Chocolate? YES!

Chocolate has always been the bane of anyone on a diet. Supposedly high in fat and high in calories, it was definitely considered a no-no on any diet plan. First of all, it is packed with falvinoids which can help raise your good HDL cholesterol. Secondly it is rich in antioxidants, which help to combat nasty free radicals, which can cause cell damage. And lastly, chocolate raises those good-feeling chemicals called endorphins, which help to relax and soothe the jangled nerves of the conscientious dieter.

Chocolate is actually good for your heart. Choose dark or bittersweet chocolate which has three times as many antioxidant compounds (flavinoids) as milk chocolate and keeps blood platelets from sticking together, which helps to prevent blood clots from forming.