A team of researchers has discovered that a compound in cocoa is directly linked with heart health as a result of improving blood vessel relaxation. The compound, responsible for the benefits, is due to flavonols, a naturally occurring compound found in chocolate, fruit, red wine and teas.
Researchers gave study participants a specially prepared cocoa drink containing either high or low concentrations of specific cocoa flavanols. The study participants who consumed the drink with the high concentrations of flavanols experienced notable blood vessel relaxation.
This latest study was sponsored by the confectionary company, Mars. Despite the promising findings, researchers warn that the message is not to consume large quantities of chocolate.
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