What was once a guilty pleasure is now a health benefit – researchers have thrown open the secret doors that chocoholics used to hide behind whenever they felt the need to indulge themselves without having to hear a earful from the rest of the household. Chocolate, especially the dark kind, because of the cocoa it contains, has now proved to have various beneficial properties that boost human health. Surprising news, but a welcome relief for those of us who despaired of finding food that was both tasty and healthy - words that had come to signify totally opposite meanings when it came to a diet. If you’re one of those who’re wondering how something that’s so sinfully delicious is actually good for you, read on:

* The cocoa in your chocolate bar contains flavanols and procyanidins, compounds that belong to the resvertrol family of flavonoids; flavonoids have been proven to have strong anti-oxidant properties which help us keep cancer at bay.

* Thanks to the antioxidants, your blood flow is improved because the platelets do not tend to stick to the walls of the arteries. This prevents your blood from clotting and reduces your chances of succumbing to heart diseases.

* Chocolate contains a type of saturated fat known as stearic acid which, unlike other saturated fats, does not raise cholesterol.

* Chocolate helps lowers blood pressure because of the cocoa phenols it contains.

* This sweet treat helps aching muscles recover from the strain of exercise and overwork and also boosts brain activity in people who have not had enough sleep and who are excessively tired. These benefits arise because the flavanol in cocoa dilates cerebral blood vessels and allows more oxygen to reach important areas of the brain.

* Contrary to popular belief, chocolate gives women a smooth complexion and prevents dry and flaky skin.

* The biggest surprise of all is that chocolate, or the tannins in the chocolate bar, actually prevent cavities. It’s the sugar in your chocolate that stays as deposits on your teeth and leads to decay and cavities.

A few words of warning though:

* Chocolate, in spite of its goodness, is loaded with calories, so restrict yourself to a small piece a day.

* The benefits of chocolate actually accrue to the cocoa it contains, so choose the darker variety when your sweet tooth starts acting up.

* Even though chocolate has the same anti-oxidant that fruits and vegetables have, the former cannot and must not be used as a substitute for the latter.