You’ll Love That There’s a Link Between Chocolate and Heart Health

Chocolate not only tastes good, but it’s also good for your health. A new British study found that regular consumers of chocolate had an 11% lower risk of heart attacks and strokes, along with a 25% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease than people who didn’t eat chocolate. And the people who ate the most chocolate had even better results, with a 25% lower risk of heart disease and stroke, and a 45% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease. They also had lower body-mass indexes, better systolic blood pressure levels, lower rates of diabetes, and more frequent exercise regimens. The study monitored the eating habits, lifestyles, and overall health of 21,000 adults over a 12-year period and discovered these surprising findings. To learn why chocolate and heart health go hand-in-hand, get a taste of these sweet results.

Why Chocolate is Such a Treat for Health

The connection between chocolate and heart health remains a mystery because researchers are uncertain about which properties in chocolate can benefit the heart. Some say it may be the flavonoids in chocolate, which are the antioxidants believed to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Others suggest that the nuts or fatty acids in chocolate could possess more powerful properties than we’re currently aware.

Don’t Be in the Dark About Milk Chocolate’s Benefits

Several prior studies found that eating dark chocolate can improve heart health, lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of death from a heart attack, and even help people with chronic fatigue syndrome. This led to the perception that dark chocolate was healthier than milk chocolate because it was higher in flavonoids. It also popularized the link between chocolate and heart health. But more of the participants in this British study ate milk chocolate than dark and still experienced the healthful effects. This made the study puzzling, but also much more promising that chocolate and heart health are linked.

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