Long live the chocolate cleans the arteries

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Long live the chocolate cleans the arteries

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Sunday, 04 April 2010 12:51

Dark chocolate? Hurrah. The friend of the arteries and protects against heart attack and stroke . That Extra Dark is a "cure for the heart is not new. But a study Italian, published in the Journal of Nutrition, reveals the exact amount to be granted because it plays up its anti-inflammatory and protective of the cardiovascular system .

"From morning to night, there are 6.7 grams of chocolate recommended," says the hematologist Giovanni De Gaetano ( you can request a consultation ), who heads the research laboratories of the Catholic University of Campobasso where the study was conducted . "So, a square two or three times a week, amounting to a little 'less than half a tablet in seven days. Be careful not to overdo it, otherwise the preventive effect is lost through the fault of the high calorie content of food and its fat . "

Researchers of Campobasso, in collaboration with the Institute of Cancer in Milan, looked almost 5 thousand people, all in good health and no risk factors for cardiovascular system by measuring their levels of C-reactive protein . It is a marker detectable with a simple blood test which detects the initiation of inflammation.

"The study showed that people who habitually eat a moderate amount of dark blood had lower levels of this marker by 17%, compared to those who do not consume at all," continues De Gaetano. "The reduction is small: more analysis on the U.S. population, have shown that it is worth enough to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, the third in women and fourth in men."

On flavonoids of dark chocolate

The merit? It is the high antioxidant content of cocoa. "In the head there epicatechin, a flavonoid that helps to relax blood vessels and increased total antioxidant capacity of blood, as well as the decrease in oxidative damage of lipids," says De Gaetano. "The benefits, however, disappear if increasing the dosage, as well as whether you prefer dark chocolate to milk quality. Several studies have shown that cocoa polyphenols bind to milk proteins, reducing their anti-free radicals. "

Last Updated on Sunday, 04 April 2010 12:53

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