Ever dreamt of eating chocolate every day? Good news: You’ve now got an excuse.

Turns out, a bite of dark chocolate a day could not only be good for your heart, but may also improve brain function, alleviate stress, and help with weight loss.

Curious to learn more before you divulge into that pack of cookies or fondants you’ve been staring at all day long? Read on below as we highlight 5 underrated health benefits of chocolate.

May Help Prevent Heart Disease

Published in the journal Heart, a meta-analysis of eight studies on the link between chocolate consumption and cardiovascular disease uncovered that people who ate more chocolate per day had a lower risk of both heart disease and stroke.

What’s more, a number of observational studies have shown indulging in dark chocolate on a regular basis may even reduce the risk of heart disease.

May Improve Cognition & Decrease Your Stress Levels

Yes, you read that right: Research shows consuming high concentrations of dark chocolate may benefit your brain.

In fact, according to Everyday Health, research suggests cocoa stimulates neural activity in areas of the brain associated with pleasure and reward, which in turn decreases stress and improves your mood. Speaking of…

May Improve Your Mood & Memory

Are you constantly annoyed that you can’t remember where you left your keys? Grab a Snickers. Well, sort of.

Out of eight studies on chocolate and mood, five showed improvements in mood. Additionally, three of the studies showed “clear evidence of cognitive enhancement,” according to a systematic review published in the journal Nutrition Reviews.

So, what does this mean in simple terms? Namely, that chocolate may not only make you feel better, but also prevent memory less.

May Help with Weight Loss

No, you’re not dreaming.

Years of research suggests dark chocolate may play a role in controlling appetite, which in turn could help with weight loss. In fact, neuroscientist Will Clower, PhD, wrote a whole book on the subject called Eat Chocolate, Lose Weight. In it, Dr. Clower describes how eating a bit of dark chocolate before — or after — a meal triggers hormones that “tell you” you’re full.

That said, eating more chocolate than the recommended amount per day can counteract any weight loss. So, tread lightly.

May Help Your Gut

A healthy gut is key to a healthy body. Enter chocolate cake.

An article published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology notes that during digestion, chocolate behaves like a prebiotic— a.k.a. a type of fiber that encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. The more “good” microbes are in your system, the better your body is able to absorb nutrients, as well as support a healthy metabolism.

In layman’s terms, this simply means that some dark chocolate (emphasis on *some*) may improve your gut health in the long-term. Not bad chocolate, not bad at all.

Bottom Line

So… Are you ready to boost your health today? Then we suggest you — yep, you guessed it — eat some chocolate. But, not just any chocolate: start with some quality desserts or delicious pastries. Trust us: You won’t regret it (and neither will your body!).