Chocolate Cuts Risk of Stroke

As disheartening as the news about vitamin and mineral supplements might be for women, there is good news about chocolate. A Swedish study of over 33,000 women between 49 and 83 found that those who ate chocolate regularly reduced their risk of having a stroke. The women who consumed the most chocolate, about two candy bars a week, cut their risk by roughly 20 percent. This research was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The investigators speculate the cocoa flavonoids are responsible for the cardiovascular benefits. Dark chocolate contains more of these helpful plant compounds and might be a good choice for an occasional treat.

[Journal of The American College of Cardiology, October 18, 2011]