A little dark chocolate may go a long way for your heart...

Added on 18/08/10

A story recently reported by the Daily Express tell us that eating two small pieces of chocolate a week can cut the risk of heart failure by up to a third. The story is based on a study of the effects of chocolate on heart health. The research involved elderly and middle aged women, and was carried out at Harvard Medical School and the Karolinska institute in Sweden.

A weight off our mind

Results showed that women who ate moderate amounts of chocolate (one to two servings weekly, or one to three servings a month) faced a lower risk of heart failure. Unfortunately the study didn’t make clear how much ‘two small bits’ was, and relied on women recalling their precise intake of chocolate, which meant the results are not as accurate as metabolic ward studies, where precise intakes are measured.

Weight risks

Though a pleasure many enjoy, over consumption of chocolate is clearly linked to weight gain and obesity. Most commercial (milk) chocolate is a combination of sugars and fats, and is extremely high in calories. That’s part of why it tastes so good.

The link between obesity and heart disease is well documented. It’s important to bear in mind that moderation is key. If you are a chocolate lover, you should try to curb your weekly intake as the study suggests, and enjoy the richer taste of darker chocolate bars. Don’t forget to exercise regularly and enjoy healthy foods such as vegetables and fruit as the staples of your food plan.

Not all bad

Many other studies have looked at the health benefits of chocolate. However, results are inconclusive at this time. Emerging evidence suggests that extremely dark chocolate (80%+ cocoa solids) may be healthy in moderation. Chocolate comes from the cocoa bean, which the Aztecs fondly dubbed ‘the food of the Gods’. It contains many healthy ingredients such as anandamide (a euphoric substance) and arginine (a natural aphrodisiac).