Chocolate is one of the most widely given gifts on Valentine’s Day- and for good reason!
Check out the top 8 reasons you should enjoy chocolate on Valentine’s Day (and year-round!):
1. Chocolate is associated with heart health
This health benefit is perfect for a holiday that’s focused on the heart! Long-term observational studies show that regular consumption of dark chocolate lowers the risk of plaque build up in the arteries, improves cholesterol levels, and overall reduces the risk of cardiovascular death. Studies haven’t shown a direct cause yet, but chocolate and heart health are definitely correlated, so regularly eat dark (70% or higher cocoa content) chocolate to reap the cardiovascular benefits.
2. It is associated with lower stroke risk
Researchers collected information on lifestyle habits from 37,103 Swedish men, tracking them for approximately 10 years. After adjusting for other factors that can affect stroke risk—including smoking, height and weight, physical activity, high blood pressure, aspirin use, atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heart rhythm), family history of heart attack, and dietary habits—men who ate 63 grams of chocolate per week had 17% lower risk of stroke compared with men who never ate chocolate. Like the studies for heart disease, this was an observational study, so cause and effect can’t be confirmed, but since stroke and heart disease can both be caused by the same factors, it makes sense that chocolate could help with both.
3. It reduces insulin levels and improves insulin sensitivity
A meta review of studies on chocolate revealed that consumption of chocolate significantly improved insulin levels and insulin sensitivity, both of which reflect blood sugar balance, risk of diabetes, and risk of heart disease. While dark chocolate could help with insulin-related health issues, like diabetes, it’s important to remember that sugar has the exact opposite effect. Avoid sugary confections with little cocoa content; if you are concerned about diabetes, go for very dark chocolate (at least 85% cocoa content) with as little sugar as possible.
4. It is rich in antioxidants
Dark chocolate is full of polyphenols, including a type called flavonoids, which protect the body from disease caused by free-radicals. Raw, unprocessed cocoa beans have one of the highest ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) scores of any food. While ORAC testing is done in vitro, which means in a lab setting on a cellular level, and not in vivo, meaning in a living body, it is still worth noting the high antioxidant content. The polyphenols influence the above-mentioned health benefits; read on to see other positive effects of chocolate’s antioxidants.
5. Dark chocolate is extremely nutrient-dense
100 grams of dark chocolate with 70-85% cocoa contains:
- 11 grams of fiber
- 67% of the RDA for iron
- 58% of the RDA for magnesium
- 89% of the RDA for copper
- 98% of the RDA for manganese
- as well as fiber, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, selenium
100 grams of chocolate is more than you should eat in one sitting, but it shows how mineral- and nutrient-rich chocolate is.
6. Long-term consumption could improve mood
A study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that consuming a dark chocolate drink, rich in polyphenols, increased calmness and contentedness in healthy adults. Subjects in the test group that consumed the high-polyphenol chocolate drink daily had better mood scores by the end of the 30 day study, especially increasing their scores in calmness and contentedness.
7. Chocolate has benefits for gut microflora
Chocolate favorably alters the balance of beneficial versus harmful bacteria in the gut. It has a prebiotic effect, providing food for our friendly gut flora. Since gut flora influence mental health, this could be one of the reasons why chocolate improves mood.
8. Chocolate could improve brain function
A study compared visual function and cognition about two hours after eating 1.25 ounces (35 grams) of either dark or white chocolate. The dark chocolate group improved significantly in their visual, spatial memory, and reaction abilities. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, both of which are stimulants and may be why chocolate can improve short term brain function. Long term, antioxidant-rich dark chocolate improves blood flow to the brain and may improve cognitive function in elderly people with mental impairment. There is even a correlation that shows nations that consume more chocolate tend to have more Nobel Laureates.
Give your sweetie the gift of health
Since chocolate will make you sharp, happy, and healthy, it’s clearly a great choice for Valentine’s Day. Get yourself and your valentine some dark chocolate and enjoy! The Aztecs even considered chocolate an aphrodisiac. There isn’t solid evidence to support the claim, but it sure can’t hurt!