23Mar/113
What is the minimum amount of dark chocolate I should eat to lower my blood pressure.?
I am 41 and have mildly high blood pressure. Usually around 140/80. I don't want to eat a lot of it, but enough to make a difference.
I am not currently on BP meds as my physician does not think I need them. He wants me to work with my diet.
I am very active. I work out intensely 6x per week.
I am 5'6" tall and weigh 125lbs.
BMI 20.2, within the normal range.
March 23rd, 2011 - 18:58
3 squares a day should help….
March 23rd, 2011 - 18:58
Do not substitute blood pressure medicine with dark chocolate. Eat it for pleasure.If you are looking to lower your blood pressure,dropping some weight will be fore sure step towards Your goal(try reducing soda pop intake ,walk the dog),substitute regular kitchen salt with Celtic salt .
Enjoy Your Ghirardelli!
March 23rd, 2011 - 18:58
Cut your exercise back. Your BMI sounds on the low end. I read on pubmed that low BMI folks are the only people who should not exercise at high intensity. http://www.pubmed.com . I can’t find the article today.
On the chocolate, cocoa powder in a drink would be better than regular chocolate you’d get with fats and saturated fats.
My BP was a little lower, I seemed fit, and surprise, surprise. I had sudden angina for no reason, and needed an emergency triple bypass. I exercised pretty intensely a few times a week, too.
Eat a variety of fruits and juices, but skip white grape juice. Blueberry and pomegranate especially are good at dropping blood pressure.
Safest thing is assume you have partially blocked arteries, and do everything you can tolerate to adjust your diet. My three main coronary arteries were at 99%, 99%, and 80% blocked. Huge surprise.