New research from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence, geeze, or HELENA study, revealed that higher consumption of chocolate is associated with a lower amount of body fat and less abdominal fat, regardless of physical activity, diet and other factors. Why? Say thank you to flavonoids. These are important antioxidant, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive effects. Another benefit besides a better BMI? These flavonoids help prevent heart disease and cardiometabolic disorders. Researchers said the biological effect of foods should not just be evaluated just in terms of calories. That’s what I often say too! But as with everything else in this world, they recommend moderate quantities of chocolate adding “you can have too much of a good thing.”