Dark Chocolate Benefits

Great news for chocolate lovers, researchers in Germany have found that including dark chocolate in the diet may help to lower blood pressure. While this is music to the ears of chocoholics, this does not give a green light to go on a chocolate binge. Some more on the study follows.

In a study conducted by researchers in Germany, a group of participants with high blood pressure were divided into a group of two. One of the groups was instructed to eat dark chocolate 2 hours after their dinner and the other group was instructed to eat white chocolate 2 hours after their meal. No other changes to daily routines were made, such as adding a diet pill. Only a dietary change of cutting calories to offset the calorie value of the chocolate bar was made.

At the end of the study, those who were instructed to eat dark chocolate had lowered their cholesterol by at least five points. Those who were instructed to eat white chocolate had no change in cholesterol readings.

Based on the findings from the study, researchers determined that the antioxidants found in chocolate as well as the coca plant phenols were responsible for the lowering of the cholesterol reading. Unlike white chocolate which does not contain any cocoa, dark chocolate is rich in these attributes that lower cholesterol.

Even though the findings are good news for chocolate lovers, there are some things to remember and that is that darker is better. Higher percentages of cocoa present in the chocolate bar, equals more antioxidants and phenols, and a greater benefit to you. Also, milk chocolate, and chocolate in general is high in sugar, so moderation is key. Eating a large amount of chocolate will not help you lose weight, but rather can have reverse effects. When selecting a chocolate, it is wise to choose a European variety as they often contain less sugar than American versions.