Become a chocoholic… Chocolate and Heart Failure
Aug 31
Become a chocoholic… Chocolate and Heart Failure
Flavanol Cocoa Rich Dark Chocolate
Now remember don’t over do it! Please note the important point at the bottom which is highlighted… Eating flavanol rich or dark chocolate for a short term may help patients with congestive heart failure, according to a new study in the European Heart Journal. But the effect from long term consumption of flavanol-rich chocolate remains unknown.
The study led by Andreas J. Flammer of Cardiovascular Center, Cardiology University Hospital Zurich in Zurich CH-8091, Switzerland and colleagues showed flow-mediated vasodilatation significantly improved after four weeks of daily intake of high flavanol chocolate. The effect was sustained for 12 hours.
In the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, twenty patients with congestive heart failure were assigned to receive two chocolate bars per day, either with high flavanol or dark chocolate or control chocolate with no cocoa liquor.
Endothelial and platelet function was measured two hours after ingestion of two chocolate bars and after 4 weeks of consumption of two chocolate bars per day.
It was found that two hours after ingestion of chocolate bars, flow-mediated vasodilatation significantly improved from 4.98 to 5.98 % in those eating the high flavanol chocolate, compared to those eating the chocolate without cocoa liquor, which is the source of flavanol. At four weeks of supplementation with two bars a day, those eating the high flavanol chocolate had flow-mediated vasodilatation increased from 4.98 to 6.86%, compared to those eating no flavanol chocolate.
But no effect on endothelial-independent vasodilatation was observed even in those who ate flavanol rich chocolate or dark chocolate while platelet adhesion significantly decreased from 3.9 to 3.0 % in the study group as measured at two hours after ingestion of high flavanol chocolate, compared to the control group. The effect was not sustained at 2 and 4 weeks.
Cocoa-liquor-free chocolate rendered no effect, either on endothelial function nor on platelet function. Either type of chocolate had any effect on blood pressure and heart rate.
The researchers concluded “Flavanol-rich chocolate acutely improves vascular function in patients with CHF (congestive heart failure). A sustained effect was seen after daily consumption over a 4-week period, even after 12 h abstinence. These beneficial effects were paralleled by an inhibition of platelet function in the presence of FRC (flavanol rich chocolate) only.”
Flavanol rich chocolate is the dark chocolate with at least 35% cocoa in it. Milk chocolate does not contain cocoa. Evidence is strong that cocoa, but not fat and sugar in dark chocolate can render a heart protective effect.
It should be noted that the study did not monitor the participants for their weight gain. This is a relatively short term study. When a person uses chocolate at a dose of two bars per day, it is possible that he will gain weight because of high fat and high sugar in chocolate, which could offset the benefit of flavanols. And it could be even worse for congestive heart failure patients because of their condition.
The best way to have the benefits of dark chocolate without having any concern about weight gain, is to use cocoa directly.
Tags: Chocolate, Cocoa solids, European Heart Journal, Flavan-3-ol, Flavanol, Heart Failure, Pumping Marvellous, Switzerland, Types of chocolate 
Posted in Exercise and Diet, Looking after yourself, What you're not told | No Comments
Dark Chocolate and Blood Pressure
Nov 13
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Dark Chocolate and Blood Pressure
Want to keep your blood pressure under control? Start eating dark chocolate, scientists say.
It is already known that dark chocolate contains high levels of antioxidants that are thought to be beneficial to health.
Now, a team of researchers in Sweden have revealed that dark chocolate works on the body in the same way as blood pressure pills.
They discovered that dark chocolate, which contains large amounts of cocoa, inhibits an enzyme that raises blood pressure.
Study`s lead author Ingrid Persson said that it contains high levels of compounds called catechins and procyanidines, both of which have been shown to affect blood pressure.
She added that with other factors such as a balanced diet and not smoking, dark chocolate could be a good way to lower risk of heart disease and stroke.
In the study, 10 men and six women had blood samples taken before and after eating 75 grams of dark chocolate – a large piece. Within three hours, the team saw that a blood pressure enzyme known as ACE had been inhibited by up to 18 per cent.
This is as effective as ACE inhibitor drugs currently given to the millions of patients with high blood pressure.
`We have previously shown that green tea inhibits the enzyme ACE, which is involved in the body`s fluid balance and blood pressure regulation,` the Daily Express quoted Perrson as saying.
And no we haven’t got shares in a chocolate company but I just fancy a bit of Green and Blacks Dark Chocolate.
Tags: ACE inhibitor, blood pressure, Chocolate, congestive heart failure, Green tea, Heart disease, Heart Failure, Pumping Marvellous, Types of chocolate
Posted in Exercise and Diet, Heart Failure Treatment, Looking after yourself, What you're not told | 1 Comment
