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The new guard is soft. eating chocolate has been linked to lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease and now in a new study, a lower stroke risk in women
Better yet more chocolate women indulged in, the more their risk of stroke, Swedish researchers found. For every increase of 50 grams (1.8 ounces) From chocolate consumption per week, the risk of total stroke of participants fell by 14%. The protective effect seems kick 45 g (1.6 ounces) of chocolate per week, with women in the highest consumption group - who ate an average of 66.5 g (2.4 oz.) or between one and two chocolate bars a week -. enjoying a lower risk of 20% of stroke than those who ate the least
When broken down by type of stroke - ischemic, which occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood the brain is blocked by a clot, against bleeding, which occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts weakens and - the advantages of variable chocolate protection. Every increase of 50 grams per week-chocolate consumption was associated with a 27% risk of hemorrhagic stroke, compared to a lower risk of 12% of strokes caused by clots. Why the effect was greater with one type of stroke was unclear, the authors wrote.
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Directed by Susanna Larsson, associate professor in the division of nutritional epidemiology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, researchers followed 33.372 women aged 49-83 from around 10 years, until 2008. at the beginning of the study, the women completed extensive questionnaires about their diet and lifestyle, including chocolate how often they ate and about 95 other foods in the year previous. The protective effect of chocolate consumption on stroke risk of women persists even after researchers adjusted for other major risk factors for stroke. The results fall in line with previous research on the subject.
The potential benefits to the health of chocolate, especially dark chocolate, have been widely attributed to its flavonoids, antioxidant compounds in cocoa that can stimulate the cardiovascular system. In other studies, researchers have shown that flavonoids can improve blood flow by dilating blood vessels and lowering blood pressure. They can also inhibit platelet aggregation and reduce inflammation, both of which contribute to cardiovascular health.
The question is whether women begin gorging on chocolate to protect against stroke? Not exactly.
MORE: slightly elevated blood pressure can still be at risk of stroke
chocolate is not the only food that contains antioxidants, of course "It's important. to keep results like these in context. These findings do not mean that people need to exchange chocolate for broccoli in their diet, "Dr. Nieca Goldberg, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York , told HealthDay. "chocolate makes have antioxidants, and antioxidants are beneficial to your health. ... But if they had tried this study with apple skins or grapes? "
Although the study adds to the evidence that chocolate can be good for heart health, its observational nature can prove a direct effect. Its dependence on self-reports of women diet and lifestyle other limits of its conclusions.
the authors also note that 90% of the chocolate consumed in Sweden at the time the questionnaire was Swedish milk chocolate, which contains about 30% cocoa solid. - a much higher concentration than what Americans are used to eating so if you go for a chocolate bar, the author suggests choosing dark chocolate, at least 70% cocoa, which has more antioxidants and less sugar than milk chocolate.
"chocolate consumption in moderation, and preferably dark chocolate, with a high consumption of other antioxidant-rich foods like fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk of stroke, "says Larsson.
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The study was published as a research letter in Journal of the American College of Cardiology .
Sora Song is the editor of TIME Healthland. Find her on Twitter at @sora_song. You can also continue the discussion on the Facebook page and on Twitter at Healthland @TIMEHealthland.
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