Healthy Valentine?

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Valentine’s day might be one of the most controversial holidays out there. It’s one of those things you either love it or you hate it. For some, the holiday is just a reminder that they are still single. Or maybe it’s just another holiday their boyfriend’s going to forget. On the other hand, some people love valentine’s day. it’s a night you get to have a nice dinner away with your husband. Or maybe you throw a “galentines” night with your besties. Whichever way you celebrate the holiday, there seems to be one common denominator…chocolate. Maybe your boyfriend gets you a box of chocolates for valentine’s day every year, or maybe you always buy yourself chocolates for valentine’s day. Single, or married, there always seems to be chocolates involved. Which actually might be a good thing nutritionally. There are a few health benefits that chocolate provides that I’d bet most people don’t know. Health Benefits of Chocolate The health benefits of chocolate are dependent on the amount of cocoa powder it contains. Dark chocolate contains quite a bit more cocoa powder than milk chocolate does. Therefore, you won’t see many health benefits from milk chocolate. Dark chocolate however contains high contents of cocoa powder which is high in flavanols. Flavanols are antioxidants and have the ability to lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and increase blood flow. Dark chocolate also contains a decent amount of nutrients. In one ounce of dark chocolate, there is approximately 3-5 grams of fiber. It also contains 65 mg of magnesium and 203 mg of potassium. It also has a high content of “healthy fat” that aids in lowering cholesterol. Valentine’s day might be the worst day of the year to you, and that okay! It doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the chocolate aspect of it. This valentine’s day, whether you’re single or not, go grab a box of chocolate (preferably dark chocolate) and enjoy your day! -A.C. Sources: Gunnars, Kris. (July, 2022). Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate. Healthline.

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