Go Dark and Bittersweet this Valentine’s

CEBU, Philippines - February has been tagged as the love month with Cupid doubling his effort in shooting arrows at potential lovebirds. Sweet and romantic surprises should have been under one’s sleeve already. You can never go wrong by purchasing a bouquet of your mother, sister, or your better half’s favorite flowers, but for the box of chocolates, give the dark bittersweet ones.

It may be unusual and unromantic for some to give dark chocolates on Valentine’s Day but the health benefits found in these bittersweet treats outweigh the delight we get from munching on milk and white chocolates.  Associate professor of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at San Diego State University and researcher Mee Young Hong, PhD urges everyone to eat dark chocolate more often than its other counterparts.

Moreover,  Los Angeles-based journalist Kathleen Doheny of WebMD Health News  stated that dark chocolates contain 70% cocoa that have healthy compounds called flavanols which come with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as compared to milk chocolate that has less cocoa solids and none in white chocolate.

The antioxidants found in dark chocolate are said to improve cardiovascular health  such as enhanced blood flow, healthy cholesterol levels and, in some cases, reduced blood pressure . Although more research is needed to determine the long-term effects on people with high blood pressure, recent research shows that dark chocolate and cocoa may result to a relaxed and widened arteries resulting to lowered blood pressure, improved blood flow and reduced strain on the heart. The dark and luscious chocolate also help prevent plaque build-up that can block arteries and has mild anti-blood clotting effects.

On top of these health benefits, dark chocolates are considered mood boosters due to the feel-good factors they have such as theobromine and phenylethylamine (PEA). A mild natural stimulant and molecular cousin of caffeine, Theobromine stimulates the central nervous system and is used as homemade cough suppressants.

On the other hand, PEA releases natural feel-good chemicals called endorphins which is the same chemical flooding the brains of people who are in love. This could be the explanation why chocolates and Valentine’s Day are so closely linked. With these, you would want to keep your love ones healthy, wouldn’t you? Dark chocolate would be more of a treat than a threat to one’s health. 

However, too much of something is always bad. Moderation is still key in being healthy as a horse.

References:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20120424/pick-dark-chocolate-health-benefits

http://www.allchocolate.com/health/basics/ (FREEMAN)