Why You Should LOVE Dark Chocolate this Valentine’s Day
Meg Volley, PostGlo Intern
When it comes to chocolate, there is a fierce debate over which is the tastiest variety: dark, milk, or white. Personally, my favorite depends on the situation, however, when it comes to health benefits, dark chocolate reigns supreme. You might’ve heard rumors that dark chocolate is quite nutritious, and I’m here to tell you it’s true! You can honor your holiday sweet tooth while reaping some awesome health benefits. It’s truly a win-win. Here are some reasons to enjoy dark chocolate this Valentine’s Day.
Good for heart health: Seeing that we are celebrating Valentine’s Day, it’s only fitting that we start off dark chocolate’s list of benefits by describing how it improves heart health! Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, which produce nitric oxide that relaxes blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow throughout the body to different organs, including the lungs and heart. What’s not to love about this?!
Loaded with antioxidants: Often, berries are cited as the best source of antioxidants. It turns out, dark chocolate is just as good of a source, if not better! Antioxidants work to fight free radicals, which are unstable oxygen molecules in the body proven to cause diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Dark chocolate is a great source of antioxidants to help in the fight.
Brain booster: Research shows that consuming 70% cacao or higher dark chocolate promotes neuroplasticity, which helps the brain form new synaptic connections. This could improve memory, cognition, and mood. While more research is needed on larger sample sizes, this is still exciting news in the field of memory and brain function.
Isn’t dark chocolate great?! Now that we know some of its benefits, how can we incorporate it into our diet? Here are some of my favorite ways. But first, it is important to note that not all dark chocolate is created equally. A good rule of thumb when reaching for dark chocolate is to reach for varieties with higher cocoa percentages (70% or higher), as research shows that the darker the chocolate, the more health benefits it provides.
Dark chocolate chip cookies or bark: This idea doubles as a fun way to get your kids involved in the kitchen! Desserts including dark chocolate are a great way to spend time with the family, encourage balanced eating, help kids build confidence around food, and sneak some extra nutrition into the holidays.
DIY trail mix: A problem I always run into with store-bought trail mixes is that by the end of the container, I’m left with too much of one ingredient and not enough of another. Making your own trail mixes eliminates this problem! Throw together your favorite combination of nuts (almonds, peanuts, cashews, walnuts, pistachios, etc.) dried fruits (figs, raisins, craisins, dates, apricots, apple/ banana chips etc.), and other fun components (popcorn, cereal, pretzels, etc.) with dark chocolate chips for a quick and easy snack.
Add dark chocolate on top of yogurt and oatmeal bowls: Yogurt and oatmeal bowls are a great vehicle for nourishing, nutritious, and tasty toppings! Top your morning bowls with your favorite fruit, granola, nuts and seeds, and dark chocolate for a great start to the day!
Whether it’s a box of dark chocolates from a special person in your life, or your favorite dark chocolate bar you picked up for yourself to enjoy and escape from the business of the day, there are so many ways to enjoy dark chocolate this Valentine’s Day.