Can chocolate prevent heart attacks? New studies show that chocolate is not just a sweet and tasty treat to enjoy; it also has the ability to be a nutritional benefit that prevents cancer.
Fox news reports on chocolate as a heart attack preventer.
Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, has been recently shown to have the capability of reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Fox explains how the study is being conducted, “The study will be the first large test of cocoa flavanols, which in previous smaller studies improved blood pressure, cholesterol, the body's use of insulin, artery health and other heart-related factors. A second part of the study will test multivitamins to help prevent cancer. Earlier research suggested this benefit but involved just older, unusually healthy men. Researchers want to see if multivitamins lower cancer risk in a broader population. The study will be sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and Mars Inc., maker of M&M's and Snickers bars. The candy company has patented a way to extract flavanols from cocoa in high concentration and put them in capsules. Mars and some other companies sell cocoa extract capsules, but with less active ingredient than those that will be tested in the study; candy contains even less.”
In order to decipher whether the chocolate is working for its intended use, half the participants will receive a placebo type substance (multivitamins) and the other half will receive the chocolate pills. Neither group will know whether they are getting the placebo type substitute or the actual chocolate substance. The study’s leaders also will not be aware as to which participants are taking the multivitamin and which are getting the chocolate pill. Preliminary studies have shown that dark chocolate will most likely have the effect of helping to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
