Milk chocolate will save you from strokes
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The useful properties of chocolate have been known for a long time. He is adored by women, men, young children and elderly people - all without exception. Nevertheless, most sweeties who can not even live a day without a piece of favorite treat, feel guilty and constantly struggle with their chocolate "addiction". But it turns out, not so bad. The most important thing is to observe the measure and then the delicious product can become not only an excuse to pamper yourself, but also an indispensable medicine that can protect against many diseases.
As you know, a small dose of chocolate is useful for preventive purposes for the human cardiovascular system. However, recently, scientists have revealed yet another useful property of all favorite delicacies.
This discovery was made by scientists of the Swedish Royal Carolina Institute in Stockholm. According to them, weekly consumption of one chocolate bar reduces the risk of stroke in men by 17%.
The study involved more than 37 thousand Swedish men aged 49 to 75 years. Observations of their health were conducted for ten years. During this period among the participants of the experiment, 1995 cases of the first stroke were recorded. Those men who ate a small portion of chocolate every week were less at risk of cerebral hemorrhage than those who did not at all consume this sweets.
"The protective effect of consuming chocolate, can be associated with flavonoids, which are part of the cocoa beans. Flavonoids possess powerful antioxidant activity. These substances are able to protect against cardiovascular diseases due to anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, the flavonoids contained in chocolate are able to reduce blood pressure and blood levels of harmful cholesterol, "said Dr. Suzanne Larsson, an employee of the Royal Carolina Institute. - It is interesting that in this case the brand of chocolate is not a key factor. Previously, useful properties were attributed to dark chocolate, but about 90% of Sweden's population prefers milk chocolate, which we used, among other things, in our studies. "
However, despite the beneficial effect of milk chocolate, all the same, do not forget about compliance with certain restrictions.
"Chocolate contains a lot of saturated fats, calories and sugar, so whatever preventive properties it does not have, do not forget about the recommended doses of its use," experts emphasize.
To reduce the risk of stroke, scientists are advised to eat no more than 60 grams of milk chocolate per week, while a portion of dark chocolate is 30 grams.
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