Dark Chocolate: Beneficial or Not?

It was likely the ancient Mayans who first cultivated the cocoa bean more than 1,500 years ago, and chocolate has been a part of the human diet ever since (Motamayor et al. 2002). However, the way in which people eat chocolate has changed over the years, transforming what was initially an unsweetened, medicinal beverage into the decadent chocolate bars and candies of today. Given its widespread popularity, it should come as no surprise that science has sought to define the possible health impact…