Short Answer: Cocoa is good for low blood pressure. Because it has flavanols and they can improve blood flow and lower blood pressure.
Low blood pressure is a condition that affects your heart and blood vessels.
In low blood pressure, your body does not have enough force to push blood throughout your body.
This can lead to various health problems, such as dizziness, fainting, fatigue, and organ damage.
One of the key factors in managing low blood pressure is diet.
What you consume can affect your blood volume, which can impact your low blood pressure symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage low blood pressure, you should consume sodium-rich foods like salt, cheese, and olives and fluid-rich foods like water, juice, and soup and avoid alcohol and caffeine-rich foods like coffee, tea, and chocolate.
Now, cocoa is a powder made from roasted and ground cocoa beans, the seeds of the cacao tree.
People usually use cocoa to make beverages and chocolate.
Cocoa is good for low blood pressure because it contains flavanols, which are antioxidants that can improve blood flow and lower blood pressure.
One tablespoon (5 grams) of cocoa can give you about 2% of your daily needs of iron, magnesium, and manganese and 1% of your daily needs of calcium, copper, and zinc.
Flavanols can relax and widen your blood vessels, which can reduce the resistance to blood flow and lower your blood pressure.
However, the amount of flavanols in cocoa products can vary depending on the processing and the addition of other ingredients.
Furthermore, cocoa is a stimulant and stimulants are good for low blood pressure.
Because, they can increase your heart rate and blood pressure temporarily.
You can drink one or two cups of cocoa per day safely.
More than that can cause nausea, headache, and insomnia.
Also, you shouldn’t drink cocoa if you have high blood pressure or heart problems to prevent worsening your condition.
Because, cocoa can also contain caffeine and theobromine, which are stimulants that can raise your blood pressure and heart rate.
You can buy fresh cocoa beans in your local market or can order them online.
Always choose organic and fair-trade cocoa beans.
Because, they are more likely to have higher flavanol content and less pesticide residue.
You can store them in a cool and dry place for up to a year.
You can also buy cocoa powder online as well as offline.
To buy it online, there are many brands and marketplaces to choose from.
But as a nutritionist, I recommend Navitas Organics from Amazon.
Because, they are certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan and have a rich and natural flavor.
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Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing low blood pressure effectively.
I always recommend my low blood pressure patients to follow a low blood pressure-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being and enjoy a longer and healthier life.
