Chocolate has been shown to have health benefits, which only adds to my daily justification for eating it!

To reduce the calorie content in chocolate, place the chocolates on a  high shelf. Since calories are afraid of heights, they will jump out of the chocolate! Enjoy guilt free! Well, this may unfortunately not be true, however, the following information is.

Theobroma Cacao (Chocolate) has been used for its healthful properties since its discovery, though many of the healthful claims have not been scientifically verified until the past few decades.

Please do not confuse “Candy” for high quality chocolate. They are not the same and do not have the same healthful qualities.

High quality chocolate is any chocolate with higher than 70% cocoa liquor (pure chocolate) content.

High quality chocolate has been found to:

~ Slightly relax blood vessels and promote better blood flow
~ Balance some cardiovascular hormones 
~ Promotes alertness and better energy
~ Can lessen pain
~ Promotes a general sense of well-being
~ Performs as an antioxidant which fight free radicals
~ Promotes higher levels of good HDL cholesterol

~ Lowers levels of bad LDL cholesterol
 
It has also been studied by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health that people who eat chocolate several times a month live almost a year longer than those who eat no chocolate at all.
 

This is just a sampling of the benefits of chocolate. Please, by all means, confer with your medical professional if you are planning to significantly adjust your diet.