Chocolate protects the heart 'by tackling high blood pressure'
Dark chocolate was found to reduce the activity of the enzyme
ACE, which can heighten blood pressure Dark chocolate has been
shown to have a beneficial effect on the heart in numerous
studies, and now scientists know why. Scientists from Linkoping
University in Sweden found snacking on a slab of the cocoa-rich
treat inhibits an enzyme in the body that is known to raise
blood pressure. In fact it was as effective as blood pressure
drugs designed for the same purpose. Lead researcher Ingrid
Persson said: 'We have previously shown that green tea inhibits
the enzyme ACE, which is involved in the body’s fluid balance
and blood pressure regulation. 'Now we wanted to study the
effect of cocoa, since the active substances catechins and
procyanidines are related.' Catechins and procyanidines are
antioxidants that can reduce the damage oxygen can do to cells.
The team recruited 16 healthy non-smoking volunteers for the
study. Two days before the study they