Many people see chocolate as a guilty pleasure. But chocolate may be the ultimate gift of the heart.
It's divine. It's decadent

"I love chocolate," Wendy Ploszay tells us.
"I love the taste and consistency and the texture of it," Katie Kuepper agrees.

There are lots of reasons to love this sweet, creamy treat. And now there are a few that are good for you.

"It does contain health benefits. So, we can allow people to eat chocolate now and not feel guilty anymore," explains dietitian Laurie Meyer. "It lowers blood pressure, reduces blood clots, reduces arterial plaque. So there's a lot of interest in using chocolate to reduce heart disease.

The cocoa powder it's made from is packed with copper, minerals and anti-oxidents called flavenoids.

Meyer says chocolate may also pack a punch against prostate, breast and lung cancers *and* type 2 diabetes. It enhances our moods and our minds.

"So, eating chocolate not only makes you happy, it's going to make your brain a little better as well," Meyer adds.

But not all chocolate is created equal. At Amy's candy kitchen in Cedarburg, John Lillegren and his team use only Belgian chocolate from Brussels.

"The purity is strictly controlled. They don't allow any hydrogenated fats into the chocolate like they have in a lot of less expensive chocolates," John tells us.

And the cocoa content is high. That's key to chocolate's health benefits. Some makers have started listing cocoa content on their labels. You'll find the most in dark chocolate. And almost none in white chocolate. So dark chocolate is - by far - best for you.

And there's more good news. Research shows - to enjoy all the benefits chocolate has to offer, you can eat it just about every day. One to one-and-a-half ounces is all you need.

Remember, chocolate is high in calories and fat. One of the best ways to reap the benefits is by using natural unprocessed cocoa powder. Sprinkle is on coffee or cereal.