Harvard Study Links Chocolate Consumption to a Healthier Heart

Need another reason to treat yourself to a piece of chocolate? According to a new study conducted by researchers at Harvard University, chocolate has been linked to significantly lower rates of irregular heartbeat.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 55,000 men and women. They found that participants who consumed between two and six servings of chocolate per week were 20% less likely to develop irregular heartbeats -- also known as atrial fibrillation -- than their counterparts who did not consume chocolate. This is important because irregular heartbeats have been linked to stroke, blood clots and heart failure. And being that heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, researchers were surprised by these results.

When discussing the findings, the study's lead author explained that the chocolate consumed by participants had low concentrations of "potentially protective ingredients." Nonetheless, researchers still discovered the heart-healthy benefits of chocolate.

"Despite the fact that most of the chocolate consumed by the study participants likely had relatively low concentrations of potentially protective ingredients, we still observed a significant association between eating chocolate and a lower risk of atrial fibrillation — suggesting that even small amounts of cocoa consumption can have a positive health impact,” explained the study's author.

So, how does chocolate offer such amazing health benefits, particularly in regards to heart health? This study only found an association between chocolate consumption and heart health. It did not reveal the underlying cause of the association. With that said, however, the general belief among researchers is that chocolate -- when made from natural cocoa -- contains powerful antioxidants that work to neutralize free radicals. When left unchecked, these free radicals can wreak havoc on otherwise healthy cells. Antioxidants like those found in chocolate, however, can protect cells from this destruction -- and this may be the reason why chocolate is such a surprisingly healthy food.

It's important to note that different types of chocolate have different properties -- and presumably different effects on a person's health. Milk chocolate, for instance, typically contains high concentrations of sugar and saturated fat, while dark chocolate contains lower concentrations sugar and fat, as well as higher concentrations of polyphenols. Generally speaking, dark chocolate yields the greatest health benefits. But regardless of which variety you prefer, remember to consume chocolate only in moderation and not as a regular part of your daily diet.

This study was published in the British Medical Journal.