In the seven days leading up to Valentine’s Day, Americans purchase about 58 million pounds of chocolate, amazing! But what is it that fuels our obsession with gifts of chocolate to those we love? Human obsession with chocolate is centuries old, the Mayans and Aztecs believed drinks made from the cocoa bean could produce feelings of love, and they weren’t far from the truth. Chocolate actually contains tryptophan and phenylethylamine, which can affect our brain’s pleasure center, increasing endorphins and creating the feeling of being in love. In addition to feeling elated, chocolate has many positive effects on our health:
It can reduce your risk of heart disease through increased blood flow
It can lower blood pressure.
It increases you HDL (good) cholesterol
It is one of the best sources of antioxidants, higher than most fruits even blueberries.
The flavonols and phytonutrients in chocolate can protect your skin from sun damage.
It can improve brain function and memory due to its role in improving blood flow. Therefore, it can improve cognitive function in the elderly.
Contains nutrients essential to your body such as fiber, iron, magnesium, and copper
In order to reap the benefits of chocolate, you should:
Choose dark chocolate containing a minimum of 70% cocoa
Consume no more than1-2 ounces or 30-60 grams of dark chocolate per day.
Keep in mind the average regular size chocolate bar is 1.55 ounces.
So, one could say, giving the gift of dark chocolate during February, or any other time of the year, is actually a true gift of love.
