Cocoa benefits

Cocoa benefits

Cocoa shows benefits for coronary heart disease

Cocoa has been considered as a medicine for many ailments. New
research suggests that cocoa may also have a beneficial effect on heart
disease and stroke. Dr Denise OÂ’Shaugnessy, Southampton, has shown
that drinking a cup of cocoa can prevent potentially fatal blood clots.
Blood clots can lead to stroke or heart attack. Cocoa contains a
substance called flavinoids, which can help prevent coronary heart
disease; however, another ingredient in cocoa may be also help prevent
platelet inhibition. [1]

An acute dose of flavanols and oligomeric procyanidins from cocoa
powder can inhibit platelet activation and function over 6 h in humans. [2]

In a blinded parallel-designed study, thirty-two healthy subjects were
assigned to consume active (234 mg cocoa flavanols and procyanidins/d)
or placebo (< or = 6 mg cocoa flavanols and procyanidins/d) tablets.
Scientists found that the plasma concentrations of epicatechin and
catechin in the active group increased by 81% and 28%. And, the active
group had significantly lower P selectin expression and significantly lower
ADP-induced aggregation and collagen-induced aggregation than did the
placebo group. Plasma ascorbic acid concentrations were significantly
higher in the active than in the placebo group (P < 0.05), whereas plasma
oxidation markers and antioxidant status did not change in either group.[2]

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[1] Cocoa is the new red wine innovations-report August 10, 2005

[2] Murphy KJ Dietary flavanols and procyanidin oligomers from cocoa
(Theobroma cacao) inhibit platelet function.Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Jun;77(6):
1466-73.

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