Chocolate Is Good For You!

[Rogue]

I prefer Dark chocolate myself but good news for some of you all the same...

Even Milk Chocolate Is Good For You, According To New Study
Posted: 06/16/2015

Eating up to 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of chocolate daily is linked with lowered risks of heart disease and stroke, scientists reported today (June 15) in the journal Heart. That amount of chocolate is equal to about 22 Hershey's Kisses, two Hershey bars or two bags of M&M's, depending on how you want to divvy up this good news.



"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 concluded in their paper. Their new study is based on a meta-analysis of eight previously published studies involving a total of nearly 158,000 people.

One key finding was that people who ate chocolate regularly had up to an 11 percent lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease and a 23 percent lower risk of having a stroke, compared with nonchocolate eaters. (Yes, remarkably, they exist.)

However, the analysis comes with more caveats than Almond Joy has nuts. For example, exactly what it is about chocolate that might impart health benefits is not clear. The scientists could not determine a cause-and-effect relationship between the two, and the observed benefits might be nothing more than a mirage, a limitation of the study design. [5 Wacky Things That Are Good for Your Health]

"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 and a professor at the University of Aberdeen School of Medicine and Dentistry in Scotland.

Myint cited numerous studies demonstrating that flavonols — which are found in many plant-based foods, including cocoa — can lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to the brain, and make blood platelets less sticky and less likely to clot and cause a stroke.

But the majority of the participants in the eight studies in the new analysis got their chocolate by eating milk chocolate, which has considerably lower levels of flavonols than dark chocolate. This left the researchers to speculate that milk components in the chocolate — namely, calcium and fatty acids — may explain the observed effect.

There are, however, several other plausible explanations for the results that would suggest that eating a lot of chocolate isn't necessarily healthy, the researchers admitted. For example, the people in the study who ate the most chocolate — more than 100 grams daily — were younger adults, who tend not to have heart problems.

Similarly, the researchers said the finding might be due to "reverse causation," meaning that the people with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease avoid eating chocolate, while those who are healthier eat more. The researchers also noted that consuming too much candy and other high-calorie, sugary foods could lead to dental cavities, obesity and diabetes.

Although the risk reduction linked with chocolate consumption was statistically significant, the benefits are not particularly striking compared with those of other dietary practices associated with heart health. For example, outside the context of chocolate, the risk of developing heart disease for these participants given their age was 14.4 percent, on average, Myint said. Therefore, reducing this risk by 11 percent would lower the heart disease risk to 12.8 percent.

The study could not differentiate between the types of milk chocolate consumed, and this could have health implications as well. Myint's hometown of Aberdeen is where people devised the now infamous deep-fried Mars bar, he said.

"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.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/16/milk-chocolate-study_n_7595358.html

[Kaere]

Yummm!

More than enough "but we're not sure why" statements in the report though

[Agartha]

Thank you, Scotland! This is the best news of 2015!!! lol

On a serious note, like Kaere said, they still don't know how which means it's all correlation but it was a big study, 150000 people which shows a strong connection.

[Rogue]

Is it the 'feelgoodness' chocolate provides...

[Agartha]

Well, they say it's better than sex... I disagree........
lol

[Stirky]

I'm going to live forever!!!

[Stirky]

Although there has been a lot of studies lately that totally do a turn about on what we used to know on health. It is quite worrying, as we have gone from being led to eating healthy and avoiding certain foods to things becoming not so bad or actually good for us.

IE:

We used to all have 'no added sugar' products because sugar was bad, now we are being told that the sweeteners are worse so to have sugar (obviously not too much)

We used to steer clear of full fat milk and butter, because the fat was bad, now we are being told we should have some fats and that butter is better than alternatives.

We used to think exercise was the key to staying healthy and weight loss, but now they say it has no effect what so ever if we exercise or not.

We were always told lifestyle was a big factor to getting cancer, now they say it's all 'pot luck' with our genes and nothing to do with cancer (apart from smoking related ones).

