Fortunately for chocolate lovers everywhere, the delicious morsels are no longer the cardiovascular culprits we once thought. We've known for years that chocolate contains a high amount of saturated fat and that saturated fat in most people contributes to high serum cholesterol levels. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have concluded that unlike most saturated fats, stearic acid does not raise serum cholesterol. Additional research supports these findings, and many scientists concur that stearic acid appears to have a neutral effect on serum cholesterol. That's the good news.
Chocolate is still a high-fat food and packs a caloric punch.
Do a chocolate trade-off. Use half the amount of chocolate chips called for in cookie recipes. Replace with oatmeal or a crispy cereal. Make low-fat brownies using cocoa powder and substitute an equal amount of applesauce for the oil called for in the recipe. You'll get great flavor without the fat.