Great news, dark chocolate IS so good for your health

But don't overdo it, say the experts. A couple of squares a day gives you all the benefits and none of the drawbacks. By Hanna Geissler

- Hanna Geissler

We've all heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but research increasingly shows that another daily eating habit, thought to be much less healthy, could actually be doing us some good too.

And that's... wait for it... chocolate.

But before you gallop to the store cupboard to start munching a square or two, it has to be on the Dark Side.

Cocoa is a rich source of flavanols, natural compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. And now a University of Surrey study has found eating flavanols from cocoa - as well as other sources including tea, apples and grapes - leads to greater reductions in high blood pressure.

The research, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, analysed data from 145 previous studies. And the blood pressure-lowering effects identified were comparable to that seen with some prescription medications.

Another study in the British Medical Journal, involving almost 19,000 people, found those who ate five or more servings of dark chocolate a week were 21% less likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, compared to others.

Other research has identified a possible link with reduced cholesterol and stress levels, and reduced inflammation throughout the body.

Dark chocolate is also rich in polyphenols, a natural compound found largely in fruit and vegetables, which can help to promote good bacteria in the gut. Gabrielle Newman, a nutritionist and recipe developer for The Fast 800 intermittent fasting plan, says: "A small daily dose of high-quality dark chocolate can offer surprising benefits.