A little dark chocolate may be good for heart

The hard to resist chocolates need not be resisted anymore. A team of researchers from Germany recently conducted a study that touts the benefits of dark chocolate. Pleased? So am I.

44 patients of hypertension between the ages of 54 and 76 were observed during the said research. All of them reported a drop in their blood pressure after 18 weeks of eating a 30 calorie a day serving of dark chocolate.

Interestingly, the drop in the blood pressure was sans any weight gain. 6.3 grams of dark chocolate, about as much as a Hershey's Kiss will prove to be beneficial, say the researchers.

Prior studies have shown foods rich in cocoa like dark chocolate offer heart benefits but the added sugar, fat and calories worried the doctors as they could cancel out any good the chocolate might do.

“Regular intake of small amounts of dark chocolate can help to lower blood pressure," said Dr. Dirk Taubert of University Hospital of Cologne, Germany, whose study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association

Polyphenols present in the dark chocolate are responsible for its health benefits.

“I would use this as part of a well-balanced diet,” said Matthew Sorrentino, a cardiologist at the University of Chicago Medical Center and a spokesman for the American College of Cardiology. “We know there are good nutrients in a small amount of dark chocolate, but there should also be a lot of fiber, fruits and vegetables, and little sodium in your diet. These all help blood pressure.”

This news might help reduce the guilty feeling that comes as a package with each chocolate but some people still assert that maintaining healthy eating habits are any day better than chocolate.