According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In 2013, heart disease was responsible for 611,105 deaths (Leading Causes of Death, 2015). There are many factors associated with an increased risk of heart disease including cigarette smoking, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidaemia (Teh et al., 2014). Genetics and diet both play a role in many of these risk factors. This study is going to focus particularly on hypertension, and how dark chocolate can decrease blood pressure.
Dark chocolate possesses flavonoids, which is a subclass of polyphenols. This molecule is composed of two aromatic rings bound by an oxygenated heterocycle …show more content…
Thiele, H.
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