Chocolates May Prevent Preeclampsia

Filed in archive First Trimester , Medical Issues , Pregnancy and Nutrition on July 23, 2008

Now you can indulge in chocolates during pregnancy without feeling guilty. A new study reports that chocolate could help ward off preeclampsia, a condition during pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine.

Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is rich in a chemical called theobromine, which stimulates the heart, relaxes Smooth muscle and dilates blood vessels, and has been used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, and hardening of the arteries, Dr. Elizabeth W. Triche of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut and colleagues write.

According to the study, women eating five or more servings of chocolate each week during the first trimester were at 19 percent lower risk than those who ate chocolate less than once a week. Apparently, the heart health benefits of chocolates also extends to pregnant women. Make sure, though that you eat dark chocolate, not the chocolate candy varieties that's actually more sugar than chocolate. Remember, you don't want to gain too much weight!

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