Chocolate; The Miracle Medicine

Did you know that dark chocolate is actually really good for you? I didn't either, but recent studies have shown that stomach microbes turn cocoa into a natural drug that reduces blood pressure. Victoria Woollaston writes about the process in which dark chocolate reduces the blood pressure. Previous studies have already been told that daily consumption of dark chocolate reduces blood pressure and is good for the heart. But more recent studies have found how it reduces blood pressure and the process behind it. Microbes in the gut, such as Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria, feast on chocolate. These bacteria grow and ferment the chocolate, producing compounds that are anti-inflammatory. This naturally forming anti-inflammatory enters the bloodstream and helps protect the heart and arteries from damage. Tests on three types of cocoa powder, the raw ingredient used to make chocolate, in an artificial digestive tract consisting of a series of modified test tubes has concluded that the components are readily processed by the friendly bacteria in the colon. Dark chocolate contains a higher cocoa content, increasing this process. The studies done have found that the small polymers that are produced exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. When the compounds are absorbed by the body, they lessen the inflammation of cardiovascular tissue, reducing the long-term risk of stroke. Combining dark chocolate with fruits such as pomegranates or acai may also boost its benefits. This article is very clear and it explains really well how the process goes when dark chocolate enters your body and the microbes help digest it and make a drug to help protect the heart and arteries.

Cocoa in its natural form