Recent research has revealed a surprising ingredient that may have significant benefits for heart health – cocoa. While we often associate healthy foods with fruits and vegetables, cocoa, a component of chocolate, has been found to have properties that can lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
The findings come from a meta-study published in the Nutrients journal, which analyzed 31 randomized, controlled trials involving a total of 1,986 participants. These trials focused on various risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Participants were divided into two groups based on their cocoa consumption. The first group, consisting of 1,110 individuals, consumed either cocoa extract or dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 70 percent or higher for a minimum of four weeks. The second group, comprising 876 participants, consumed a placebo or white/milk chocolate with less than 70 percent cocoa content.
Many of the participants had pre-existing health conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol. However, those consuming high cocoa content experienced improvements in these areas.
The study revealed that participants who consumed high cocoa content saw an average reduction in cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and blood sugar. These improvements indicate the potential heart-protecting benefits of cocoa.
