February, the month of Valentine’s Day, brings awareness to the heart not only as a symbol of love, but also as a vital component of health.
As such, the following News has applicability to not only health, but also to that special Valentine on your list.
Research published in the British Journal of Medicine strongly demonstrates the health benefits of dark chocolate.
The meta-analysis study sought to evaluate the theoretical association between dark chocolate consumption and cardiometabolic health.
The study, with a random sample of over 100,000 people, found those with high consumption of dark chocolate had a 37% reduction in cardiovascular disease and an 8% reduction in stroke.
This is exciting News, and builds upon previous studies showing dark chocolate improves insulin sensitivity in diabetes, and helps to lower blood pressure.
The cardio-protective nature of dark chocolate is thought to be mediated through the polyphenol constituent, flavonol.
Flavonols act in the body to increase nitric oxide bio-availability, which in turn has a positive pharmacologic effect on the cells of the cardiovascular system by relaxing the endothelium (interior lining) of blood vessels and improving the insulin mediated uptake of glucose.
What does this mean, and how will you benefit? Well, studies show 100g of dark chocolate (not milk chocolate) contains approximately 50mg of polyphenols, and is a sufficient dose to provide a positive health effect on the heart, helping to lower blood pressure, reducing risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease and improving insulin function.
But wait, there must be a catch? And as anything that is too good to be true, this is no exception.
Dark chocolate contains five calories per gram, so despite the heart benefits of dark chocolate, it can quickly become a heart problem if taken in excess.
As is well known, excess weight gain is heavily correlated with heart disease, so be careful not to turn your heart friend into your heart enemy.
Go ahead and spoil yourself and your loved ones with dark chocolate this Valentine’s Day – just not too much of it.
Dr. Michael Long, is a naturopathic doctor at Optimum Integrative Health Centre in Fergus.
