Cocoa is good for high blood pressure patients

Researchers have discovered that cocoa contains compounds that dilate blood vessel walls to help treat high blood pressure.

Cocoa can replace statin (a drug that helps reduce blood cholesterol levels) in treating high blood pressure. According to some studies, compounds in cacao have the effect of dilating blood vessel walls, improving the condition in patients with high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is a major cause of heart attack and stroke. Researchers are currently conducting surveys to answer the question: If you include compounds that contain cocoa in your body as a supplement, can high blood pressure improve?

Cocoa is good for high blood pressure patients (Photo: wordpress.com)

The pills made from cocoa may be a better natural therapy than statins in treating high blood pressure - a disease that in the UK alone has 6 million people.

In an experiment that will take place at Cologne University, Germany, 48 men and women with high blood pressure will be given a capsule containing 1,000mg of cocoa polyphenol.

This is a completely natural cocoa powder taken from cocoa beans. Compounds in cocoa are thought to reduce nitric acid, thereby helping to expand blood vessel walls.