Chocolate lovers unite! Researchers state that it appears that eating a small amount of dark chocolate each day can help prevent heart attack and stroke. Flavonoids, a component of cocoa, appear to promote blood vessel health and reduce inflammation. Dark chocolate contains the greatest amount of flavonoids and has the greatest effect on heart health: Milk chocolate less, and white chocolate none.
In an eight-year study of the diets of 20,000 people, researchers at the German Institute of Human Nutrition found that people who ate a quarter ounce of chocolate each day had a 48% reduced risk of heart attack and stroke. Eating dark chocolate is also associated with lower blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), higher HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), and improved blood vessel function. Remember, researchers recommend only one tiny square of dark chocolate per day to improve heart health-- eating more will only expand your waistline.