There's a link between eating more milk chocolate and reducing a person's risk of a fatal heart condition called atrial fibrillation (A-fib), according to a study by Harvard University.
Previous studies by other researchers confirm that cocoa and foods containing cocoa provide cardiovascular benefits. Among these foods are dark chocolate, which has a higher cocoa content than milk chocolate.
There has, however, been limited research into the link between eating chocolate and the occurrence of A-fib.
The Harvard study shows that eating two to six ounces of chocolate a week (roughly about six mini-chocolate bars) can lower your risk of A-fib by 20 percent.
Atrial fibrillation (also called AF) is an abnormal heart rhythm characterized by rapid and irregular heart beats. It's been linked to a higher risk of stroke; heart attack, and heart failure.
A person's risk of developing it is based on factors including age, diabetes and having high blood pressure.
The study analyzed a large Danish database of 55,502 men. In this gorup, 3,346 were identified with A-fib over a 13.5-year follow-up period.
For women, the biggest risk reduction was seen for eating one serving of chocolate per week. For men, the reduced heart condition risk came with eating two to six servings per week.
Researchers found those who ate one to three servings (or ounces) per month had a 10 percent lower rate of A-fib than those who consumed a one ounce serving of chocolate less than once monthly.
Those who ate one serving per week had a 17 percent lower rate. Those who ate two to six servings per week had a 20 percent lower rate.
"Despite the fact that most of the chocolate consumed by the study participants likely had relatively low concentrations of potentially protective ingredients, we still observed a significant association between eating chocolate and a lower risk of AF -- suggesting that even small amounts of cocoa consumption can have a positive health impact," said lead researcher Dr. Elizabeth Mostofsky.
Dr. Mostofsky, however, warns against overeating chocolates.
"Eating excessive amounts of chocolate is not recommended because many chocolate products are high in calories from sugar and fat and could lead to weight gain and other metabolic problems," she said. "But moderate intake of chocolate with high cocoa content may be a healthy choice."