Cholesterol

"From my perspective, it is interesting that a natural product, especially something like chocolate, may have a beneficial effect." The positive effects shown thus far are predominantly associated with substances called flavonoids, which are abundant in raw, unprocessed chocolate.

These substances are thought to be potent antioxidants - chemicals in food that have shown promise in halting the destructive action of free radicals in the body, which may lead to cancer.

But if you're looking for a sweet and simple solution, don't unwrap that candy bar just yet.

The process that chocolate beans undergo between the field and the candy jar often rob chocolate of many of these helpful substances.

"The way that chocolate is manufactured and processed, most of the flavonoids are no longer present once it hits the shelves and our mouths," Sandon said.

She adds that thus far, only one company has adopted the special, gentle processing method necessary to preserve the flavonoids in chocolate - the Mars company.

And even then, she said any health claims the manufacturer makes about its chocolate would not likely stand up to scientific scrutiny.

Zusman agrees that it's not just the ingredients, but also the process, that determine the health benefits of something like chocolate.

"I think the closer you get to a substance or a product that has pure beneficial agents, the gr...

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