Recent study found out that reducing the risk of heart diseases may be possible with chocolate consumption.
Twenty-one-year-old James Leonard Austin spent delightful memories with his grandfather until he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart. The concern for the health and the need to spend more time with him grew, until his grandfather passed away due to cardiac arrest.
According to a data by the American Heart Association, heart diseases along with stroke and other types of cardiovascular diseases, is the number one cause of death in the United States, and has reportedly killed nearly 787,000 people in 2011 alone.
As patients take in prescribed medications and live a healthy lifestyle, a recent study showed there is one guilty pleasure commonly found inside household refrigerators that is good for the heart.
A study published in the BMJ journal "Heart" said that patients can reduce heart disease risks by eating chocolates, but urges extreme caution when interpreting the results.
Spearheaded by a University of Aberdeeen team, the research about heart disease and chocolate looked at data from about 21,000 people in England, and found that those who consumed the most chocolate were the "least likely" to suffer from cardiovascular disease and stroke over the years.
"Cumulative evidence suggests that higher chocolate intake is associated with a lower risk of future cardiovascular events, although residual confounding cannot be excluded," the research conclusion pointed out. "There does not appear to be any evidence to say that chocolate should be avoided in those who are concerned about cardiovascular risk."
The researchers evaluated data from participants who filled out questionnaires about their diet, exercise habits and other lifestyle variables. Their weight, blood pressure and other indicators were also measured. Over 3,000 of the 21,000 people analyzed had experienced coronary heart disease or stoke by the end of 12 years.
The study on reduced heart disease with chocolate consumption revealed that people who consumed the most chocolate at 16 to 100 grams per day experienced least heart disease and had 14 percent lower risk of having a cardiovascular disease and a 23 percent reduced risk of stroke.
A Forbes report said heart disease reduction by chocolate consumption was also related to a number of variables such as lower body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, and more.
The study shared the good news that there is no "real need to avoid chocolate in the name of health."
"I think a little chocolate is okay for a reasonably healthy adult without major risk factors or at least not too many of them," said the author of the study in the Forbes report.
*James Leonard Austin is not his real name, altered for confidentiality.
