Cocoa is BENEFICIAL in diabetes!!!

Cocoa is harmful to diabetics. This has been the popular belief till date. A research publication in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has proved it wrong. According to the study the cocoa consists of special compounds called flavonols which play a role in improving the function and condition of blood vessels.
In their study, two groups of diabetes patients were served low and high dose flavonol respectively in the form of cocoa servings. The blood vessel function was calculated before and after cocoa consumption at the beginning of the study and 8 and 30 days after the start of the the study.
The study concluded that the group receiving the high dose of flavonols showed significant improvement in their blood vessel function as opposed to the group which was served low dose flavonols that did not show any significant improvement in blood vessel function.
The study also stressed upon the fact that the dose of flavonols showing improvements in blood vessel function far exceeds typical dietary intake of flavonols in the US and its also not possible to buy it in stores. The researchers are now looking up to flavonol-diets as an approach to prevent heart disease.
Sources:
1. Campia, U. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, June 3, 2008: vol 51; 2150-2152.
2.Balzer, J. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, June 3, 2008: vol 51; 2141-2149.