Dark chocolate thins the blood and performs the same anti-clotting activity as aspirin. Many doctors recommend baby aspirin to reduce our risk of heart attack or stroke. Researchers at University of California, Davis have found that dark chocolate has a similar effect.
Eating dark chocolate is a great way to incorporate more cacao into your diet, which can help to lower your high blood pressure! The flavonoids in dark chocolate have been found to produce nitric oxide, which causes blood vessels to relax and lower high blood pressure.
The ideal amount would be about two tablespoons of dark chocolate each day. Many fruits and vegetables are rich in flavonoids.
Blood thinners are used to prevent blood clots, and chocolate does not have any properties that would make it unsafe to consume while taking blood thinners. However, it is important to talk to your doctor about your diet while taking blood thinners, as there are some foods that can interact with the medication.
Other recent studies have found that blood platelets clump together more slowly in chocolate eaters. Clumping platelets can lead to the formation of blood clots, which in turn can cause a heart attack.
Let's flesh out the story a bit. There is a growing body of science that confirms that dark chocolate does indeed provide health benefits. Dark chocolate thins the blood and performs the same anti-clotting activity as aspirin. Many doctors recommend baby aspirin to reduce our risk of heart attack or stroke.
Research continues to point to dark chocolate as having many health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, preventing blood clots, improving memory, lowering cholesterol and even preventing some types of cancer.
Researchers also measured bleeding time – which shortens as platelets become stickier. They found that the specially enriched dark chocolate significantly increased bleeding time after six hours in both men and women, possibly caused by the metabolites that our bodies produce from flavanols.
Chocolate Can Lower Your Body Mass Index
Studies have shown that the frequent consumption of small amounts of dark chocolate is good for weight loss and can help to lower the BMI number over time.
Dark chocolate flavanols can also help make blood platelets less sticky and able to clot, which reduces the risk of blood clots and stroke. The results showed that flavonoid-rich dark chocolate intake significantly improved heart circulation in healthy adults.
You'll load up on antioxidants.
Dark chocolate is rich in polyphenols, flavanols, and catechins, which function as antioxidants that combat free radical damage. Free radicals may play a role in heart disease, cancer, and other diseases, so loading up on antioxidants is a great way to protect your health and longevity.
It may improve cholesterol levels.
Those who got the dark chocolate lowered their “bad” LDL cholesterol—the type that clogs arteries and slows the flow of blood—by about 12%.
Double-blind randomized trial finds that dark chocolate actually opens up coronary arteries themselves. And, when they did what's called a cold-pressor test, where they plunge your hand into a bucket of ice water—which normally causes your arteries to constrict—but, after dark chocolate, they dilated.
“So there are mood-enhancing benefits to eating dark chocolate.” In fact, a study published in January 2022 found that participants who ate 85% dark chocolate daily maintained better overall mood than others who ate chocolate with less cocoa — or no chocolate at all.
And even though quality dark chocolate is a better choice than milk chocolate, it is still chocolate, meaning it's high in calories and saturated fat. To avoid weight gain, Amidor recommends eating no more than 1 ounce (oz) of dark chocolate per day.
Also, do your best to avoid foods with processed sugar, trans-fats and starchy carbs. These foods can make menorrhagia symptoms worse.
Cocoa is a rich source bioactive compounds, i.e., flavan-3-ols, and its consumption has been associated with several beneficial effects, such as the positive modulation of the hemostasis targeted by the platelet function.
Dark chocolate is the dark horse in fighting iron deficiencies. The sweet treat contains about 12 milligrams per 100 grams. The raw cacao in dark chocolate contains antioxidants and a high concentration of iron. That does not mean dark chocolate should be eaten in excess.
70% cocoa dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, which have some major anti-inflammatory effects. Flavanols help to reduce inflammation and keep the cells that line the arteries healthy. Antioxidants fight inflammation and free radicals, which can help your immunity and reduce your risk of disease.
Studies show that dark chocolate — when it is not loaded with sugar and saturated fat — is indeed a heart-healthy chocolate treat and more. Dark chocolate is rich in disease-fighting antioxidants. Studies show it can help reduce blood pressure and lower your risk of heart disease.
Water helps to thin the blood, which in turn makes it less likely to form clots, explains Jackie Chan, Dr. P.H., the lead study author. But don't chug your extra H2O all at once. "You need to drink water throughout the day to keep your blood thin, starting with a glass or two in the morning," adds Dr.
Vitamin E is a natural blood thinner because of its anticoagulant effects. Studies support that vitamin E has anti-clotting activity and works as a potent blood thinner. Supplementing with vitamin E and consuming vitamin E foods can help prevent diseases of the heart and blood vessels.