Once Again, Chocolate Lowers Heart Risk

Yet another study offers good news for chocolate lovers. Researchers at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland are convinced that eating about 100 grams, or 3.5 ounces, of chocolate a day reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. How do they know? Because they studied data from almost 21,000 adults taking part in the EPIC-Norfolk study, which is tracking the impact of diet on the long term health of 25,000 men and women in Norfolk, England, using food frequency and lifestyle questionnaires. A University of Aberdeen news release reports that the highest chocolate intake was associated with a 23 percent lower risk of stroke, a 25 percent lower risk of any episode of cardiovascular disease and a 45 percent lower risk of associated death. Wait, there’s more: the researchers note that, while dark chocolate is considered to be the most healthful, milk chocolate may also offer some health benefits.