So chocolate is good for you, potentially helping to lower blood pressure and risk of heart disease. We’re jazzed about the emerging science, too. But deep down inside, do you really think it’s carte blanche permission to have at the vending machine? Whatever your impulse, here’s the skinny on doing it one better. Come next week, you can do it one better than that and so on, until you’ve raised the bar to its most healthful highest.

For all its proven and rumored health benefits, chocolate is, above all, decadence. Add a little to your day with the following recipes. Their called-for cocoa powder and baking cocoa aren’t Dutch-processed, so you’re good there.

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• Chocolate-Espresso Cupcakes

  Calories 170 Calories from Fat 50 <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/chocolate-espresso-cupcakes/9c779f17-889f-4bcd-85b2-a9eeac56e5f1?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the Chocolate-Espresso Cupcakes recipe</a>

• Healthified Fudgy Almond Cookies

  Calories 70 Calories from Fat 25 <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/healthified-fudgy-almond-cookies/b65982e7-339e-48be-821a-ce215298f4a3?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the Healthified Fudgy Almond Cookies recipe</a>

• Healthified Decadent Hot Chocolate

  Calories 160 Calories from Fat 35 <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/healthified-decadent-hot-chocolate/748db036-9761-4d1e-a9bb-86d99386cfb4?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the Healthified Decadent Hot Chocolate recipe</a>

• Healthified Freezy Chocolate-Banana Shake

  Calories 230 Calories from Fat 15 <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/healthified-freezy-chocolate-banana-shake/9596dbce-c4ed-4359-b471-54cfc2507f55?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the Healthified Freezy Chocolate-Banana Shake recipe</a>

• Healthified Chocolate Lovers' Brownies

  Calories 110 Calories from Fat 20 <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/healthified-chocolate-lovers-brownies/c54a829a-2745-4a7b-852f-c3bd9d8f69a5?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the Healthified Chocolate Lovers' Brownies recipe</a>

• Healthified Bittersweet Chocolate Cake with Berries

  Calories 150 Calories from Fat 45 <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/healthified-bittersweet-chocolate-cake-with-berries/899829f1-b880-44bd-8f42-b22f8e67c571?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the Healthified Bittersweet Chocolate Cake with Berries recipe</a>

• Chocolate Cherry Mini Lava Cakes

  Calories 130 Calories from Fat 35 <a href="http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/chocolate-cherry-mini-lava-cakes/dd86adb1-659a-47be-ba54-a79844b20166?nicam5=PARTNERSHIPS&nichn5=AOL&niseg5=TDCORE_LBA&esrc=16549">Get the Chocolate Cherry Mini Lava Cakes recipe</a>