We’ve all heard that dark chocolate is good for your heart, but a new study is giving us hope that milk chocolate might be healthy too!
According to a report in the journal Heart, eating up to 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of chocolate every day is linked to lower risk of heart disease and stroke.
If you need a visual, that amount is the equivalent of 22 Hershey’s Kisses, two Hershey’s chocolate bars, or two bags of M&Ms, according to The Huffington Post.
"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 wrote in their paper.
One of the greatest findings was that people who ate chocolate regularly had up to an 11 per cent lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease and a 23 percent lower risk of stroke.
The scientists could not, however, figure out why chocolate offers such heart healthy benefits. In fact, they now think that these benefits might be some kind of health “mirage.”
"There is, of course, a theoretical plausible explanation of why eating chocolate in moderation may expose some [people] to compounds—for example, flavonols—which are potentially good for risk reduction through cholesterol- and blood-pressure-lowering effects," said Dr. Phyo Myint, a senior author of the study.
Myint went on to point out a number of different studies that show how flavonols, which are found in many plant-based foods, have the power to improve blood flow to the brain, lower cancer risk, and lower blood pressure.
What confused the scientists in this particular analysis was that most of the participants in the eight studies they looked at were actually consuming milk chocolate, which has considerably less flavonols than dark chocolate.
This led the researchers to speculate that the milk components of milk chocolate, like calcium, may actually explain its health benefits.
Of course, eating too much chocolate—or any sugary food—can have the opposite effect, leading to obesity, cavities, and diabetes.
"The key is only to have moderate consumption [of chocolate] and ensure one does not exceed the calorie intake recommended for their height or weight," Myint told Live Science.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
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