Always be choosy with the chocolate you eat. Chocolate is known to be packed with nutrients, but to be able to get its substantial benefits, we must know what we're eating.

Chocolates that have at least 70% cocoa are the best ones, considering the higher the cocoa content, the more nutritious. Your chocolate is also better off non- or lightly alkalized or non-dutched. While milk and white chocolate are head-tilting good, they don’t offer as much healthy flavanols as dark chocolate does.

If you’re not a fan of dark chocolate, fret not. It's actually an acquired taste, and you can develop it by slowly increasing percentage of cocoa in the chocolates you eat. As a matter of fact, there are milk chocolates with 50 percent cocoa or more available in the market now.

Portion control is key. Research shows that as few as 30 calories of flavanol-rich dark chocolate can lower the blood pressure. However, indulging once in a while is not a mortal sin. A 500-calorie indulgence amounts to only about a two-ounce weight gain, and you can sweat that out in the gym anytime. 🙂

No, don't mistake chocolate for an aphrodisiac. Sorry chocoholic hunks, but science has still not proven that chocolate can boost the libido of your female partner. Don’t give her a box of chocolate and expect something in return!

On the other hand, cocoa can be our own fountain of youth, as it is proven to keep skin young. Cocoa beans are packed with antioxidants that can fight free radicals, which are known to cause skin damage. When cocoa beans are turned into chocolate bars, they can lose a significant amount of antioxidants. That said, have it in liquid form and drink cocoa instead!

Moreover, chocolate is good for your heart, since a study had shown that specific substances found in chocolate can reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) and an boost the HDL cholesterol (the good kind). We all know it's not only good for the heart, but for the soul, too.

Moms out there, I hate to break it to you, but you were wrong when you told your kids that chocolate is evil for their teeth. Actually, chocolate can help dodge cavities and plaque build-up on the teeth. A sugar-laden chocolate is a different story, though.

What else can you share about chocolate? Hit me up in the comment box below!

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Joanna Maligaya

Staff Writer/Content Developer at Chocolate University Online

Ever since she can remember, Joanna has always considered chocolate as the ultimate food for her soul. She believes in the saying, “9 out of 10 people love chocolate, and the 10th always lies.”

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