Dark Chocolate: Really A Super Sweet?

How many times have you read that dark chocolate is the best possible sweet for which to reach post-dinner? Probably enough to think that when a chocolate craving hits, it's not the end of the world to eat half, or even a whole, bar. Magazines swear that consuming the sweet stuff on a regular basis can reduce stress, prevent diabetes, and even improve cardiovascular health. Allegedly, it can even shrink your waistline, protect your skin from sunburn, and brighten your smile. “Chocolate’s botanical name means ‘food of the gods,’” Patricia Bannon, registered dietitian and author of Eat Right When Time Is Tight, tells Yahoo Beauty. “Dark chocolate in particular offers a host of health and beauty perks thanks to the fact that it usually contains high amounts of healthy plant-based compounds called flavonoids.”

That’s great news, but it doesn’t give you license to gorge. “Eating too much of anything, especially chocolate, which is high in calories, sugar, and fat, can ‘junk’ up your diet,” says Bannon, who recommends limiting your portions to one ounce daily and buying the highest quality chocolate available. Look for anything containing at least 70 percent cocoa.

By the way, when you’re craving dessert, dark chocolate isn’t your only healthy option. You can (and should) occasionally splurge. “I think it’s better to have one small chocolate chip cookie made with satiating butter and sugar rather than three artificially sweetened cookies,” says Bannon. Or, she suggests mixing a healthy and not-healthy snack and playing around with proportions. Try eating a bowl of berries with a dollop of ice cream instead of a full portion (or more!) of ice cream topped by a few berries. Surprise! You don’t have to deprive yourself to look and feel great.