Chocolate May Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Just because a food is sweet doesn't necessarily mean that it's bad for you. According to a new study, one of the world's most popular sweet treats, chocolate, can protect the heart from stroke and disease.

For the study, researchers from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Heal collected data on some 55,000 men over the course of 15 years as part of the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Study. Researchers discovered that participants who consumed between 2 and 6 ounces of chocolate per week had a 20% lower risk of developing a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation is a common cause of irregular heartbeat. It affects millions of men and women in the United States, and researchers have linked it to stroke and heart failure. Assuming this study is correct, eating chocolate may protect against atrial fibrillation and its associated problems with the heart.

“Researchers collected a lot of detailed information on the participants. Information such as their lifestyle, diet, blood pressure, and cholesterol,” said the study's lead researcher and author. “That also included, coincidentally, how much chocolate they ate. We’re seeing some real health benefits from eating cocoa. Obviously, eating too much poses other risks, but chocolate, in moderation, can be part of a healthy diet.”

After analyzing data, researchers found that participants who consumed 1 to 3 ounces of chocolate per month had a 10% lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation than their counterparts who did not consume chocolate. Eating 1 ounce of chocolate per week, however, offered even greater benefits, reducing the risk of atrial fibrillation by 17%. And eating 2 to 6 ounces of chocolate per week offered a 20% lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation.

It's no secret that dark chocolate is good for your health. Dark chocolate is a special variety of chocolate with a high concentration of cocoa. In comparison, milk chocolate has a lower concentration of cocoa -- and it's also made with milk (hence the name). This study, however, suggests that milk chocolate can also offer health benefits. While it contains more saturated fat than its dark counterpart, milk chocolate may still protect the heart from disease.

Of course, you consume chocolate -- milk and dark varieties -- in moderation.