We know it: dark chocolate (provided you don’t abuse it, of course) is excellent for your health. Its flavonoids and fibers strengthen the immune system, are beneficial for the intestinal microbiota, protect us against the premature aging of cells, against certain cancers… We say “yes”!
According to a new study conducted in Denmark and published in the specialized journal Heart, regular consumption of dark chocolate could also protect us against atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder also called “atrial fibrillation”. Concretely, the rhythm of the heart is accelerated and the organ beats irregularly. The onset of this heart disease is favored by obesity, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes or hyperthyroidism.
70% of patients are over 75
The work was carried out on 55,502 participants: 26,400 men and 29,100 women, aged 50 to 64. The volunteers were observed for 13.5 years. During this period, 3346 cases of atrial fibrillation occurred among the participants.
Results ? The researchers found that women who consumed 30 g of dark chocolate per week had, on average, 21% less risk of suffering from this heart rhythm disorder. For men, consumption of 60 g to 180 g of dark chocolate per week reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation by around 23%.
In France, experts estimate that 750,000 people suffer from episodic or permanent atrial fibrillation. It is a disease whose frequency increases with age: thus, 70% of patients are over 75 years old and its prevalence is greater than 10% in people over 80 years old.
To read :
Sleep apnea increases the risk of heart failure
Men and women are not equal when it comes to atrial fibrillation
Yoga relieves symptoms of atrial fibrillation