What to consider when buying Valentine’s Day chocolates

With Valentine’s Day around the corner and February being Heart Health Month, we are taking a closer look at the health benefits of chocolate in this month’s Patch post. Contrary to popular belief, research has shown that chocolate in moderation does have many benefits for your health. So, when you’re feeling guilty this Valentine’s Day about giving a heart-shaped box of chocolates to a loved one, or digging into one yourself, consider the following information

The darker the better.

When we say that chocolate is good for you, we are specifically talking about the benefits of dark chocolate. Although milk chocolate is delicious, it has little health benefit. You want dark chocolate that is at least 70 percent cacao (percentage of cocoa solids), and which is not high in hydrogenated oil or sugar. Chocolate with a lower cacao percentage generally means there is more room for sugar and other non-cocoa ingredients.

Think of your heart.

Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids. Research has shown that flavonoids can reduce and prevent cardiovascular damage and lower blood pressure. Flavonoids also have a positive impact on cholesterol by pushing the bad form (LDL) down, and raising the good form (HDL), therefore lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Take a dose of the “love drug.”

Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a chemical compound affecting the central nervous system by inducing positive feelings. PEA is the same chemical the brain creates when you feel like you’re falling in love, which is why PEA is commonly referred to as “the love drug.” Most of the PEA ingested when eating chocolate is metabolized before it reaches the brain, but some of the compound does make it to our gray matter.

Dark chocolate can give the body a healthy boost.

Theobromine is a chemical compound found in its most concentrated form in the cocoa bean and is closely related to caffeine. This compound has a stimulatory effect, boosts low blood sugar and has a slight diuretic effect, causing frequent urination. Caffeine, found in cocoa and chocolate, is good for the body in the right amounts – about 200 to 300 milligrams a day for most people. Caffeine stimulates and assists the liver in detoxifying and cleansing itself. Small doses also stimulate the adrenal glands which regulate hormones and support the kidneys in filtering toxins.

Prevent memory decline.

A Harvard Medical School study found that drinking two cups of hot cocoa a day may help stop memory decline in older people and keep the brain healthy. Researchers discovered that hot chocolate helped improve blood flow to parts of the brain where more energy is needed to complete tasks, and therefore more blood flow is needed.

One must be mindful that too much of anything, even the best dark chocolate, can be bad for one’s health. Too much chocolate can lead to weight gain, but indulging in a sweet treat every once in a while could offer many health benefits.

Steve Bernardi is a registered compounding pharmacist and co-owner of Johnson Compounding & Wellness in Waltham (www.naturalcompounder.com). Readers with questions about natural or homeopathic medicine, compounded medications, or health in general can email steve@naturalcompounder.com or call 781-893-3870.