Posted on 07/03/2007 11:02:43 PM PDT by neverdem
AP Medical Writer
CHICAGO --Here's some good and bad news for chocoholics: Dark chocolate seems to lower blood pressure, but it requires an amount less than two Hershey's Kisses to do it, a small study suggests. The new research from Germany adds to mounting evidence linking dark chocolate with health benefits, but it's the first to suggest that just a tiny amount may suffice.
Volunteers for the study ate just over 6 grams of dark chocolate daily for almost five months - one square from a German chocolate bar called Ritter Sport, equal to about 1 1/2 Hershey's Kisses. People who ate that amount ended up with lower blood pressure readings than those who ate white chocolate.
University of Cologne researcher Dr. Dirk Taubert, the study's lead author, said the blood pressure reductions with dark chocolate were small but still substantial enough to potentially reduce cardiovascular disease risks, although study volunteers weren't followed long enough to measure that effect.
The research involved just 44 people aged 56 through 73, but the results echo other small studies of cocoa-containing foods. Cocoa contains flavanols, plant-based compounds that also are credited with giving red wine its heart-healthy benefits.
One problem is chocolate bars containing cocoa tend to have lots of calories, so Taubert and his colleagues tested small amounts containing just 30 calories each.
The study appears in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. It was funded by University Hospital in Cologne.
The results are interesting but need to be duplicated in larger, more ethnically diverse populations, said Dr. Laura Svetkey, director of Duke University's Hypertension Center.
She stressed that the study results should not be viewed as license to gorge on chocolate.
"I would be as happy as the next person if I got to eat more chocolate," she said, but cautioned that weight gain from eating large amounts of dark chocolate would counteract any benefits on blood pressure.
Study participants were otherwise healthy and mostly normal-weight German adults with mild high blood pressure or pre-hypertension, which includes readings between 120 over 80 and 139 over 89.
Average blood pressure at the start was about 147 over 86.
Every day for 18 weeks, the volunteers were instructed to eat one-square portions of a 16-square Ritter Sport bar, or a similar portion of white chocolate. White chocolate doesn't contain cocoa.
Systolic blood pressure, the top number, fell an average of nearly three points and diastolic dropped almost two points in the dark chocolate group, compared with no change in blood pressure readings in the white chocolate group.
Tests suggested that steady exposure to dark chocolate prompted chemical changes that helped dilate blood vessels and regulate blood pressure, the researchers said.
Participants were told not to eat other cocoa-containing products and to continue regular eating habits and activity levels. They also kept food diaries so researchers could see if other foods might have influenced the results.
But, said Taubert, "It is very unlikely that other factors may explain the blood pressure reduction."
Dr. Lawrence Appel of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine said the most proven non-drug methods for lowering blood pressure are losing weight and eating less salt. Eating dark chocolate might help if combined with those two, he said.
For most people, "the lower your blood pressure, the better you are. So if you can get it lower from different strategies that's good for the long term," Appel said,
*PING*!
Great, I’m always looking for more reasons to eat Ritter Sport chocolate bars. I best make a point of swinging by Trader Joe’s tomorrow to grab a few more.
-Roscommon
Two comments. White chocolate has zero chocolate in it and Ritter is crap chocolate. If they had eaten some quality chocolate they probably would be out running marathons or climbing Everest!
The head of the Immunology department has a “candy closet”. He stocks up on Hershey kisses, Dove bars, and many other bite size candies. I think everyone in the Lab stops by for an afternoon candy break. Nice to know that not only does it make for a pleasant work environment but it is lowering our blood pressure. Thank you Dr. K.
I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! :) Woo-Hoo!
“She stressed that the study results should not be viewed as license to gorge on chocolate.”
Listen, Lady! You’re not the boss of ME! ;)
Wow. I must be died then.
English made Cadbury’s only for me. Hersheys Cadbury’s is like toffee compared to the creamy, milky, melt in your mouth REAL stuff. Brought about 8 lbs back with me from a recent trip!
I bought dark chocolate by the bar until I decided to buy baking chips instead. I now put the chips in a bowl and just take a small number when the urge hits. I think this helps me in portion control the best and seems to be in line with what this research suggests.
I used to work for a company that had all sorts of snacks available for clients (and workers as well).
They made fresh popcorn several times a day... After working there for 4 1/2 years, I can’t stand the smell of popcorn. They had all sorts of little candy bars, and I was able to withstand the temptation of all of them... Except for the “Hersheys Special Dark” miniatures. I had to have one of those, if there were any.
I LOVE dark chocolate!
Mark
I’m not dinging chocolate, I eat a fair share of dark chocolate, the bitterer the betterer. Wish I could find a place in Seattle that had the nibs.
But it’s likely that getting a good amount of potassium, magnesium, and niacin in your diet will do far more than chocolate.
Great! I just had a fudge bar.
I hope you didn't eat it all in one sitting. LOL! You will have to live in the health club to work that off. LOL!
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.