Chocolate contains a range of nutrients necessary for good health. The chart below shows that 100 grams of milk chocolate delivers about 26% of the recommended dietary intake (RDI) of calcium, 13% of magnesium and about 20% of iron, minerals and trace elements important for correct body function. It also contains water-soluble vitamins including B1, B2 or B3, which come in remarkable amounts to protect energy and protein turnover. In all these aspects, chocolate compares very well with fresh cheese, which is considered a health food.

RDI is the amount of each nutrient needed by the body on a daily basis. Any food that provides a nutrient that is more than 10% of the RDI is considered a good source of the nutrient. Hence, milk chocolate is definitely a well-balanced food.

For athletes and even children, a bar of chocolate after sports or strenuous activities helps the body to recover faster by replenishing the lost carbohydrates. So, an appropriate amount of chocolate may be a performance enhancer apart from being an energy booster.