Chocolate Good for the Heart

**Gena Marie** · 09-05-2011, 11:22 AM

Aug. 29, 2011 (Paris) -- Chocoholics have reason to celebrate today: A large new study confirms that chocolate may be good for the heart and brain.

Regularly eating chocolate could cut the risk of heart disease and stroke by about one-third, says researcher Oscar H. Franco, MD, PhD, of the University of Cambridge in the U.K.

But before you indulge, a cautionary note: Chocolate bars, cookies, and drinks are high in sugar, fat, and calories, so eating too much can lead to weight gain and, you guessed it, heart disease. "Moderation is key," Franco tells WebMD

Chocolate Linked to 37% Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Previous studies have suggested that chocolate may protect against high blood pressure and diabetes, both of which are risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

But no large-scale study has ever looked at whether chocolate actually reduces the risk of heart disease, Franco says.

So he and colleagues pooled the results of seven published studies involving more than 100,000 people that explored the association between chocolate and heart disease and strokes.

Results showed that people who ate the most chocolate had a 37% lower risk of heart disease and a 29% lower risk of stroke compared with people who ate the least amount of chocolate.

The findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2011 and simultaneously published online at bmj.com.

The Good Stuff in Chocolate

All of the studies reported overall how much chocolate people ate. The research didn't distinguish between dark or milk chocolate. Any source of chocolate counted, whether chocolate bars, chocolate drinks, or chocolate cookies, for example.

The studies showed how much chocolate people ate, from never to more than once per day. Participants were followed for eight to 16 years.

The components in chocolate that might explain chocolate's protective effects were not explored. Based on previous research though, the researchers credit what are called polyphenols, antioxidants that increase the body’s production of the chemical nitric oxide.

An increase in nitric oxide production in turn might lead to improvements in blood pressure and blood flow though arteries.

"If we knew what components [exerted the healthy effects], we would package them in a pill," says past American Heart Association president Robert Bonow, MD, of Northwestern University in Chicago. He was not involved with the study.

Bonow tells WebMD that the study is "impressive" for its large size and the substantial reduction in heart disease and stroke associated with chocolate.

Still, the study doesn't prove chocolate lowers the rate of heart disease. The people who ate the most chocolate in the studies could share some other characteristics that explain their better heart and brain health.

"The good news is, it's not bad for you in appropriate quantities," Bonow says.

Franco notes that previous research suggests that dark chocolate may best for the heart.

**damonstertraps** · 09-05-2011, 04:50 PM

im sure the women are gonna like this article. (: another excuse for us to buy them chocolate all the time

**dsmith** · 09-05-2011, 05:33 PM

"The good news is, it's not bad for you in appropriate quantities," Bonow says.

Like everything else, I don't know but I don't believe it...

**Gena Marie** · 09-06-2011, 10:09 AM

Why is Dark Chocolate Healthy?:

Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries). Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body.
Heart Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate:

Dark chocolate is good for your heart. A small bar of it everyday can help keep your heart and cardiovascular system running well. Two heart health benefits of dark chocolate are:

Lower Blood Pressure: Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.
Lower Cholesterol: Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.

Other Benefits of Dark Chocolate:

Chocolate also holds benefits apart from protecting your heart:

it tastes good
it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure
it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant
it contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants

Doesn't Chocolate Have a lot of Fat?:

Here is some more good news -- some of the fats in chocolate do not impact your cholesterol. The fats in chocolate are 1/3 oleic acid, 1/3 stearic acid and 1/3 palmitic acid:

Oleic Acid is a healthy monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil.
Stearic Acid is a saturated fat but one which research is shows has a neutral effect on cholesterol.
Palmitic Acid is also a saturated fat, one which raises cholesterol and heart disease risk.

That means only 1/3 of the fat in dark chocolate is bad for you.

Chocolate Tip 1 - Balance the Calories:

This information doesn't mean that you should eat a pound of chocolate a day. Chocolate is still a high-calorie, high-fat food. Most of the studies done used no more than 100 grams, or about 3.5 ounces, of dark chocolate a day to get the benefits.

One bar of dark chocolate has around 400 calories. If you eat half a bar of chocolate a day, you must balance those 200 calories by eating less of something else. Cut out other sweets or snacks and replace them with chocolate to keep your total calories the same.

Chocolate Tip 2 - Taste the Chocolate:

Chocolate is a complex food with over 300 compounds and chemicals in each bite. To really enjoy and appreciate chocolate, take the time to taste it. Professional chocolate tasters have developed a system for tasting chocolate that include assessing the appearance, smell, feel and taste of each piece.

Chocolate Tip 3 - Go for Dark Chocolate:

Dark chocolate has far more antioxidants than milk or white chocolate. These other two chocolates cannot make any health claims. Dark chocolate has 65 percent or higher cocoa content.

Chocolate Tip 4 - Skip the Nougat:

You should look for pure dark chocolate or dark chocolate with nuts, orange peel or other flavorings. Avoid anything with caramel, nougat or other fillings. These fillings are just adding sugar and fat which erase many of the benefits you get from eating the chocolate.

Chocolate Tip 5 - Avoid Milk:

It may taste good but some research shows that washing your chocolate down with a glass of milk could prevent the antioxidants being absorbed or used by your body.

Next Anti-Aging Food: Avocados

Sources: Chocolate Manufacturers Association; Journal of the American Medical Association

**Ichigo** · 09-07-2011, 01:26 AM

Ummmm"Lindt Dark Chocolate with Chili"!!

**Tomn** · 09-11-2011, 05:00 AM

so i have to eat more chocolate yes? im not a fan of too much sweets but if it lowers risk of heart disease then why not..

**jimm** · 09-11-2011, 03:46 PM

chocolate yeah good for you fat bastards.... go on stuff ya fat wee faces!!!

**katanga** · 09-11-2011, 03:57 PM

Hi people,

new on here just stumbled on this and thought I would share a easy recipe that most would like....cos chocalate defo good for the soul...

Try this one coconut macaroons covered in dark chocolate has to be 70% cocoa...Mmm

all you need is a can of condensed milk
Bag roughly 300g of desicated coconut
Vanilla essense a few drops
two egg whites

mix all in a bowl then spoon onto a greased proof tray
Bake in a oven at 150 for 15 mins or golden brown edges while these are cooling melt the plain chocolate in a heat proof bowl sat in a pot of hot water make sure no water gets into the chocolate....and then dip the macaroons into the chocolate and place in a fridge untill chocolate has hardened then eat with a smile hope you enjoy....me and my kids just luv em...Mmm

**katanga** · 09-11-2011, 03:58 PM

Hi people,

new on here just stumbled on this and thought I would share a easy recipe that most would like....cos chocalate defo good for the soul...

Try this one coconut macaroons covered in dark chocolate has to be 70% cocoa...Mmm

all you need is a can of condensed milk
Bag roughly 300g of desicated coconut
Vanilla essense a few drops
two egg whites

mix all in a bowl then spoon onto a greased proof tray
Bake in a oven at 150 for 15 mins or golden brown edges while these are cooling melt the plain chocolate in a heat proof bowl sat in a pot of hot water make sure no water gets into the chocolate....and then dip the macaroons into the chocolate and place in a fridge untill chocolate has hardened then eat with a smile hope you enjoy....me and my kids just luv em...Mmm

**caaraa** · 09-12-2011, 01:08 AM

Good luck!

**LightBearer** · 09-13-2011, 01:01 AM

Study funded by Hershey

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