Chocolate Does Your Heart Good
Valentine’s Days nourishes our emotional hearts with flowers, love notes, and candlelit dinner. Did you know that it also nourishes our physical hearts with – believe it or not – chocolate?
Chocolate can indeed be described as nutritious, as it contains many ingredients that promote good health. Dark chocolate – that containing 72% cocoa or more – is the best choice as it contains more of these than lighter chocolate, which is more processed:
- Antioxidants – battle heart disease and cancer
- Flavonoids – lower blood pressure
- Alkaloids – aid our immune system
Alkaloids also have been linked to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that acts as an antidepressant. Chocolate truly does brighten our mood as it elevates endorphins, the natural opiates in our brain.
Of course, like most good things, it’s best not to overindulge. Eating a lot of chocolate in order to avoid cardiovascular disease is not wise. While the fat in chocolate is from cocoa butter, which is much more heart-healthy than other fats, the sugar that’s mixed in chocolate can increase our waistlines, and the caffeine can keep us up at night.
The best way to enjoy chocolate is one piece (one ounce) per day. Set aside a moment when you won’t be distracted. Savor it fully, letting it melt slowly in your mouth. If the chocolate was a gift, think about the person who gave it to you, and what you appreciate about him or her.
This ritual will feed your heart immeasurably.