Why It's Okay to Have a Little Chocolate

Chocolate is considered an indulgence, but here's why eating a little of it may help your heart.

Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, substances that protect the body's cells from free radical damage. One and a half ounces of dark chocolate provide the same amount of the antioxidant phenol as a glass of red wine, which research has shown to have a protective effect on the heart. Dark chocolate also contains catechins, the antioxidants contained in tea.

Why Dark Chocolate is Best

Milk chocolate and white chocolate do not provide the same benefits as dark chocolate. Why? When cocoa is made, the cocoa beans are processed into dark brown chocolate liquor and white cocoa butter. The cooled liquor is made into dark chocolate, which is used in powdered cocoa and unsweetened chocolate. Sweeteners and milk solids are added to make milk chocolate. Milk interferes with the body's ability to absorb antioxidants. Dark chocolate also loses its benefits when eaten with milk. White chocolate contains cocoa butter, but no antioxidant-rich chocolate liquor.

What's more, stearic acid, the main saturated fatty acid in chocolate, does not raise blood cholesterol.

To get health benefits from eating chocolate, look for bars or nibs that contain at least 70 percent cocoa, with no added milk. And be sure to stick to one or two servings; one ounce of dark chocolate contains about 150 calories, 8 grams of fat and 6 grams of sugar.