Are all dark chocolates created equal?

Fortified foods are fast becoming the trend in the food industry. "With Calcium," "Antioxidant-Rich," and "Extra Vitamins and Minerals" seem to be common phrases slapped on the labels of some less-than-healthy foods. Case in point: Dark Chocolate M&M's.

Look, I'm not going to get all crazy and say that eating a few M&M's -- dark chocolate or otherwise -- will usher in your own fitness Armageddon. But, eat a bag full of them, and now you've just downed a considerable amount of calories and simple sugars. Still, the question remains about the health benefits of the dark chocolate they contain. Alright, let me address that, too.

While all dark chocolate contains disease fighting flavonoids, its potency depends on its cacao concentration. Insofar as Dark Chocolate M&M's go, they are made up of about 40 percent cacao. Not bad, right? Not great. Most dark-chocolate bars contain at least 60 percent cacao, and some contain even more. M&M's, so it would seem, don't really stack up (both figuratively and literally -- I mean, it's impossible to stack those things. Believe me, I've tried.)

Your best option for flavoniod-filled treats would be true dark chocolate bars, not unstackable, candy-coated 40 percenters.