Consumer Health: Can chocolate really be good for you?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And eating a heart-healthy diet is one lifestyle strategy to prevent heart disease.

Healthy chocolate sounds like a dream come true, but a growing number of studies suggest that it can be a heart-healthy choice. Most commercial chocolate has ingredients that add fat, sugar and calories, though, so too much can contribute to weight gain — a risk factor for high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

Learn more from Katherine Zeratsky, a Mayo Clinic registered dietitian nutritionist, about making chocolate part of your healthy diet.