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Health & Fitness

Chocolate Is Valentine's and It can Be Healthy

Valentine's candy is certainly popular and promotion of it is everywhere,but if you still wonder about eating candy consider these facts.

Cocoa is high in phytonutrients that can help reduce your risk of heart diseaseand the   phytonutrients may aid in reducing the risk of diabetes, dementia and stroke. The key is consuming enough of the actual cocoa and this is where chocolate candy may not always be a benefit.

if you love chocolate and want to enjoy chocolate that has more potential health benefits, grab dark chocolate. Dark chocolate has more cocoa and less sugar than milk chocolate so more of the phytonutrients.

You can further boost health benefits by choosing dark chocolate covered walnuts or almonds or dark chocolate on blueberries. just remember no candy is low calorie so be sure you think about portions, not just what is in the candy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Connie Diekman, M.Ed., RD, CSSD, LD
Nutrition Communications Consultant

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