Posted on 07/27/2022 2:56:55 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Cocoa only reduces blood pressure and arterial stiffness when they are elevated, a study finds.
Cocoa flavanols have previously been found to lower blood pressure and arterial stiffness as much as some blood pressure medication. However, how effective flavanols are in everyday life in reducing blood pressure has remained unknown, as previous studies in this area have been performed in tightly controlled experimental settings.
Surrey's new research reduces concerns that cocoa as a treatment for raised blood pressure could pose health risks by decreasing blood pressure when it is not raised, paving the way for it to be potentially used in clinical practice.
In the first study of its kind study, researchers set out to investigate the use of flavanols, a compound found in cocoa, in lowering blood pressure and arterial stiffness in individuals outside of clinical settings.
Christian Heiss, professor, said: "High blood pressure and arterial stiffness increases a person's risk of heart disease and strokes."
Researchers found that blood pressure and arterial stiffness were only lowered in participants if it was high, and there was no effect when the blood pressure was low in the morning.
Significantly, effects were also, for the first time, identified at eight hours after cocoa was consumed. Researchers believe that this second peak may be due to how bacteria in the gut metabolize cocoa flavanols.
Professor Heiss added, "The positive impact cocoa flavanols have on our cardiovascular system, in particular, blood vessel function and blood pressure, is undeniable. Doctors often fear that some blood pressure tablets can decrease the blood pressure too much on some days.
"What we have found indicates that cocoa flavanols only decrease blood pressure if it is elevated. Working with participants' personal health technologies showed us how variable blood pressure and arterial stiffness can be from day to day."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
If looking for pure flavanols, consider Cocovia, which ConsumerLabs has said is the most concentrated form that also had no concerning toxic minerals (lead, cadmium, or arsenic).
Buy the extra dark cocoa powder and put a heaping spoonful in a cup of hot water and add some stevia. Delicious with very few calories.
So, cocaine is even better, right?
Coca cola is good for desolving car battery corrosion on terminals.
Makes you wonder what it does when you dump it down your gullet?
Lol!
My takeaway from this article is that dark chocolate is good for me.
News you can use.
I’m not sure that would have enough cocoa flavanoids.
The article says “6 capsules”. Digging down a bit in the underlying study, that was 862mg of flavanoids.
That’s about 27 lbs of a typical dark chocolate a day.
“I’m KOO-KOO for Coke!” said a confused Hunter.
Oh I could do that...grin.
Actually drinking a cup or two daily might have a very beneficial cumulative effect. It’s much better than hot cocoa and I believe I read that it’s a good source of magnesium as well. But it has to be the extra dark cocoa.
There is no such thing as extra dark cocoa powder right?
What are you referring to exactly?
It’s Extra Brute Cacao Powder. The rest is in French. It’s very dark, very intense flavor.
Put a teaspoon of sugar in a can of Coke and half of it will spew out. Also if a child loses a tooth and you soak it in Coke overnight the tooth will be gone by morning.
ok, i looked it up.
It’s a very high fat dutched cocoa.
Sounds expensive but good
[...27 lbs of a typical dark chocolate a day.]
Good European chocolate..., I could manage that.
yes, but expensive is relative. You use less and get a very intense flavor. I use it in baking and candy making but also use it for a cocoa drink without milk. Just hot water and a bit of stevia. LOL that keeps me from eating what I bake.
Hate to break it to you, but that is “dutched” chocolate.
That removes the bitterness and improves taste, but destroys the flavonals.
Ah well. It’s still good.
“[...27 lbs of a typical dark chocolate a day.] . . Good European chocolate..., I could manage that.”
Wash it down with the 40 liters of wine daily of nice red wine necessary to get 500mg of resveratrol and you’ll be all set to go.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.