A few squares of dark chocolate a day may stave off artery hardening in smokersDecember 20, 2005Dark chocolate improves endothelial and platelet function Heart 2006; 92: 119-20 Dark chocolate may stave off artery hardening in smokers, and a few squares every day could potentially cut the risk of serious heart disease, finds a small study in Heart. Researchers compared the effects of dark (74% cocoa solids) and white chocolate on the smoothness of arterial blood flow in 20 male smokers.
In smokers the activity of both endothelial cells, which line the artery walls, and platelets, which are involved in the formation of blood clots, are continuously disrupted, making the arteries susceptible to the narrowing and hardening characteristic of coronary artery disease. Before eating 40 g of chocolate (about 2 oz), smokers were first asked to abstain from other foods rich in antioxidants, such as onions, apples, cabbage, and cocoa products for 24 hours. After two hours, ultrasound scans revealed that dark chocolate significantly improved the smoothness of arterial flow, an effect which lasted for eight hours. Blood sample analysis also showed that dark chocolate almost halved platelet activity. Antioxidant levels rose sharply after two hours. White chocolate had no effect on endothelial cells, platelets, or antioxidant levels. Dark chocolate has more antioxidants per gram than other foods laden with the substances, such as red wine, green tea, and berry fruits, say the authors, who suggest that the beneficial effects of dark chocolate lie in its antioxidant content. "Only a small daily treat of dark chocolate may substantially increase the amount of antioxidant intake and beneficially affect vascular health," conclude the authors. BMJ Specialty Journals | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Related Dark Chocolate Current Events and Dark Chocolate News Articles New study re-emphasizes natural cocoa powder has high antioxidant content Over the past ten years, dark chocolate and cocoa have become recognized through numerous studies for flavanol antioxidant benefits. Dark chocolate: Half a bar per week to keep at bay the risk of heart attack Maybe gourmands are not jumping for joy. Probably they would have preferred bigger amounts to sup-port their passion. Though the news is still good for them: 6.7 grams of chocolate per day represent the ideal amount for a protective effect against inflammation and subsequent cardiovascular disease. The benefits of green tea in reducing an important risk factor for heart disease More evidence for the beneficial effect of green tea on risk factors for heart disease has emerged in a new study reported in the latest issue of European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation. Chocolate bar shown to lower cholesterol The results of a University of Illinois study have demonstrated an effective way to lower cholesterol levels - by eating chocolate bars. Cocoa, but not tea, may lower blood pressure Foods rich in cocoa appear to reduce blood pressure but drinking tea may not, according to an analysis of previously published research in the April 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Northwestern chemists develop new method for synthesizing anti-cancer flavonoids Flavonoids. You've heard of them — the good-for-your-health compounds found in plants that we enjoy in red wine, dark chocolate, green tea and citrus fruits. Mother Nature is an ace at making them, producing different ones by the thousands, but no chemist has figured out a good way to synthesize a special class of these chemicals in the laboratory. Until now. New study suggests special cocoa may lead to sustained improvement in blood vessel function Drinking a specially-made cocoa beverage daily may have the potential to reverse impairments in the functioning of blood vessels, according to a first-of-its-kind study published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology. Boosting brain power — with chocolate Eating chocolate could help to sharpen up the mind and give a short-term boost to cognitive skills, a University of Nottingham expert has found. Cloudy apple juice four times healthier than clear Cloudy apple juice is four times healthier than the clear variety, reports Sarah Scoffield in Chemistry & Industry, the magazine of the SCI. Flavanol-rich cocoa improves blood vessel function in aging baby boomer study participants Flavanol-rich cocoa could offer powerful cardiovascular benefits for the nearly 78 million baby boomers in the United States today, suggests a new study published in the August issue of the Journal of Hypertension. More Dark Chocolate Current Events and Dark Chocolate News Articles |
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