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New research has added to the discussion on the health benefits of a favorite not-so-healthy treat. It turns out, there are many reasons chocolate is good for you, too. Here's why.
According to an article on the Huffington Post, new research published in the March Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that chocolate eating is linked to a lower body mass index.
The study, led by researchers with the department of family and preventive medicine at the University of Califonia, San Diego, found that "among approximately 1,000 Californians, age 20 to 85, individuals who consumed chocolate more frequently had a lower BMI than those who consumed it less often," reads the March 26 article for the Huffington Post.
While the study's authors don't claim to have found a cause-and-effect link between eating chocolate and losing weight, they say that "the new study may point to something beyond a mere association."
"Chocolate can be rich in antioxidants, which can protect against oxidative stress," Dr. Beatrice Golomb, one of the study's authors, told the Huffington Post. "That has the ability to 'poison' cell metabolism a little bit."
That may be all the reasoning some chocolate lovers need to indulge a little more frequently.
A later Huffington Post article digs a little deeper, outlining 10 health benefits of chocolate. Among them:
- Decreased risk of stroke
- Increased insulin sensitivity
- Better protection from UV damage
For the full top 10 list, read the original article in the Huffington Post.
