May Lower Your Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

It appears that cocoa contains additional qualities that may minimize your risk of heart attack and stroke in addition to decreasing blood pressure. Nitric oxide, which relaxes and dilates your arteries and blood vessels and promotes blood flow, is made better in your blood when you consume flavanol-rich cocoa. Additionally, cocoa has been shown to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol, thin the blood similarly to aspirin, enhance blood sugar control, and lower inflammation. A decreased risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke has been associated with these characteristics.

Higher chocolate consumption was linked to a considerably decreased risk of heart disease, stroke, and mortality, according to a study of nine studies including 157,809 persons. At dosages of up to one serving of 0.7-1.1 ounces (19-30 grams) of chocolate per day, two Swedish investigations discovered a relationship between chocolate consumption and a decreased risk of heart failure; however, the impact was not observed at greater levels. These findings imply that regular, small-quantity eating of chocolate with a high cocoa content may have heart-protective effects.