It's hard to believe that what was once considered to be an indulgence has now proved to be good for your heart, your lungs, and your brain.
There's even more good news. The flavonoids liberally found in dark chocolate appear to produce the greatest health benefits, but researchers now say milk chocolate is also a rich source. It contains about 75 milligrams per 100 grams, or more than found in red wine. Of course, all flavonoid levels vary by brand of chocolate.
The Heart study
A new study of some 21,000 participants was done in the EPIC-Norfolk research. It shows that after 11 years, those who ate the most chocolate every day (3.5 ounces or about one chocolate bar) had an 11 percent lower risk for heart disease. They were 25 percent less likely to die of any cardiovascular causes than those eating the least (.5 ounces per day on average).
But these results are not a prescription for eating candy. They were observational studies where food questionnaires were used. Scientists did not randomly assign subjects to groups and compare the results to a control group. The study depended on recall.
In spite of this disadvantage, doctors at Tufts University say the results are supported by other studies.
Going dark
If you love chocolate, remember that it contains calories. So choose chocolate instead of indulgences like donuts and other treats.
It's still best to choose dark chocolate that's higher in flavonoids, say researchers at Tufts University. Note that the Food and Drug Administration doesn't require producers to list flavonoid content on their products.
To maximize flavonoids, Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, of Tufts, recommends dark, bittersweet or baking chocolate. Milk chocolate is processed to make it smoother and less bitter, which also decreases natural flavonoid content.