Word has got around that chocolate not only tastes good, but is also healthy. Those with a sweet tooth will be delighted, but their enthusiasm is likely to be dampened by the amount needed to achieve the desired effects: You don't have to eat chocolate by the bar, as Italian researchers have recently calculated: 6.7 grams or one or two pieces of dark chocolate per day are ideal for protecting the cardiovascular system. The scientists derived their recommendation from a statistical study of around 2,000 participants, 824 of whom regularly consumed dark chocolate, while the comparison subjects only very rarely or not at all. Blood samples from the test subjects were tested for the so-called C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein molecule that the body produces in response to chronic or acute inflammation. High levels of this protein molecule are considered a risk factor for diseases such as arteriosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes. According to the researchers, moderate chocolate consumption lowers inflammation levels. The antioxidants contained in cocoa are thought to be responsible for this effect, as they neutralise the aggressive free radicals produced during inflammatory reactions and can therefore protect the organs from damage.
Photo: Corbis/Adam
