Sunny Health

In earlier posts, we went over some health benefits of chocolate. Now, a recent study of people's chocolate consumption habits in Denmark is adding on to the list of benefits by suggesting that eating a small amount of chocolate per week may lower the risk of atrial fibrillation. Atrial Fibrillation is a common heart problem characterised by abnormal heart beat rhythm. It often leads to blood clots resulting in strokes, heart failure and other heart complications.

It is not known why or how chocolate brings about the benefit, but past studies found that consuming chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, which is rich in flavonols found in cocoa, is correlated to better heart health, so perhaps the same reasoning applies here again.

The study was conducted on 55,502 people in Denmark, consisting of both men and women, between the ages of 50 and 64 years old. They entered the study between 1993 to 1997. It was found that
people who ate one serving of chocolate per week, which is about 28.35 grams (1 ounce), were 17 percent less likely to have Atrial Fibrillation, compared to those who ate chocolate less than once a month. Those who ate a little more chocolate than that - 2 to 6 servings per week, were 20 percent less likely to have the condition. In women, the greatest risk reduction came with consuming 1 serving per week, while in men, it came with consuming 2 to 6 servings per week.