Yet, more good news for href="http://www.newstalk.ie/2012/news/recommended/need-to-know-chocolate-could-help-reduce-heart-disease/">chocolate lovers, the Karolinska Institute in Sweden has revealed that long-term consumption of chocolate could reduce risks of strokes.

The study showed that men who consumed moderate amounts of chocolate each week were less likely to suffer a stroke over a period of 10 years than those who ate none.

The small but significant difference displayed that those who  ate one third of a cup of chocolate chips, reduced their stroke risk by 17%.

A total of 37,103 Swedish men aged 49 to 75 took part in the study. Their diets were assessed with food questionnaires, which asked how often they ate chocolate.

The men’s progress was then followed for 10 years, during which researchers recorded 1,995 cases of a first stroke.

It revealed that for every increase in chocolate consumption of about 50 grams per week, stroke risk decreased by about 14%.

Healthy antioxidant plant chemicals called flavonoids that are found in chocolate, are thought to explain the health benefits.

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