London, Aug. 27 (Reuters): Good news for lovers of plain chocolate — you could be doing your heart good, as well as your tastebuds.

A group of Italian and British scientists has found plain chocolate increases levels of antioxidants in the blood, which help protect against heart disease.

Writing in the science journal, Nature, they said they found that antioxidant levels in the blood rose 20 nearly per cent after consumption of 100 grams of plain chocolate compared with milk chocolate.

“Our findings indicate that milk may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate... and may therefore negate the potential health benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate,” a scientist said.

But they also offered some consolation to those who prefer milk chocolate.

In order to achieve the same intake of the antioxidants as those absorbed from plain chocolate they need to... eat twice as much.