Flavanols and plant sterols in chocolate beneficial to cardiovascular health.

The Journal of Nutrition has published new research showing that dark chocolate supplemented with plant sterols are supportive of cardiovascular health by helping to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Previous studies have shown that flavanols found in cocoa products improve insulin sensitivity and blood pressure; however dark chocolate supplemented with plant sterols helped reduced LDL cholesterol as well as blood pressure within eight weeks among subjects who ate dark chocolate regularly.

Urbod Nutritionist, Amanda Michie, explains: “Flavanols are compounds that boost levels of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide is needed for maintaining healthy blood pressure by opening up the arteries and allowing good blood flow. Flavanols are a subgroup of antioxidant compounds that play an important part in cardiovascular health and are mainly found in plant based foods and drinks such as grapes, black tea and cocoa found in dark chocolate. Plant sterols are found naturally in all kinds of fruit and vegetables and they help to lower cholesterol by binding and removing excess cholesterol in the gut. Someone wanting to improve their cardiovascular health should aim to have a diet rich in coloured fruit and vegetables as these tend to contain an array of antioxidants and plant sterols. Chocolate should not replace a healthy diet."