Consuming chocolate can be beneficial for health as long as it is not excessive.

Jakarta - Chocolate, which is commonly chosen as a gift on Valentine's Day or the day of love, has long been believed to provide health benefits.

The main ingredient in making chocolate is cocoa beans which are rich in flavanols, a type of polyphenol that is linked to a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Therefore, research on the effects of chocolate on heart health has focused largely on the use of cocoa extract or dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa, which contains more flavanols than milk chocolate and white chocolate.

According to a Health publication on Monday (10/2), several studies have shown a link between chocolate consumption and lower death rates from cardiovascular disease and reduced blood pressure.