I planned to start this blog post with a background history of Valentine’s Day. However, after reviewing so many conflicting accounts, I gave up and decided to focus on chocolate. I mean, why not? Whatever the background history of Valentine’s Day, the important thing is what it means now. Today, it’s all about love, gifts, flowers, and chocolate! So, I will give you, my fellow chocolate lovers, 10 reasons to eat chocolate without guilt this Valentine’s Day. But first, how come about 45% of us women regularly crave chocolate?
What’s the big deal about chocolate, anyway?
Yes, the hype about chocolate is real! Chocolate does trigger certain events in our brains.
First, chocolate can cause your brain to release opioids and endorphins – hormones that make you feel really good. These opioids increase the pleasure of eating and can even reduce pain.
Second, chocolate may interact with neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin to stimulate your appetite and increase your happiness and satisfaction.
We now know what happens in our brains when we eat chocolate. But why do we especially like to eat chocolate on Valentine’s Day, the day of love?
What’s love got to do with it?
In 2020, Americans spent $2.4 billion on Valentine’s Day chocolate, even more than the $2.3 billion spent on flowers.
There must be a reason why we spend so much on chocolate on Valentine’s Day. Here is one reason – though not scientifically proven, many believe that chocolate is an aphrodisiac. Secondly, some foods, like chocolate, can ignite feelings of romance. One study showed that people are more interested in starting a relationship with a potential partner when exposed to something sweet.
Regardless of the science behind chocolate, love, and romance, giving and receiving gifts to demonstrate love is the focus of Valentine’s Day today. When we receive gifts, including chocolates and flowers, our brain releases the “feel good” hormone, dopamine. In addition, our brain produces more oxytocin, the “love” hormone. Oxytocin helps create those warm, fuzzy feelings we experience when we are around someone we love.
And get this! The brain of the giver also releases these “feel good” and “love” hormones. The ultimate result is more bonding and attraction between the giver and the receiver. No wonder the great womanizer, Giacomo Casanova, called chocolate the “elixir of love.”
So, we can now scientifically explain our love for chocolate. We also know why we like to eat chocolate on Valentine’s Day. Are you still feeling any twinge of guilt about eating chocolate this Valentine’s Day? If so, here are ten reasons you shouldn’t feel any guilt about eating chocolate.
10 reasons to eat chocolate without guilt this Valentine’s Day
When you pick up that box of chocolate this Valentine’s Day, think about these scientifically proven medical and psychological benefits of eating chocolate:
2. Better glucose control and lower risk of diabetes.
3. Higher antioxidant levels and prevention of inflammation and chronic diseases.
4. Better heart protection and prevention of heart attacks.
7. Easier and more successful weight loss.
9. Better relaxation. Just the aroma alone causes you to feel more relaxed!
10. Happier mood.
There you go! Ten positive effects of eating chocolate! Too good to be true, right? Unfortunately, too much of anything is not always a good thing. So, how much chocolate should you eat?
How much chocolate is enough?
You should consume chocolate in moderation. Six or fewer servings a week is ideal for preventing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
The exact amount of chocolate you should consume to achieve health benefits is unclear. The European Food Safety Authority recommends 0.4 ounces (10 grams) of dark chocolate daily. However, several other experts recommend consuming more, approximately 1 to 2 ounces (30-60 grams). In a nutshell, use your discretion, although I love these several other experts! To err on the side of caution, eat no more than one to two small squares of dark chocolate per day.
Choose wisely – Eat dark chocolate!
Most of the studies on the health benefits of chocolate used dark chocolate. So, in an ideal world, you should stick to dark chocolate. For my personal benefit, I am repeating that statement. In a perfect world, you should stick to dark chocolate!
The majority of heart benefits from chocolate come from dietary flavonoids, which are abundant in dark chocolates. Therefore, dark chocolate is healthier.
Are there any downsides to eating chocolate?
Unfortunately, yes, there are downsides to eating chocolate. First, chocolate may trigger acne, migraine, heartburn, and other conditions in some people. I recommend that you please pay attention to your body and note any adverse effects chocolate may have on you.
Secondly, be mindful of the sugar and fat content of chocolate. If you eat too much chocolate, you will gain weight! Moreover, eating too much chocolate can reverse all the benefits described above. You have to consume reasonable portion sizes and combine this with a healthy balanced diet, and of course, exercise!
If you exercise more, you may be able to eat just a little bit more chocolate. To find out how to make regular exercise part of your healthy lifestyle, check out “Exercise: A Path to Better Health for Women over Forty.”
Final thoughts
”There you have it! 10 reasons to eat chocolate! That means we can now eat chocolate responsibly. We can also give and receive chocolate wisely this Valentine’s Day. As I described above, a lot more is involved in giving and receiving gifts, especially chocolate. Our brain has its own agenda, and we cannot always control what hormones our brains will decide to produce.
Therefore, here is some advice to all single people out there. Don’t give or accept chocolate from a potential partner if you don’t want to be romantically entangled with them.
Finally, “A man’s gift makes room for him.” (Proverbs 18:16 – NIV). So, for the husbands and partners out there, it is in your best interest to gift us with our chocolate this Valentine’s Day. And if you are feeling very adventurous, add some oysters, watermelon, and asparagus, and thank me later!
Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments below. Also, feel free to share this article with others who deserve the best this Valentine’s Day!
Yours in health and fitness,
Dr. Abi.
