All those big words — flavonoids, methylxanthines, polyphenols and stearic acids — are just a fancy way of saying that chocolate is choc-full of antioxidants that help reduce inflammation, improve blood flow and boost mood and concentration.

Here’s another cool thing about chocolate — its antioxidant properties hold up over time. Unlike green tea, which degrades with shelf life, chocolate bars maintain their potency over at least 50 weeks while cocoa beans and powder remain stable for 75 years!

Dark or milk chocolate

This new study looked back over five decades of studies and found eating chocolate more than once a week was associated with an 8% decreased risk of coronary artery disease.

Prior studies have echoed that benefit. Cocoa consumption is associated with significantly lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality (death by any cause). It helps keep plaque from building up in the lining of blood vessels and reduces blood pressure. It’s been shown to help prevent stroke and heart failure.

Many of the studies have focused on dark chocolate. That’s because the darker the chocolate the higher the percentage of cocoa solids — where all the good stuff is. But if the dark chocolate is highly processed by a manufacturer, that benefit can decline. (Tip: To get the least processed cocoa powder, look for brands that have not been treated with an alkali to neutralize its natural acidity — typically called Dutch processing.)

Dark chocolate does have a much lower sugar content and fewer calories than milk or white chocolate, because those are mixed with powdered or condensed milk. So your healthiest choice is likely dark chocolate candy or bars and unprocessed cocoa powder.

Does that mean you can just chow down on dark chocolate to your heart’s content? That’s probably not a great idea, especially if you opt for more fattening versions packed with caramel or nuts. It’s best to enjoy a 1-ounce bite a few times per week, and focus on adding flavonoids to your diet with apples, tea, citrus fruits, onions and berries.

“Moderate amounts of chocolate seem to protect the coronary arteries but it’s likely that large quantities do not,” Krittanawong said. “The calories, sugar, milk, and fat in commercially available products need to be considered, particularly in diabetics and obese people.”