One expert believes chocolate has a range of different health benefits for many different conditions.

Writing for the Daily Telegraph, Dr James Le Fanu explained scientists today know the sweet foodstuff contains a number of therapeutic constituents, a stimulant and antioxidants that lower blood pressure and protect the arteries.

And this could be the perfect excuse for people to send out a hamper full of the chocolate to a loved one as a sign of good will or to mark a special occasion.

Dr Le Fanu, who has written several books such as The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine and Why Us?: How Science Rediscovered the Mystery of Ourselves, went on to explain: "So … chocolate should also protect against heart attacks and strokes and there was much excitement last year with a study's findings that regular chocolate eating increased the chances of surviving a heart attack."