Chocolate helps heart healthy

Each day a small piece of dark chocolate protects the heart from inflammation, thus avoiding heart problems. Milk chocolate does not have this ability.

According to the Moli-sani Project - one of the largest health studies conducted in Europe, only 6.7 grams of chocolate per day (0.23 ounces) was enough. With standard Hershey's Kiss chocolate, only 4.5 grams (although traditional Kiss chocolate is not made of dark chocolate), a Hershey dark chocolate bar weighs about 41 grams. Therefore the recommended dosage is one bar per week.

Chronic cardiovascular inflammation of the heart is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease such as heart attack or stroke. Therefore, doctors always try to monitor inflammation in patients. One factor that shows inflammation is the C-reactive protein in the blood.

Researchers have found a link between intake of dark chocolate and the above-mentioned protein ratio in 4,849 subjects with good health and no risk factors (such as high cholesterol or blood pressure). High or other parameters). The findings are published in the latest issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

Romina di Giuseppe, the study's lead author, said: 'We started from the theory that cocoa beans contain a lot of antioxidants, especially flavonoids and other polyphenols. They may have beneficial effects on inflammation. Our results are encouraging: People who eat moderate amounts of dark chocolate often have a low rate of C-reactive protein in their blood. In other words, their inflammation is significantly reduced. '

The reduction of inflammation that researchers observed is also controlled with factors such as wine or ingested products.

Eat a dark chocolate bar each week to help keep your heart healthy.(Photo: greenopolis)

Previous studies have found that chocolate may be beneficial, although doctors often warn that general diet should be considered if you want good health. A health study found that platelets in blood who like chocolate are less likely to clump together.

Other studies have also found many changes in diet and exercise to help people deal with fate. But it is clear that no change can guarantee a lifetime.

New research shows that moderation is the key issue for chocolate.

di Giuseppe said: 'The best effect can be achieved when eating about 6.7 grams of chocolate per day, equivalent to a small square piece two or three times a week. If this amount is exceeded, the positive effect will be lost. '

Milk in milk chocolate will prevent polyphenols, so the team removed chocolate milk from the list.

Licia Iacoviello - director of the Laboratory of Genetic and Environmental Epidemiology at the Campobasso State University and also responsible for Project Moli-sani - said: 'We consider this result to be the first step of series of subsequent data. They will give us a new perspective on how to protect ourselves daily from cardiovascular and cancer diseases'.

The Moli-sani project is funded by the Pfizer Foundation.