Yale-Griffin Findings Highlight Hershey'(R)s Extra Dark Chocolate, Which Becomes the First Chocolate Bar to Earn Respected Best Life Seal of Approval
Research Findings:
- Dark chocolate has a positive impact on blood pressure and blood vessel function.
- Consuming Hershey's Extra Dark Chocolate (75g) as well as Hershey's Natural Cocoa (22g) lowered blood pressure and improved endothelial function in 45 participants 2 hours after consumption.
HERSHEY, Pa., Jul 30, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Dark chocolate has come to be recognized for its flavanol
antioxidant benefits, but a new study, conducted by the Yale-Griffin
Prevention Research Center, has uncovered an important link to its
vascular health benefits. The study, which used Hershey's Extra Dark
Chocolate, reported that dark chocolate has a positive impact on blood
pressure and blood vessel function. The study's release comes on the
heels of Hershey's Extra Dark Chocolate, a rich dark chocolate
featuring 60 percent cacao, earning renowned health and fitness expert
Bob Greene's Best Life seal of approval - the first chocolate bar to
earn that distinction.
"The Hershey Company is continuously looking for opportunities to
offer products that support the balanced lifestyles of today's
health-conscious consumers," said Debra Miller, Ph.D., Director of
Nutrition, The Hershey Company. "This one-two punch of the
Yale-Griffin research confirming chocolate's vascular health benefits,
combined with Bob Greene's Best Life seal, makes Hershey's Extra Dark
Chocolate a sensible option for people looking for small indulgences."
The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center study is the largest
study of its kind to research the short-term benefits of solid dark
chocolate and cocoa containing beverages on blood pressure and
endothelial function (blood vessel function). The results of the
study, recently published in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, found that consuming Hershey's Extra Dark Chocolate (75g)
as well as Hershey's Natural Cocoa (22g) lowered blood pressure and
improved endothelial function in 45 participants 2 hours after
consumption.
"Our study demonstrated impressive enhancement of endothelial
function following the acute consumption of dark chocolate and cocoa,"
said David L. Katz, MD, MPH, principal investigator of the study and
director of the Prevention Research Center. "The results are exciting
because they show that dark chocolate, a highly-popular treat long
associated with pleasure, has health promoting properties as well."
In addition, The Hershey Company announced that Hershey's Extra
Dark Chocolate is the first chocolate bar to earn the respected Best
Life seal of approval. Designed by Bob Greene, respected exercise
physiologist and famed trainer, the Best Life seal appears on select
grocery products and is intended to help consumers make healthier food
and lifestyle decisions. Hershey's Extra Dark Chocolate's naturally
occurring antioxidants and proven vascular health benefits helped the
product to earn this distinction. Bob Greene will utilize Hershey's
Extra Dark Chocolate and Hershey's Natural Cocoa as he helps consumers
to develop balanced, healthy lifestyles through his book, The Best
Life Diet, the companion website TheBestLife.com, appearances on The
Oprah Winfrey Show and other national television and radio shows, and
national tours.
Hershey's Extra Dark Chocolate is available wherever candy is
sold. The Best Life seal of approval will begin appearing on packaging
later this year.
About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) is the largest North American
manufacturer of quality chocolate and sugar confectionery products.
With revenues of nearly $5 billion and approximately 13,000 employees
worldwide, The Hershey Company markets such iconic brands as
Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Kit Kat, Twizzlers and Ice
Breakers. Hershey is the leader in the fast-growing dark and premium
chocolate segment, with such brands as Hershey's Bliss, Hershey's
Special Dark, Hershey's Extra Dark and Cacao Reserve by Hershey's.
Hershey's Ice Breakers franchise delivers refreshment across a variety
of mint and gum flavors and formats. Hershey's partnership with
Starbucks offers a premium chocolate experience that combines the
highest-quality chocolate with Starbucks coffee-house flavors, for a
range of delicious and distinct chocolate products. In addition,
Artisan Confections Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hershey
Company, markets such premium chocolate offerings as Scharffen Berger,
known for its high-cacao dark chocolate products, Joseph Schmidt,
recognized for its fine, handcrafted chocolate gifts, and Dagoba,
known for its high-quality natural and organic chocolate bars. Visit
us at www.hersheynewsroom.com.
About The Best Life
The Best Life Diet is not a typical diet plan. Instead, it's a way
of living--of eating, exercising and viewing life--that promotes
weight loss and fosters lifelong weight control. The three-phased plan
offers a gradual approach to developing healthy habits that not only
increase fitness and reduce body weight, but can also dramatically
reduce the risk for diabetes, heart disease and other chronic
conditions. For more on the program, visit www.TheBestLife.com.
SOURCE: The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company
Jody Cook, 717-534-4288
jcook@hersheys.com
or
Cheryl Georgas, 630-932-7914
cheryl@jsha.com
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