Dark chocolate may help keep heart disease at bay

London, Mar 3 (ANI): Eating a few cubes of dark chocolate could help prevent heart disease, a new study has claimed.

Researchers claim that they have found clear evidence to support their long standing belief that a small amount of cocoa-rich chocolate could benefit the hearts of some people.

Their study, which combined the results of 42 clinical rather than observational trials, found that people fed chocolate or cocoa also had improved blood vessel function and a dip in their insulin levels.

On an average, chocolate lovers had a few points knocked off their blood pressure.

"My takeaway message would be that if people like dark chocolate, then eating a little in place of other 'treat' foods is fine and may be beneficial. However, the evidence is not yet good enough to suggest that we should all be doing this," the Daily Express quoted researcher Lee Hooper, of Norwich Medical School as saying.

The paper suggests that there may be heart health -benefits from consumption of cocoa or dark chocolate, but these findings are not conclusive.

Previous research has shown that dark chocolate inhibits an enzyme that raises blood pressure. And it also contains health-boosting flavonoids found in nuts, soy, tea and wine.

"This review, though -interesting, is not a cue to overindulge our sweet tooth. The paper suggests that there may be heart health -benefits from consumption of cocoa or dark chocolate, but these findings are not conclusive," Victoria Taylor, at the British Heart Foundation.

"What also remains unanswered is whether these benefits outweigh the negative aspects of chocolate on our health from the saturated fat and -calories that will also come with it.

"So, if you like chocolate, keeping it to small amounts as part of a -balanced diet is still the best way to keep your heart healthy and your taste buds satisfied." The study is in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," Taylor added. (ANI)