Say Yes to Chocolate

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, you might just be thinking of what you’d like to give or receive on February 14th. Flowers, perhaps? Chocolates? No, not chocolates—after all, they’re not exactly low fat. But wait a minute. What if someone told you chocolate could be good for you?

Recent studies have linked the consumption of small amounts of dark chocolate with a lowering of blood pressure, lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, increased insulin sensitivity and improved blood-vessel function—all of which reduce our risk of cardiovascular disease. How can a high-fat, high-calorie food like chocolate be so apparently healthy? Find out about chocolate's dark secret.

_{Dark Chocolate Pieces © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com, Inc.}