A little chocolate for the heart
Wednesday March 31st, 2010
A single square of chocolate every day may do wonders for the heart, according to new findings.
The new research, from Germany, casts new light on claims that chocolate may sometimes be healthy.
And
British experts said the people should not be tempted to eat more than
a square a day.
Dr Brian Buijsse of the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Nuthetal, and colleagues, looked at the link between chocolate consumption, blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. They gathered figures from 19,357 adults and followed the participants for about eight years.
Mean blood pressure was significantly lower in the top quarter for chocolate intake (average of 7.5 grams a day) than the bottom quarter (average of 1.7 grams a day).
In the European Heart Journal, the researchers report that the risk of having a heart attack or stroke was reduced by 39 per cent in the top quarter for chocolate intake. However, part of that benefit was due to lower blood pressure in this group at the start.
They conclude: "Chocolate consumption appears to lower cardiovascular disease risk, in part through reducing blood pressure. The inverse association may be stronger for stroke than for heart attack."
But they add that the difference between the two groups amounted to six grams of chocolate - the equivalent of less than one small square.
Victoria Taylor, a dietician with the British Heart Foundation commented: "This sounds like a dream for chocolate lovers and just in time for Easter too, but it's important to read the small print.
"The benefits were associated with a fairly small amount of chocolate.
"Some people will be tempted to eat more than one square, however, chocolate has high amounts of calories and saturated fat which are linked to weight gain and raised cholesterol levels - two of the key risk factors for heart disease."
Buijsse, B. et al. Chocolate consumption in relation to blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease in German adults. European Heart Journal, published online March 31, 2010.
Tags: Diet & Food | Europe | Heart Health | UK News
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