According to a new study, people who eat up to 100g of chocolate every day are less likely to suffer from heart diseases than those who don't. Published in the journal Heart, the study showed that the risk of heart disease and stoke was 11% lower and 25% lower, respectively, in those who ate chocolate than those who avoided it.

The findings of the study are based on data from nearly 21,000 people who filled out questionnaires about their lifestyle. They also had had their health monitored for more than 11 years. Eating chocolate was also found to have an association with 9% lower risk of hospital admission or death from coronary heart disease.

Professor of Biostatistics at University of Auckland Thomas Lumley said, "Since the study is designed to look at many different aspects of diet, it is not at all impossible that any particular interesting correlation is due to chance". He said it could also be possible that people at high risk of heart disease might be avoiding chocolate.

However, the researchers said their findings for beneficial effects of eating chocolate have been supported by many other previous studies. There is no evidence in existence to show that chocolate should be avoided by those concerned about heart disease risk.

The researchers said dark chocolate has a higher percentage of protective molecules called flavonoids.

Some medical experts have said that eating excessive chocolate could lead to weight gain. Arnaud Cocaul, a nutritionist at the Pitie Salpetriere Hospital in Paris, said that it is very difficult to reach to a medical conclusion based on this study.