Chocolate week special: Could chocolate lower the risk of pre-eclampsia?
Apparently chocolate doesn’t just taste delicious: it’s good for you too! Hurrah!
According to a study conducted by researchers at Yale University and released last year, expectant mums who regularly snack on chocolate bars and other chocolatey snacks are less likely to develop pre-eclampsia.
Pre-eclampsia is one of the most common causes of premature birth in the UK, and affects 70,000 British women a year and claims the lives of up to 1,000 babies and ten mothers.
It is characterised by high blood pressure and can cause convulsions, blood clots, liver damage and kidney failure.
The study looked at 2,500 mums-to-be, and their dietary habits during their pregnancy. The results showed that those mums who consumed higher rates of chocolate snacks - including hot chocolate drinks - were less likely to develop pre-eclampsia.
The study only looked at the amount of pure dark chocolate consumed – it’s not known whether other kinds of chocolate, such as milk chocolate or white chocolate, have the same health benefits.
In a report on their findings researchers said: 'Women who reported regular chocolate consumption of more than three servings a week had a 50 per cent or greater reduced risk of pre-eclampsia.
'Regular chocolate intake during the first or third trimester was equally protective.'
Don’t be tempted to use this as an excuse to raid your nearest corner shop though: it’s still important to maintain a healthy balanced diet during pregnancy, and this means being sensible about your chocolate intake!
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Mothercare
ELC
