Cardiovascular Diseases and Health Marketing of Chocolate in Taiwan

Anglia Ruskin University

Pre-sessional Course Group 3

October 2012

Cardiovascular diseases and health marketing of chocolate in Taiwan

Name: Mandy

Date: 10 January 2012

Introduction

The total death toll of cardiovascular diseases was occupied 30% in Taiwan. (DOH, 2012) Actually, for 25 consecutive years, cardiovascular diseases ranked the top three of the ten leading causes of death, but these diseases almost did not have any symptoms so people are easy to ignore. According to surveys, people are aged above 15 years old, there is a risk of cardiovascular disease in every nineteen people, and elderly people who are over the age of 65 have heart disease one of every five people. (Ibid, 2012) Thus, cardiovascular diseases are obviously a threat of health in Taiwan.

The growing concern about the maintenance of heart health has become an important concept in modern people. And some factors, like diet, exercise, weight control and lifestyle changes can help to reduce the risk of heart disease. Especially, many studies consider that some fruit and vegetable, which have a high content of polyphenolic antioxidants, may contribute to cardioprotective effects. (Zomer, et al., 2012)

In fact, chocolate is originated from plants and is the same with fruits and vegetables as a beneficial recommendation of heart health. In the past 20 years, scientists have found that a high cocoa content chocolate is rich in polyphenols, specifically flavonoids, which have antioxidant effects may lower blood pressure and help maintain cardiovascular system health. (Ibid, 2012) Hence, chocolate can be as one part of a healthy diet. And dark chocolate contains more flavonoids than green tea, black tea, red wine, blueberries and grapes. Indeed, eating dark chocolate can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to one third, and reduce the chances of sudden death because of heart disease and stroke have caused. (Peter, 2007) In consequence of this, the research shows that chocolate is good...