With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, there’s nothing that comes to mind more than chocolate.  And with all the recent studies showing the health benefits found in cocoa, you might be tempted to eat too much.  Let’s get the facts straight so you don’t go eating all the chocolate in sight.

Yes, it’s true that chocolate has many beneficial properties.  Chocolate comes from the cocoa bean, which is rich in flavonoids and antioxidants and helps prevent heart disease and cancer.  Typically, the darker the chocolate, the greater the health benefits.  But, not all chocolates are created equal. So, if you are going to consume chocolate for health benefits it is best to consume dark chocolate with the least amount of added sugar and fat as possible. 

There are 3 types of chocolate:

Dark: (at least 60% cocoa) contains the most flavonoids and the least amount of sugar
Milk: (usually 30%-50% cocoa) contains very little health benefits and is typically loaded with extra fat and sugar
White: (no cocoa) contains no health benefits

So on this Valentine’s Day, for those of you who want to use chocolate as a pleasurable preventative, remember: The darker, the better.  But a balanced diet and exercise are still the keys to a healthy heart.  Keep in mind, a serving is not an entire box or bar, but it is closer to an ounce.

Besides your typical chocolate treats, other F-Factor recommended products sure to beat a chocolate craving are GNU Foods Flavor & Fiber Chocolate Brownie Bar (14 grams of fiber) and Chocolite bars (12 grams of fiber for 2 pieces).

*F-Factor Best Bites

For comparison:

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of Skinnyandthecity.com.    She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.