June 01, 2012
Possible benefits of dark chocolate
Daily
consumption of dark chocolate could reduce heart attacks and
strokes, a study has claimed.
Researchers in Australia have looked at data
from previous studies and predicted that eating dark
chocolate daily could potentially avert 70 non-fatal and
15 fatal cardiovascular events per 10,000 people treated over 10
years.
June Davison, our Senior Cardiac Nurse,
said: “These findings might appeal to those of us with a
sweet tooth, but don’t start ripping open that chocolate bar just
yet. This study used a statistical model to predict the effect of
chocolate on heart health, so it does not conclusively
prove that this would translate into real benefits for
people.
“There is a wealth of evidence that shows the
best thing you can do for your heart is to keep active and to eat a
healthy balanced diet. There’s no harm in having chocolate
as a treat, but make sure you also eat lots of
fruit and vegetables and get plenty of exercise to keep your heart
healthy.”
This study was published online in the British
Medical Journal.