How chocolate evolved from ancient drink to sweet treat

High-cacao dark chocolate can contain flavanols, plant compounds studied for their potential cardiovascular effects, including impacts on bl*od flow and vascular function. The catch, as always, is that chocolate is not medicine and sugar-heavy candy is not a health plan in a shiny wrapper. Processing can also reduce flavanol content. Still, the science explains why dark chocolate gets more respect than many desserts. It is the rare indulgence that occasionally arrives wearing a lab coat.