Chocolate Can Be Good for Your Health?



Did you know that eating chocolate on a regular basis can be good for your health? To clarify, it is the dark variety that can be good for you with at least 70% cocoa.

It has been found that dark chocolate contains flavanols (specifically, catechin) which can help to reduce blood pressure for those with hypertension. Flavanols are also found in green tea and blueberries.

 

How Can Eating Dark Chocolate Be Good for You?

Help Reduce Blood Pressure

We will start with explaining the structure of blood vessels. The endothelium is a thin membrane that lines the inside of blood vessels. The endothelial cells release substances that control the vascular relaxation and contraction of the blood vessels. Since dark chocolate contains flavanols, the flavanols stimulate the formation of endothelial nitric oxide. It is this “substance” which promotes the dilation (widening) of the blood vessels. The result of this dilation or widening is a reduction in blood pressure.

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