Chocolate bar a day cuts risk of stroke and heart disease

London, Mar 31 (ANI): Here's some happy news for chocolate lovers: A bar of the sweet treat can slash your risk of heart disease and stroke by 39 per cent, according to an expert.

Dr Brian Buijsse believes a 50g treat has the greatest effect, reports The Sun.

To reach the conclusion, Buijsse studied nearly 30,000 people aged 35 to 65 in Germany.

His eight-year research found that even one small square can help. But if it was increased by 6g, there were 85 fewer heart attacks and strokes per 10,000 people.

Dark chocolate containing 70 per cent cocoa is considered best.

Dr Buijsse said: "Given the promising health effects of cocoa, it is tempting to indulge in more chocolate.

"But we should make sure we are eating as part of a healthy and balanced diet.

"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." (ANI)