“It’s sinful!” “It’s my biggest vice!” To hear some people talk about chocolate, you’d think it was deadly or something! There’s even a popular restaurant dessert known as “Death By Chocolate!” Well enough already with the bad rap! We’ve talked before about the benefits of chocolate, but in case you STILL aren’t convinced, here are a few more reasons you should CHEER for chocolate, courtesy of Health magazine.

• A happier heart. Dr. Mary Engler is an actual chocolate researcher and director of a cardiovascular program at UC San Francisco’s School of Nursing. She says studies show that cocoa – the foundation for chocolate – increases blood flow, reduces platelet stickiness and clotting, and improves bad cholesterol. These are due to antioxidant chemicals known as “flavonoids” – which help prevent both cell damage and inflammation.
• It improves your brain! Research from the Wheeling Jesuit University in Virginia suggests that chocolate boosts your memory, attention span, reaction time and problem-solving skills - by increasing blood flow to the brain.
• Chocolate takes care of your skin. German researchers gave a group of women half-a-cup of flavonoid–rich cocoa every day. After three months, they found that the women’s skin was moister, smoother and less scaly and red when exposed to ultraviolet light. The researchers believe that the flavonoids – which help absorb UV light – help protect and increase blood flow to the skin, improving its appearance. Remember – go for dark chocolate. It has more antioxidants and less sugar and fat than the other varieties.