Cocoa helps lower blood pressure

A recent study in the Netherlands found that eating or drinking cocoa reduced blood pressure and reduced the risk of death from diseases in the elderly.

Cocoa contains a flavan-3-ols related to lowering blood pressure (Photo: TTO) The 15-year study carried out over 470 people from 65 to 84 years of age in Zutphen, Netherlands. These people were divided into three groups: one group did not use cocoa, one group used less (4.7grams of cocoa per day) and the other group ate a lot of cocoa.

Results showed that out of 314 people who died between 1985 and 2000, the highest intake group halved the risk of death compared to the non-cocoa group.

The researchers found that this risk was reduced even if there were other risk factors such as weight, tobacco, physical activity, calories and alcohol consumption.

Cocoa has been found to increase cardiovascular health since the 1700s, and researchers now know that cocoa contains a substance called flavan-3-ols, which is linked to lowering blood pressure and improving function. energy in the blood vessels.

Cocoa also has many antioxidants, which can fight other oxidative-related diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and some cancers.

However, the researchers were also cautious when claiming it was too early to make recommendations to eat lots of cocoa or chocolate, and said a more extensive study was needed on this issue.

'It is impossible to apply research results to everyone because research is only done in people over 65,' said Nieca Goldberg, a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

T.VY