Well, here are some of the benefits:- * Cacao, the source of chocolate, contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. Of course this is counteracted by the high sugar content of milk chocolate. * The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation. * Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator. * The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which may raise good cholesterol. * Drinking a cup of hot chocolate before meals may actually diminish appetite. * Men who eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don't. * The flavanoids in chocolate may help keep blood vessels elastic. * Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood. But On The Negative Side... * Chocolate may trigger headaches in migraine sufferers. * Milk chocolate is high in calories, saturated fat and sugar. * Chocolate is considered dangerous to animals because it contains a stimulant called theobromine, which they can't digest. * Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are even more dangerous because they contain higher concentrations of the substance. * This applies whether chocolate is in candy bar form, or an ingredient in cake, cookies, puddings or ice cream.