Sweet truth - A square of dark chocolate a day can cut stroke risk! Recent study

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Chocoholics now have a justified reason to savour their favourite sweet, for a new study has found that eating a small amount of dark chocolate every day for just two weeks could reduce the risk of heart disease! According to the study, a couple of chunks are enough to cut high blood pressure and reduce the risk of diabetes, both major risk factors in heart attack and strokes. But the scientists stressed that only dark chocolate, made from cocoa rich in natural ingredient flavonols is good for the heart. In tests on 19 people, one half who ate just over six grams a day over fifteen days showed significant falls in blood pressure. But half given white chocolate showed no improvement. Those on dark chocolates saw readings drop from a high 142/90mmHg to 137/87mmHg, a siginificant decline. The U.S. and Italian scientists said in the journal of Nutrition: "It suggests cocoa products ,may have a positive impact on cardiovascular risks." Flavonols, present in other plant-based foods such as fruits, red wine, and tea, work by increasing nitric oxide, which lets blood flow freely.