Eating small amounts of chocolate may lower your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, according to new research out today. In a study of 19,000 middle-aged subjects, German scientists noted lower blood pressure in those who ate the most chocolate, accompanied by a 39% lower risk of heart attack and stroke compared to those who ate the least.
That's not an excuse to go to town on a life-size chocolate bunny, notes the lead researcher. The actual difference between the average amounts consumed is tiny—the equivalent of one square of a 3½-ounce bar, notes WebMD. "Small amounts of chocolate may help to prevent heart disease, but only if it replaces other energy-dense food, such as snacks, in order to keep body weight stable," he says.