Is chocolate really a health food? That’s a question that might sound a little strange to some of us. Chocolates had always been an epitome of paradox. While on one hand they symbolize love and romance and are the best mood enhancers, on the other hand, they had always been associated with temptations and guilt, with the thought of growing fat and obese always lurking at the back of our minds. But, while all of us know the disadvantages of chocolates, the health benefits of chocolates are numerous as well.

Chocolates, especially dark chocolates, in small quantities, do good to your health. Some of the health benefits of chocolates are listed below:

•  Rich source of antioxidants:
Chocolates typically contain flavanoids, which act as great anti-oxidants. This, in turn, protects your skin from aging faster and gives it that perfect glow that women always crave for.
•    Reduce Blood Pressure:
The anti-oxidants (flavanoids) present in dark chocolates also enhance the production of nitric oxide in your body, which in turn helps in reducing or relaxing your blood pressure. They also keep your blood vessels elastic.
•    Reducing Cholesterol:
Dark chocolates are also believed to reduce LDL cholesterol in your body by up to 10 percent.
•    Anti-depressant:
Chocolates contain serotonin, which acts as a great anti-depressant. Chocolates also contain phenyl ethylamine, which is a mild mood elevator. It is these properties of chocolates that make them great mood enhancers.
•    Relaxing Agents:
Not just mood elevators, chocolates are also great relaxing agents. The smell of chocolates usually increases the theta brain waves, which in turn relaxes your brain and body muscles.
•    Brings Alertness:
Chocolates contain natural caffeine in them and thus, give you that extra pep whenever you feel tired and exhausted.
•    Fight Tooth Decay:
The source of all chocolates is cacao. Cacao is believed to contain antibacterial agents, which in turn help in fighting tooth decay.
•    Good for Coughs:
Chocolates also contain Theobromine, a stimulant that helps to reduce the coughing reflex. This is precisely why Mexican healers used chocolates to treat bronchitis as well as insect bites.
•    Menopause:
It has also been suggested by some scientists that chocolate helps in easing the symptoms of menopause and PMS.
•    Controls your Appetite:
Some researchers also believe that drinking a cup of hot chocolate before your meal can reduce and control your appetite. Eating a dessert or chocolate at the end of your meal also gives an indication to your body that the meal is over. Thus, it acts as a psychological indicator that lets you consume a balanced and controlled diet and thus prevent you from over eating.

Thus, the health benefits of chocolates are numerous. However, while eating chocolates, choosing the right kind of chocolate is essential. Dark chocolates have higher cocoa contents than white or milk chocolates and hence, always prefer the former over the latter. Quite contrary to the common belief, it is not the chocolates that cause tooth decay, but the higher sugar contents in the milk chocolates that cause it. Hence, avoid milk chocolates at far as possible. Also, eating chocolates along with milk prevents the antioxidants being absorbed by your body. At the same time, chocolates that come with caramel, nougat or other fillings are also rich in sugar and fat and thus, reduce the health benefits that chocolates can offer to a great extent. Therefore, choose the dark chocolates which have more of nuts or fruits peels in them as an alternative. Thus, indulge in the right kind of chocolate and pamper your senses in a healthy way.