Chocolate Improves Heart Rate

Author: Mark Velov Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

The polyphenols in chocolate favor the cardiovascular system and reduce the risk of developing atrial fibrillation by 20%.

The scientific evidence linking chocolate intake to good heart health is complemented by a new study revealing how weekly intake of the delicious aphrodisiac reduces the risk of developing atrial fibrillation ( atrial fibrillation ). This dangerous condition is characterized by the onset of an accelerated and irregular heartbeat .

According to the study, cases of atrial fibrillation are 20% less common in people who consume 2 to 6 servings of chocolate per week than in people who consume chocolate less than once a month. The study itself was conducted at Harvard, and its results were published in the pages of the British medical journal BMJ Heart (02.05.2017).

Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of developing heart failure , stroke and mental disorders . By 2017, the number of patients worldwide is about 33 million, and 25% of current middle-aged people are expected to develop the condition in the coming decades, according to statistics and forecasts of epidemiologists.

To determine the effect of chocolate intake on the risk of atrial fibrillation, researchers led by epidemiologist Prof. Elizabeth Mostofsky of Harvard analyzed data on the heart health, eating habits and daily lives of 55,000 people.

The usefulness of chocolate for the cardiovascular system is mainly due to its content of polyphenols - plant compounds that benefit the circulatory system and stimulate better blood circulation. Other cocoa compounds act as modulators of the immune system in the blood tissues and help to suppress inflammatory processes in them.

However, research data should not be used as an excuse for overeating chocolate. It also contains many sugars, so its increased intake is especially harmful to health.

It is advisable to take a modest intake of dark , natural chocolate , 2-3 times a week. The results of Harvard scientists show that people taking natural chocolate in these doses stand out in the study with visibly lower blood pressure values and fewer prerequisites for the development of diabetes.

Chocolate Improves Heart Rate

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