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Integrative Health

The Heart-Healthy Reason To Enjoy Tea & Chocolate Daily, Study Finds

Author: Ava Durgin

March 25, 2026

Assistant Health Editor

By Ava Durgin

Assistant Health Editor

Ava Durgin is the former Assistant Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She holds a B.A. in Global Health and Psychology from Duke University.

Image by Yelena Yemchuk / Getty

March 25, 2026

If you’ve ever curled up with a cup of tea or treated yourself to a square of dark chocolate, you may have done your heart a favor, without even realizing it.

According to a recent systematic review and meta-analysis, certain plant compounds found in everyday favorites like cocoa, tea, and apples can help naturally lower blood pressure and improve vascular health.

The delicious link between flavan-3-ols & heart health

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This isn't just about indulging your sweet tooth. The findings highlight the power of food as a daily tool for prevention, particularly when it comes to heart health. Here’s what they found:

- On average, people saw a drop of about 2 to 4 points in their blood pressure, similar to what some medications can do.

- Those with high blood pressure saw even bigger benefits, with drops as high as 6 points.

- Endothelial function (a key marker of cardiovascular health) improved by 1.7–2.0%, even independent of blood pressure changes.

RELATED READ: 3 Supplements That Can Actually Support Your Heart, From An RD

How to add more flavan-3-ols to your day

To get more of these heart-healthy compounds, consider adding a few simple staples to your routine:

- Tea: Sip on green or black tea throughout the day

- Fruits: Snack on apples (with the skin!), red grapes, blueberries, and blackberries

- Dark chocolate & cocoa: Choose high-quality, low-sugar varieties

The takeaway

Heart health doesn’t always have to come from big changes; it can start with something as small (and enjoyable) as a piece of fruit or a warm mug of tea. Flavan-3-ol-rich foods may be a simple, effective way to support blood pressure and vascular health over time. So next time you reach for that dark chocolate square, consider it a tiny act for your health.

beauty & gut collagen+

Our collagen gets you glowing, inside and out.*

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

(312)

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★

(312)

Shop now