PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Should you give your special someone the gift of chocolate?
From a health standpoint, the answer is a dramatic “Yes” … and “No.”
Chocolate, while delicious, enjoyable — even romantic — is not always nutritious. However, in small quantities, it can actually provide some health benefits, especially if you eat the right kind.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, it all comes down to cocoa solids. White chocolate is more of a confection — a lot of cocoa butter and sugar, no cocoa solids. Milk chocolate is 10% to 50% cocoa. The clear winner is dark chocolate: It has relatively less sugar, and it has a higher concentration of antioxidant flavonoids.
If you choose chocolate, go with dark — and eat it in moderation. Perhaps a more important bit of health advice: Whether it’s chocolate or not, just don’t forget a gift on Valentine’s Day.
Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough.
KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.