Could a chocolate a day keep the doctor away?
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An uplifting Danish study suggests moderate consumption of chocolate can reduce risk of stroke, heart failure and dementia.
The study results have been widely published across the world, and embraced by a random sample women in Griffith we interviewed over the weekend.
Briony Campbell said, “I think it’s great as it gives us an excuse to eat more chocolate and feel like we’re doing something good for ourselves”.
Rosie O’Ryan was a bit more skeptical.
“Surely you’d have to limit the amount you eat, so you don’t get diabetes.”
Rosie is right – moderation is the key. And men can get away with eating more than women, as per usual.
According to the Danish study, women who ate one serving of chocolate a week and men who ate between two and six significantly reduced their risk of Atrial fibrillation (AF).
AF is a condition affecting 400,000 Australians, causing their heart to beat fast and irregularly. This leads to heart failure and related illnesses.
The Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study invited 160, 725 men and women aged between 50–64 years who had never had cancer to participate, monitoring their diet (including chocolate intake) and health for more than a decade . A serving of chocolate was defined as one ounce. The study did not differentiate between milk and dark chocolate.
The editors of the Danish health journal were also cautious about how the study results would be interpreted.
“It is exciting to think about the potential for fun public health announcements, such as ‘eat more chocolate and prevent AF!’ or ‘A chocolate bar a day keeps the ablationist away!’ These would obviously be public service announcements that would resonate well, and patients might be more than happy to comply with this heathcare advice. However, is this message too good to be true?”
The editors observed some limitations of the study, noting the chocolate consumers were also healthier as they had less hypertension, less diabetes and lower blood pressure.
There's also evidence that dark chocolate may help prevent blood clots, while a study from Harvard Medical School in the US found that two cups a day of cocoa improved blood flow to the brain in older people – but only those whose blood flow was already impaired.
Still, the links between chocolate and health need more research, and there’s much stronger evidence that other things like regular exercise and a high intake of vegetables and fruit do a better job of keeping arteries and blood pressure healthy.