New Study Finds that Chocolate Reduces the Risk of Heart Disease and Cancer
Chocolate lovers from around the world are cheering the news of a new study that suggests that the flavonols in cocoa have the potential to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Candy producer Mars Inc., in conjunction with Harvard University, has released the results of a decade long study revealing that the flavanols in cocoa are able to substantially cut the risk of heart disease and cancer.
This study compared the death certificates of some 1250 Kuna Indians living in the country of Panama and the San Blas Islands which lie just off the coast of Panama. The Panama Kunas did not regularly eat cocoa, while the San Blas islanders regularly drank four or five cups of cocoa water every day.
The study found that the San Blas Kuna Indians, the ones who regularly drank cocoa water, had a risk of death from heart disease that was an astonishing 1280% lower than did the Panama Kuna Indians, who did not consume cocoa. The cocoa drinkers also had a 630% lower risk of death from cancer.
This is great news indeed, particularly for those living in the United States, where heart disease and cancer are the top two killers. The study also seems to suggest that the cocoa in chocolate may be able to significantly help in the prevention of heart disease and cancer.
Of course it is important for chocolate lovers not to draw the wrong conclusions from this study and begin to indiscriminately down every piece of candy they can find. Not all chocolate is created equal, and the bad things in chocolate, such as saturated fat and high sugar levels, can more than cancel out these important health benefits.
That is why it is important for chocolate lovers to shop carefully, and to get used to reading labels. It is a good idea to purchase and consume only those chocolate products that contain at least 70% pure cocoa. It is also important for shoppers to avoid products with added sugars, milk fat and artificial sweeteners. It is best to consume chocolate in as pure a form as possible in order to enjoy the maximum health benefits with the minimum risk.
And as with all food, moderation is the watchword. An ounce or two of chocolate per day is a good way to get the benefits of eating chocolate without triggering obesity or other problems that can raise the risk of cancer and heart disease. It is also important to keep in mind that most of the benefits of chocolate found thus far are greatest for dark chocolate, which contains a higher ratio of pure cocoa to sugar. Dark chocolate lovers will be sure to cheer this news as they enjoy their favorite treat.
