The bad things that are good for your health

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We're often told to avoid 'bad' foods and drinks such as coffee and chocolate, but did you know that some of these forbidden foods actually have loads of health benefits?

Of course, that isn't a licence to drink gallons of coffee or chomp away on a giant Family-sized bar of Dairy Milk - the key is moderation. Here's your guide to the bad things you can enjoy and what they can do for your health.

Chocolate

In France they eat loads of chocolate, drink wine and smoke yet they still stay slim and healthy - could there be a health miracle in chocolate?

Pros

Scientists recently found that dark chocolate contains catechins, which are chemical compounds that might be able to protect against heart disease and cancer.
Dark chocolate also contains antioxidants that can help protect against the signs of ageing.
There is new research that suggests dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure.

Cons

Milk and white chocolate don't count because they contain high amounts of fat and sugar.
Even the dark stuff contains sugar and fat and should only be eaten in moderation, such as one or two squares a day.
Some chocolate manufacturers make dark chocolate but they take the good stuff out so you need to look for chocolate that has a high percentage of cocoa, e.g. 70 - 90%