The Most Delicious Way to Prevent a Stroke

There's a sweet new way to combat your risk of having a stroke. According to a recently published article examining more than 20,000 adults, eating chocolate could lower the risk of having stroke by a whopping 23%. Those who consumed around 100g of chocolate per day - compared with people who had no chocolate - also had an 11% lower risk of cardiovascular disease along with a 25% lower risk of associated death.  

But ... My Six Pack! 

Don't fret. The study also found that the participants who ate the most chocolate per day (100g), compared with the lower-dose participants who ate an average of 7g daily, weighed less, had LOWER waist-to-hip ratios, had lower blood pressure, were less likely to have diabetes, and were more likely to engage in regular physical activity. 

Of course, it cannot be determined for certain whether the high-dose chocolate eaters have the aforementioned characteristics solely because they eat chocolate. According to Dr. Tim Chico of the University of Sheffield, "This study adds to the evidence that people who consume chocolate tend to have lower rates of cardiovascular disease, although such studies cannot say whether the chocolate is the cause of this protective effect." Furthermore, "...it is also clear that chocolate has the potential to increase weight, which is unequivocally bad for cardiovascular health." 

Everything in moderation, my friends. And pass the Hershey's please!