The good news on chocolate keeps rolling. A new meta-analysis from the Cochrane Collaboration showed that eating dark chocolate may help reduce blood pressure. In an overview of 20 previously-conducted studies, the report found that volunteers who consumed dark chocolate or cocoa powder saw small reductions in blood pressure, ranging from 2-3 mm Hg. It's not much, but it's enough for the researchers to call "statistically significant" (so effusive, those scientists), saying it might contribute to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Which means you'll probably want to try one of these recipes. For your health, of course.
--Meryl Rothstein
[via NPR]