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Some Valentine Chocolates are Healthier Than Others

March 10, 2005

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Chocolate itself is actually a healthy food, but there's a little more to it than that.

In moderation, chocolate can contribute to heart health, help you live longer, suppress a chronic cough, add needed magnesium to your diet, and help regulate your blood sugar. And, chocolate gives you those good "in love" feelings.

But many chocolates contain added ingredients that can harm your health...including a large amount of refined white sugar, pesticides, and even lead.

"Fortunately, this Valentine's Day healthier chocolates are widely available in stores and on-line," says Debra Lynn Dadd, author of Home Safe Home. "There are more healthy chocolates than ever before. These chocolates are delicious, easy to find, and affordable."

According to Dadd, it's easy to choose healthy chocolates:

• Choose chocolates with a minimum amount of refined white sugar. Dark "bittersweet" chocolates with a high percentage of cocoa solids (usually the label will state the exact percentage) have less sugar than semisweet or milk chocolate and also have the greatest health benefits.

• Choose chocolates sweetened with evaporated cane juice or barley malt. Evaporated cane juice -- the unprocessed whole juice of the cane -- acts in the body like a whole food and doesn't give a sugar rush. Barley malt is also a slow-release sweetener, noted on the label as "grain-sweetened."

• Choose organic chocolates. Certified organic chocolate ensures there are no harmful pesticide residues. These also don't contain lead.

• Choose quality over quantity. If you are going to eat chocolate, eat really good chocolate, and savor every bite. Give the chocolate your full attention and let it melt in your mouth to prolong the experience.

"You can also make your own chocolates," says Dadd, who's been hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times. "It's easy to make many chocolate delights yourself, with the exact healthy ingredients you like. Start with unsweetened cocoa powder or baking chocolate and add the sweetener of your choice."

This Valentine's Day, choose a healthy chocolate, and enjoy it without guilt, says Dadd.

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