Can you lower blood pressure with dark chocolate and tea?

NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — A cup of tea in the morning instead of buying a trendy supplement or superfood could do more for your blood pressure than you realize.

An international study suggested that foods like tea and dark chocolate can pack enough cardiovascular punch to rival prescription medications.

Some 145 clinical trials with more than 5,000 participants were analyzed by researchers who found that foods high in flavan-3-ols can slash blood pressure by amounts comparable to hypertension drugs. So, people with high blood pressure who consume these foods every day can possibly drop their readings by about six points systolic and three points diastolic.

The study examined foods that people already know and love: dark chocolate, tea (green and black), apples, and grapes. But unlike previ