Are you looking for more sweet reasons to include dark chocolate in your diet regularly? If so, you will be pleased to know that a new scientific review of 42 former clinical trials supports my strongly held notion that dark chocolate is truly a healthy dessert. In this new report, several benefits were attributed to eating dark chocolate including reduced blood pressure, better blood vessel function, and lower insulin levels- all of which bode well for maintaining heart health. Dark chocolate is home to a potent class of antioxidant plant chemicals called flavanols that are regarded as its “active ingredients”. For best results, substitute a prudent portion (up to two squares daily) of a 70% or higher cacao dark chocolate bar in lieu of a sweet you would otherwise eat. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. online February 1, 2012) I always enjoy 1 to 2 squares of a 86%  dark chocolate bar after my lunch.

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