Give in to that chocolate craving, the dark decadent sweet may be more than just a treat!

New research suggests that it may ward off preeclampsia, a pregnancy condition that is characterized by a sudden rise in blood pressure, excessive weight gain, protein in urine and other symptoms.

According to a Reuters article about the findings:

Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is rich in a chemical called theobromine, which stimulates the heart, relaxes smooth muscle and dilates blood vessels, and has been used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, and hardening of the arteries, Dr. Elizabeth W. Triche of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut and colleagues write.

To learn about the specifics, read more.

Of the 2,291 moms who delivered babies, those who ate the most chocolate were the least likely to develop preeclampsia. It also said:

Women who ate five or more servings of chocolate each week in their third trimester of pregnancy were 40 percent less likely to develop preeclampsia than those who ate chocolate less than once a week.

Source