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Big Benefit Of A Little Chocolate

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It is yet another study on chocolate but it is one of the most thorough.

Research has been done on 19,000 people. They looked at them for 10 years and found that those who reported eating an average of one small square of chocolate a day, that's a quarter of an ounce, had lower blood pressure and a 39% lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Not surprising, dark chocolate may help prevent heart disease, but only if it replaces other snacks so that one's weight does not increase.

Chocolate doesn't necessarily have to be the curse that some people make it to be. Chocolate could have protective effects, in some cases - but the key is moderation.

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