International Chocolate Day: If you eat so much chocolate, you may get a heart attack, chocolate lovers must read this news:

News Topical, Digital Desk : Chocolate Heart Risk: Every year on 13th September, International Chocolate Day is celebrated, the name of which brings a smile on everyone's face. It is not only tasty but also helps in relaxing the mind. But many scientific researches have made it clear that if it is eaten in large quantities, it can cause heart diseases and even heart attack.

benefits of dark chocolate

According to Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, eating dark chocolate in limited quantities provides the body with antioxidants and flavanols, which improve blood circulation and keep the arteries healthy. This is why a small amount of dark chocolate is considered beneficial for heart health.

Similarly, the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk study, which included about 20,000 people, showed that those who regularly ate limited amounts of chocolate had a lower risk of heart disease and stroke than those who did not eat chocolate at all.

Harmful effects of eating too much chocolate

1. Risk of obesity and calories

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), high calorie and sugar intake is the main cause of obesity. Milk and white chocolates are high in sugar and fat. Eating them in large quantities daily leads to rapid weight gain and obesity increases the risk of heart attack.

2. Increase in cholesterol level

The American Heart Association (AHA) says that foods rich in sugar and saturated fat increase LDL (bad cholesterol) in the body. This can cause plaque to accumulate in the arteries and stop blood flow, which is a major cause of heart attack. If you are very fond of eating chocolate and eat 500 grams of chocolate in a day, then your risk of having a heart attack increases significantly.

3. Risk of diabetes and blood sugar

According to the report of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive sugar intake increases diabetes and its related complications. Eating too much sweet chocolate increases blood sugar rapidly, which can cause great harm to diabetes patients.

4. Blood pressure imbalance

According to a study published in the Journal of Hypertension, eating too much sweet and fat-rich chocolate can have a negative effect on blood pressure. This can be dangerous for people who already have high blood pressure.

How much chocolate should one eat?

According to the American Heart Association, we should limit our “added sugar” to only 5 to 10 percent of our daily calories. This means that if you want to eat chocolate, it is better to eat a few pieces of dark chocolate (with at least 70 percent cocoa) a week. A small amount of dark chocolate is beneficial for both your heart and brain. But if you eat too much chocolate every day, especially milk and white chocolate, it can increase the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and even heart attack.