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There are two different kinds of flavonoids called catechin and epicatechins. Catechins, which have recently been found to be abundant in cocoa and minimally processed chocolates such as Yachana Jungle Chocolate, could also help prevent heart disease and possibly cancer, as well as boosting the immune system, according to recent studies. Dark chocolate has also recently been found to contain more than 3 times the amount of catechins as that found in tea. Chocolate is also a good source of copper and magnesium, which helps to regulate heartbeat and blood pressure.
Of course eating large amounts of chocolate is still bad for you and could cause weight gain. But, taken in smaller quantities, it could prove to be very beneficial to your health. It all depends on the quantity and the type of chocolate that you are eating. There have been many different studies showing the possible effects of chocolate consumption on groups of participants.
One such study by the associated press entitled 'Study: Dark chocolate lowers blood pressure' printed on August 27, 2003 which appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association included 13 adults with untreated mild hypertension. Each of them ate 3-ounce chocolate bars every day for two weeks. Half of them received white chocolate while the other half got dark chocolate. Blood pressure was shown to be relatively unchanged for those who ate the white chocolate, but the dark chocolate eaters' blood pressure showed changes. Their systolic blood pressure dropped an average of 5 points and their diastolic reading dropped an average of nearly two points.
In another study conducted at Pennsylvania State University by study leader Penny Kris-Etherton, a group of participants, split into two groups, ate the same low fat diet except for one of the groups got a chocolate bar and the other group received a high-carb snack. The groups later switched snacks. Total blood cholesterol and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels didn't vary with either snack. But, increases in HDL ("good") cholesterol and reductions in triglycerides (a heart-risky type of blood fat) were found in the people eating chocolate.
However, it is important to note that these health benefits are seen for people who eat traditional chocolate bars that include minimal amounts of heavily processed cocoa that have been blended with large amounts of sugars, dairy products, and artificial flavorings. But rather, to benefit from eating chocolate, one should be eating dark chocolates that have a high percentage of cocoa content. Even more beneficial to one's health is to eat cocoa is the crudest format possible. This is why Yachana Jungle Chocolate is unique. Yachana Jungle Chocolate is made from cocoa nibs - little bits of cocoa beans that have been fermented, dried, and just slightly roasted - making it one of the healthiest chocolate on the market.
Got high blood pressurehigh blood pressure? Try a truffle. Worried about heart diseaseheart disease? Buy a bon-bon. It's the best medical news in ages. Studies in two prestigious scientific journals say dark chocolate -- but not white chocolate or milk chocolate -- is good for you.
Dark chocolate -- not white chocolate -- lowers high blood
pressure, say Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of
Cologne, Germany. Their report appears in the Aug. 27 issue of The Journal of
the American Medical Association.
But that's no license to go on a chocolate binge. Eating more dark chocolate can
help lower blood pressure -- if you've reached a certain age and have mild high
blood pressure, say the researchers. But you have to balance the extra calories
by eating less of other things.
Dark chocolate -- but not milk chocolate or dark chocolate
eaten with milk -- is a potent antioxidant, report Mauro Serafini, PhD, of
Italy's National Institute for Food and NutritionNutrition Research in Rome, and
colleagues. Their report appears in the Aug. 28 issue of Nature. Antioxidants
gobble up free radicals, destructive molecules that are implicated in heart
disease and other ailments.
"Our findings indicate that milk may interfere with the absorption of
antioxidants from chocolate ... and may therefore negate the potential health
benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate."
Translation: Say "Dark, please," when ordering at the chocolate counter. Don't
even think of washing it down with milk. And if health is your excuse for eating
chocolate, remember the word "moderate" as you nibble.
Taubert's team signed up six men and seven women aged 55-64.
All had just been diagnosed with mild high blood pressure -- on average,
systolic blood pressure (the top number) of 153 and diastolic blood pressure
(the bottom number) of 84.
Every day for two weeks, they ate a 100-gram candy bar and were asked to balance
its 480 calories by not eating other foods similar in nutrients and calories.
Half the patients got dark chocolate and half got white chocolate.
Those who ate dark chocolate had a significant drop in blood pressure (by an
average of 5 points for systolic and an average of 2 points for diastolic blood
pressure). Those who ate white chocolate did not.
In the second study, Serafini's team signed up seven healthy women and five
healthy men aged 25-35. On different days they each ate 100 grams of dark
chocolate by itself, 100 grams of dark chocolate with a small glass of whole
milk, or 200 grams of milk chocolate.
An hour later, those who ate dark chocolate alone had the most total
antioxidants in their blood. And they had higher levels of epicatechin, a
particularly healthy compound found in chocolate. The milk chocolate eaters had
the lowest epicatechin levels of all.
Chocolate for Blood Pressure: Darker Is Better
What is it about dark chocolate? The answer is plant phenols -- cocoa phenols,
to be exact. These compounds are known to lower blood pressure.
Chocolates made in Europe are generally richer in cocoa phenols than those made
in the U.S. So if you're going to try this at home, remember: Darker is better.
Just remember to balance the calories. A 100-gram serving of Hershey's Special
Dark Chocolate Bar has 531 calories, according to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. If you ate that much raw apple you'd only take in 52 calories. But
then, you'd miss out on the delicious blood pressure benefit.
A hint: Don't replace healthy foods with chocolate. Most people's diets have
plenty of sweets. Switch those for some chocolate if you're going to try the
truffle treatment.
Related Links:
Super Foods: The Top 10 Healthiest Foods
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