Dark chocolate checks high BP..

        London, Nov. 12: Suffering from hypertension? Fret not. Gorge on a bar of dark chocolate every day, for a new study has found that the tasty treat could control one’s high blood pressure levels and thus keep one’s heart in good shape.
Dark chocolate is already known to contain high levels of antioxidants which are thought to be beneficial to health.
Now, a team from Sweden has revealed that dark chocolate works on the body in the same way as blood pressure pills — in fact, researchers have discovered that it inhibits an enzyme that raises blood pressure.

The lead researcher, Ms. Ingrid Persson said that dark chocolate, which contains large amounts of cocoa, has high levels of compounds called catechins and procyanidines, both of which have been shown to affect blood pressure.

She added that with other factors such as a balanced diet and not smoking, dark chocolate could be a good way to lower risk of heart disease and stroke. But, milk chocolate contains too much sugar and not enough cocoa to offer the same health effects, the Daily Express reported.

In their study, 10 men and six women had blood samples taken before and after eating 75 grams of dark chocolate — a large piece.
Within three hours, the team saw a blood pressure enzyme known as ACE had been inhibited by up to 18 per cent.

This is as effective as ACE inhibitor drugs currently given to the millions of patients with high blood pressure.
Other studies have shown that dark chocolate may also reduce stress levels and boost mood.