(Image Source: MIT )

 

BY CHARLES MCKEAGUE

 

ANCHOR JIM FLINK

 

A new study is backing up the claim that chocolate is good for your health.  According to a new study from the University of California San Diego - chocolate might actually help keep you thin.

 

“So listen to this, eat chocolate to be skinny. A new study of more than 1,000 healthy men and women found that people who ate chocolate five times a week had a lower body mass index than those who did not eat it regularly.” ( CNN )

 

Study participants all ate regular healthy diets, and exercised at least three times a week.  On Fox News , Fox and Friends anchors were a bit skeptical and pointed out another snack that could be good for your health.

 

“Sounds too good to be true. …  Researchers suspect that the antioxidants may boost metabolism and help offset the calories. Speaking of antioxidants, did you know there are more in popcorn than in fruits and veggies?”

 

Previous studies on chocolate reveal chocolate can provide positive health effects for one’s heart. The lead researcher, Dr. Beatrice Golomb, says there’s plenty of goodness in Chocolate - and keep eating!

 

“It’s not amount of chocolate, but frequency of chocolate. Chocolate has been linked to lower heart disease, more favorable lippid profiles, and better blood pressure. ...  Chocolate has been found to have many other metabolic benefits … that actually correlate with Body Mass Index.”

 

But Golomb still issues a bit of caution - saying basically it’s probably not a good idea to eat, sleep, and breathe chocolate.  The BBC explains .

 

“While there's no harm in allowing yourself a treat like chocolate now and again, eating too much might be harmful because it often contains a lot of sugar and fat too. And if you are looking to change your diet, you are likely to benefit most from eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.”

 

To check out the study for yourself - click on this link .