According to Mars, Inc., chocolate is made from cocoa seeds. These seeds, more commonly referred to as cocoa beans, come from cocoa pods, which are the fruit of the cocoa tree, Theobroma cacao. Mars claims that since chocolate is a plant-based food, it contains many of the same nutrients as other plant-based foods, including flavanols. “There have been numerous studies conducted with cocoa flavanol containing foods that have shown positive effects on blood pressure, enhanced flexibility of blood vessels, insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, as well as platelet function,” the company says on its website. “While these studies are preliminary in nature, they provide promising support for the concept that the consumption of flavanol-rich foods, including cocoa flavanols, may support cardiovascular health.” Indeed, to date several studies flaunting the health benefits of chocolate have already appeared in high profile peer reviewed journals such as Thrombosis Research, JAMA and the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

There are several bioactive compounds in chocolate that promote alertness, lessen pain and promote well-being.   For example, the stimulants theobromine, caffeine, tyramine and phenylethylamine (PEA) provide a brain-fogged person with a much-needed lift. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, lessens anxiety by producing the neurotransmitter serotonin; endorphins, the body's natural opiates, reduce sensitivity to pain.