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Move over, dark: Milk chocolate is just as good for your heart
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Dont feel bad if you prefer milk over dark a new study says that any kind of chocolate is incredibly good for your health. - photo by Tracie Knabe Snowder
Tracie Knabe Snowder
KSL
Published: Jun 21, 2015, 3:19 PM
Dont feel bad if you prefer milk over dark a new study says that any kind of chocolate is incredibly good for your health.

Dark chocolate has been lauded for years as the smarter choice when it comes to eating candy, but this new study, published in the journal Heart, suggests there might not be a big difference after all.

The study looked at health data from over 21,000 men and women for almost 12 years. Researchers from the University of Aberdeen in England found that the participants who consumed the most chocolate had an 11 percent lower risk for coronary heart disease and a 23 percent reduced risk for stroke.

There does not appear to be any evidence to say that chocolate should be avoided in those who are concerned about cardiovascular risk, the researchers wrote in their conclusion.

This is the first study that shows that milk chocolate can be beneficial to the heart. Previous studies have shown that dark chocolate can cut the risk of heart failure in women by a third.

Scientists arent exactly sure what component of the chocolate is good for your health. Dr. Phyo Myint, senior author of the study, told Live Science that flavonols found in chocolate could contribute to the risk reduction of heart disease and stroke.

But, Myint warns, make sure you keep your chocolate indulgence to 3.5 ounces or less.

"The key is only to have moderate consumption and ensure one does not exceed the calorie intake recommended for their height or weight," Myint said.

This study comes on the heels of another cocoa study that says dark chocolate may contain more milk than previously thought. A 2013 study showed that drinking hot chocolate twice a day appeared to boost blood flow to the brain by 8.3 percent, improving brain function and memory.

Healthy ways to add chocolate to your diet

If it's too hard on your diet to keep a bag of candy around the house, try one of these alternatives:

  • A cup of hot chocolate: 113 calories, 1.1 grams of fat, 18.6 grams of sugar
  • An ounce of chocolate: 151 calories, 9 grams of fat, 7 grams of sugar
  • A handful of semi-sweet (or milk!) chocolate chips ( of a cup): 80 calories, 4 grams of fat, 9 grams of sugar
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.