Dark chocolate diet to fight cholesterol

A research published in Journal of Nutrition by researchers from University of Illinois says that a diet of dark chocolate can fight lowering cholesterol level in our body.

John Erdman, a U. of I. professor of food science and human nutrition said, “Eating two CocoaVia dark chocolate bars a day not only lowered cholesterol, it had the unexpected effect of also lowering systolic blood pressure.”

During the research 49 adults with high cholesterol levels and with normal blood pressure participated who were initially put on healthy diet plans of American Heart Association's for a fortnight.

The participants were clustered in two groups and were given CocoaVia Chocolate bars with added plant sterols and without it. Plant sterols are reduced cholesterol level.

The group which was given plant sterols continued the diet for four weeks before switching to normal ones while the second group without added plant sterols consumed the bars for four week and than switched to chocolate bars with plant sterols.

Cholesterol levels, blood pressure, body weight and other cardiac parameters were monitored during the study which lasted for eight continuous days.

After, the participants were assessed and it was found that chocolate bars in combination with sterol reduced the total cholesterol by 2 percent and LDL cholesterol by 5.3 percent while systolic blood pressure was reduced by 5.8 mm Hg.

The high amount of cocoa present in dark chocolates is rich in flavonoids that reduce cholesterol in blood.

The study was funded by Mars Inc., which manufactures the chocolate bars; it contains 100 calories and 6 gm fats. The researchers claimed that the manufacturer did not influence the study.

The researchers fear that though the research was a success but people may negate it thinking that manufacturer may have intervened the study “Some people will assume the study is flawed because of Mars' funding role,” Erdman added.