Is Dark Chocolate Actually Good For Your Health?

Reduces Risk Of Blood Clots

Dark chocolate reduces an individual's risk of blood clots when it is consumed daily. According to a study done by scientists at Johns Hopkins, cocoa can act as a blood thinner. The blood-thinning effects of dark chocolate may be comparable to the effects of acetylsalicylic acid, a medication commonly taken by adults to prevent strokes and heart attacks. In the Johns Hopkins study, the researchers divided participants into two groups: a group of individuals who ate dark chocolate daily and a control group that did not consume any chocolate. The researchers then took blood samples from each group and observed how long it took the participants' platelets to clot. The blood of the participants who ate chocolate daily clotted at a slower rate than the blood of the participants who followed a chocolate-free diet. Having platelets that clot more slowly is a good thing, as it indicates life-threatening blood clots inside the body are less likely to occur. It is thought the flavonoids in dark chocolate are responsible for this effect.

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