New research has added to evidence that consuming chocolate in modest quantities may be good for the heart. Scientists in the UK looked at data from nearly 21,000 people who filled out questionnaires about their lifestyle and had their health monitored for more than 11 years. Their average daily consumption was seven grams (0.25 ounces) of chocolate, ranging from none to 100g. The top fifth of chocolate-eaters were 12 per cent less likely to develop heart disease and 23 per cent less likely to suffer a stroke compared with the bottom fifth of consumers, the researchers found.
The study, published in the journal Heart, noted that most consumers of the confectionary ate milk chocolate, not dark chocolate which has a higher percentage of protective molecules called flavonoids. “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,” it said.
