Meta-regression analyses were conducted using Stata version 10 [ 31] to explore reasons for high heterogeneity in the pooled meta-analysis of all studies. The following variables were tested, as their associations with blood pressure outcomes are physiologically plausible: Dosage of polyphenols in the active treatment group (continuous variable), type of control (categorical variable: low-flavanol control as drink, tablet or bar/flavanol-free control as white chocolate, milk, or placebo capsules), duration (continuous and categorical > 2 weeks yes/no), study design (parallel versus crossover), starting SBP (continuous and categorical > 140 mmHg yes/no), starting DBP (continuous and categorical >80 mmHg yes/no), quality score (≥ 3.5 yes/no), average body mass index (BMI) (continuous and categorical > 25 or > 30 yes/no) and average age (continuous). a b c Watson, Traci (22 January 2013). "Earliest Evidence of Chocolate in North America". Science . Retrieved 3 March 2014. Did you know that there’s a World Chocolate Day? It takes place each year on 7 July. To celebrate it, read about the history of chocolate and the interesting journey from cocoa bean to chocolate bar. A brief history of chocolate a b Clarence-Smith, William Gervase (2003), Cocoa and Chocolate, 1765-1914, Routledge, p.48, ISBN 978-1-134-60778-5 Unroll and slice off 2 large pieces of clingfilm, overlapping them, so that you have a large cling-covered surface to roll the chocolate salame out on. Tip the chocolate mixture out in the middle of this and — using your hands, messy though this is — mould the mixture into a fat salame-like log, approx. 30cm long.

Pueblo people, who lived in an area now the U.S. Southwest, imported cacao from Mesoamerican cultures in southern Mexico between 900 and 1400. They used it as a common beverage consumed by many people within their society. [1] Archaeological evidence of Cacao in Mesoamerica [ edit ]a b c d Bensen, Amanda (March 1, 2008). "A Brief History of Chocolate". Smithsonian Magazine . Retrieved 3 March 2014. What began in Sweden is now based in Toowoomba, QLD, and we’re all the more thankful for it. Making full use of its new digs, Metiisto ethically sources its cocoa beans from nearby regions like the Solomon Islands, where small-batch farmers go to great lengths to achieve the highest quality. Each and every bean is inspected by the brand before it’s roasted, winnowed, refined, conched, aged, tempered, and wrapped. One taste and you’ll know what all these awards at the International Chocolate Awards are for, including;

Grivetti, Louis E.; Shapiro, Howard-Yana (2008). "Appendix 8: Chocolate Timeline". Chocolate: History, Culture, and Heritage. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. pp.855–928. doi: 10.1002/9780470411315.app8. ISBN 978-0-470-41131-5. Gradually pour the chocolate-oil mixture into the beaten yolks and fold to mix completely. Add a third of the beaten egg whites and fold in vigorously to lighten the mixture; no need to be delicate at this stage. Now gently fold in another third of the egg whites and, when that second lot is incorporated, fold in the final third leaving behind any liquid at the bottom of the bowl of whites. No white streaks should be visible.

The relatively modest but significant blood pressure-lowering effect of cocoa in the hypertensive subgroup is clinically relevant: a decline of 5 mmHg in systolic blood pressure may reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event by about 20% over 5 years [ 46]. Furthermore, the effect of cocoa in a hypertensive population is comparable to other lifestyle modifications, such as moderate physical activity (30 min/d) may reduce SBP by 4-9 mmHg [ 5]. However, the results of these subgroup analyses need to be interpreted cautiously, as three of seven trial arms with a crossover study design were conducted by the same study team [ 13, 18], and five of nine study arms using a flavanol-free control were conducted by two teams within similar population groups [ 10, 13, 16, 18]. Therefore, study design or type of control might in fact be indirect predictors of BP outcome through other factors such as dietary habits of the study population. Kiple, Kenneth F.; Kriemhild Coneè Oyurnelas (2000). The Cambridge world history of food. Cambridge University Press. pp.635–638. ISBN 978-0-521-40214-9. Boozy Pumpkin Hot Chocolate. Add some pumpkin pie spice to a hot chocolate recipe and then toss in a bit of winter warmth using Kahlua, bourbon, peppermint schnapps or a bit of cinnamon whiskey. Meta-regression analysis did not suggest an association between dosage, duration, quality of trials, age, BMI and blood pressure outcome. However, inclusion of future trials in meta-regression analysis might provide further insight into predicting factors.