So this information could actually make people think an unhealthy lifestyle is a good one. Of course we all know it's about balance, but you could see how people could become easily confused with all the information that is out there.

I think eating fresh were possible, keeping everything in moderation and eating fruit and veg, as well as having exercise is the best way to stay healthy. Always has been and that won't change.

[Lenzabi]

Well, sugar with fibre to help push the un-needed suagr away. (It is still a sweet poison itself

Yeah just the right fats, not trans-fats, and no polyunsaturateds(Margarine). Knew those french chefs were onto something cooking in butter!

Well walking is still good as it does promote healthy insulin production.

Yeah with cancer and teeth is a genetic crap-shoot.

Balanced lifestyle, don't go over board on anything,,,unless you desire to be an Olympian?

[Rogue]

They mention M & M's, but ain't they sugar coated chocolate?

[Agartha]

Although there has been a lot of studies lately that totally do a turn about on what we used to know on health. It is quite worrying, as we have gone from being led to eating healthy and avoiding certain foods to things becoming not so bad or actually good for us.

IE:

We used to all have 'no added sugar' products because sugar was bad, now we are being told that the sweeteners are worse so to have sugar (obviously not too much)

We used to steer clear of full fat milk and butter, because the fat was bad, now we are being told we should have some fats and that butter is better than alternatives.

We used to think exercise was the key to staying healthy and weight loss, but now they say it has no effect what so ever if we exercise or not.

We were always told lifestyle was a big factor to getting cancer, now they say it's all 'pot luck' with our genes and nothing to do with cancer (apart from smoking related ones).

So this information could actually make people think an unhealthy lifestyle is a good one. Of course we all know it's about balance, but you could see how people could become easily confused with all the information that is out there.

I think eating fresh were possible, keeping everything in moderation and eating fruit and veg, as well as having exercise is the best way to stay healthy. Always has been and that won't change.

Sweetener is a chemical. Sugar is not good but taken in small amounts (like our grandparents used to) should not affect your health.

In my house we have always used butter and full fat milk, the Italian way and Italians are healthy and live long.

Exercise is a must!! I can make you a big list of good reasons, such as exercising all your muscles especially the most important muscle in your body: your heart. What we know now is that if you want to loose weight, 75% is caused by diet and 25% by exercise.

I agree with Len: eat everything and do everything in moderation. If you look at people who age well and live good long lives, they usually don't refrain from pleasure, but they do it in moderation. They also eat lots of vegetables and fruit, more fish than meat and never stop being active.

[Stirky]

Yes like I said moderation is the key.

The point I was trying to make is that these 'scientific reports' while might have some truths in them, give people the wrong impression. Some people might read 'chocolate is good for you' and start eating as much of it as they like, most people know this would not be a good idea, but some might not. same with other reports, it can cause confusion for peeps. Some people just take everything they read as the absolute truth.

[Agartha]

Absolutely, this is why newspapers articles are really dangerous sometimes, because people take anything as the absolute truth.

[Rockhopper]

Indeed they do Ags.

All things in moderation is a good adage to live by. Plenty of veges and if ya eat meat, make it lean. At least one meal with sea fish a week too -- good for the brain.

Tim.

[Rogue]

More good news for chocolate lovers..

A new study has explored the impact of daily chocolate consumption on the metabolism of women. Consuming a small amount of chocolate in the morning reduced blood glucose throughout the day. It also decreased hunger and the desire for other sweets throughout the day.
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1531790/High-blood-sugar-treatment-diet-chocolate/amp

[TrueCrazyLion]

Wowee, cool to see such an old thread get bumped, and nice to check out all the old posts above!! Woohoo!

I’ve always been a fan of chocolate, and I do think you get a kick from eating it, not dissimilar to drinking coffee in that respect. (As long as you know how to deal with the sugar crash which can follow a while later, that’s much less fun!)
It does have a big impact on hunger too.

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