Cocoa powder for high blood pressure
Dark chocolate is good for you
According to a study published in Hypertension, eating approximately 3 ounces of dark chocolate (which contains flavonols) on a daily basis helps in a small but significant degree to combat
high blood pressure,
insulin resistance, blood vessel dilation, and LDL cholesterol in individuals with “essential” hypertension. The researchers referred to prior research that demonstrated the same effects in healthy individuals. Of course, the article didn’t take into consideration the adverse effects of the refined sugar in dark chocolate —but you can. Skip the candy bar, buy cocoa powder, and sweeten it yourself.
The heart-health secret hiding in your toenails
Another article reported on a study from Johns Hopkins University. Researchers tested toenail clippings from two groups of men for chromium content: One group included 684 men who had just suffered from their first heart attack and the other was a control group of 724 men. Their conclusion: “Toenail chromium concentration was inversely associated with the risk of a first myocardial infarction in men. These results add to an increasing body of evidence that points to the importance of
chromium for
cardiovascular health.” Although the research was done “long ago and far away” (1991 to 1992 in Israel and Europe), it appears that it’s finally “safe” to report it in a medical journal—13 years later.
A step in the right direction
The final shock was an article on a study done in Oregon, in the US, a notoriously progressive university town. The study tested the effect that walking on simulated cobblestones has on physical function and blood pressure in older adults. Even though the study wasn’t “double-blind,” it was well done. It involved 108 adults between 60 and 92 without mobility-limiting conditions. Half walked on a cobblestone mat for 60 minutes three times a week for 16 weeks. The other 54 walked on “regular” surfaces for the same time periods. Measurements were made of balance, physical performance, and
blood pressure in both groups before and after the 16-week period. The researchers concluded: “Cobblestone mat walking improved physical function and reduced blood pressure to a greater extent than conventional walking in older adults. Additional benefits of this walking program included improved health-related quality of life.”
