There’s good news for chocolate lovers everywhere: A study, from the University of Cambridge in the UK, found that eating chocolate on a regular basis can reduce the risk of developing heart disease. The study consisted of 114,000 people and determined that those who regularly ate the most chocolate had a decreased risk of heart disease (37% decrease), diabetes (31% decrease), and stroke (29% decrease). Cocoa products, like chocolate, have been found to promote cardiovascular health in many studies. These products contain flavonol, which has been found to be potentially helpful in averting cardiometabolic disorders. Additionally, chocolate stimulates endorphin production and contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant. It also contains theobromine, caffeine, and other substances which are stimulants.
The study is a meta-analysis, which is a careful and rigorous review of many clinical studies. Seven studies out of 4,576 possible papers met the criteria to be included in this study. Because the seven studies reported amounts of chocolate consumption in different manners, the authors decided to compare lowest to highest chocolate consumption when they looked at the health benefits. The authors of the study explain that the exact amount of chocolate needed to experience the health benefits is not clear, yet.
The study also cautions against large consumption of chocolate. Chocolate is high in sugar and calories and therefore can be destructive to weight loss and overall health. Dark chocolate, which contains a higher cocoa content, will provide the most health benefits without as much fat and sugar as milk chocolate.
At the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana, we understand that our patients need nutrition plans tailored to their needs—even if that means including the occasional piece of dark chocolate! Balance is always very important. You can learn more about our program and weight loss options on our website, by registering for a free weight loss surgery seminar, or by calling us at 877-691-3001.
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
*Image from here
You must be logged in to post a comment.