So here we are in February. This is the month when many of us celebrate Valentine’s Day, that uniquely United States holiday that celebrates love with flowers, wine and chocolate. They can be beautiful ways to convey one’s love.
As far back as the 14th century, the traditions of bestowing love and gifts on one’s beloved became ingrained in the culture.
A few centuries later, however, the gift of chocolates was closely associated with courtship and sex. As a result, in the Victorian era, etiquette books warned that single ladies should never accept chocolates “from gentlemen to whom they are neither related nor engaged.”
However, in the present day, we have moved rather far from these early prohibitions—indeed so far that now we can even be selective about which chocolate to give—or consume ourselves. So for this Valentine’s Day, if you are making a gift of chocolate, you may already be aware that the gift de jour is dark chocolate. And by “dark” I mean chocolate with at least 70% cacao in it. According to research, the real stuff is loaded with significant wellness benefits for your loved ones. Below are some facts to support that claim from Dr. Josh Axe, wellness physician and sought-after national speaker on health issues:
Seven Awesome Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
• Protection from Disease-Causing Free Radicals
• Potential Cancer Prevention
• Improved Heart Health
• Improved Overall Cholesterol Profile
• Enhanced Cognitive Function
• Support For Healthy Blood Pressure/ Blood Sugar
• Enhanced Nutrition (It’s An Antioxidant-Rich Superfood)
There is considerable evidence that cocoa can provide powerful health benefits, and that it’s especially protective against cardiovascular disease. Of course, this doesn’t mean people should go “hog wild” and consume lots of chocolate every day. It is still loaded with calories and easy to overindulge on. But there’s nothing wrong with maybe a square or two to really savor after dinner. In fact, research shows it’s good for you!
So what will you drink with your Valentine’s Day dinner? As it happens, red wine is another surprisingly healthy choice. Seriously, who knew?
It turns out that for people who drink a moderate amount of red wine, there’s a possible heart health benefit. Research has shown that the compound resveratrol found in red wine —originally from grape skins—has an antioxidant effect that may raise good cholesterol levels and may help prevent clotting in blood vessels. Further research is underway to further confirm its effectiveness.
So, what I’m saying here is when it comes to dark chocolate and red wine—Enjoy! (but only in moderation, please!)
Denise’s
2 Cents:
It’s undeniable that all kinds of people are still prone to making assumptions—or at least believing all the generalities out there—related to the health properties certain foods and drink. For example, “chocolate is bad; fats are to avoided.” Assumptions and opinions continue to circulate about what some foods do to your body or what you must consume if you want to be healthy. However, it’s safe now to push back against these while pursuing a healthy diet and lifestyle. Anthropologists have discovered that people in many cultures embody wonderful health and fitness profiles while consuming high-fat foods or chocolate and wine. The key is that your body is highly individual, and the goal should be to find the foods and drinks you enjoy—and, more importantly—also give your body energy. Happily, dark chocolate and red wine both fit that description—for many of us, anyway! So Happy Valentine’s Day!