February is American Heart Month, a time when the healthcare community has typically focused its attention on informing families and communities about the dangers of heart disease. In fact this February is the 57th consecutive year of the U.S. recognizing American Heart Month, which was started back in 1964 by a proclamation issued by President Lyndon Johnson.
How might chocolate fit in with heart fitness? According to the Mayo Clinic, chocolate and its main ingredient, cocoa, “appear to reduce risk factors for heart disease.” Their research also says that the flavanols in cocoa beans have antioxidant effects that “reduce cell damage implicated in heart disease.”
Further, Mayo observes that “flavanols — more prevalent in dark chocolate than in milk chocolate — may also help lower blood pressure and improve vascular function.” (source)
Experts at WebMD have written that dark chocolate and its high concentration of cocoa, may help to protect your heart, reduce the risk of diabetes, and lower blood pressure. (source)
Meanwhile the experts at Sweet Almande point out that they use a high-grade organic cocoa powder which is completely dairy-free. People react to dairy in different ways and the effects of eating or not eating dairy products will vary from person to person. Many people have allergies to milk and do not even realize it.
So, if you are planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day and National Heart Month, there may be no better way than to indulge your chocolate cravings. And what better way to say “I love you” this Valentine’s Day than with something that can help your loved ones be healthy – chocolate-flavored almonds or pecans!
