Does anything that tastes good actually promote health? I would answer yes as I love lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, arugula, and many other plant-based goodies. But off the list is pepperoni pizza, hot dogs, croissants, and butter.
The good news is that a new analysis in a prominent journal has confirmed the cardiovascular disease (CVD) benefits of dark chocolate (DC). This is important as CVDs are the leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide and are major contributors to the global disease burden.
STUDY
To investigate the causality between dark chocolate intake and the risk of CVDs, a Mendelian randomization (MR) study was conducted. The researchers obtained summary-level data on dark chocolate intake and CVD from publicly available genome-wide association studies.
They found that dark chocolate intake was significantly associated with a 27% reduction in the risk of essential hypertension (EH) as well as with a suggestive association with the reduced risk of venous thromboembolism by 31%. However, no association was found between dark chocolate intake and the other ten CVDs.
CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence for a causality between dark chocolate intake and a reduced risk of EH, which has important implications for the prevention of EH in the population.
Available evidence indicates that flavanols present in dark chocolates can improve endothelial function, promote vasodilation, and prevent platelet aggregation by increasing nitric oxide release. Flavanols are also known to have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. All these activities of flavanols are believed to be the main contributing factors towards a healthy cardiovascular system.
WARNING: A small square a day of high cacao chocolate is enough! Or do what I do, put raw organic cacao powder in your coffee for a delicious drink that is healthy.
About the author: At his core, Dr. Joel Kahn believes that plant-based nutrition is the most powerful source of preventative medicine on the planet. Having practiced traditional cardiology since 1983, it was only after his own commitment to a plant-based vegan diet that Dr. Kahn truly began to delve into the realm of non-traditional diagnostic tools, prevention tactics, and nutrition-based recovery protocols.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
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References/Sources/Materials provided by:
https://www.kahnlongevitycenter.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-kahn-md-757a59225/
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https://www.drjoelkahn.com/best-news-dark-chocolate-proven-to-reduce-hypertension-risk/
