eat dark chocolate that has no alcohol and no sugar.
The important thing is not to go overboard on chocolate binges. If you have elevated blood pressure and decide to add dark chocolate to your diet, talk to your doctor and inform him of your decision so he can help you to make the right dietary decision.
