30/03/2010
Eggcellent news in time for Easter!
In response to a study published online
today in the European Heart Journal revealing that
chocolate reduces blood pressure and risk of heart
disease, Senior Heart Health Dietician, Victoria Taylor said:
“This sounds like a dream for chocolate lovers
and just in time for Easter too, but it’s important to read the
small print with this study. The amounts consumed
on average by even the highest consumers was about one square of
chocolate a day or half a small chocolate Easter egg in a week, so
the benefits were associated with a fairly small
amount of chocolate.
“Some people will be tempted to eat more than
one square, however, chocolate has high amounts of calories
and saturated fat which are linked to weight gain and
raised cholesterol levels - two of the key risk
factors for heart disease.
“So whilst chocolate, in moderation, can form
part of a heart healthy diet it is important to remember to include
a variety of other foods including fruit and
vegetables and oily fish, as well as getting out and being
active for at least 30 minutes a day.”
More information
- Statement issued in response to “Chocolate consumption in
relation to blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease in
German adults.” European Heart Journal.
doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehq068.