That's it. That's my unrequited love. You too? Well it's guaranteed to be a doomed relationship, don't you think? All those calories and guilt. Hmph.

Forbidden and unrequited. What could be more sinful? Tragic and unhealthy too, some would say. Sigh.

However, an article from Yahoo's Health News reported that we could make our relationship with chocolate work if we choose those that contain more heart-healthy fats:

• Cocoa (and thus chocolate) contains flavonoids - the same headline-grabbing health-promoting substances found in tea, red wine and soy foods.


• Studies suggest that chocolate's flavonoids may help protect against heart disease and stroke by slowing blood's ability to clot, and by reducing the potential for plaque build-up inside artery walls.


• Cocoa's main fat, stearic acid, may be heart-healthy. Our bodies convert it to a monounsaturated fat.


• For an occasional treat, choose dark chocolate. It's got slightly more flavonoids and proportionately more stearic acid than milk chocolate.


• A 3/4-oz. bar of milk chocolate has a whopping 15 grams of fat, with less than 4 grams of it from stearic acid. The equivalent dark bar has about the same amount of fat with 6 grams of stearic acid. Still no health bargain, but a little better!


• For a more common indulgence, try real cocoa. Make hot cocoa with skim milk or low-fat soymilk - and use it in cooking.

My darling chocolate here I come!