A late-breaking presentation at the European Society of Cardiology’s Heart Failure Congress 2010 by Swiss researchers reports that patients with congestive heart failure may benefit from a diet including a daily dose of chocolate. Within just two hours of consuming 40 grams of chocolate, flow-mediated vasodilatation rose significantly while platelet adhesion markedly decreased. Consumption of 80 grams over the course of four weeks yielded a beneficial gain in flow-mediated vasodilatation of nearly 2%, to stand at 6.86%. Andreas Flammer, from University Hospital (Zurich, Switzerland), and colleagues observe that the preferred form of chocolate is one containing a high content of flavonols, the antioxidant compound thought to give the food its heart-healthy benefits.
Cocoa Flavonols Boost Vascular Function
Patients with congestive heart failure may benefit from a diet including a daily dose of chocolate
A Flammer. “Cacao on endothelial function in CHF.” Presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s Heart Failure Congress 2010, 30 May 2010.
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