
A recent study shows that pregnant women who include chocolate in their diet could reduce their risk of preeclampsia.
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Chocolate contains theobromine, which is a chemical that stimulates the heart while relaxing smooth muscles and dilating blood vessels. Theobromine has also been used to treat heart disease.
Doctors say that theobromine is very similar to heart disease and therefore responds to the same treatments. Researchers looked at women that delivered a single infant and asked them how much chocolate they consumed during their pregnancy. They also tested levels of theobromine in the infants' umbilical cords.
The women that ate the most chocolate and whose babies had the highest level of theobromine in their umbilical cord blood were 69 percent less likely to develop preeclampsia that those with the lowest levels.
So, to all you pregnant women out there: EAT MORE CHOCOLATE!