Three bars of chocolate a month can decrease chance of heart failure, study finds

Chocolate is a universal guilty pleasure, but we’re told to avoid it, along other sugary snacks (bar the odd indulgence) in order for a healthy diet.

Well now, chocolate lovers can rest easy: a new study has claimed eating three bars of the stuff per month can actually reduce heart failure.

The study presented at the European Society of Cardiology assessed more than half a million adults to look at how consumption of chocolate impacts cardiovascular health.

After various forms of testing, they concluded that eating up to three chocolate bars per month can reduce the risk of heart failure by 23%. This was compared to people who didn’t eat any chocolate.

However, they also found that eating a lot of chocolate can raise risk of heart failure by 17%.

Dr Chayakrit Krittanawong, lead researcher of the study, advised that, “moderate dark chocolate consumption is good for health,” according to the Telegraph. This is because milk chocolate contains higher levels of saturated fats.

This study supports a study from last year which claims that one piece of chocolate a day can be good for the heart. And it isn’t the first time the health benefits of chocolate have been touted in scientific research.

In April, a study from Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Centre in California revealed that eating dark chocolate can actually help lower your stress levels.

The conclusion? Moderation is key. Now pass the Galaxy…

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