Chocolate linked to lower risk of heart disease, stroke: Study

spaminator

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 26, 2009
35,667
3,002
113
Chocolate linked to lower risk of heart disease, stroke: Study
Postmedia Network
First posted: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 09:31 AM EDT | Updated: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 09:42 AM EDT
Eating a chocolate bar a day keeps the doctor away.
So suggest the researchers behind a new U.K. study of nearly 21,000 people that found those who regularly ate chocolate had a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.
Researchers looked at data from the EPIC-Norfolk study that tracked the diets of men and women in England through questionnaires over about 12 years.
They found that the people who ate chocolate had an 11% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 25% reduced risk of associated death compared to those who didn't eat any.
Dark chocolate is often touted as having health benefits, but this study found the participants munched on milk chocolate most often, suggesting it may be healthier than previously thought.
"This may indicate that not only flavonoids, but also other compounds, possibly related to milk constituents, such as calcium and fatty acids, may provide an explanation for the observed association," Prof. Phyo Myint of Scotland's University of Aberdeen said on the school's website.
The study found one in five participants didn't eat any chocolate, but the chocolate-eaters had seven to 100 grams a day.
Those who ate more chocolate were younger and had a lower BMI, blood pressure, diabetes rate and exercised more.
Eating more chocolate was also linked with a diet higher in fat and carbs, with less protein and alcohol, the study says.
The study was published online in the journal Heart.
Chocolate linked to lower risk of heart disease, stroke: Study | Health & Fitnes