- Dark chocolate has joined Guinness, sherry and red wine
on the list of foods and drinks that are good for the heart, because it
boosts blood vessel function.
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- Research found that plain chocolate containing high levels
of cocoa is rich in flavonoids, the anti-oxidant chemicals that reduce
the stickiness of the blood and counter the inflammation of the blood vessels.
-
- Research published in the Journal of the American College
of Nutrition shows that eating a few squares of dark chocolate daily increases
the ability of the blood vessels to dilate, a key measure of the health
of the circulatory system.
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- A group of of 11 volunteers were given 46 grams of dark
chocolate rich in flavonoids daily for two weeks and compared with a control
group of 10 volunteers who were given dark chocolate low in flavonoids.
At the end of the two weeks, the arteries of the group that had eaten the
flavonoid-rich chocolate had a greater capacity to expand, up from 10.2
per cent to 11. 5 per cent, compared with a reduction in the control group.
The senior researcher, Mary Engler, of the University of California, said:
"Arteries that are able to dilate more have increased blood flow and
this is especially important for the heart."
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- * Researchers believe they know why heart attacks are
common in the morning.
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- Doctors from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota,
measured blood vessel expansion in 30 healthy volunteers and found it was
reduced by more than 40 per cent in the early morning, returning to normal
by midday.
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- The study was published in the journal Circulation.
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- © 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=526952
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