If You Like Chocolate, Coffee or Wine, Scientists Have Good News for You

There's good news for chocolate and wine lovers, as scientists have found some of our favorite treats may help reduce the risk of heart disease. A study of more than 6,000 people found a link between diets rich in foods including fruit, vegetables, chocolate, coffee and wine, and the reduced risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together—including increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels—leading to increased risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. Analysis of data collected as part of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health, which included 6,387 participants, food intake was assessed to find a link between the intake of so-called polyphenols and cardiometabolic risk factors. Polyphenol-rich foods are widespread and include red wine, vegetables, whole grains, chocolate, coffee, green tea and fruits (particularly brightly-colored ones), according to The Cleveland Clinic. Co-author of the study Isabela Benseñor of the University of São Paulo said in a statement that the results are "good news for people who like fruit, chocolate, coffee and wine, all of which are rich in polyphenols." Benseñor explained that while similar findings had been found in previous studies, none had had such a large number of participants, or followed up for as long. "Our findings in this study leave no room for doubt: promoting diets rich in polyphenols can be a valuable strategy for reducing the risk of cardiometabolic disease and preventing metabolic syndrome," she said.

Over more than eight years, follow-ups found that 2,031 cases of metabolic syndrome had occurred in participants—but in those who had a higher intake of polyphenol-high food and drink, the odds of metabolic syndrome was 22–23 percent lower. The study also revealed that a higher polyphenol intake was associated with lower waist-hip ratio and blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. The findings of the study suggest that diets rich in polyphenols may reduce cardiometabolic risk and prevent metabolic syndrome in society. Registered Dietitian–Nutritionist Stephanie Dunne of Nutrition QED told Newsweek it's important to remember things like wine, chocolate and coffee "are still treats that can have negative impacts in the body if consumed in excess, and should be consumed occasionally if one wants to achieve true wellness." "The analysis was done on each participant's whole diet and not on specific parts of their diet. For example, while phenolic acids are found in coffee and chocolate, they are also found in fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains," she explained. "The same goes for stilbenes which are found in wine because they are present in the skin of grapes. Stilbenes are also in cacao, peanuts, rhubarb and berries." "While the study participants who had lower rates of metabolic syndrome might have also been the ones who consumed more wine, chocolate and coffee than those with higher rates of metabolic syndrome, they may have also consumed more whole grains, vegetables, fruits and nuts," she said. Adding it is likely the participants' "overall eating pattern" which would have given the best results for lower odds of metabolic syndrome, she said their diet likely included "a wide variety of whole foods that ensured their phytonutrient needs were being met, while also reducing their intake of processed and sweetened foods."

Reference

Carnauba, R. A., Sarti, F. M., Coutinho, C. P., Hassimotto, N. M., Marchioni, D. M., Lotufo, P. A., Bensenor, I. M., & Lajolo, F. M. (2025). Associations Between Polyphenol Intake, Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Metabolic Syndrome in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). The Journal of Nutrition, 155(2), 570–579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.11.016