With Valentine’s Day earlier this month, this is one of the biggest times of the year (minus Halloween) for chocolate. While your sweet tooth may be kicked into gear this month, being picky about the type of chocolate you consume could pay off by improving your health and even your hearing. Eating raw cacao, or dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cacao, is best since it is unprocessed and is packed full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. While the latter, cocoa, is usually heavily processed and devoid of nutrients. Plus, processed cocoa usually contains milk, sugar, and other ingredients (like preservatives) that may not be good for the body. Luckily, if you are a chocoholic, you will be glad to know that dark chocolate is linked to improved hearing health. Yes, you heard right. Raw dark chocolate (cacao) is good for your ears. Because of this fact, there is even a connection between dark chocolate and hearing loss.

Remember, when consuming cacao (dark chocolate), balance is key. Make sure you eat it in moderation but rest easy knowing that dark chocolate is good for your ears. To learn more about the connection between dark chocolate and hearing loss, read more about how cacao can help your hearing.

• Dark chocolate is good for the heart, and what’s good for the heart is good for the ears. Dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure, fight inflammation, and improve blood flow, which can ultimately improve your hearing health.

• Dark chocolate is high in magnesium, which has vasodilatory and neuroprotective effects, can potentially help prevent hearing loss. Studies show that magnesium can help protect the ears from noise-induced hearing loss.

• A Korean study back in 2012 discovered that consuming chocolate helps protect against tinnitus and hearing loss. So if you want to lower your odds of developing severe hearing loss, dig into dark chocolate regularly and in moderation.

• The nutrients found in dark chocolate, such as the high levels of antioxidants and zinc, can help protect you against ear infections, all while keeping your hearing intact. Studies show that zinc can help prevent sudden hearing loss and help protect the cochlea by reducing oxidative stress.