Chocolate has long ceased to be just a delicious dessert. It is well known that chocolate can bring greater health benefits than just a pleasant taste. Small amounts of chocolate helps with heart disease Heart disease - symptoms of heart disease . At the last annual meeting of the American Pharmaceutical Community three-hour conference was devoted to research scientists around the world use of chocolate and cocoa.

How does the chocolate on heart health

While many of the useful properties of chocolate known for a long time, some aspects of the impact of cocoa on cardiovascular system still need to be clarified. This was the subject of a report by Eric Ding, a specialist at Harvard Medical School. In its report, the scientist cited data from 24 studies of the properties of chocolate.

The study involved more than 1,100 people. Scientists watched as chocolate consumption affects the state of risk factors for heart disease, and in particular at elevated pressure.

The fact that chocolate helps to lower blood pressure - has long been a known fact. A team of scientists has found that, on average, systolic blood pressure decreased by about two units. Systolic pressure is a very important indicator, especially for people over fifty years.

The study also proved that chocolate helps increase levels of "good" cholesterol HDL, which helps prevent the risk of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.

Chocolate to some extent prevents the development of diabetes Diabetes I have been correlated with the operation of insulin. Circulation is also getting better due to the consumption of chocolate.

In general, these studies suggest an enormous advantage chocolate health of the cardiovascular system.

Other studies have useful properties of chocolate

Chocolate can help those who are sick the second type of diabetes, lower blood sugar levels after meals. Dr. Stefen L.Atkin British Medical School researcher Hull York Medical School. The doctor gave his patients (10 people), a small amount of chocolate for an hour before being introduced into the body glucose, to simulate meal. They also found that chocolate had a positive effect on the condition of blood vessels.

According to research professor of California University of Francisco Villarreal chocolate helps with acute heart failure. In this disease, the heart does not work with sufficient amplitude so that the blood came to all the organs and tissues of human affairs. In a small study he gave five patients on 100 mg of epicatechin (flavanol found in the composition of chocolate) every lazy for three months. He measured the levels of nitric oxide, which regulates the contractibility of blood vessels and affects the blood pressure. According to the study, the level of nitrogen oxides has increased significantly.

This study was conducted at the National Institutes of Health for the company Hershey. Professor Sam Villarreal co-founder of the company engaged in the development of epicatechin use as drugs.

Another study, the results of which are not yet known, is aimed at finding out the effect of chocolate on bowel cancer. Perhaps this study seem empty hopes, but scientists are in no hurry to agree with the pessimistic expectations.

In 2012 began the International Community of medicinal use of chocolate and cocoa.

What makes chocolate so useful

The secret is in flavanols, called epicatechin. It has powerful antioxidant properties.

Professor Villarreal said that epicatechin requires further serious consideration. He believes that the effect of epicatechin goes beyond the antioxidant properties. Most likely, this flavanol affects the mitochondria, the vital function of the body's cells. In a lot of serious diseases can affect the state of the mitochondria of cells. For example, Alzheimer's disease.

How much chocolate is recommended by doctors

In these studies did not indicate a specific dose servings of chocolate. But generally they vary within one ounce. Dark chocolate is preferable over other types of chocolate.

Another expert expressed some very important information about the effects of chocolate on health. Representative of the Institute of Food Technology (Bloomington, Indiana, USA), Dr. Renee D. Massengeyl spoke about the possible dangers of the abuse of chocolate, even for medicinal purposes.

Exceeding 3000 flavor to the diet definitely does not affect positively on the body mass index (BMI), agrees with her professor Ding. He does not agree with the data of studies, argues that the body mass index dropped from the regular intake of chocolate. In a study of chocolate flavonols they were not recorded decrease in body mass index Body mass index .

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