Cholesterol, High Cholesterol

Cocoa and milk may help improve LDL and HDL. In a study, scientists recruited 42 volunteers (19 men, 23 women) with a mean age of 70 to participate in a randomized trial. All the participants received 500 mL of skimmed milk/day with or without 40 grams of cocoa powder for 4 weeks. Cocoa powder contains polyphenol, which acts as an antioxidant protecting cells against damage. At the end of the study the researchers found that milk plus cocoa was associated with an increase in HDL cholesterol levels by 2.67 mg/dL, compared to only milk. In addition, cocoa plus milk was associated with a reduction in oxidized LDL cholesterol levels by 12.3 U/L compared to milk only. In conclusion, the authors suggest that a combination of cocoa and skimmed milk may beneficially affect cholesterol levels in the blood. (121)