Originally published July 27 2005
Dark chocolate shown to have healthy effects in study
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Chocolate is widely accepted as an indulgence, but Forbes reports that a study by Tufts University researchers shows dark chocolate may lower blood pressure by an average of 10 percent while improving the body's sensitivity to insulin.
In addition to all the pleasurable sensations associated with the sweet, it may also help lower blood pressure by an average of 10 percent while improving the body's sensitivity to insulin, researchers report.
However, this benefit applies only to dark chocolate, which is rich in flavonoids -- the same antioxidant compounds found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains that are known to help lower blood pressure, according to the report in the July 18 online edition of Hypertension.
"We found that three ounces of dark chocolate per day over several weeks reduced blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension and also seemed to provide a benefit on their insulin sensitivity," he added.
First, the researchers had five of the men and five of the women eat dark chocolate while the others ate white chocolate, which contains no flavonoids.
Given these results, Blumberg believes that dark chocolate can be good for you.
"Dark chocolate can be included as part of a healthful diet in patients who have hypertension," he said.
You don't want to have excess calories or put on weight if you have hypertension," Blumberg said.
"Dark chocolate may be health-promoting," said Dr. David L. Katz, an associate clinical professor of public health and director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine.
Katz, who is doing his own research into the benefits of chocolate, noted that chocolate is rich in not only antioxidants, but also magnesium and fiber.
Without more definitive data on whether chocolate promotes weight gain that might outweigh its benefits, Dr. Jeffrey Mechanick, the director of the Metabolic Support Service at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, is hesitant to recommend it as a health food.
It's still unproven that it's beneficial and there could be risks involved."
Mechanick also warned that the data about the benefits of dark chocolate should not mean replacing other high blood pressure therapy with chocolate.
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