Daily Dark Chocolate May Protect Heart Health
Eating dark chocolate every day for 10 years could decrease heart attacks and strokes in some high-risk patients, according to a study published last week in BMJ, Reuters reports on The Washington Post Web site.
Using a mathematical model to predict how daily dark chocolate consumption affected 2,013 people with metabolic syndrome, Australian researchers found that daily consumption might prevent 70 nonfatal and 15 fatal heart attacks or strokes per 10,000 people over 10 years.
The researchers emphasized that only dark chocolate containing at least 60 to 70 percent cocoa has protective benefits, probably because of higher levels of flavonoids.
The researchers also looked at the cost of dark chocolate preventative therapy. For more, click here for the article.