A very interesting (and maddening) read. Go here.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Eat More Chocolate
Yes, it's true: a new study from the British Medical Journal (BMJ) finds that eating a large amount of chocolate may lead to a 33% lower risk of developing heart disease.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for over a quarter of all adult deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Doctors keep reminding us that much of it can be prevented with lifestyle changes, such as eating a more low- fat, high fiber and heart-healthy diet, quitting smoking and exercising more. So it's been welcome news that recent studies have linked one of our favorite fat-heavy foods--chocolate-- with improving heart health.
These studies have attributed chocolate's benefit to the heart to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can lower blood pressure and improve insulin resistance. But the new study, which is a review of seven trials involving over 100,000 people, includes the most diverse population yet of those with and without heart disease.
Dr Oscar Franco and his colleagues from the University of Cambridge analyzed studies that examined the association between a chocolate-rich diet and cardiovascular outcomes. Five of these seven studies showed some benefit to eating chocolate. To assess how much benefit chocolate provided, the team separated those with the highest chocolate consumption levels from those with the lowest and found a large discrepancy in their health. Those who ate the most chocolate lowered their risk of heart disease by 37% and their risk of stroke by 29% compared to those who ate the smallest amount.
That's certainly happy news for chocoholics, but the researchers caution that the data does not confirm that eating chocolate necessarily causes, or always leads to a healthier heart: more study is needed to show that it's the chocolate, and not other factors that are common to chocolate lovers, such as, say, a heart healthy diet or higher physical activity levels, that actually causes the reduction in cardiovascular risk.
Plus, the authors note, much of the chocolate available on the market contains large amounts of fat, sugar and calories that can lead to weight gain and an increased risk of diabetes, all of which undermine any benefits that chocolate might have on the heaet. And while the studies didn't differentiate between dark or milk chocolate and included candy bars, cookies and other desserts in the assessment, the researchers suggest that reduced calorie and reduced sugar chocolate may be an important way for people to enjoy the benefits of chocolate without its potentially unhealthy effects.
In addition to being published on bmj.com, the findings will be presented today at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Paris.
Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/29/enjoy-chocolate-is-good-for-your-heart/#ixzz1WPTNFkdc
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