Kuna Indians in Panama who consume very high amounts of flavanol-rich cocoa appear to have lower blood pressure and reduced risk of several chronic diseases. While cocoa is not a magic bullet, there is a plausible link between dietary flavanols, nitric oxide signaling, and cardiovascular health.
For people with existing hypertension, capsules containing cocoa flavanols helped reduce blood pressure and arterial stiffness, according to a small study in Frontiers in Nutrition. Previous trials back up these findings — in fact, some research suggests that cocoa flavanols lower blood pressure and arterial stiffness as much as certain bloodRead
We know that chocolate is the way to many people’s hearts. Now a study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that a cocoa flavanol extract may offer protection against cardiovascular events. Flavanols are nutrient-rich compounds found in several plant foods, including cocoa, purple and red grapes, blueberries, andRead
