The notion that chocolate may provide a positive health boost to your heart has been circulating for years, and many individuals have taken the news as one more reason to indulge in their favorite sweet treat.

In addition, there are several types of other desserts, pastries, and processed treats that many individuals like to indulge in. However, it should be noted that pure chocolate is different than many of the other types of sweets as it is less processed and contains less processed ingredients.

This being said, it is important to understand the differences between pure chocolate and many of the other types of desserts in terms of the effects on the body, how the body processes the ingredients, and the varying pros and cons of each.

In regards to consuming chocolate as part of a well rounded dietary regime, until recently, actual clinical scientific data regarding whether chocolate is good for your heart has been scarce and hazy at best.

So, What Do the Scientific Studies Say About Consuming Chocolate?

Scientists at the University of Cambridge are working to change that. A team of researchers aggregated the results of seven different studies on chocolate, comprising a total of over 100,000 subjects. In a report to the European Society of Cardiology, the researchers said that regularly consuming chocolate lowers your risk of stroke by 29%, and your risk of cardiovascular disease by 37%.

The researchers admitted that there were some flaws and conflicting data within the seven studies. Two of the studies indicated no relation between chocolate consumption and heart health, while five others indicated that chocolate is good for your heart. The pooled data was also inconsistent in the type of chocolate given to subjects, such as whether it was milk or dark chocolate. Finally, the studies were inconclusive regarding how much chocolate should be consumed per day in order to yield the desired health benefits.

Oscar Franco from the University of Cambridge echoed current scientific understanding by saying that he believes the health benefits of chocolate can be traced back to flavanols, compounds that are naturally included in dark chocolate. Indeed, most scientists currently believe that dark chocolate produces far greater health benefits than milk chocolate, which may offer nothing more than a quick energy boost.

However, the researchers were quick to point out that it’s still unclear exactly how flavanols, or any other components of chocolate for that matter, contribute to cardiovascular well-being. Victoria Taylor, a scientist from the British Heart Foundation, shared the same sentiments.

Both Taylor and Franco agreed that eating too much chocolate would have negative health consequences outweighing the positive ones, largely due to the high quantities of fat and sugar that are present in commercially manufactured chocolate.

So how much chocolate is too much chocolate? Although firm numbers are obviously unavailable, and the exact answer could very well depend on other factors such as your metabolic rate, current level of cardiovascular health, weight and more, the simple answer is all about moderation.

Olive oil, for example, is often touted as a heart-healthy alternative to other foods rich in saturated fats, such as butter. Of course, the operative word here is alternative and not addition. The cardiovascular benefits of olive oil have been well-documented, but if you’re going to add olive oil to your existing diet, you’d better start abstaining from some other fatty food at the same time.

The same concept applies to chocolate. If you find yourself frequently eating processed candy bars with peanut butter, caramel, candy coating and the like, then adding dark chocolate on top of your existing diet probably isn’t a great idea. However, if you replace each processed candy bar with one or two ounces of pure, high quality dark chocolate, preferably with a relatively high cocoa concentration (think 70% or higher), it could probably be counted as a net gain for your overall health and fitness.

High-cocoa dark chocolate is richer, darker and more bitter than lower-cocoa chocolate thanks to a lower concentration of sugar. Many individuals, myself included, prefer the taste of dark chocolate with a higher cocoa concentration.

Chocolate is Good for Your Heart: The Bottom Line

Dark chocolate is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth while providing a boost to your cardiovascular health, but be prepared to limit your intake. Try having a few small squares as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, and vigilantly resist the urge to eat the whole bar. If you’re seeking a sweet breakfast treat to jumpstart your day without a lot of prep time, try our no-fuss recipe for Chocolate-Filled Sugared Crescent Rolls paired with some fresh fruit.