31 August 2012

More reasons to eat chocolate

We all know that chocolate is not the healthiest choice but it has been to improve brain function and now it has been discovered that it may even protect against stroke.

A study followed 37,000 Swedish men who were monitored over 10 years. Scientists looked at their eating habits and health then separated them into 4 groups based on their chocolate consumption. These ranged from eating no chocolate to consuming just over an average sized bar (63g) each week. The results showed that those who ate the most chocolate were 17% least likely to suffer a stroke.

Professor 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.”

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.”