Does chocolate reduces stroke risk for men?

Good news for male chocolate lovers!

According to this new study eating a standard chocolate bar as regularly as once a week could lower a man's risk of having a stroke later in life by as much as 17%. The study even suggests that eating chocolate on an even more regular basis could reduce the risk further.

Although previous studies have discovered links between eating small amounts of good quality dark chocolate and protection against cardiovascular diseases, the latest study by Susanna Larsson of Sweden's Karolinska Institute, was the first to specifically seek out links between the consumption of chocolate and the likelihood of developing a stroke.

Larsson evaluated food questionnaires given to 37,103 Swedish men aged between 49 and 75, which asked them, amongst other things, how often they ate chocolate over a period of the last ten years. By analysing hospital records, she was able to correlate levels of chocolate consumption in these men with cases of strokes.

'High chocolate consumption was associated with a lower risk of stroke' Larsson wrote in the latest edition of 'Neurology', the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Larsson found that men who ate the most chocolate, on average of 63 grams a week, had a 17% lower risk of stroke compared with those who had none. Intriguingly the correlation did not seem to change too much against different types of stroke.

Larsson ratified her findings through the undertaking of a meta-analysis of five other studies, which contained an overall total of 4,260 cases of stroke across Europe and the United States. Similarly she found the risk of stroke for individuals in the highest category of chocolate consumption stood at 19% lower as compared with non-chocolate eaters.

Before we all get to excited though, Larsson cautioned that any firm recommendations about chocolate consumption could not be given until further studies have confirmed her findings.

'Because chocolate is high in sugar, saturated fat and calories, it should be consumed in moderation' she warned.



Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar. A true chocoholic, he also is chief editor of I Love USA Candy.

Lindt posts 14% rise in profit

Despite tough economic conditions throughout Europe and the United States, Swiss chocolate powerhouse Lindt and Spruengli have confirmed a 14% rise in profits in the first 6 months of this year as compared to 2011.

The company, whose products include Lindor Balls, Lindt Excellence Blocks and the world famous Lindt Bunny, experienced gains in all the core sectors of its business with overall sales up some 5.3 percent to around 1.03 billion francs in comparison to the first half of 2011.

Both earnings before interest and tax increased 16 percent to 48.7 million francs, indicating that the company's medium and long-term sales and profit forecasts remained on course to be met.

 

Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar. A true chocoholic, he also is chief editor of I Love USA Candy.

Checkmate at the New Zealand Chocolate Festival

Chess might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think about chocolate but that is exactly what will be offered up to sweet tooths attending the forthcoming New Zealand Chocolate Festival.

Together with flowing chocolate fountains and culinary 101's from the country's finest chocolatiers and chefs, a series of special exhibition chocolate chess games will take centre stage. The participants, as members of the Wellington Chess Club, will all be of a high standard as well.

'All the playing pieces and even the chess board are made of solid chocolate and players wear cotton gloves to prevent the pieces from melting in their hands' explained, Frank Stoltenberg, the main festival organiser.

Standard chess rules apply during the exhibition matches with the one caveat that players will have to eat every piece that they take from their opponent.

Lovingly handcrafted by Rotorua based Bliss Chocolates, each individual chess piece weighs between 20 and 35 grams, so in order to win the contest a player may end up having to eat almost 400 grams of chocolate. Roughly the equivalent of two large Cadbury Dairy Milk Blocks.

'Winning a game will clearly require not only plenty of thinking but plenty of eating too! The players will truly discover what it takes to taste success' surmised Stoltenberg.

 

Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar. A true chocoholic, he also is chief editor of I Love USA Candy.

Prydes Confectionery Close Metford Plant

As a result of the rising costs of raw materials, wages and energy, Australian manufacturers Prydes Confectionery has closed its facility in Metford, NSW, making 10 people unemployed in the process.

'It is no longer feasible to run two sites' said director, Daniel Sanchez.

'A decision has been made to amalgamate Maitland with the Sydney plant where confectionery production will continue'.

Established in the 1930s Prydes Confectionery's most popular brands include Aniseed Stars, Black Jelly Beans and Hard Jubes.

Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar. A true chocoholic, he also is chief editor of I Love USA Candy.

Mars Chocolate UK stars in Science Museum manufacturing exhibition

Mars Chocolate is taking a leading role in the 'Make it in Great Britain' exhibition which is currently taking place at London’s Science Museum. Opened by Business Secretary Vince Cable and Business Minister Mark Prisk, the exhibition is showcasing the very best of British manufacturing.

Beating off competition from hundreds of British companies to claim a place at the exhibition, Mars aims to help shatter the myth that Britain ‘doesn’t make anything anymore’ by educating attendees about the value of the manufacturing industry to the UK's economy.

An initiative launched by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills last year, the exhibition is the showpiece of the 'Make it in Great Britain' campaign. A movement which has aimed to provoke a major rethink on what they consider to be unjustifiably negative opinions about the UK manufacturing industry. Not least because it employs 2.5 million people and generates £137bn to the UK economy each year.

'We’re extremely proud of our British heritage, 80 years of manufacturing from our Slough site, and position at the forefront of manufacturing. We hope that visitors will come down to this free exhibition and be inspired by the exciting and varied career opportunities available in British manufacturing. It’s a real honour to showcase our expertise within such impressive company, and reach a wide audience through this highly interactive exhibition said Geoff Bryant, research and development director at Mars Chocolate UK.

Currently Mars’ employs over 1,000 people at their Slough headquarters, of which 400 are based at their the factory. Since it was created in 1932 Mars Bars have been produced at the same manufacturing facility. Today over 2.5million Mars bars are made each day, using the latest in manufacturing technology.

The exhibition will run until 9 September 2012.


Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar. A true chocoholic, he also is chief editor of I Love USA Candy.