Good news for chocoholics ...

... but don't get the stash out just yet!

The Independent website led with a headline "Chocolate 'can help you slim'".

In fact a study has found that, despite boosting calorie intake, regular chocolate consumption is related to lower Body Mass Index (BMI). Those taking part in the study who ate more chocolate than average were found likely to have a lower BMI than others.

Chocolate is known to contain plant chemicals called polyphenols that combat heart disease and may influence metabolism. Reading this sentence, the chocoholics heart starts to sink, the report is full of maybes, possibilities and 'let us not assumes'.

Previous research has shown that a chemical in cocoa, epicatechin, boosts the number of cells which burn up calories. Epicatechin reduced weight in rats whose calorie intake and exercise levels were unchanged. So there may be hope, but I'm not going back on the chocolate diet just yet. There'll probably be another report next week, with a different conclusion. And as for that Independent headline ...