I know it’s silly, but I love Valentine's Day. A day that celebrates love and is all about chocolate and flowers? It really doesn’t get much better than that, does it? I think my love for Valentine’s Day started when I was a senior in high school and worked half days in the kindergarten class at Baker Elementary. On Valentine’s Day I had so much fun helping those cute little ones decorate their valentine bags and exchange valentines. I even came home with a little bag of valentines they gave to me. It was so sweet. It reminded me of when I was little and would take extra time to carefully choose the perfect valentine for everyone—especially the boys I had a crush on. But I digress… 🙂
Let’s talk about chocolate!
Who would have ever thought that something as delicious as chocolate would be considered a superfood? Here are just some of the benefits of dark chocolate:
- High in powerful antioxidants
- Contains soluble fiber
- Packed with important minerals including magnesium, copper, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc.
- Is heart protective and can lower blood pressure and cholesterol
- Improves intestinal flora
- Improves exercise endurance
Pretty impressive, huh? Now this isn’t just any chocolate. We’re talking about organic dark chocolate that is 70% or higher in cocoa (also known as cacao, which refers to the plant). I prefer 80% and higher because the higher percent of cocoa, the lower the content of sugar. My personal favorites are Vivani 100% Organic Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa and Equal Exchange Organic Panama Extra Dark 80% Cacao. They are both very rich and may take a little getting used to if you normally eat sweeter chocolate, but once you get used to the stronger taste you’ll love it! Try eating a small piece, letting it slowly melt in your mouth, and savoring the flavor. And then? Well, have another piece of course! J
Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
