It is almost Easter.

 I know that because of the change in the store shelves as I walk in the door of my local Publix. Peeps, and Cadbury Eggs, deceivingly large hollow chocolate bunnies, and sadly small solid chocolate bunnies. Thy diabetes runneth over.

But that's OK. I have here a study that clearly says that chocolate is good for you because it happens to contain a very helpful little family of chemicals known as "flavonoids". Flavonoids, as it turns out, are pretty powerful antioxidants. I also have studies that indicate that these same flavonoids lower blood pressure and help reduce the stickiness of blood platelets.

These favorites are nearly 60% sugar.

Chocolate is especially high in these compounds, delivering 4 times as many has the highly regarded - and very delicious - tea.  ("The Lancet" Volume 354, No. 9177, p488. )

So LOAD UP on chocolate this Easter and enjoy the benef....  Uh.  Wait a second.  I left out something, sorry about that..

If you're thinking that Cadbury Eggs are going to help you, you are very wrong.  Let's have look at the label and find out why:

Cadbury Creme Eggs

Serving Size - 34 grams (One Egg)
Dietary Fiber - 0
Total Carbs - 24 grams
Sugars - 20 Grams.

Wait! SUGAR is 59% of the total weight? And, as it turns out, milk chocolate, with its massive sugar load, has far fewer flavonoids than DARK CHOCOLATE. More importantly, dark chocolate has substantially less sugar and much much more of one additional ingredient that milk chocolate is missing completely.

Ghirardelli Intense Dark Squares

Serving Size - 24 grams
Dietary Fiber - 5 grams
Total Carbs - 14 grams
Sugars - 5 grams

This 85% DARK chocolate has 5 grams of dietary fiber per serving, AND only 5 grams of sugar. That dietary fiber - which is entirely missing from milk chocolate - mitigates the entire sugar content.

Look for dark chocolate (72% or more cacao) that is not "Dutched" or that does not have "processed with alkali" on the label.  Dutch processing substantially reduces the flavanol content.

One ounce a day is the most common recommendation.  Good luck sticking to that!

I've also noticed a dramatic increase in blueberries in the produce section.  We'll talk about why next time.