Chocolate May Improve Health of Smokers' Arteries

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Chocolate May Improve Health of Smokers' Arteries

Dec. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Dark chocolate may have a positive effect on male smokers' arteries and help protect against cardiovascular disease, a study in the journal Heart found.

Smokers were chosen as subjects because the habit is thought to promote heart disease by damaging the endothelium, the layer of cells that line blood vessels, and by promoting blood clots. The consumption of dark chocolate seemed to promote arterial health by improving endothelial function and decreasing activity that may lead to clots, the study found.

``Only a small daily treat of dark chocolate may substantially increase the amount of antioxidant intake and beneficially effect vascular health,'' researchers at the Cardiovascular Center at the University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, said in the study. White chocolate had no effect, the researchers said.

Twenty-five male smokers were enrolled in the study and didn't take any medication, vitamins or dietary supplements, during the course of the trial.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=axxKYQYLwFY4&refer=europe