Get the Right Dose of Chocolate as You Age

Dark chocolate has long been heralded for its high levels of antioxidants, but how good is it for you, really? Will those extra chocolate calories, despite their antioxidants, add extra layers to your waistline?

After a 10-year study, doctors have found it is, in fact, beneficial at a certain age to reach for the Hershey's, Dove or fine chocolates that come wrapped in heart-shaped boxes.

The latest findings suggest that women in their golden years should indulge their chocolate cravings on a weekly basis if they want improve their risk for heart disease.

Women who are older than 70 and eat chocolate weekly are 35 percent less likely to die from heart disease and 60 percent less likely to die from heart failure, according to Australian researchers. The women studied were also 35 percent less likely to be hospitalized with heart-related complications than sporadic chocolate eaters.

"We would caution against people eating foods with high sugar and fat regularly and believe our findings support moderate rather than frequent chocolate consumption," researcher Dr. Joshua Lewis, of Australia's Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, told Reuters Health.

That's because the flavonoids in chocolate help line the blood vessel walls, making them stronger. This allows the arteries to dilate more easily. The healthy lining also protects against damage.

Still, this is no excuse to shovel down fistfuls of M&Ms in one sitting. Eating too much chocolate can make you overweight and even obese, which are major heart disease risk factors.

To find out more about the study and exactly how much chocolate you can treat yourself to on a daily basis, check out AOL Health's chocolate eating guidelines from the study.