The antioxidant benefits of cocoa are well documented, but did you know that these compounds can help dilate the blood vessels.

Researchers are now researching if supplements of these compounds can help reduce high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. The pill may provide a more natural option to treat these conditions than statins, which are taken by six million people in Britain.

In the trial, at the University of Cologne, Germany, 48 men and women with high blood pressure will be given a single capsule containing 1,000 mg cocoa polyphenols. It is thought the compounds work by increasing levels of nitric oxide, which in turn widens blood vessels.