Sweet Truth

Yumm...This may be one of the rare cases where something outside the food pyramid is loaded with health benefits. While still high in calories, chocolate, in appropriate servings, is nutrtionally wise.
"Dark chocolate, not milk chocolate or chocolate eaten with milk, is a potent antioxidant," said Mauro Serafini, PhD of Italy's National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome. Chocolate is composed of flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. In fact, chocolate has been claimed to have eight times the amount of polyphenol antioxidants as strawberries. Flavonoids also relax the blood pressure and lower cholesterol, as well as keep blood vessels elastic. In one study, reserachers noticed a ten percent decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol when consumed in tiny portions. Don't forget about the HDL (good) cholesterol, raised by an oleic acid. But that's not it- the food also stimulates endorphin production, which creates positive feelings. Serotonin, one of the 300 chemicals found in chocolate, is an antidepressant.
The cacao in chocolate includes antibacterias that protect teeth from decay. Just the smell of chocolate potentially activates the theta brain waves, thus creating relaxtion . Phenyl ethylamine is also midly subdues moods.
Perhaps the saying "You are what you eat" does not always hold true for some sweets. Like anything in moderation, there's usually a positive perspective.