A bit of chocolate a day and a positive attitude are good for your heart says the European Heart Journal.
With regard to chocolate, the online version was published today and their release read: “Researchers in Germany followed 19,357 people, aged between 35 and 65, for at least ten years and found that those who ate the most amount of chocolate – an average of 7.5 grams a day – had lower blood pressure and a 39% lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke compared to those who ate the least amount of chocolate – an average of 1.7 grams a day. The difference between the two groups amounts to six grams of chocolate: the equivalent of less than one small square of a 100g bar.” Those Easter eggs may be good for you! Study shows chocolate reduces blood pressure and risk of heart disease.
Happiness and your heart
Last month this same journal published a study by Dr. Karina Davidson and colleagues after she followed 1,739 people over a ten year period who were participating in the 1995 Nova Scotia Health Survery. Her findings showed that “People who are usually happy, enthusiastic and content are less likely to develop heart disease than those who tend not to be happy, according to a major new study published today (Thursday 18 February).
“Dr Karina Davidson, who led the research, said that although this was an observational study, her study did suggest that it might be possible to help prevent heart disease by enhancing people’s positive emotions.
“However, she cautioned that it would be premature to make clinical recommendations without clinical trials to investigate the findings further. said Dr Davidson, who is the Herbert Irving Associate Professor of Medicine & Psychiatry and Director of the Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health at Columbia University Medical Center (New York, USA).”Don’t worry, be happy! Positive emotions protect against heart disease
Some will comment that being able to eat chocolate every day and remain healthy is reason to smile.
Here are two other stories on health and happiness:
To sleep, perchance to dream, and protect your heart (video)
Invest in happiness, fight fairly, improve mental health and wellness
Copyright 2010 Rita Watson/ All Rights Reserved