LIFESTYLE / Health
Eating chocolate every day can cut the risk of heart attacks
(Daily Mail)
Updated: 2007-07-04 10:03
Eating a small amount of dark chocolate every day could be good for you,
scientists say.
A study has found that a regular 2oz dose can lower blood pressure and
reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke - without any weight
gain.
But before you reach for the king-size bar, beware. The effects are
cancelled out if more than 30 calories are consumed each day, the
researchers warn.
It was already known that chemicals in chocolate called polyphenols can
reduce blood pressure.
But the German study shows that the fat content does not cancel out the
beneficial effects - at least where small portions are concerned.
Blood pressure lowered in this way could reduce the risk of death from a
stroke by 8 per cent and from coronary artery disease by 5 per cent, the
University of Cologne scientists found. It would also reduce risk of
death generally by 4 per cent.
A daily diet of a little chocolate had the same effect as more
complicated diets designed to lower blood pressure, according to the
authors of the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association.
"Although the magnitude of the blood pressure reduction was small, the
effects are clinically noteworthy," they said. "Adoption of small amounts
of flavanol-rich cocoa into the habitual diet is a dietary modification
that is easy to adhere to, and therefore may be a promising behavioural
approach to lower blood pressure in individuals with above-optimal blood
pressure."
However, Sara Stanner, a nutritionist at the British Heart Foundation,
was cautious.
"This study suggests that small quantities of dark chocolate might have
beneficial effects on blood pressure. However, it is important to
remember that chocolate is also high in fat and calories - so
over-indulgence is not good for your heart."
Polyphenols are also found in fruit and vegetables - and can be consumed
without the risks associated with over-indulging, she added.
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