Reduce hypertension Bittersweet chocolate can lower blood pressure, according to the study

Dark chocolate easily lowers the blood pressure
Dark chocolate can lower blood pressure in people with hypertension, according to a study by Australian researchers at the University of Adelaide. The consumption produces the same effect as half an hour of exercise. However, the consumption can replace neither exercise nor blood pressure medication, as the scientists emphasize. For precaution, the dark chocolate is not.

Dark chocolate is not suitable for precaution
Researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia published their findings in the science journal BMC Medicine. The analysis compared the results of study participants who suffered from high blood pressure. The study also included a comparison group that was not ill. Although dark chocolate reduced blood pressure during the study, it was only seen in patients who also had hypertension. In the comparison group without disease this positive effect could not be proven. Therefore, according to the researchers, "bittersweet chocolate is not suitable for prevention".

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Flavonoids trigger an effect
It is not chocolate as such that lowers blood pressure, but plant substances such as flavonoids contained in the cocoa plant. These dilate the blood vessels, which in turn lowers blood pressure. The scientists also compared and analyzed 13 chocolate studies. In hypertensive patients, the systolic blood pressure could be lowered by 5 mmHG with regular consumption.

However, it is questionable for the researchers whether chocolate could be used for long-term therapy, since the high sugar content leads to overweight. Being overweight is another risk factor for hypertension. (Sb)