National heart health month and Valentine’s Day! Is dark chocolate really that good for you?

Are you buying your loved one dark chocolate this Valentine’s Day? Research suggests a diet high in a specific antioxidant called, flavonoids, leads to a lower risk for coronary heart disease. Flavonoids are found in cacao. Cacao is used in both milk and dark chocolate. Cacao is at least 3x more concentrated in dark chocolate.

However, even with triple the concentration of heart-healthy flavonoids, it still isn’t concentrated enough to cause a positive effect.

While eating dark chocolate won’t necessarily improve your health on its’ own, it does contain those flavonoids as well as less sugar and fat to provide a healthier option to a tasty treat.

~Kaylee Brown, Registered Dietitian. 

Schedule a Dietitian Session with Kaylee.

Want to know more? Check out this article from the American Heart Association:

Are there health benefits from chocolate? | American Heart Association