Heart disease: Doctor explains how to reduce risk in 2021 What we eat and drink plays an enormous role in our health and well-being. So much so that certain foods are known to raise our risk for certain conditions, while others can lower it. However, when it comes to foods that are healthiest for us we tend to think of fruits and vegetables as prime examples.
But research has shown that a tasty ingredient, found in many “treat” foods could hold the key to a healthy heart. More specifically, cocoa - a key component of chocolate - had cholesterol and blood pressure-lowering properties. The new meta-study, which was published in Nutrients journal, analysed 31 randomised controlled trials that tracked a number of risk factors for cardiovascular disease .
READ MORE 'I couldn't wear shorts due to my horrendous condition - these are the symptoms' A new study linked cocoa to reduced cholesterol and blood pressure (Image: Getty Images) Combined these trials involved 1,986 participants. They were split into groups depending on how much cocoa they consumed. In one group, 1,110 participants consumed either cocoa extract or dark chocolate with a 70 percent or higher cocoa content for at least four weeks.
The control group involved 876 participants who consumed a placebo or white or milk chocolate containing less than 70 percent cocoa. The majority of participants had one or more existing health conditions including high blood pressure , type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol . Don't mis.
