date:Aug 16, 2012
Researchers examined the results from 20 trials in which more than 850 people regularly ate dark chocolate or cocoa powder.
The study found that participants' blood pressure was slightly reduced on average by 2-3mmHG.
The report, published by the Cochrane Group, suggested that chemicals in cocoa chocolate's main ingredient relaxed blood vessels.
Cocoa contains compounds called flavanols, thought to be responsible for the formation of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide causes blood vesse