Chocolate Shown to Lower Cholesterol
Research at the University of Illinois has shown that eating chocolate lowers cholesterol levels.
The researchers recruited 49 participants with slightly elevated cholesterol and normal blood pressure. Each of the participants followed the American Heart Association’s “Eating Plan for Healthy Americans” two weeks before the study started. They remained on this diet for the entire study.
While on the diet, the participants ate one CocoaVia bar with plant sterols twice daily for four weeks, then switched to a chocolate bar that does not contain plant sterols for the next four weeks. Blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure, body weight, and other cardiovascular measures were tracked throughout the 8 week study.
Several of the participants started to lose weight during the study; however, the researchers encouraged them to eat more because weight loss lowers cholesterol. Each bar contained 100 calories.
The results were that the CocoaVia bars noticeably lowered blood cholesterol, with the sterol-containing chocolate performing better than the chocolate without sterols. They also found that the chocolate lowered systolic blood pressure.
John Erdman, professor of University of Illinois food science and human nutrition, believes that the drop in cholesterol (total cholesterol by 2% and LDL cholesterol by 5.3%) to the plant sterols and the drop in blood pressure to the flavanols found in dark chocolate.
The benefits of chocolate have been becoming more apparent recently, and this study reinforces that evidence. However, chocolate is very calorically dense, and people should be careful not to eat too much. I think that chocolate can be incorporated into a healthy diet, and I’m sure there are some healthy recipes that use it.
Reference: EurekAlert
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It’s nice to know that something that tastes so good is also good for you!
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In addition, chocolate causes certain endocrine glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behavior by making you happy. Therefore, it counteracts depression, in turn reducing the stress of depression. Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition, both physically and mentally. So, eat lots of chocolate!
I do have a chocolate site too, check this out
http://www.sarahs-sweet-fountains.co.uk
Thanks for letting me comment on your site
Thanks for the comments. It is nice to know that something that tastes so good has several health benefits. However, remember to exercise moderation.
Yes, Cocoavia is a leader in trying to preserve the plant sterols that can lower LDL…I once gave out 300 bars of it to an audience in Santa Barbara who wanted to know about the nutritional benefits of chocolate. I especially like fair-trade, organic and dark forms of chocolate for their eco-friendly and health benefits. As far as chocolate recipes go- try my “Chipotle Mole” recipe with grilled mahi-mahi or turkey tenderloin, and follow it up with my “Steel Cut Oat Pudding with Dark Chocolate and Lime” recipe for desert. For preparation go to: http://www.chefmd.com/recipe_display.php?id=60.
Perfect. I’ll go have a candy bar.
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Thanks for the comments. That recipe looks great. I will have to try it.