Since you probably have some leftover chocolates from Valentine’s Day hounding your refrigerators, here’s a good reason why you should not feel guilty about indulging on them. Chocolates, according to a recent study, are good for the health.

Studies have always linked dark chocolates with reducing the risk of cancer, lowering blood pressure, slowing clumping of platelets and increasing blood flow to the brain. In fact, another study even found out that participants were better at counting backwards when they have just drunk a cup of cocoa.

Also, this new study resulted that among 44,000 participants, it is those who ate chocolates weekly who posted 22-percent decrease in risk of getting strokes.

Here are some ways you can incorporate chocolates to your daily diet:

* Snack on a few ounces of chocolate-covered cacao nibs.
* Sprinkle unsweeted cocoa powder on strawberries and whipped topping.
* Savor a small square of dark chocolate after dinner.
* Dip strawberries, slices of banana or orange segments in melted chocolate.
* Add a little unsweetened cocoa powder to your morning coffee.
* Munch on chocolate-covered almonds or soy nuts.

But beware of eating lots of chocolates since this can be dangerous to your diet as well. When trying to imbibe all the health benefits of eating chocolate, opt for the dark ones rather than the creamy milky ones.