Saved by Chocolate?

If you are going to eat chocolate, which is very likely during this time of year, then I might as well give you some good news about it. A recent study at Johns Hopkins University inadvertently found that just a few squares of dark chocolate a day may reduce the risk of heart attack by decreasing the tendency of platelets to clot.

The study, Genetic Study of Aspirin Responsiveness (GeneSTAR), was designed to study the antithrombotic effect of aspirin. The subjects were given instructions to exercise, stop smoking and avoid certain foods such as chocolates. However, the chocolate addicts in the group did not comply. When this was discovered, they were ejected from the study, but their blood samples were examined for the effects of chocolate on platelets. The samples from both the compliant and the non-compliant subjects were run through a mechanical blood vessel system designed to time how long it takes for the platelets to clump together in a hair-thin plastic tube. The chocolate lovers' platelets on average took 130 seconds to occlude the system. The other group's platelets clotted faster at 123 seconds.

This anti-thrombotic effect may explain some of the cardioprotective effects of chocolates which have been reported in the past. However, it should be noted that this study is not a carte blance for going chocolate crazy. The benefits of chocolate are attributed to the cocoa bean and not to its other calorie busting ingredients such as cream and sugar. As always moderation and balance are keys to a healthier life style.

Reference: Johns Hopkins Medicine