However, one study in people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure showed no effect, so take this with a grain of salt ( 8). Many controlled studies show that cocoa and dark chocolate can improve blood flow and lower blood pressure, though the effects are usually mild ( 6, 7). One of the functions of NO is to send signals to the arteries to relax, which lowers the resistance to blood flow and therefore reduces blood pressure. The flavanoids in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium, the lining of arteries, to produce nitric oxide (NO) ( 5). May improve blood flow and lower blood pressure In fact, they have way more than most other foods.ģ. SummaryĬocoa and dark chocolate have a wide variety of powerful antioxidants. One study showed that cocoa and dark chocolate had more antioxidant activity, polyphenols, and flavanols than any other fruits tested, which included blueberries and acai berries ( 4). According to research, the polyphenols in dark chocolate may help lower some forms of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol when combined with other foods like almonds and cocoa ( 3). These include polyphenols, flavanols and catechins, among others. But experts say there isn’t enough evidence yet to say for certain ( 2).ĭark chocolate is loaded with organic compounds that are biologically active and function as antioxidants. Research in humans does not always show the same range of antioxidant effects for chocolate. But the biological relevance of ORAC values is questioned, as it’s measured in a test tube and may not have the same effect in the body. It’s a measure of the antioxidant activity of foods.īasically, researchers set a bunch of free radicals (bad) against a sample of a food and see how well the antioxidants in the food can disarm the free radicals.īased on these studies, chocolate is considered rich in antioxidants. ORAC stands for oxygen radical absorbance capacity.

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