The widely accepted notion that chocolate has minimal heath benefits has been contradicted by many recent studies and articles. An article by Linda Rao, published in Prevention magazine, explains that chocolate can have positive effects on health.

According to the article, cocoa is rich in antioxidant flavonoids called flavanols. Studies have shown that people with high blood levels of flavonoids have lower risk of heart disease, lung cancer, prostate cancer, asthma and type 2 diabetes.

Other health experts have found evidence that agrees with the article’s statements, including one professor whose study conducted at Johns Hopkins University found pro-chocolate results.

“The chemical in cocoa beans has a biochemical effect similar to aspirin in reducing platelet clumping, which can be fatal if a clot forms and blocks a blood vessel, causing a heart attack,” said Diane Becker, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Medicine, in a press release.

In her study, she found that certain ingredients in chocolate can significantly lower the risk of a heart attack.

Blood samples from both chocolate eaters and those who didn’t eat chocolate were run through a mechanical blood vessel system designed to time how long it takes for the platelets to clump together. The chocolate eaters’ blood showed more resistance to clotting.

“These results really bring home the point that a modest dietary practice can have a huge impact on blood and potentially on the health of people at a mildly elevated risk of heart disease,” said study co-author Dr. Nauder Faraday, associate professor at Johns Hopkins. “We have to [be] careful to emphasize that one single healthy dietary practice cannot be taken alone, but must be balanced with exercise and other healthy lifestyle practices that impact the heart.”

Tim and Janice Coble, owners of Temptations, 309 Main St., are not surprised by Becker’s findings.

“We’ve always known that dark chocolate has had positive connotations,” Tim said. “There are people who come in on a regular basis who say, ‘My doctor told me one glass of wine and a piece of chocolate every so often, even once a day, isn’t a bad thing.’ We started stocking different kinds of dark chocolate specifically for that reason.”

He said he noticed that in the United States, milk chocolate is popular but dark chocolate is increasing in popularity.

“In America, they like light chocolate. It’s sweeter, they like the consistency.” Tim said.

Dark chocolate tends to have a harsher, more bitter taste than light chocolate. The bitterness of dark chocolate comes from a higher amount of cocoa beans in the chocolate, which is the healthiest part of the food. Some dark chocolate bars can be made of 70 or 80 percent cocoa, and these have the most health benefits.

“Many more people comment on the benefits of dark chocolate, but they like the taste of milk chocolate better, and that’s what they buy,” Janice said. “More and more people are noticing all the press that dark chocolate is getting for having these benefits.”