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THE CRAVING IS REAL There’s no solid proof that it’s addictive, but part of chocolate’s health boost is that it contains a number of chemicals that improve your mood and even simulate the feeling of being in love, which can make you crave it. These include serotonin, which helps you relax; phenylethylamine, which prompts your brain to release the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine; and anandamide, the bliss molecule that targets the brain’s pleasure receptors.

IT MIGHT BOOST BRAIN HEALTH

A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2016 found eating chocolate might be protective against cognitive decline in older people. In the two-year study, people over 65 who snacked on a little chocolate a couple of times a week lowered their risk by 40 per cent.

MILK CHOCOLATE HAS HEALTH BENEFITS TOO What gives dark chocolate its healthy rep is its high cocoa (or cacao) content. Cocoa contains flavonoids, which are antioxidants that help fight inflammation and improve heart health. Quality dark chocolate with at least 70 per cent cocoa has the strongest benefits. Milk chocolate, though, is not without merit. It contains 10 to 25 per cent cocoa, so you’ll still get some flavonoid juju.