Page 28 - BBC - The Scientific Guide to a Healthier You

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LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE

Substances called flavanols in cocoa work
like blood pressure-lowering drugs called
ACE inhibitors. Flavanols stimulate the
How guilty should you feel about devouring body to produce nitrous oxide in the blood,
which helps open up blood vessels.
some chocolate? Not much, apparently. Researchers found regularly eating cocoa

*GTG CTG UEKGPVKƂE TGCUQPU YJ[ lowered blood pressure. But one per cent
of people had stomach aches from
chocolate isn’t all bad… over-indulging!

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PREVENTS LIVER DAMAGE BOOSTS ‘GOOD CHOLESTEROL’ KEEPS YOUR HEART HEALTHY

The beneficial effects of chocolate on blood Cocoa contains polyphenols. Eating All the effects of chocolate on the
pressure come from the high flavanol chocolate with high polyphenol levels circulatory system (lowering blood
content, and the nitrous oxide that dilates (found in dark chocolate) could improve pressure, opening up the blood vessels and
blood vessels. High blood pressure in the ‘good’ cholesterol levels, according to reducing inflammation) can help keep our
veins of the liver is thought to be linked dietitian Gaynor Bussell. “Cocoa consists hearts healthy and ward off heart disease
with liver damage and chronic mainly of stearic acid and oleic acid. Stearic and strokes. A review of studies of more

liver disease. Early research has shown acid is a saturated fat, but doesn’t raise than 114,000 people found that those who
that dark chocolate improves blood blood cholesterol levels. Oleic acid doesn’t ate the most chocolate were 37 per cent
flow in the liver. raise it [either] and may even reduce it.” less likely to have coronary heart disease.

28 BBC SCIENCE FOCUS MAGAZINE COLLECTION