Chocolate Bad Guys Have Been Vindicated |
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? OF COURSE, BUT…Chocolate might not be
the healthiest thing for your waistline - but research suggests it may protect
against stroke. That’s all I needed to
know. Follow me to the chocolate shoppe!
Meanwhile back to the chocolate lab (where is this place?): A
study following more than 37,000 Swedish men showed those eating the most
chocolate were the least likely to have a stroke.
It follows on from other studies that have suggested eating
chocolate can improve the health of the heart.
However, researchers and the Stroke Association warned the
findings were not an excuse to overeat chocolate. [I almost deleted this line].
Raw cocoa beans from South America |
They were split into four groups based on the amount of
chocolate, with the bottom group eating, on average, no chocolate each week and
the top group having 63g (2.2oz) - slightly more than an average bar.
Comparing the top and bottom groups showed those eating the
most chocolate were 17% less likely to have a stroke during the study,
published in the journal Neurology.
Flavonoids
One of the researchers, Prof Susanna Larsson, from the
Karolinska Institute in Sweden, said: "The beneficial effect of chocolate
consumption on stroke may be related to the flavonoids in chocolate.
"Flavonoids appear to be protective against
cardiovascular disease through antioxidant, anti-clotting and anti-inflammatory
properties.
"It's also possible that flavonoids in chocolate may
decrease blood concentrations of bad cholesterol and reduce blood
pressure."
The study also noted that while dark chocolate had been
linked to benefits for the heart in the past, milk chocolate was the preferred
option in Sweden and in the study.
Dr. Clare Walton, from the Stroke Association, said:
"Past research has shown that eating dark chocolate might go some way to
reducing your stroke risk if it is eaten as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
"This study suggests that eating a moderate amount of
other types of chocolate could also be beneficial in men.
"However, a lot more research is needed and these
results should not be used as an excuse for men to eat chocolate as an
alternative to regular exercise or eating a healthy diet to reduce their risk
of stroke."
The authors of the study warned of the high sugar and fat
content of chocolate. "It should be consumed in moderation," they
said.
Source: http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/
More good news:
http://4noguilt.com/healthy-chocolate-diet
Local chocolate blog: http://eclipsechocolat.com/blog/
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