Author: Maryam Ayres
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Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
Natural chocolate can be beneficial in small amounts to lower cholesterol. Specialists from the University of Illinois also observed a decrease in systolic blood pressure during its consumption.
Natural chocolate can be beneficial in small amounts to lower cholesterol. Specialists from the University of Illinois also observed a decrease in systolic blood pressure during its consumption. It is believed that the effect on cholesterol is due to plant sterols contained in chocolate bars, and that on the pressure - the flavonoids. This is stated in an article in the elite Journal of Nutrition.
The Mars Scientific Advisory Board, chaired by Prof. John Erdman, has spent millions of dollars researching the biological effect of flavonoids in cocoa and studying the approach to preserving it during refining. 49 subjects were included in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Participants received two types of product - one with sterols and one without, for four weeks. Cholesterol, blood pressure, body weight and other risk factors for the cardiovascular system were monitored, and the mentioned results were observed.