Chocolate Lowers Stroke Risk in Women

Yet another study has shown the benefits of chocolate consumption for women. Swedish women who ate about 2 bars of chocolate a week had a 20% reduction in the risk of stroke. In Sweden, most chocolate consumed is milk chocolate with an average cocoa content of 30% which is higher than in the US. "Cocoa contains flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties and can suppress oxidation of low-density lipoprotein ['bad' cholesterol] which can cause cardiovascular disease [including stroke]," explained study author Susanna Larsson, an associate professor in the division of nutritional epidemiology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Chocolate's benefits don't end there, Larsson said, adding that dark chocolate consumption has also been found to reduce blood pressure, lower insulin resistance and help keep your blood from forming dangerous clots. However, the only problem with chocolate is that it usually comes with a lot of calories so don't just add chocolate to your diet. The best way to add chocolate would be to substitute it for other dessert calories. As always, trying to provide the best cardiology in Los Angeles.