Chocolate is perhaps the ultimate comfort food. It has accompanied those recovering from hangovers, wallowing in post-breakup angst and become the ultimate sneaky treat for any festive occasion.

It seems Scotland is not immune to the charms of the cocoa-based luxury, with a third of our nation's dieters admitting their calorie-counting was ruined by the allure of a chocolatey indulgence.

A new survey from the British Heart Foundation found we have a regular relationship with the sweet treats.

It found nearly half (47%) of the workforce in the country eat chocolate at least every other day during the average working week.

One in four claim to be physically incapable of getting through a punishing working week without succumbing to their chocolate cravings.

Education and IT are Scotland's most chocolate-reliant industries, with nearly half (47%) of staff indulging at least every other day at work.

Two-fifths (40%) of workers in Scotland confessed chocolate is permanently in the office, which leads to easier access and difficulties in staying strong.

It seems we are not taking ownership of our own chocolate addiction, with nearly a third blaming colleagues for their own fondness for snacking.

Even thieving is OK for many Scots desperate to get their fix.

While 90% understand the unwritten rule not to steal chocolate from colleagues, close to one in five has stolen chocolate from other employees and 21% keep an emergency stash at work for when the cravings hit.

A third of workers in Scotland (38%) admit they with eat whatever chocolate within eyesight.

Why is chocolate so addictive?

The term chocoholic is widely used for those who just cannot get enough but is there a scientific basis for this?

As it turns out, yes. According to Harvard Medical School, food cravings can exhibit all the main elements of addiction.

Intense craving is the first element.

"Foods that deliver a lot of sugar and fat - like chocolate - trigger reward pathways in the brain," said Michael Craig Millar, of Harvard mental health publishing.

"In some animal studies, restricting these foods induced a stress-like response consistent with the 'withdrawal' response seen in addiction."

A study at Drexel University in Philadelphia concluded people experienced psychological reactions while eating chocolate that were similar those caused by some drugs.

How to avoid caving into cravings

The British Heart Foundation, which commissioned the research as part of its Dechox initiative to encourage people to give up the milky treat in March, offer these fairly unconvincing suggestions to get round your cravings.

Drinking a glass of water reportedly helps to fill you up and can take your mind off chocolate, as does going for a walk.

They also advocate chewing gum (sugar-free of course). The chewing motion fools you stomach into thinking it is fuller than it is.

The charity suggests consuming something bitter, hot or sour to overwhelm the sweetness craving

Fruit is a healthier sweet alternative when chocolate pangs hit, which will give much-needed nutrients for a diet usually consisting entirely of mars bars and cake.

Finally, they suggest regular eating will reduce the need to snack, when one often turns to the bag of sweets rather than a healthier choice.

If all that fails, you can at least take solace in the fact that as part of a balanced diet, some chocolate can be good for you.

Research led by Aberdeen University found compared to people who ate no chocolate, those with a higher intake had an 11% lesser risk of cardiovascular disease and a 25% reduced risk of associated death.

It was also linked with a 9% lower risk of hospital admission or death as a result of coronary heart disease, while it was similarly associated with a 23% reduced risk of stroke, even after taking account of other factors.