I consider high-quality dark chocolate (60% or greater cocoa content) an excellent dessert choice and recommend it as a truly healthy way to satisfy one’s sweet tooth.

Dark chocolate continues to score one scientific triumph after another. Studies show it can boost brain power, elevate mood and improve cardiovascular health.

Dr. Ann says reach for dark chocolate this Valentine’s Day or when you need a bite of something sweet. (contributed)

We now recognize that dark chocolate and its cousin cocoa are teaming with bioactive compounds, including super-potent antioxidant plant chemicals called flavanols. Flavanols improve the function of the cells lining our arteries, which enhances blood flow.

In theory, dark chocolate’s robust antioxidant activity may provide broad-spectrum disease protection, including lowering the risk of cancer.

When the cookie monster comes calling, my best advice is to enjoy a prudent portion: ½ ounce to 1 ounce of the highest cacao content of dark chocolate that your palette will accept.

Here are some reasons to consider dark chocolate:

• As treats go, dark chocolate is a surprisingly good source of fiber. In fact, if you choose the right dark chocolate, for every gram of sugar in your “healthy” dark chocolate indulgence, you can get a gram of fiber. This is fantastic because fiber can mitigate the toxic effects of sugar in the body. (Dark chocolate is a good source of zinc and magnesium.)
• This confection is the only food that has been shown to acutely boost mood and concentration.
• In many published studies, dark chocolate has exhibited several heart-healthy benefits, including reducing blood pressure, increasing high-density lipoprotein (good) cholesterol and improving blood vessel function.
• Even though it is delectable, this “sweet” is low in sugar. If you eat my prescribed dose, you will only get about ½ of a teaspoon of sugar. That barely makes a dent in your daily limit for added sweeteners (which is up to 9 teaspoons a day for men and up to 6 teaspoons a day for women).
• Experiment with different brands to find the dark chocolate that you enjoy the most. You can also look for brands on special and stock up for the best value. My personal favorite is the Ghiradelli 86% Midnight Reverie brand.

From personal experience, I am more than convinced that dark chocolate is a great tool for taming an out-of-control sweet tooth. It is fantastic for “resensitizing” your taste buds to sweetness so that slightly sweet foods will taste plenty sweet, while sweet or very sweet foods will taste repulsive. Try it for yourself!

Dr. Ann Kulze is founder and CEO of Just Wellness and has a knack for breaking down the science of healthy eating and living into simple and easily digestible messages. She has been featured on “Dr. Oz,” “Oprah and Friends,” WebMD and in U.S. News & World Report. Alabama NewsCenter is publishing advice from Dr. Ann.