Why chocolate is good for you :: Health benefits of chocolate

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First up, it's good for your heart. The antioxidants in the cocoa in chocolate – four times as much as in tea – lower the risks of developing heart disease – as well as lung and prostate cancer and type-2 diabetes, according to research at the Netherlands Institute of Public Health and Environment. These antioxidants, catechins and phenols, reduce the presence of free radicals that damage cells and DNA, and are thought to prevent fatty substances in the bloodstream from clogging the arteries.

And on a lighter note, the amino acid phenylethylamine in chocolate gives you the feeling of being in love, and acts as an aphrodisiac. Which could be why, in the 18th century, French doctors prescribed chocolate for women with a broken heart and why the Milk Tray man is an enduring role model. And for the morning after the night before, phenylethylamine also helps ease a hangover.

Still on the heart health front, chocolate lowers levels of both total and LDL 'bad' cholesterol, thanks to the oleic acid in the cocoa butter. It has also been found to reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension, in a US study reported in 'Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association'.

As we know, women have a deep love for chocolate – about 50% prefer it to sex – and chocolate has a couple of benefits just for us. That premenstrual craving for industrial quantities of the sweet brown stuff has physiological causes. The Chocolate Society reports that our magnesium levels can drop just before a period, and chocolate is extremely rich in magnesium – and that's why WE WANT IT, OK?

If you're pregnant, eating chocolate could mean you have a happier baby, according to a University of Helsinki study. Chocolate-eating mums said their babies smiled and laughed a lot, were more active, and less fearful in new situations.

Got a cold? Chocolate could work better than medicine at controlling a cough. Theobromine, found in chocolate (and coming from the Greek for food of the gods – wise people, the ancient Greeks…), is nearly a third more effective at stopping coughs than the leading treatment, codeine.

And the last reason to eat chocolate is hardest to believe: it fights tooth decay. Yes, we know it contains sugar but, apparently, its make-up prevents the bacteria that cause tooth decay from sticking to the enamel. Don't believe us? Do a completely unscientific study yourself by comparing how furred-up your teeth feel after eating boiled sweets and after eating chocolate.

One thing: these benefits only apply to chocolate that's over 70% cocoa solids, so all you Dairy Milk devotees will have to develop a taste for the plain stuff. And, no, Bournville (36%) isn't dark enough. To hit the mark, go for Lindt Excellence, Green & Black's Organic Dark or Waitrose Organic Plain Belgian Chocolate.

And it goes without saying: overconsumption will do you no favours. Chocolate is a high-fat, high-calorie food, but the good news is that it takes less dark chocolate than milk to satisfy your craving… sorry, to get the health benefits… because it's richer and has a more intense flavour. So, if you want to eat chocolate – and who doesn't? – make it plain.