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Food

Chocolate - Cocoa

NEWS:

Chocolate Bar Shown To Lower Cholesterol

Chocolate may reduce pregnancy complication risk“Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is rich in a chemical called theobromine, which stimulates the heart, relaxes smooth muscle and dilates blood vessels, and has been used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, and hardening of the arteries, Dr. Elizabeth W. Triche of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut and colleagues write. Preeclampsia, in which blood pressure spikes during pregnancy while excess protein is released into the urine, has many features in common with heart disease, the researchers add.“

Cocoa Compound Boosts Brain's Blood Flow: Flavanols in Cocoa May Help Treat Stroke, Dementia “The ingredient is flavanols, which are nutrients found in cocoa. Flavanols are considered to act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories on cells. These chemicals can protect cells and tissue from damage, which in turn protects against heart disease and cancer.”

Cocoa, but Not Tea, Lowers Blood Pressure

Dark Chocolate Is More Filling Than Milk Chocolate And Lessens Cravings

Dark Chocolate: Half A Bar Per Week May Keep Heart Attack Risk At Bay “Chocolate amounts are critical. "We are talking of a moderate consumption. The best effect is obtained by consuming an average amount of 6.7 grams of chocolate per day, corresponding to a small square of chocolate twice or three times a week. Beyond these amounts the beneficial effect tends to disappear". From a practical point of view, as the common chocolate bar is 100 grams, the study states that less than half a bar of dark chocolate consumed during the week may become a healthy habit. What about the milk chocolate? "Previous studies," the young investigator continues, "have demonstrated that milk interferes with the absorption of polyphenols. That is why our study considered just the dark chocolate". “

ARTICLES:

The Truth About Chocolate

JOURNAL ARTICLES:

Acute dark chocolate and cocoa ingestion and endothelial function: a randomized controlled crossover trial (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008) “Conclusions: The acute ingestion of both solid dark chocolate and liquid cocoa improved endothelial function and lowered blood pressure in overweight adults. Sugar content may attenuate these effects, and sugar-free preparations may augment them.”

Chocolate consumption and bone density in older women (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008) “Conclusions: Older women who consume chocolate daily had lower bone density and strength. Additional cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these observations. Confirmation of these findings could have important implications for prevention of osteoporotic fracture.”

Chocolate Consumption in Pregnancy and Reduced Likelihood of Preeclampsia. (Epidemiology. 2008)

Daily consumption of a dark chocolate containing flavanols and added sterol esters affects cardiovascular risk factors in a normotensive population with elevated cholesterol. (J Nutr. 2008) “Results indicate that regular consumption of chocolate bars containing PS and CF as part of a low-fat diet may support cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol and improving blood pressure.”

Dark Chocolate Effect on Platelet Activity, C-Reactive Protein and Lipid Profile: A Pilot Study. (South Med J. 2008)

Effects of long-term administration of a cocoa polyphenolic extract (Acticoa powder) on cognitive performances in aged rats. (Br J Nutr. 2008) “These results suggest that Acticoa powder may be beneficial in retarding age-related brain impairments, including cognitive deficits in normal ageing and perhaps neurodegenerative diseases. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms of cocoa polyphenols in neuroprotection and to explore their effects in man.”

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