Dark chocolate

Indication: Hypertension

Source: JAMA, 2003;290(8):1029.

Research: Researchers conducted a randomized clinical trial of 14 individuals between the ages of 55 and 64 with mild, untreated hypertension. Half of the patients consumed 3-ounce dark chocolate bars containing 500 mg of polyphenols every day for two weeks, while the other half of the participants ate the same amount of white chocolate for the duration.

Results: Blood pressure remained un­changed in the white chocolate group, while the dark chocolate group’s blood pressure dropped an average of 5 points. Researchers concluded that while blood pressure did not drop to a desirable range, the results indicate that dark chocolate could be a promising approach to reducing hypertension.