Eating dark chocolate every day could help guard against heart disease and stroke, new research has suggested.

Dark chocolate diet reduces risk of stroke and heart disease, study suggests
Article in the Telegraph

Extract:

"Patients with raised blood pressure who treated themselves to one 100 gramme bar per day saw their health improve significantly over a two week trial period.

The study led by scientists in America and Italy looked at 19 patients with high blood pressure.

For two weeks, the patients were given 100 grammes of white chocolate, which is not rich in flavanols - a health-giving antioxidant found in dark chocolate.

Their blood pressure and cholesterol levels were then measured.

After the fortnight their diet was changed so that they were given dark chocolate instead of white chocolate. After two weeks of eating dark chocolate, their blood pressure readings showed an impressive reduction. On average, their blood pressures fell by three millimetres of mercury."

I personally favour chocolate because it very seldom contains much salt so it is not 'fattening' - despite the widespread misinformation that claims that it is fattening.

It's also good for you because it is rich in magnesium, which helps to counter fluid retention, the cause of obesity.

But as regards blood pressure and cholesterol levels, the very best course of action of all is to avoid salt and salty food. This lowers both significantly and makes you feel much better.

Lose weight, reduce your risk of most cancers, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, heart attack, vascular dementia, osteopenia, osteoporosis, hypercholesterolaemia, depression, liver and kidney problems, and improve your health in many other ways without drugs or expense by eating less salt! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!

vulnerable groups

See Sodium in foods

Associated health conditions