Chocolate boasts both good and bad news for people who love to eat it

Admit it: You love chocolate. But you've always worried that it's not good for you.

And the statistics reflect that ambivalence: In 1983, about the time the current health craze hit, annual consumption dipped to a low of 9.67 pounds per person.

Then the ''good'' news began trickling out: Chocolate is rich in antioxidants (enough to rival black tea, red wine, strawberries and raisins) and stearic acid.

You won't be alone in bringing your secret supply of chocolate out of the closet (consumption is up to 12.2 pounds per person); you can claim, when you eat it, to be doing something good for your heart.