Low cal chocolate treats

(WTNH) - Kim Benson shares recipes for heart healthy desserts.

Eating a small, 1.6-ounce bar of dark chocolate every day is good for you, Benson says. Dark chocolate with a high-cocoa content, is loaded with something called flavonoids. Flavoniods keep cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels, reduce the risk of blood clots, and slow down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries. Not all chocolate is created equal. Dark chocolate contains a lot more cocoa than other forms of chocolate.

While a little dark chocolate is good, a lot is not better she cautions. Chocolate still is loaded with calories. If you're going to eat more chocolate, you'll have to cut back somewhere else.

Remember that a balanced diet -- and plenty of exercise -- is still the key to heart health.

Fun Fact: You have to walk the length of a football field to burn off the calories in one M&M. Think about it!

Learn more on her website or pick up a copy of her book Finally Thin.