Eat chocolate if you’re pregnant, research says. As if a woman, pregnant or not, needs an excuse to eat chocolate!
A recent study has shown that the beneficial effects of chocolate can lower cardiovascular problems and prevent hypertension during pregnancy.
The antioxidants and flavanols in chocolate may protect cells from damage caused by oxidation and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The exact mechanism of the cardioprotective properties in chocolate are unknown, but the positive effects are well documented.
Among pregnant women, the study suggests a correlation between eating chocolate and lowering the risk of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension (high blood pressure).
More studies are needed to solidify these findings, but so far things are heading in the right direction.
The news about the health benefits of chocolate keep getting better and better!
