tim-from-pa
Member
As usual, there is some good advice out there, in this case the antioxidant properties of dark cocoa (polyphenols that reduce oxidative stress), and what does the news media do? They show crappy, high-fructose, processed chocolate candy in the picture so that people get the wrong idea. What we are to do is use plain, natural cocoa. Put some into your coffee for a good, healthy dose of antioxidants.
http://cooks.ndtv.com/article/show/eating-dark-chocolate-may-make-walking-easier-552899
Now along that line, they mention PAD (peripheral artery disease) as a worry that this cocoa can help alleviate. As much as I dislike doctors, they are good for some things, one of which is taking an ankle to brachial ratio (index) blood pressure. What is that, you ask? That's something your doctor probably does not do often, if at all, and that's more important than a truckload of BP pills and cholesterol pills. Basically, it's taking your arm pressure, and then the BP in your leg at the ankle.
Now, let Mr. "Sir Isaac Newton lite" here explain some fluid dynamic physics here. This is all math and physics. If your leg arteries narrow, it's like putting your finger in the garden hose and it squirts out really fast because you narrowed the opening. That's what's going on with your blood going into your extremedies. When water or air flow like that, the pressure drops on the side of the fast flow, so you get lower BP at your legs. A 0.9 ratio (using systolic readings) or less is cause for concern. For example, if your leg pressure is 100, and your arm is 120, that's a ratio of 0.83, and narrowing is suspected. Mine is a ratio of about 1.25 (give or take a little) meaning if my arm systolic is 120, the BP at my leg is 150. This is nice and normal (1.0-1.4).
Air works the same way. If you could circulate and force high speed air into a room, like a powerful fan pushing air into a room, the barometric pressure will drop and go down in that room. A tornado has the opposite effect making the barometric pressure in the calm interior of the house go up and thus "explode".
Just thought I'd throw in a little science so that we know this thread is more than eating the (right kind of) chocolate.
http://cooks.ndtv.com/article/show/eating-dark-chocolate-may-make-walking-easier-552899
Now along that line, they mention PAD (peripheral artery disease) as a worry that this cocoa can help alleviate. As much as I dislike doctors, they are good for some things, one of which is taking an ankle to brachial ratio (index) blood pressure. What is that, you ask? That's something your doctor probably does not do often, if at all, and that's more important than a truckload of BP pills and cholesterol pills. Basically, it's taking your arm pressure, and then the BP in your leg at the ankle.
Now, let Mr. "Sir Isaac Newton lite" here explain some fluid dynamic physics here. This is all math and physics. If your leg arteries narrow, it's like putting your finger in the garden hose and it squirts out really fast because you narrowed the opening. That's what's going on with your blood going into your extremedies. When water or air flow like that, the pressure drops on the side of the fast flow, so you get lower BP at your legs. A 0.9 ratio (using systolic readings) or less is cause for concern. For example, if your leg pressure is 100, and your arm is 120, that's a ratio of 0.83, and narrowing is suspected. Mine is a ratio of about 1.25 (give or take a little) meaning if my arm systolic is 120, the BP at my leg is 150. This is nice and normal (1.0-1.4).
Air works the same way. If you could circulate and force high speed air into a room, like a powerful fan pushing air into a room, the barometric pressure will drop and go down in that room. A tornado has the opposite effect making the barometric pressure in the calm interior of the house go up and thus "explode".
Just thought I'd throw in a little science so that we know this thread is more than eating the (right kind of) chocolate.
