It has been stated by a research that small amounts of chocolate could help in cutting down the risk of heart failure.

It was found by the Northwestern University that the risk of heart problems had reduced among women who eat small amounts of dark chocolate.

For the study, women from Sweden were observed by researchers and all these women were aged from 48 and 83 years.

A 32 per cent lower risk of heart failure was seen among women who per week consumed an average of one to two servings of high quality chocolate.

But the benefits were reduced for those who had more than this.

Lead researcher Dr Murray Mittleman explained, "You can't ignore that chocolate is a relatively calorie-dense food and large amounts of habitual consumption is going to raise your risks for weight gain. But if you're going to have a treat, dark chocolate is probably a good choice, as long as it's in moderation."

The ingredient that is responsible for these benefits is a compound called flavonoids. This compound is found in chocolate. It has often been associated with reduction in blood pressure and ward off heart disease but on one condition that 30 per cent or more cocoa solids was present in the confectionary.