indulging in chocolates is good for the heart, say scientists. Shunned by many for its high calories, chocolate actually ensures long, healthy life.

It is known that chocolate is more than a rich source of energy. For example, a pound of cocoa gives over 2,000 calories of energy. About 40 per cent of this comes from carbohydrates, an equal amount from fats and the remaining from proteins. Moreover, cocoa contains small amounts of minerals, vitamins and an important class of protective chemicals called catechins from the family of flavanoids. Being such a powerful source of energy, chocolate is the most preferred food for long-distance runners, bicycle riders and soldiers fighting wars in difficult terrain, needing plenty of calories.

But it is catechins that make chocolate a subject of interest for health researchers. These chemicals are reported in other beverages, too. For instance, a different version of catechins is found in tea. Flavanoids are among the most powerful antioxidants