For the love (and disappointment) of chocolate

A recent study done by Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health and Sweden's Institute of Environmental Medicine found some disappointing findings in regards to women's chocolate intake and heart health (Ok, it's disappointing to me...not really to science). The article, published in Circulation, found that only a MODERATE amount of dark chocolate would improve woman's odds of not developing heart failure (HF) as opposed to a larger amount (there goes my daily dose).The researchers found a rate ratio (odds ratio) of HF was 26% lower among those who consumed 1-3 servings of chocolate per month and 32% lower among those who consumed 1-2 servings of chocolate per week, but the rate of HF was similar among women with no regular chocolate intake and those who consumed chocolate 3-6 servings per week and those who consumed one or more servings per day. The horror!!!!!!!!!!!

This deeply saddens me, as I have been convinced that dark chocolate (more than 60% cocoa) in any amount would improve my health...despite the saturated fat and calories it brings with it. All those polyphenols are well...going to have to be eaten in moderation. Oh well...another delectable treat bites the dust in my eyes.

(Ok, so I'm being a bit sarcastic...never truly believed a large amount of chocolate in any form is beneficial...I just dreamt it was!)

http://circheartfailure.ahajournals.org/cgi/rapidpdf/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.110.944025v1.pdf