According to this Dutch Study reported in New Scientist, regular consumption of cocoa may lower blood pressure and halve the risk of dying.
The study was carried out over a 15 year period and focused on men aged over 65. Those men that consumed the most cocoa were half as likely to die from a heart attack. It seems cocoa-containing antioxidant chemicals, called flavanols, may be the cause. “Flavan-3-ols have a positive effect on endothelial function [the function of cells lining the blood vessels] improving the elasticity of the blood vessels so that they respond better to changes in the blood stream.
Good news indeed for chocoholics – but don’t get your hopes up. Low cost life insurance for choc-lovers is still a long way off.
