Just in time for your Valentine’s weekend, a new report indicating that chocolate may both cut your risk of a stroke and reduce the risk of death after a stroke. And, the effect may only require one small serving of dark chocolate a week.
USA Today reports, “A new analysis, which involved a review of three prior studies, suggests eating about a bar of chocolate a week can help cut the risk of stroke and lower the risk of death after a stroke.”
Researchers in Canada explained that “one study they looked at found that 44,489 people who ate one serving of chocolate per week were 22% less likely to have a stroke than people who ate no chocolate.”
A second study showed that “1,169 people who ate 50 grams of chocolate once a week were 46% less likely to die following a stroke.”
A third study, however, “found no association between chocolate consumption and risk of death from stroke,” WebMD reported.
Nevertheless, investigators say “more research is needed to determine whether chocolate truly lowers stroke risk, or whether healthier people are simply more likely to eat chocolate than others.”
Moreover, the study participants “did not identify what kind of chocolate they had eaten,” the Canadian Press reported. HealthDay also covered the study.
You can read my other blogs on chocolate here:

• Seven Foods for Better Sex
• Dark chocolate may lower stress hormone levels
• The Truth About Diets and Exercise (Humor)

You can learn more about becoming happier and more highly healthy in my book 10 Essentials of Happy, Healthy People: Becoming and staying highly healthy:

• You can order a copy here.
• You can look at the Table of Contents here.
• You can read the first chapter of the book here.
• And, if you’re part of a reading group or small-group, there’s a reader’s guide available here.