Dark chocolate eaten in small amounts could help with heart health, one expert has indicated. Sian Porter, dietician and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, said the sweet stuff - which is often featured in luxury Christmas hampers - needs to be consumed as part of a balanced diet in order to have a positive impact. "There are lots of other things which are important for keeping your heart healthy, such as having plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains and being physically active," she added. Ms Porter also noted not smoking and not being overweight also help individuals maintain a healthy heart. She explained dark chocolate is more effective in reducing the risk, as the there are more active compounds than in milk versions, which have more sugar and fat in them. The specialist's comments follow the release of a report entitled Chocolate Intake and Incidence of Heart Failure: A Population-Based, Prospective Study of Middle-Aged and Elderly Women. It revealed chocolate intake can reduce the systolic and diastolic blood pressure and decrease the chances of cardiovascular disease.
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