A Healthy Valentine

     As Valentine's Day approaches there will no doubt be a concerted effort to show one's affection with any number of gifts.  Perhaps there is no better way to remember your loved one than with chocolate.  Not just any chocolate mind you, but dark chocolate, the one that contains the nutrients, happy mood chemicals and youth-preserving antioxidants contained in the cacao bean.  The scientific term for chocolate is Theobroma, meaning "food of the gods."  In Aztec society it was recognized as a superior food, reserved for warriors, nobility and priests.



     The cacao bean is highly nutritious, being full of rejuvenating potassium, magnesium, Vitamins B3 and B5, zinc, and selenium.  But what does the body the most good is found in its high antioxidant content.  Chocolate contains more that four times the catechins present in green tea and twice as much as in red wine.  That translates into a reduced risk of both heart attacks and cancer by reducing inflammation and helping renew blood vessels, skin, and bone.  And as an added bonus, eating dark chocolate releases our beta-endorphins, the "happy chemicals."

     Caffeine and theobromine can boost energy and, in moderation, help balance blood sugar and promote weight loss.  Who knew?  Chocolate also improves quality of life, a key component for staying youthful.  It also contains healthy monounsaturated fats which have been shown to keep the heart vital and strong.  But be advised, the health benefits only apply to good quality dark chocolate.  Milk and sugar have a negative effect.  Eating dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids (with nuts for extra benefits) will raise one's antioxidant levels, but chocolate also has a high caffeine content, so avoid it late at night if you have problems getting to sleep.