Chocolate Indulgence Is Good For Heart: Study

A new study claims cardiovascular benefits from moderate daily consumption of chocolate.

Researchers in the UK concluded that eating up to 100 grams of chocolate a day can cut cardiovascular risk by 11 percent and the risk of associated death by 25 percent, compared to people who did not consume any chocolate at all. The study suggests that removing chocolate from diet may have no health benefits.

"Cumulative evidence suggests that higher chocolate intake is associated with a lower risk of future cardiovascular events, although residual confounding cannot be excluded. There does not appear to be any evidence to say that chocolate should be avoided in those who are concerned about cardiovascular risk," researchers wrote in the journal Heart.

The findings on chocolate were based on the EPIC-Norfolk study of 21,000 adults reporting their diet and lifestyle behavior through questionnaires. The participants were monitored for 12 years during which 3,013 people experienced coronary artery disease or stroke. The average daily consumption of chocolate the group was around 7 g but some reported eating up to 100 grams. Nearly 20 % of the participants said they did not eat chocolate.

The research team found that moderate chocolate consumption was associated with a healthy cardiovascular profile measured in terms of age, weight, blood pressure and physical activity.

Though the study did not clearly explain the benefits, it is known that flavinoids in chocolate are good for the body. However the study also reported that that eating white chocolate carries benefits.

"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," said Professor Phyo Myint, School of Medicine & Dentistry at University of Aberdeen.