Small amount of dark chocolate daily reduces blood pressure without weight gain

Study volunteers ate a tiny amount of dark chocolate daily for five months - one square from a 16-square German chocolate bar called Ritter Sport (6 grams/30 calories/30 mg of polyphenols). This daily tidbit of dark chocolate lowered the blood pressure without weight gain or increase in cholesterol and blood glucose. The average decrease in blood pressure in the study participants was a 3-point drop in systolic blood pressure and a 2-point drop in diastolic blood pressure.

This is likely the most delicious "pill" (square) these volunteers have ever tasted. Speaking from personal experience, I have to confirm that both Ritter Sport Dark and Ritter Sport Dark with whole hazelnuts taste great.

The best headline award goes to: Dark chocolate helps keep arteries open for business (from a web site in New Zealand).

Chocolate could lower blood pressure but the required dose may be too much - BMJhttp://goo.gl/uoBN

Comments from Twitter:

1. SarahStewart
   @DrVes Is there such a thing as too high a dose of chocolate!!! LOL39 minutes ago via Echofon in reply to DrVes
2. bobfine
   I can take it. RT @DaphneLeigh Bring it on! RT @DrVesChocolate could lower blood pressure but required dose may b 2 much http://goo.gl/uoBN40 minutes ago via txt
3. Lin_Dolin
   RT @DaphneLeigh Bring it on! RT @DrVes: Chocolate could lower blood pressure but required dose may be too muchhttp://goo.gl/uoBN } Ditto!43 minutes ago via web
4. DaphneLeigh
   Bring it on! RT @DrVes: Chocolate could lower blood pressure but the required dose may be too much - BMJhttp://goo.gl/uoBN44 minutes ago via TweetDeck

References:
Study: Chocolate Reduces Blood Pressure. Associated Press, 07/2007.
Effects of Low Habitual Cocoa Intake on Blood Pressure and Bioactive Nitric Oxide. JAMA. 07/2007;298:49-60.
Flavor of Flavanol - It's Delicious and It Could Be Good for You. CasesBlog, 8/2005.
Dark Chocolate Improves Coronary Vasomotion and Reduces Platelet Reactivity. Circulation. 2007;116:2376-2382.
How Chocolate Can Save the Planet. NPR, 11/2007.
Chocolate could lower blood pressure but the required dose may be too much - BMJ http://goo.gl/uoBN

Photo Essay: Making Chocolate in Belize http://goo.gl/2DPi
Image source: Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.

Updated: 08/10/2010