5 Reasons You Should Absolutely Be Eating Chocolate Today

Multiple studies found that eating a tiny amount of dark chocolate before a workout helps fight fatigue and can help the body breathe better, which means you can go further during your workout. The amount that worked in these studies was tiny — just about a square's worth — but if it's good quality chocolate, a small square will go a long way.

If you can't get the rest you need because of a nagging cough, try dark chocolate. The theobromine, an ingredient in dark chocolate, has been proven to suppress a cough, but be careful — if you're trying to go to sleep, remember that a dark chocolate Hershey's bar has 30 milligrams of caffeine, which is the equivalent of a cup of tea.

Increasing blood flow also helps your heart in another way. A study found that eating a small square of dark chocolate a day helps regulate your blood pressure by increasing blood flow as well as dilating blood vessels and releasing nitric oxide. If you're managing your blood pressure levels, a small dose of dark chocolate daily may help.

A study found that when highly stressed individuals ate dark chocolate every day for two weeks, the level of stress hormones in their bodies dropped significantly. While eating a candy bar a day can contribute to a whole new set of stresses if you're watching your weight, it's nice to know that dark chocolate has a measurable effect on stress.