04 June,2010 11:05 AM IST | | Agencies
A chocolate a day can help reduce cholesterol levels in patients suffering from diabetes and heart disease, according to a new research.
The research based on the review of eight studies has revealed that patients with either of the two diseases, who ate a small piece of chocolate every day saw a fall in their bad cholesterol level, reports express.co.uk.
The findings also showed eating chocolate in moderation can be good for the heart and the blood circulation as cocoa, a key ingredient of chocolate, contains high levels of antioxidants which help mop up free radicals and prevent them from damaging cells.
Dark chocolate that contains high levels of cocoa is thought to be best among the lot because it provides antioxidants in a small portion, which is more effective.
The research has been conducted by Rutai Hui of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College in Beijing.
"Future research should concentrate on higher-quality and more rigorous trials with longer follow-ups to resolve the uncertainty. Then we can really eat chocolate without feeling guilty," said Hui.
